Actually, our love affair with Posterous ended long ago. As you know, Twitter acquired Posterous in March of last year and immediately, the platform began experiencing bugs and other maladies making it terribly trying to use. Even before the acquisition real estate pros were able to download the WordPress APP to their smartphone thus rendering the simplicity of Posterous irrelevant. Now Posterous will be no more on April 30. RIP Posterous!

The Back Story to Our Love Affair with Posterous

The genesis of our fascination with Posterous actually began in 2008 when Brad meet the founder of Posterous, Sachin Agarwal at Blog World in Las Vegas. Brad even asked Agarwal; “how do you pronounce your platform?” He replied; it’s pronounced “pah-ster-ous”.

Why We Loved Posterous?

I was reminded on numerous Google+ threads how “back in the day” the Dakno Boys led REBarCamp sessions on Posterous. We shared why it was so cool and that it was a “Caveman Easy” tool to make blogging easier and less time consuming. For many real estate agents blogging just didn’t “compute”. It was too hard. Too time consuming. We figured if we could convince agents that if they had a phone and it could take a photo and email it to Posterous, they could be content generators.

The “icing on the cake” was if agents set up their Posterous account on a sub domain, they could add more content to their online marketing hub and gain a little SEO.

Hurry – Import Your Posterous Content to Your WordPress Blog!

Take heart. You salvage all of your Posterous posts, comments and attachments by importing that content to your WordPress blog. It’s actually “caveman easy”. Gosh, I love saying that!

Below are the visual steps to importing your Posterous blog to WordPress.

Step 1 Login to your Posterous site and click “Manage Spaces”.

Step 2 Click the “gear” and select “Space Settings” below.

Step 3 Access Your Posterous Domain Here

Step 4 Copy and paste the domain of your Posterous blog. In the above example, it’s “activeadultsdelaware.posterous.com”.

Next, login to your WordPress Blog and activate the Posterous Importer Plugin. Your plugins can be found in your Dashboard. If you don’t have that plugin you can find it here.

Step 5 Activate the Posterous Importer Plugin

Step 6 Copy and paste the domain of your Posterous blog into the plugin. You can navigate to this location via “Tools” and then “Import”.

You’ll need to enter your Posterous user login credentials, your Posterous domain and click submit. Don’t be alarmed if you receive a “504 Timeout Error” message. It’s okay. Simply click your browser back button and you should see where the download has occured and the Posts, Comments and Attachments have been imported to your WP blog.

The import should be fairly easy if you followed these steps.

What are Your Fond Memories of Posterous?

How many posts did you create on your Posterous blog? What were the characteristics you liked best about the platform?

Bobby Carroll – The Senior Member of the Dakno Boys!

Dakno’s Love Affair With Posterous is Over – RIP! was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

I recently sent out a “Thank You” email to our newest Dakno clients for attending their first Dakno Admin Training Webinar. For those of you who were busy and couldn’t attend, fear not, you have another chance to attend our Dakno Website Training Webinar on the first Thursday of February (2/7/13) at 3PM EST.

Because it’s important to get your new Dakno website off to the best possible start, here are a few tips to help make that happen:

First, Leverage Your Google+ Presence

Using your Google+ profile, list your business on Google Local (the Google mapped results for real estate agents in your city). See if your business is already listed with Google.

While you’re at it, also list your business with Yelp, CitySearch, and Yellow Pages. When adding your business make certain your business name and contact info is an exact match on every review site as well as your  website.

Real Estate Reviews – The Ying and The Yang

There’s a “Ying and Yang” to reviews. While it’s important to get great reviews, it also helpful to write genuine reviews. It’s equally important to “review your reviews” at the above sites to see what you do well and what you don’t do so well. That way you can work on those areas in need of improvement. Of course, it’s important that you ask for honest, genuine reviews from your clients. Ratings and reviews seriously impact search results. Plus, its a terrific way to monitor your online reputation.

Links – Links – Links!

List your site on local, regional, and national sites. Examples of local sites would be your local TV station, radio stations, and newspaper sites. Examples of regional sites would be a site like Patch.com. National site examples where you can build profiles and links would be REALTOR.com, Trulia.com, Zillow.com and Inman.com. Just be sure when describing your site link you would be wise to use your targeted keywords in your alt text. (example: Dakno Real Estate Web Design)

What are Your Keywords?

Use your targeted keywords for your content. The easiest tool to see what keywords you should be targeting is to use the Google Keyword Tool.

Where Do I Start with Content?

The most often question asked by new site owners is “what content do I start adding/building to my new Dakno site? Great question! Go hyper-local! Start adding your neighborhoods, condo buildings, communities, and towns. Begin systematically adding your targeted neighborhoods and condo buildings to your site. Remember, the goal isn’t how many neighborhood pages and condo pages you can add but the quality of the content you add for each neighborhood and condo building. Set realistic goals and make sure the copy convey high value information about the communities. These include amenities of the community, what’s nearby the communities and what listings are available for those neighborhoods or condo buildings. This information is very compelling to potential buyers. Think about adding a wide variety of types of content. This includes text, video, images, and stats/graphs.

Usability of Your Site

Even in the early stages of your site, audit your site’s usability, accessibility, and content. Here was today’s web tip on our Dakno Facebook page: “Send an email to your past clients and ask them to name 5 things they look for when they visit your real estate website. Then make sure your site includes that information as well as make certain it can be easily found on your site. This is a terrific idea for new Dakno website owners.” Another idea would be to offer a friend a Starbucks gift card to navigate your site and watch where they navigate. Track when they click the back button. Those could be dead-ends on your site and might be opportunities for people to bounce from your site.

What other steps do you take to ensure your site is off to a great start?

If you have any questions about these tips, feel free to leave a comment below!

Google+ Author Bobby Carroll

P.S.  Don’t forget to join us in the next Dakno Admin Webinar Training Session on 2/7 at 3 PM EST.

How to Jumpstart Your New Dakno Real Estate Website was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

The 2012 edition of REbarcampRDU will be held Tuesday, December, 11th. This is a terrific opportunity to register and hold your coveted place for a great day of sharing, networking and learning. REbarcampRDU 2012 will be limited to the first 115 reservations making it a high quality, intimate event you will not want to miss. It is anticipated this event will fill quickly so don’t delay. Reservations will be held on a first come, first serve basis. Register for REbarcampRDU here!

Like to be a REbarcampRDU Sponsor?

Here are all the REbarcampRDU details. If you would like to be a sponsor be sure check out the REbarcampRDU Sponsors page.

Will there be an REbarcampRDU Pre-Party?

You bet there will be a pre-party and you’re invited! The REbarcampRDU pre-party is on Monday evening 12/11/2012 at the Tribeca Tavern located on 6004 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27609. Here are all the REbarcampRDU Pre-Party details.

2012 REbarcampRDU Selected Local Charity – Triangle Spokes Group!

Each year REbarcampRDU selects a worthy local charity to support and this year’s worthy cause is the Triangle Spokes Group. Learn how you can support this outstanding cause here.

If you have any questions about REbarcampRDU be sure to leave a comment below.

The REbarcampRDU planning committee  looks forward to seeing you Tuesday, December 11th at 8:30 am for a tremendous day of learning, sharing and networking.

See you soon at REbarcampRDU,

Bobby

2012 REbarcampRDU is Coming Soon! was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

With Thanksgiving less than 2 weeks away, now is the perfect time to pause and give thanks for what we have. It’s also the perfect time to consider how we can help others. If you recall, last year Dakno partnered with a local non profit called The Triangle Spokes Group. The goal of this incredible organization is to provide brand new bicycles and helmets to needy kids who can’t afford them. As a partner with Triangle Spokes, Dakno will be seeking to surpass the number of bikes we contributed last November of 2011 and you can help!

Buy a Dakno Site – Give a Bike!

During the entire month of November, for every Dakno real estate SwiftSite, SwiftBlog or Hybrid website purchased, Dakno Marketing will donate a new bike and helmet to be given to a need-worthy child this Christmas. We are already experiencing a tremendous month of sales and we believe the best is yet to come!

The Fulfillment of Giving!

Several Dakno staff members had the rich opportunity to participate in the Triangle Spokes bike distribution last year at the local Salvation Army Distribution Center. You can’t imagine the absolute joy on the faces of the moms and dads who received a bright, shiny new bike and helmet for their children. It was an unforgettable experience and one we wish to participate in again this year!

Make a Difference in Your Marketing and for a Deserving Child this Christmas!

If you, or someone you know are interested in taking your online marketing to a new level with a dynamic, lead generating real estate website, (or if you are already a valued Dakno client and wish to make a donation here), now is a great time to do it. By partnering with Dakno and Triangle Spokes Group you will help yourself and help meet the goal of donating 500 brand new bicycles to kids in need this Christmas. You will not only improve your real estate marketing and your business, you will also help surprise a child this holiday season with a brand new bike.

If you just want to make a donation of any size, feel free to do so here.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Bobby

Content authored by Bobby Carroll

Real Estate Websites for Bikes was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

Something pretty cool happened the other day I wanted to share it with you. In my normal daily routine I’ll tweet a few links of what I feel are especially high value content links our clients create for their Dakno websites, WordPress Blogs and IDX sites. In this particular instance, I tweeted out a link for a terrific Google Map created for Jeff Adler’s Bergen County, NJ Real Estate Home Team Blog. More precisely, it was a clever Google Map for Jeff’s upcoming Bergen County, NJ Halloween Events. You might be asking yourself; “Okay Bobby, what’s the big deal about a Halloween events map?” Stay tuned!

Before We Get to “The Map”

In case you haven’t checked your Google calendar lately, Halloween will be here before you know it. Have you written you real estate blog post outlining where locals can find your area’s Halloween events? Holiday posts are typically big site traffic generators. Mind you, they probably won’t generate buyer or seller engagements. What they will do is position you as the area expert and the go to resource for all things in your area. You might even gain a little “mind share“.

Casting Heavy Stones?!

If you create great content, it will get recognized and shared. It’s like taking your content and tossing it in a lake (where your audience hangs out). The more compelling (weighty) the content, the more “ripples” it creates and the more attention it will gain. Attention is good and Google measures and rewards content that has been shared and reshared.

Back to The Tweet!

You never know who is listening to your tweets. Or in this case, my tweets. As you can see in the progression of the images below, my tweet about Jeff’s Google map was “retweeted” by Myles Ma. Mr. Myles Ma is a journalist in Bergen County, NJ. For real estate agents who tweet, should you follow and engage with journalists in your backyard? YES! Myles is so open to engagement that he even says so in his Twitter bio! “Got a Tip? Contact me!” Granted, what Myles is looking for are juicy tips about breaking news in Bergen County, NJ. But you never know on a slow news day if Myles will reach out to someone like Jeff Adler for a Bergen County, NJ real estate interview.

Now that’s NOT an invitation for local REALTORS to spam Myles with your listings but it is an open invitation to be seen as a subject matter expert on real estate.

Although, it’s difficult to see but in the photo below the Reply-Delete-Favorite tools in my tweet you can see where Myles retweeted the Google map tweet of mine.

One of the hot topics discussed in real estate marketing circles today is social media ROI. In my mind, one way real estate agents can experience social media ROI is to create awesome content, share it responsibly and engage. The reward will be great relationships, building value with your community, with Google and possibly, be validated by the press for your expertise.

How Has Your Compelling Content Coupled with Your Social Engagement Been Rewarded?

Leave a comment and share how your content and your engagement has been validated and rewarded.

Until next time,

Bobby

Little Tweets – Limitless Opportunities! was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

 10 Hangout Ideas for REALTORS

Armed with a web cam and a mic you can host Google+ Hangouts with your real estate partners and possibly, your potential consumers. Below are a few ideas to help inspire you to begin using this exciting Google+ tool!

1. Brokerage Agent Meetings via Hangouts
2. Agent Team Brainstorming Hangouts (maybe include your Virtual Assistant!)
3. Offer Foreclosure Avoidance Consultation with a Distressed Property Attorney Hangouts
4. Guided Tour of Your Real Estate Website on Hangouts
5. Offer Buyer/Seller Question & Answer – Market Update Hangouts/Team Up with a Lender and Host First Time Home Financing Hangouts
6. Produce Local Events Hangouts (Halloween Carnival, Christmas Parade-Great Barrier Reef Hangout Hangout
7. Make Press Release Announcements via Hangouts
8. Host Open House Hangouts (Example of a Hangout Open House by Carra Riley)
9. Virtual Vendor Fair Hangouts for Your Agency
10. Host a Real Estate Partner Round Table discussing their role in the real estate transaction (agents, home inspectors, new home builders, mortgage lenders, appraisers, attorneys, real estate marketing partner)

To be sure, expecting buyers and sellers to join your Hangout isn’t apt to happen unless you have already fostered a relationship with them. If buyers and sellers do attend your Hangouts, be sure to set specific ground rules what information they share “if” you are hosting a Hangout on Air and it’s to be archived on YouTube.

Bonus Real Estate Hangout Idea

Another creative way to use Hangouts includes using them for organizing a local events like a real estate bar camp. My buddy Mike Mueller recently hosted a Hangout to discuss the REBarCamp movement with other industry leaders. Kudos Mike for using this tool to start conversations about real estate bar camps.

Use Hangouts Wisely!

Google Hangouts are tremendous opportunities if you’ll conduct your Hangouts with these thoughts in mind.  Share information that’s relevant to consumers, select attendees who are subject matter experts, be professional, and above all, be genuine! These qualities are paramount to successful online engagement opportunities like Hangouts. Thanks to my new Google+ friend, Domingo Rogers for these wonderful words of wisdom!

Your Creative Real Estate Hangout Ideas?

Leave a comment and share your creative ways to use Google+ Hangouts for Real Estate.

Ready to start a Hangout? Get started here!

Bobby

Content authored by Bobby Carroll

10 Creative Ways to Use Hangouts in Real Estate was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

For the most real estate agents, Google+ remains a mystery. Many ask; “what is it and why should I give it the time of day?”. When describing Google Plus, it’s a social network that’s a longer version of Twitter, coupled with a better version of Facebook, with the checkin capabilities of a Foursquare ALL fueled by steroidal SEO. While other social platforms contribute to the ranking signals measured by Google, the other platforms just don’t deliver the SEO pop that Google+ conveys! As far as committing your valuable time to another social network, maybe after reading this post you’ll determine it’s worth giving it a try.

What Can You Do on Google+?

You can create a profile, add, follow and engage with your friends adding them to your lists .. er circles, post comments, and share links, but it’s more. Way more!

Amped Up Social Network PLUS Search

Google+ helps Google achieve its Mission Statement to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. By creating and leveraging your Google+ profile you can contribute to its mission. With your profile you can link direct to Google. In its desire to identify “authors” who create high-value, compelling content, Google will pull your Google+ profile image in to your search engine results for your ranking keywords. Ironically, when Google filed it’s patent for Google+, these authors were actually called “agents”. This is called Google+ Authorship. To accomplish this you’ll need to add your “Contributor to” links to your profile allowing you to be identified as one of these “authors”.

Maximized Google+ Opportunities

Here are a few ways real estate agents should consider leveraging Google+:

1. Create a complete, optimized profile with keyword-rich “Contribute To” links to your online marketing hub (website/IDX/blog)
2. Add your Authorship Attribution (rel=author) tag to your website, IDX and blog to obtain distinctive SERPs pulling your Google+ profile image to the results
3. Add prospects, past clients, media types, SEO thought leaders, social media experts, real estate referral network members, news media types, and local techies to your Circles
4. Upload properly tagged images to your Google+ profile including a high-quality head & shoulders photo of yourself
5. Upload properly tagged videos to your Google+ profile
6. Share content links to validate you are a subject matter expert
7. Have fellow team members/referral network “+1″ your content
8. Have fellow team members/referral network “comment” on your content
9. Have fellow team members/referral “share” your content
10. You +1 content, comment on content and share content from others
11. All of the above actives enhance rapid indexing of your content
12. Use the Explore navigation to search for your keywords and comment/share to that stream
    
13. Create Google+ Events
14. Write genuine Google Reviews
15. Create a Google+ Business Page
16. Using your Google+ Business page, create a Google Local Citation (your exact business address to be include in the mapped “7 Pack”)
17. Host  cool Google+ Hangouts (more on this in a follow up post!)
18. Create/attend local “Hangouts In Real Life” meetups. (HIRL-see image)
19. Use the private message/video chat features
20. Listen, learn, engage and make relationships as you would on any social site

What Other Ways Do You Use Google+?

Be sure to leave a comment and state how you use Google+ to help your real estate business.
Content authored by Bobby Carroll

How Real Estate Agents Can Maximize Google+ was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

“Stay top of mind” is a phrase that I hear so many marketing gurus utter. Even I have been guilty of saying it on multiple occasions. But, the problem is that just “staying top of mind” doesn’t help your business – you have to go beyond that. Let me give you an example. What if I walked up to you and said, “Hi. Remember me? I’m Brad.” I then proceed to throw a cup of water in your face. Would it be memorable? Would I be top of mind? You betcha! But, I’m not sure it would help me sell you a website. You may think that’s a little extreme. But, many of the drip campaigns and spam emails being sent out all in the name of staying top of mind are just as bad.

The Death of Email Marketing?

I’m not suggesting to stop email marketing. I’m saying to stop the BAD email marketing and begin thinking about a total solution to stay engaged with potential and past clients.

Don’t send something just for the sake of sending something

So many agents feel pressured to blast their database just for the sake of “touching” their list. Growing up, my mom would tell me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” When it comes to email blasts, “If you don’t have anything valuable to send, don’t send anything at all!” Blasting your database with digital garbage does nothing but flag you as a spammer and makes people run the other direction.

Pre-Built Email Drip Campaigns are NOT the answer

I am frequently asked, “Does Dakno have prebuilt drip campaigns?” The answer has and always will be no. Why? I think canned email messages hurt more than they help. They are either so watered down for the masses that they become ineffective, or they speak to the wrong audience. I’ve received emails about lead based paint from agents who only deal with new construction and campaigns about landscaping and curb appeal from Realtors who only sell condos in the concrete jungle.

Other Solutions Beyond Email Drip Campaigns

I understand that gaining mindshare with your database is important. But, make sure people see you in a positive light. This CAN be done with email marketing if you produce great content but agents also have to think beyond email marketing.

Retargeting – The Ultimate Drip System

Solutions like Retargeting have been a staple for successful national brands but few agents implement this proven way of staying “top of mind.” The concept of retargeting is simple. When someone visits your website, they are automatically added to your database (they don’t need to sign up, complete a form or interact in any way). You then have the ability to advertise to this database of people on thousands of different websites including Realtor.com, Forbes, CNN, etc. The beauty of this is that you are only advertising to people who have already visited your website so not only is it extremely cost effective, it’s also very targeted.

Now, all of the sudden, people in your database see your ads everywhere. Potential sellers see your listings being featured on USA Today and call you instead of your competition because of your killer marketing exposure. Buyers surfing Realtor.com and Zillow see your ads touting your superior and more accurate home search tool. They are reminded of you when they see your ad on Forbes or People as they catch up on current events. The result? They associate you and your brand with professionalism, success and trust – not a crowded inbox full of spam.

Get creative about ways to connect with your database and watch your business grow!

Content published by Brad Carroll

Staying Top of Mind – The Right and Wrong Way To Do It was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

Dakno web design and real estate marketing clients often ask me, “Bobby, what are the best practices for optimizing images on my website, blog and IDX?”.  In fact, I can thank Dakno web design client and Frederick, MD Real Estate Pro Marie Petrelis for prompting me to write this post. Here are a few tips you might want to consider executing:

1. Use your desired and targeted keywords in the file name. Example: silver-lake-neighborhood-chicago.jpg NOT image1234.jpg

2. Keyword file name relevance should be consistent with the text content on the page. If the image file name is about curb appeal and has an associated keyword reference to curb appeal don’t upload the image to an unrelated content page.

3. Use the alt attribute text to define the image content. The <img> tag offers the alt attribute so you can describe the image contents in words. It’s important to know that search engines regard the alt attribute text as a very strong source of keyword relevance. DO NOT duplicate the image file name as alt text. DO NOT spam keywords in your alt attribution or use the same keywords over and over in the alt tag.

4. Use the right image format. There are three image formats that are web-friendly: jpg, png, gif

5. Google takes page load speed into consideration for search results. Use optimized image sizes for web resolution and enhanced load time. (Most web designers agree 800 pixels X 600 pixels is an optimum file image size)

6. Be wary of loading images from external sources via hyperlinks. If the third party source is linked to spammy neighbors so will you. Plus, third party images depend on the site where the image resides to be up 24/7. If the host site goes down, so does your image.

7. DO upload optimized images to the following portals for backlinks and SEO in the following order of importance:

a. Create a WordPress Photoblog on a sub domain. Upload optimized hyper local images of neighborhoods, condo buildings, architecture, highlight amenities, nearby schools, nearby medical facilities, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, parks & rec, playgrounds, walking trails…. Here’s a terrific example of a WordPress Photoblog for Living on the Hudson.

b. Google+ – create and upload your optimized images to your G+ profile “Albums” (using your keywords for your images and for your albums)

c. Panoramio – owned by Google

d. Picasa – another Google product

e. flickr – Caution! Avoid commercial use of images on flickr.  Your account will get “deleted” without warning.

g. Pinterest – it’s a big social media playground based on eye candy. Don’t count on it offering tons of SEO, but if used properly, it can provide your sites (from which you pin your images using the “Pin it” tool) a little boost of traffic. Pinterest also offers social media top of mind marketing opportunities with your target audience.

It is recommended you make note of these tips and keep them handy when you take photos, upload photos to your hub sites and upload them to other sites listed above.

What Other Ways do You Use Your Images?

Leave a comment and let us know!

To Your Success,

Bobby Carroll

Related Photography Posts:

How to Photograph a Neighborhood

Real Estate Blogging is Easy!

How to Get the Most Bang for Your Real Estate Photos! was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog

Recently a discussion took place on our Dakno Facebook Fan page with the question “what do buyers search for first, a property or a neighborhood?” So what do you think the overwhelming response was from real estate professionals? Neighborhoods! Whether you agree or not, there’s no denying how important neighborhood information is to buyers. The next question for real estate agents is, does your real estate website fulfill this information vacuum?

Are Your Bags Packed? It’s Time to take a Trip!

Real estate websites should treat the site visitor as if they had never laid eyes on your neighborhoods. Agents should take the 180 degree trip to the world of a buyer. What information would be helpful to inform a buyer about a neighborhood? Asking that question is crucial. Agents should give careful consideration what type of information would be beneficial to a buyer especially ones who may have never heard or seen of a particular community/neighborhood/condo building. This takes on even more importance if properties in that community match a buyer’s search criteria.

The Mother of All Neighborhood Details List

Okay, that was a bit of a stretch but, take a look at this checklist of information. Do your neighborhood pages offer similar information?

• Community Name
• Available properties for sale
• Google map of the neighborhood with Streetview
• Total number of homes/properties in the community
• Water & Sewer (city/community well/property owner’s well)
• Min/Max price and sq ft of homes in the neighborhood
• Architectural style of properties in the community
• Photos of the community. It is recommended you upload 10-12 images minimum.
• Video tour of the community. Video of the seller stating why they bought in the community in the first place.
• State the best selling point of the community
• List any and all features and/or amenities of the community. Include the HOA dues or other cost associated with the community (country club dues)?
• Features within the community that make it stand out from other neighborhoods
• Offer a comparison of another similar neighborhood
• Schools- if they public and private schools for or near the neighborhood are notable, the school names should be mentioned in the content. Please list here.
• Provide details on the history of the neighborhood:
• When was it built?
• Name the developer of the neighborhood
• Name the builders of the homes
• Floor plans

Proximity to places from the neighborhood that would make it a desirable location. Example- walking distance to the beach, minutes from downtown, 2 miles from Harris Teeter & Whole Foods, 25 minute drive to the airport, 8 minutes to “ABC Name” Hospital,

1. List any neighborhood organizations/examples- Women’s Club, Garden Club, Bridge Club, Shuffleboard, Runners Club, Swim Team, ect
2. List any scheduled community events/ examples- Annual Yard sale, 4th of July Parade, leaf collection 4 times in the fall, Annual Easter egg hunt

Mini market reports for each neighborhood. These mini reports could include information like recent sold data, average DOM, LP vs SP, absorption rates, % of distressed properties and more.

Condo Building Information Checklist

• Building Name
• Building Address
• Google map of the condo with Streetview
• Available properties for sale
• Total number of units in building
• Number of stories
• Price range of condo units for sale in building
• Sq Ft range of condo units for sale in building
• Range of bedrooms available per unit
• Interior and exterior photos of the building. Upload 10-12 images
• Video tours. Video of the seller stating why they bought in the condo building in the first place.
• The best selling point about this building
• List any features and/or amenities of this building (Examples: 24 hour staffed security, onsite gym, onsite parking, onsite spa, onsite dry cleaning, onsite concierge)
• HOA fees associated with the building

Proximity to local restaurants, hot spots, parking, retail, and nearby lifestyle options from the condo building. This would impact the desirability of the building.

Provide details on the history of the condo building/development:

• Developer/builder
• Floor plans

Mini market reports for each condo building. These mini reports could include information like recent sold data, average DOM, LP vs SP, absorption rates, % of distressed properties and more.

Neighborhood Comparisons

If there’s one thing the web has taught us, site visitors of all persuasions love to compare. Using the compare and contrast logic, think about how successful sites like iTunes, Amazon and Ebay have all tapped into this functionality. Every time I purchase a song from iTunes, the site says to me, “Bobby, you purchased XYZ song and we think you will like this song.” Real estate websites should consider offering a similar user interface (functionality) by saying, “If you like XYZ neighborhood, you may also want to take a look at this similar neighborhood nearby.” Grouping neighborhoods/condos by category also helps buyers compare as well. Just make sure the buyer is comparing similar neighborhoods and condo buildings.

Grab Google by the Long Tail!

By the way, when you write original content based on the lists above adding your keywords for each neighborhood and condo building/communuity, your site will rank better in the organic search results for the “long tail” search for your neighborhoods and condos. It’s a fact, buyers who search on the hyper-local neighborhood level are far closer to a buying decision than a buyer who searches on a higher geographic level!

Don’t forget, when writing this content make sure it is formatted to be reader-friendly and items are listed in bullet points.

It’s Your Turn to Share!

What information do you offer that is unique and differs from these lists? You are invited to comment and leave a link to your neighborhood or condo page so we can see your examples!

Helping you connect with your consumers,

Bobby

Dakno VP of Sales, Bobby Carroll is a noted Real Estate Blog Coach, Search Engine Optimization Consultant and Marketing Expert. To have Bobby speak for your organization or at your event, simply complete this form.

Are YOU the Neighborhood Real Estate Expert? was originally published on the Dakno Real Estate Web Design and Marketing Blog