Happy 4th of July!
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LET FREEDOM RING!
DON’T FORGET TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
Send an email at the new
America Supports You website
Volunteer or Donate to
Operation Homefront
Send a Card at
Let’s Say Thanks
From the Web: Why You Need to Listen to Your Analytics
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Have you had a heart-to-heart with your traffic statistics lately?
If not, I suggest you schedule some time soon - and do it regularly.
Traffic statistics can tell you all kinds of things that will help you to fine tune your website to make it as effective as it can be.
Here’s a real-life example from Lisa Udy from Utah. Follow the link. If you aren’t paying much attention to your traffic statistics, Lisa’s post might just convince you to start doing so!
If you’re old enough, you’ll get a chuckle out of the title of this post. If you don’t get it, ask someone over the age of 35, or maybe 40. Anyway. . .
A little while ago, I was forced to start using IE8. My IE7, for no reason at all, stopped working. And, I need IE, so I called in an expert. Neither of us could figure out why IE7 stopped working, and the only solution we could find was to install IE8.
First, a few words about Microsoft, as long as I’m complaining. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the little icon that looks like a ripped piece of paper at the top of the browser window. Know what it’s for?
Evidently, it’s to make IE8 work more like IE7. What a concept. Introduce a new piece of software, then give people a way to make believe they’re still using the old one. Good heavens.
The official explanation of the icon is this: “Compatibility View: websites designed for older browsers will often look better, and problems such as out-of-place menus, images, or text will be corrected.”
Great.
Anyway, I started out complaining about Google, and this is all related, really. In IE7, you could use the Preferences link on the Google screen, and choose “Do not provide query suggestions in the search box”. And, instead of all of Google’s suggestions, you could select from a drop down of your own recent searches.
In IE8, the Preferences link still take you to a page that has that option, but it works a little differently now. In IE8, if you turn off Google’s suggestions, you don’t get ANY drop down of search terms to choose from.
I know Google is just trying to help, but I’ve about had it. I don’t want to have to type past all of Google’s suggestions to get to the search I do a lot. I want my browser to work the way I want to work.
Google, if you’re listening, how about introducing a version of Google for us independent cusses??
SEO: Outbound Links - Do They Help or Hurt?
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The question of outbound links on real estate websites comes up from time to time. So, what’s the verdict. . . do they help or hurt? There are a few issues to be considered. As usual with SEO, there’s never a simple answer.
Will Outbound Links Drain Authority?
It is true that if you display live links to other websites, you will be passing along a bit of your website’s authority to each of the sites you link to. And, I think it’s important to be aware of that fact.
Linking to other authority sites isn’t always bad for SEO, though. The search engines do like it when they see relevant outbound links to authority websites. How much that practice contributes to getting ranked - I’m not sure. But, it isn’t a bad practice in and of itself.
My advice is always to look at your own situation. If you are just adding some information-rich community pages to your website, now isn’t the time to pepper that page with lots of links - even if they are to relevant authority websites like the city site, the chamber site, etc.
Your first goal should be to get your new page noticed by the search engines. A outbound link or two won’t hurt, but don’t go overboard.
Will People Ever Return to My Site?
If you are providing good information, outbound links shouldn’t take people off your site never to return. But, I think it’s something to consider. For one thing, you’d want to open links to other websites in a new window to make it easy for your visitors to return to your website.
And, I would often prefer to see a page called “Local Resources”, or something similar, that contains links to attractions, schools, cities, chambers, etc. I think your main pages should be focused on moving the visitor toward a desired outcome. For example, providing information, then adding a call to action for a special offer relating to that information. On those types of pages, I don’t think outbound links are useful.
Those main pages should be landing pages that have a specific purpose. You don’t want to interrupt someone in the middle of starting to decide that they should contact you for more information, and shoot them over to another website.
So, my bottom line is this: outbound links do help put your site in context in the search engines, and used wisely, they help both your site and your visitors.
Even in Bad Times: “Stick to Your Knitting”
By · CommentsThis guest post was written by Larry Easto who is a
best-selling business writer, and publisher of Real Estate Marketing Link
For the past few weeks, the W network, a Canadian cable network, has been running a series featuring real estate agents in their day-to-day activities. Shortly before the worst of the recession really hit Canada, the intention was to show the dog-eat-dog world of high powered real estate agents. Instead of seeing agents deal with the stress of multiple offers, viewers got to see the stress of agents frantically looking for the next client and whatever new business came their way.
Personally I found the series as it turned out more engaging than what was intended. What surprised me most was the willingness of so many agents to abandon their niche markets to pursue new business opportunities.
For example, one agent who normally assisted clients with the purchase and sale of high-end homes eagerly undertook a land-assembly project for a would-be developer. She was so far out of her element that she got lost on her way to look at some property.
Another agent who also normally served the high end marketed aggressively promoted herself to a local celebrity who was looking for a short-term condo rental. Even though he told this agent that he really liked a unit that another agent had shown him, she pushed him into seeing another until that was available. The showing was complete fiasco…she too got lost and tried to show the wrong unit. Needless to say, her client was very upset and would be unlikely to speak to her again, let alone hire or recommend her.
While I recognize the urgency to generate new business, I also appreciate the importance of sticking to what you know and do best. When chasing new business outside of your familiar niche market, instead of the ideal of a win-win scenario, you risk creating a lose-lose situation for you and your clients. By wallowing around in an unfamiliar market, you add more stress and frustration to your already over-stressed life. You also compromise your hard-earned credibility when stumbling around in an unfamiliar market.
Instead of being selflessly focused on clients’ needs wants and expectations, you are more likely to be driven by your self-interest of generating more new business, whatever and wherever it is. Say good bye to professional objectivity.
Instead of chasing new business in unfamiliar markets, these agents—and you—would be better advised to reconnect with past clients. Certainly they would be interested to hear your thoughts on the current status of the real estate market. And who knows…maybe they know some one in your market who would benefit from your services.
Despite the economic situation and a tough real estate market, client referrals remain the best source of new business. Sometimes you just have to work a little harder to generate the referrals—but it’s well worth the effort.
For a refresher on niche marketing see: http://real-estate-marketing-link.info/target_marketing.html
