Today the world of web design and blogging moves as quickly as the real estate market itself. Just as real estate listings are updated daily, web marketing techniques are constantly changing and improving. To stay competitive in the real estate industry, your website has to be effective.

Last Friday, the Southern Web Group participated in a seminar offered by the Cobb Association of Realtors called Hands on Tech Day. Drew Barton of Southern Web Group discussed “what to do and what not to do” on your web page.

The Hands On Tech Day was limited to 20 participants. Realtors had the golden opportunity to update the look of their web pages, learn how to start their own blog and much more. A compelling, navigable website equals improved profits for realtors.

Today’s real estate customers want to visit an easy-to-use website with updated information. Often your website is the first impression prospective clients have of your real estate business. Does your website design reach out and grab your visitors? If it doesn’t, they’ll quickly leave to visit competitors’ websites to find what they want.

If you haven’t updated your website or added a blog, you’ll be left behind in today’s fast-paced online business marketplace. The web marketing techniques that worked last year are already stale this year. Remaining aware of current trends equals greater success for your real estate business. You can even host a web marketing seminar of your own to empower your real estate team members.

The Southern Web Group also published a new site for Idee Design last week, which is featured in the screen shot above. Idee Design is an excellent example of a powerful first web page. White picket fence gates encourage visitors to open them and enter the web world of Idee Design. Once you enter, links to information are easy to find.

Make the most of your online real estate by learning the latest web marketing techniques. Update your website, add an interesting blog and watch your revenues soar!

When you have an online business, you’ll receive plenty of solicitations from self-proclaimed SEO (Search Engine Optimization) gurus. If it was as easy as these alleged experts make it sound, everyone would be doing it.

Just a few years ago, SEO was as simple as finding a few great keywords to add to your titles and web copy. Include some links pointing to sites then watch the website’s rank go up in a few weeks and suddenly – you were an SEO expert!

SEO has become much more complicated. Using too many keywords or posting tired old copy can actually cause you to rank lower in the search engines. Yesterday’s tactics no longer work today.  There is no easy magic formula for SEO success.

To remain competitive while SEO strategies continually change, get help from a reputable SEO professional.  An SEO pro will strategize with you so your business website does its job.

According surveys conducted by the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), the pay scale for SEO professionals is good. “Of those respondents with up to one year’s experience, 60% reported annual salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Compensation tracks strongly with experience. At the next level, two to three years experience, almost 34% reported salaries in the $50,000 to $80,000 range. At the more seasoned end of the spectrum, of those professionals with nine or more years experience, just under 40% are earning between $90,000 and $140,000 annually.”

SEO professionals don’t earn those kind of bucks for nothing. Real SEO professionals have a proven track record. Word of mouth travels quickly online so you really have to know your stuff to be considered a pro these days.

Avoid glossy ad campaigns, ongoing solicitations and persistant pop-ups.  Usually these SEO gurus don’t make money for anyone other than themselves.  Bargain basement prices and inflated promises are often signs you’re dealing with a pretender rather than a pro. 

DIY solicitations are also hype.  Would you perform your own dental work?  Do you hire an accountant for your taxes do get the highest returns on your money?  Hiring an SEO professional yields far better results than doing it yourself.

Review SEO professionals carefully.  Ask for a list of current clients.  Contact several businesses to discuss the success of their SEO and PPC campaigns. Do your research so you know you’re working with a legitimate SEO pro.

Enlisting the services of an effective SEO professional is a solid investment .  An SEO professional helps you develop a successful SEO and PPC campaign for your website. The right formula from a skillful SEO pro makes your web business more noticeable and profitable.

On November 11, we sent out our November Newsletter to our valued customers and friends.  The newsletter contains information about our new SEO service, our email marketing program and our referral bonus program.

Click here to read a copy of our November edition.

Businesses are gearing up for a difficult holiday season. Rising expenses and stagnant salaries mean Americans are spending less. According to a recent U.S. Commerce Department report, individual American expenditures fell 0.3 percent in September from August. This drop is the biggest since June, 2004.

With American spending less rather than more as the holiday season draws closer, businesses need to take a new approach. What can mean the difference between success and failure for your business this holiday season? A navigable website design, compelling content, effective email campaign and secure eCommerce store will put you ahead of the competition.

A navigable website makes it easy for your visitors to find what they want right away. Information is assembled in a clear, logical fashion. Links are operational so it’s easy for your visitors to take action. Include search options and useful content about your products and services.

Avoid using tired content and articles that were rehashed everywhere else on the web. Keep your content fresh, informative and unique. Become a valuable resource so visitors want to return and tell others about you.  Use SEO tactics to move your rank up in the popular search engines.  Maintain a blog to post ongoing holiday updates.

A well-planned email campaign gives your visitors additional reasons and reminders to take action. Have a newsletter to offer sales and coupons and announce new products and services. Discuss industry updates. Stay in touch with your visitors so they want to stay in touch with you.

Finally, a secure eCommerce store makes it simple for visitors to makes purchases from your website. Make sure to have site signs indicating the existence of an SSL certificate so visitors know their transactions are secure.

With the American public tightening their belts before the holidays, you need a plan for success. Update your website design and initiate an email campaign to engage your visitors. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may lose serious holiday profits.