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RIP Yahoo/Overture Keyword Tool
2007-09-14 16:55:00
The Yahoo /Overture Keyword tool has been a go-to app. for many a webmaster. I am sad to report that the while tool is still live, it is merely a shell of its former self. Offering up no results at all. It seems that while the folks at Yahoo don’t have the heart to rip it down completely, the powers that be have effectively disemboweled it leaving only the cheery facade as a stark reminder of a by gone era. An era of super fast keyword searches, reliable results and openness rarely found amongst major search engines. I have many fond memories of the Yahoo/Overture Keyword tool. It was one of the primary tools that helped me unlock the mystery of the internet; defining the hazy trinity of search popularity, projected traffic and conversion ratios. Being consistent and reliable, it helped guide some very key decisions to both start and scrap certain online projects. While my choices may have been less then perfect and in many ways falable, the tool never let me down. A t...
More About: Tool , Yahoo!

Real Estate Website Checklist.
2007-08-28 20:11:00
If you are just starting out in the real estate industry, you’re going to need to think about how you are going to go about building your real estate website. Who are you going to get to do it for you? Is it going to be open source or closed source? Will it be a custom built real estate website or an out of the box solution? Will you design it yourself or get someone else to design it for you? These are only some of the questions you’ll need to ask yourself regarding your real estate website. We have compiled a checklist o things you should make sure your real estate website can do before choosing the solution that best suits your needs. Does the website allow for opt in newsletter sign ups? Does the website have search engine friendly pages? Does it have easy meta tag implementation? Does it have custom design capabilities? Can you easily add new properties? Do you have the ability for unlimited picture upload? Can you upload as many pictures as you like? Can you receive as muc...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Real

Real Estate Website Primer Pt.6
2007-08-24 22:20:00
Key elements of a real estate website. Not all real estate websites are created equal. Here are some key elements that must be in place to ensure that a site maximizes its lead potential. Aesthetics: Having a site that looks ‘good’ is a highly subjective claim. One person’s eye sore is another person’s masterpiece. However, there is something to be said to appreciating the current trends in design and having a site that reflects them. This is not an excuse to be trendy, but it is important to have a site that reflects current design trends. Real estate websites share many elements with a business card. Every agent has a business card. Most agents go out of their way to ensure that their card is not only recognizable but that it stands out amongst a crowd. Why should a website be any different? Should there not be a cohesive theme between business card and website? It not make sense to present a unified, cohesive image. Basic rules of thumb are to keep your site simp...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Prime

Things to think about…
2007-08-23 06:04:00
This post is really a link to another post on another blog. The news contained is frightening. 1,074 homes were foreclosed on in L.A. County - up more than 600 percent from last year. Read More Here Thanks again to CurbedLA for this one, scary though it may be.
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Real Estate Website Primer Pt.5
2007-08-22 23:47:00
Based on the trends indicated through out this report it is possible to draw up a picture of the next generation of real estate websites. Real estate websites that are built to deliver results both in the form of quality leads and in search engine optimization. A real estate website of the future offers quality tools and information designed to build a rapport with its visitors; too keep them coming back time and time again, making them a touchstone for their property search. In the near future, real estate websites will be search engine optimized to facilitate a quick and smooth rise up the search engine rankings. These sites will be able become the dominant force within their niche markets, drawing a substantial amount of traffic from their natural search listings. For agents, real estate websites of the future will be convert more visitors in to quality leads and more quality leads in into sales. As the trend in website behavior increases, more leads will come directly from ...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Prime

Real Estate Website Primer Pt.4
2007-08-21 15:38:00
4.0 SEARCH ENGINES There was a time when search engines could be ignored but today, they must be taken very seriously. Search engines are the single most used function of the internet second only to email. More traffic is directed by search engines then any other online means and real estate websites are no exception. 22% percent of visits to real estate websites were referred through search engines. Further, about 5.5 percent of individuals who leave a real estate website go to a search engine as their next online destination. This makes having a search engine friendly site vitally important. The next question is, what makes a search engine friendly site? Search engines prosper because they list sites that accurately correspond to what people are searching for. Search Engines would cease to function if they listed websites that dealt with telephones when the client was searching for puppies. Their sole existence is based on being able to give people exactly what they are looki...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Real , Prime

Real Estate Website Primer Pt.3
2007-08-20 05:42:00
Real estate online marketing & ad trends One of the most remarkable things about the growth of online real estate websites is that the majority of the visitors represent an ideal demographic. They earn more money with average median income of $60,000+, and they have homes with a value of at least $200,000. This represents a fantastic opportunity for real estate websites and capturing these visitors has become a major source of ad spending. Online real estate ad spending will reach 1.8 billion this year alone, which equals approximately 15% of the projected 11.7 billion in total real estate ad spending. More interestingly however, is the speculation that these figures should more than double by 2010. As more attention is paid to online demographics, much of the money that will flow into real estate advertising will be shifted away from traditional outlets such as newspaper classified advertising and into online avenues. . Real estate classified ads are down about 8% this year. ...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Real , Prime

Real Estate Website Primer Pt.2
2007-08-17 16:59:00
2.0 REAL ESTATE WEBSITE USAGE There have been some industry sectors that have survived the dot com crash and transitioned to online models quite effectively. Real estate is one such industry. Real estate websites have become a touchstone that prospective buyers use to educate themselves and start aligning their property needs. The reality is, real estate websites have become an integral part of the industry as a whole. Purchasing or renting real estate is one of the most important decisions people make. Rent or mortgage payments often constitute the lion share of monthly expenses. This drives a need for education and overall market awareness. The internet provides a wealth of instantly available information. Further, the information is stable as it can be accessed by visitors time and time again. For a real estate professional having a website that can provide quality information to prospective clients looking to educate themselves engenders a working relationship. This relation...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Prime

Real Estate Website Primer Pt.1
2007-08-17 00:51:00
1.0 REAL ESTATE ONLINE: 2007 Within the last 10 years Real Estate websites have gone from being digital business cards to some of the most visually impressive, popular and interactive websites on the internet. They have gone from sideshow projects to state of the art, technologically advanced, mainstream sites. Real Estate websites of all descriptions have been widely accepted and adopted by the general population. This trend has been growing steadily since the late nineties. Born out of this demand and growing popularity, today’s real estate websites offer up media rich, interactive experiences that convert targeted visitors into quality leads. According to the 2007 Realtor Technology Survey the internet is the number one tool that has become integrated into the sales kit of real estate professionals. Over 96% of those surveyed considered the internet an essential tool, beating out cell phones and digital cameras. 81% of those surveyed, stated that searchable listings online...
More About: Website , Prime

Beyond MLS
2007-08-09 20:35:00
I have been digging around the internet in order to get an feel for the international real estate website scene. On my globe trotting web adventures a discovered some pretty interesting things. MLS does not rule the world. In most of the world there is no centralized listing service to speak of. This opens a host of possibilities for real estate entrepreneurs. Targeting and maximizing key word niche markets in foreign climes is a great way to attract local real estate agents looking for more exposure. There is a lot of potential within these niche markets. Key word niche markets are much more exposed in other parts of the world. Areas, that are just joining the web revolution are still very much behind in search engine optimization and thus, the potential to establish first page rankings for prime markets is still viable if not down right easy. While I don’t want to give away the whole farm, what I am getting at here is that looking beyond your own horizons opens up som...

The List: Real Estate Miscallaney For A Monday Morning.
2007-08-06 17:04:00
This is my first compiled list of Real Estate Miscellany. Today’s lists The Top 5 Most Expensive Places To Live In The USA: This list was compiled by a Wisconsin based Management firm, Runzheimer International. The rates are based on the comparable cost of the National average of a family of four earning $60 000 a year. City 1. Manhattan 2. San Francisco 3. Los Angeles 4. San Jose 5. Washington DC Again, while many of us will smile smugly knowing that our homes are located in some of the most expensive places in the US, we should be aware, that even at its most expensive, Manhattan is a steal next to some of the worlds most expensive cities. City 1. Moscow (scores a full %34 more expensive then Manhattan) 2. London 3. Seoul 4. Tokyo 5. Hong Kong There are only a handful of American cities that actually ranked, with New York being the most expensive at number 15. The only other top 50 finisher was Los Angles which ranked 42nd.
More About: Real Estate , List , Morning

Real Estate Observations D’jour.
2007-08-01 18:39:00
I walk in two worlds; a man torn asunder by two conflicting realities. On one hand, there are those that are involved with, surrounded by and part of the online world of real estate. On the other, real estate professionals at street level. It has come to my attention through comments, emails and social interactions that we in online world of real estate suffer from ivory tower syndrome. Our perception of website usage, importance and integration seems to skewed and varies greatly from the reality on the street. In our defense I think the importance of real estate website development is vital. However, the perception on the street is something different all together. So in the interest of bringing in a different prospective, here is what I have found. Many real estate agents are not sold on the importance of real estate websites. While many will have a site, most are put up by the brokerage and offer very little up in the way of lead generation. Websites are seen by many...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Observations , Real

The Real Estate Website Digital Devide
2007-07-31 17:42:00
I was speaking to a client the other day who was telling me how they made the jump online. The biggest hang up, for them, in establishing an online presence was the perceived need for a real estate website in the first place. As I spend most of my working hours online, I suppose I just naturally assume that everyone should have a website. Moreover, being submersed in the world of online real estate daily only served to reinforce this notion. So needless to say, I was a little surprised when I heard that there was a lot of thinking that predicated their move to a real estate website. For the client, their reality was much different then mine. For the client, setting up a real estate website meant taking a jump into the realm of the unknown. As the client went onto explain, the web represented a literacy that they were not fluent in; a literacy that their kids could eat and breath, but that had, with the process of time excluded them. It quickly became apparent that the de...
More About: Website , Estate , Real Estate , Real , Digital

Think big, go hyperlocal.
2007-07-30 21:03:00
Emerging from the ever dynamic digital ooze is a new approach to web use. For the past few years, websites, real estate websites included, have been highly effective because of their national and even international appeal. In many respects, the very strength of a website was its reach; the ability to reach a wide audience. There is a paradigm shift that is taking place. Instead of trying to reach a massive audience, websites and web applications have begun to focus on their own backyards. Viaing not for global domination, but niche domination; going hyperlocal. Mainstream media has a tendency to focus on sensational, shocking or national stories. Filling time with such reports often leaves community level coverage lacking and often overlooked. Originally born out of this lack of community news, hyperlocal reporting began to spring up around the blogosphere. Individuals took it upon themselves to collect news etc from their own neighborhoods. Once this trend established ...
More About: Hyperlocal , Hyper , Loca

Putting the call out
2007-07-27 20:58:00
We are looking for real estate professionals who are interested in doing a guest spot on our blog. It would be a twice monthly spot that would give the writer a chance to put up some of their own work and as long as it was real estate related cover just about anything they wanted. If you are interested or know of someone who is, please contact us. The main thrust of this is to introduce some alternative perspectives here at PaperclipCMS. Not that I don’t get a small thrill out of seeing my blog on daily basis, but fortunately PaperclipCMS is about more then my perspective - which stands to better us all. This an open call for aspiring blog writers to get their work out on the web. Also, coming from someone who is totally SEO obsessed, this would be a great chance to get some quality inbound links to your site. Again if you are interested, please contact me at robert@paperclipcms.com I look forward to hearing from you.
More About: Putting , Call , The Call

Another look at low cost housing in the UK
2007-07-25 16:19:00
Not too long ago I did a little piece on some record breaking properties in the US and the UK (This Just In). As a little update, I bring you a little video production piece. Subtle, understated, modest and succinct. Its amazing the media you can create when the property is cost just over 1 billion to build. The narrator, using perfect BBC diction, captures the essence of the home without laying on too thick. Some of my favorite lines from the film include: A truly grand house of extravagant proportions with 4 400 square meters of flexible living space… The west wing contains rooms designed for the relaxed, domestic pursuits of the household. Other movie items of note: Powerful, moving soundtrack that inspires personal betterment. Excellent steady-cam and crane camera work. Excellent use of post production color filters. Crack out the gold plated popcorn, here we go, epic real estate promotions on a grand scale: Again, thanks goes out to Property Investment for fi...
More About: Cost , Housing , Look , The U , Low cost

And in this corner…Real Estate Websites
2007-07-24 16:59:00
Real estate professionals are an interesting bunch. They represent a very particular personality type that makes them very good at what they do. Real estate professionals are always on; always ready for a referral, a lead or deal to close. Any real estate professional would jump at the opportunity to get more targeted leads, more referrals and more motivated buyers. So why is it that many real estate professionals resist setting up a real estate website? There are monsters that lurk amongst them. They sew doubt, malcontent and malaise marking certain real estate professionals as dinosaurs long before their time. Contender number one: Aversion From a humanistic standpoint, there is a natural aversion to new technology. This, to a large extent, has been ingrained in us over many years. Think back to the heady 1980’s, markets were strong, technology spawned by rampant cold war spending was hitting the streets and VHS squared off with Beta off in the first really big techn...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Websites , Corner , Real

Real Estate SEO: Who Do You Trust?
2007-07-20 18:19:00
Search engine optimization is a big deal. Its a big deal because if done properly the results can be amazing. If done poorly, the results can be poor at best, detrimental at worst. There are no shortages of theories, strategies and speculation online. Depending on where you look one can often find conflicting views on real estate search engine optimization. For those just entering the SEO fray, this can be daunting and a little overwhelming. More to the point, there comes a time when you have to choose one method to start with and simply run with it. However, crossing that line if often really difficult. Thus the question. Who do you trust. Who has the right answers? How do you separate the real estate SEO wheat from the spam laced chaff? I know it sounds like I am poised to launch headlong into a marketing pitch for the PaperclipCMS brand of real estate seo, but I’m not. I am going, instead, to reminisce back to the days where I had to start making the same choic...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Real , Trust , Rust

Reflecting on Images.
2007-07-19 04:27:00
Recently, I wrote about some of the applications of images captured daily by real estate agents (see Image Your City). It has come to my attention that I did a great job of glossing over much of the technical aspects of managing your digital image collection. This blog is going to look at some common terms used by most imaging software. There are not many, but they can be mighty powerful at spicing up your digital images. My only suggestion is to use them in moderation. Going over the top very rarely yields quality results. Crop: The idea behind cropping an image is to alter its viewable area. One of my favorite examples is when people crop out the ex boy or girlfriend. There are some very practical applications of cropping. For example, to center the focal point of the image, to remove unwanted excess within the frame of the image or to change the perspective. Sharpness: Sharpness revolves around to the concept of accutance and resolution. The end result is that images ...
More About: Images , Ages

This just in.
2007-07-18 18:54:00
In the time of record bankruptcies, sub prime mortgage crisis and sky rocketing foreclosures, comes these gems of real estate news. The two most expensive properties in US history hit the market this week. The second place winner the Fleur de Lys estate, listed this week for $125 million. Technically, it is tied for second place with Donald Trumps Florida mega mansion - also listed at $125 million. It features 45 000 square feet of living space, 2 kitchens, a movie theater and a 50 car garage. Some folks have been fast crunching the numbers and to carry this estate, without utilities or hired help, runs in the neighborhood of about $600 000 a month. Not bad considering the space. 45 000 square feet is about enough to fit 20 very good sized apartments in New York city. The grand prize of the most expensive property listed in the USA goes to the $165 million dollar Hearst/Davis estate in Beverly Hills. In total, the estate encompasses 72 000 square feet of living space in ...

Image Your City
2007-07-16 16:48:00
The internet is first and foremost a visual medium. Any website worth its salt will feature the use of strong imagery. Your real estate website should not be an exception. For many people, the idea of taking real world moments, capturing them and placing them into a web format is daunting, time consuming and prohibitive. This need not be the case. Technology has come along way making digital image use both economical and very easy. When ever I walk out the door, I take my digital camera with me. I snap at anything my eye is drawn to. At first I really thought twice about the value or importance of what I was shooting, but soon enough, point and shoot became a habit. I could go off here and speak on the personal rewards and satisfaction that comes with being an amateur photographer. However, what I really want to get across is that periodically through week, Ill dump my camera onto my computer and check out what Ive managed to capture. Some of it - ok, most of it - fall...
More About: City , Image

Tools For Inbound Links
2007-07-13 17:13:00
In the post Asking for inbound links for your real estate website, we looked at how to request links from other websites in order to strengthen your search positioning. This post is about some tools that can help or hinder you in your search for inbound links. To start with lets look at the tools not to use. Link managers are software scripts that work with your site to send out link requests, manage your link/resource pages and automate the link sign up process. While this seems like a good idea, there are reasons to stay clear of them. First link managers are not human. That means that they don’t work in your best interest, they can only follow a certain set of rules. This can result in some undesirable link partnerships. Further, search engines do not like to see automated content being generated. The whole idea behind links, remember is that sites of like quality caliber and subject matter benefit by sharing each others resources. Many search engines frown on th...
More About: Tools , Links

Real Estate Blogs & Real Estate Speculation Mash-up
2007-07-12 17:03:00
I was just scanning around through some of my favorite blogs this morning. I came across a post about a mortgage broker in Denver (Blogs As SEO Tools). The post was pretty simple and straight forward. Having caught the blog bug, the author started more then 30 blogs on everything from mortgages and cars, to family and general interest. While most of them slipped to the way side, one that has maintained its online presence is his Denver Modern Property site. The author has an interest in modern homes and as a hobby he posts when he comes across one that strikes his fancy. The author is quick to point out that he spent next to no time designing the blog. He does not actively promote the blog and has a total of 38 posts over a 22 month period. The posts come as he finds property, so there is no rhyme or reason to his post scheduling. Moreover, the blog cost nothing, and uses a free template. The point being here that the author bucked current convention when it came to bloggi...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Mash-Up , Real

A little look at the real cost of operating a real estate website.
2007-07-09 17:13:00
There is according, to the REALTOR group, a prevalent attitude amongst real estate professionals. While many will not hesitate to pay a $200+ a month for cell phone bill, the idea dropping a dime on a real estate website is often seriously questioned. This is an interesting observation because a real estate website has more potential to generate leads then a cell phone. In fact, in the long run, a real estate website can become a very powerful passive lead generation tool, generating leads while the real estate professional does very little. In many cases, the cost of operating a real estate website over the course of a year, can be covered by commission of just one sale. In other words, having a website the generates one sale year - a sale that the real estate professional had to do very little to get - will more then cover the cost of operation. More to the point, in terms of an investment, a direct correlation can be drawn between the two. That is, for every dollar spent...
More About: Website , A Real Estate , Estate , Real Estate , Cost

A reality check for real estate SEO
2007-07-06 16:20:00
In an previous post (Joe and the SEO no-no’s) we looked at Joe and his underhanded and mischievous attempts to out smart those crafty people who decided how search engines work. We looked at few of the most common methods that people use and have used to artificially increase their search engine ranking. There is a an entire industry that has been built up around search engine optimization. Everyday there are people dedicated to understanding how search engines work. There are millions of theories out there, millions of ideas - both good and bad - on how to increase your search engine ranking. The reality is something quite different. For you consideration: The Only Paramount Rule Of Real Estate Search Engine Optimization. Search engines exist because of the need to organize and distribute the mass amount of information online. Their continued existence depends on their ability to provide results that match their clients desires. In other words, they exist because...
More About: Reality , Real Estate , Check

Real Estate, Blogs And You
2007-07-05 17:08:00
Getting up everyday and typing a page or two of a blog post can be a bit daunting. When I was first approached about the idea, I was a little hesitant to jump on board. I mean, I don’t do anything before coffee, and by the time I’m done coffee, my minds already racing towards the day at hand. However, the truth is, blogging need not be cumbersome, intrusive nor time consuming. And as a shock, it can actually be fun. In terms of relevancy to real estate webmasters, blogs are a very powerful way to add content, increase your sites traffic and provide a reason to keep your visitors coming back for more. This is my personal little guide to getting involved with your blog. 1. Don’t think too hard about it. Be loose, be flexible and write what you feel. Be reflective, be forward thinking, make a stand or tear one down. Do as you feel its your blog. 2. Think about your audience. Who will be reading your blog? Write to them. Make it personal and genuine. K...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Blogs , Real , Stat

Language & Real Estate Web Copy.
2007-07-02 16:09:00
In a prior post (Writing Real Estate Web Copy ), I look at the importance of using finding and using the proper voice and being succinct with your style. In this post, I would like to take another look at the importance of language usage. Websites of all kinds, entice viewers with good design, stunning picture and text that is easy on the eyes. However, when it comes right down to it, the one and only thing that keeps visitors coming back time and time again is the information within the site. When it comes to real estate websites, the majority of this information comes in the form of text. Thus, being able to communicate effectively is essential and the tool to do it with is language. By all accounts the English vocabulary is shrinking year to year, as outdated words are dropped or forgotten. While this may be the case however, the ability to use language to impart information is becoming more and more important. There have been tomes written on proper style and usage. Tw...
More About: Real Estate , Language

Another piece of the puzzle, SEO remodleing revisitited.
2007-06-29 18:23:00
In past posts, I have mentioned SEO modeling. This our first of many revisits designed to bring a little more depth to the subject. It is possible to find some complication as to exactly who your competition is and more to the point who you should be competing against. For example, real estate is a monstrous search term which many a real estate webmaster would gladly trade their mothers to rank in the top ten. Those that currently do rank in the top ten, are well entrenched and show not signs of packing up and leaving any time soon. While this may be disappointing, it may be a waste of time and effort even considering these sites as your competition. If your site is about Miami condos, competing for real estate outright does not make any sense. The term real estate, while huge in search power, is much to vague to be appropriate for your Miami condo site. However, the search term Miami condo, directly, 100% relevant to your site is a sizable search term and a great place to ...
More About: Puzzle , Piece

A Touch Of The Ol’ Real Estate Speculation.
2007-06-27 18:28:00
I was just reading through a post I put up a couple of days ago (Set up, get in or loose out) which dealt with the importance of setting up real estate websites sooner then later in order to start the process of building history. The main point of the article, as the title implies, is that the sooner you get in and get your site going, the better. Moreover, the longer you wait, the bigger the hill to climb becomes. In this post, I would like to take this idea a step further. Real estate professionals, it seems, have a gene that causes a predisposition to searching for the up and coming neighborhoods or areas. All across the land, real estate professionals go about their daily lives - criss crossing cities, dealing with clients, running errands and taking the kids to soccer practice - all the while scanning for signs of an impending boom. Finding the next ‘it’ area is the holy grail of real estate. Get in on the ground floor, buy cheap and let the skyrocketing marke...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Touch , Ouch

Writing Real Estate Web Copy
2007-06-26 15:31:00
Writing effective web copy is an important real estate marketing skill to develop. As a real estate webmaster, you need to impart all of your excitement, enthusiasm and professionalism to you your site visitors through your web copy. In terms of keeping your visitors coming back for more, this is a critical area. This first look at real estate web copy will deal with two macro elements: voice and style. Online writing of any kind requires the author to pay close attention to their audience and to acclimate the voice used accordingly. This in turn requires an understanding to whom the site caters to and what their language expectations are. Finding the ‘voice’ or language style for a real estate website and ensuring that it gels well with the prospective clients is a crucial first step. Another key element is perspicacity, or the ability discern information. This is key as much of the content found online is stripped down to it bare essentials, and offered up in...
More About: Writing , Estate , Real Estate , Real , Copy