OK... this is based on the thread regarding selling a real estate website.

I was wondering how clients typically use the web to find a property. Are clients searching for homes to buy? If so, do they search for things like "2 bedroom home, 2.5 baths in Scottsdale, AZ" using msn, google or yahoo search engines?

Or are clients searching for "realtors and area"?

Since I have had some exposure to the industry, I automatically know to go to mls.com as a starting point for available homes in an area. I don't think a majority of home buyers or sellers know this.

So, what do clients do or how do they do it? I know if you search for "1 bedroom condo oakland CA" in google, the results seem to be dominated by listing servies such as craigslist or house.info.

In addition, how does craigslist factor in to this? I have a property online right now, and using craigslist, it has received 267 unique visitors since going online 5/15 translating into 3 onsite visits. It was crawled and indexed by google yesterday incidently msn reports it as indexed.... weird coincidence.

Is there any data on how clients use the web to find properties specifically at the search engine level?

Thanks ahead of the time,
Robert

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Robert Rambo, Ph.D.
Yale New Haven Condo

Based on my stats, most search phrases are "area real estate" or some form of that (and there are many different search terms such as area state real estate, area realtor, etc., plus many other configurations. I get alot of sign-ups for my VOW & that is where most of my leads come from.

Our MLS requires registration to utilize VOW. I explain on my sites that if another area real estate site doesn't require registration, then they are not providing a full MLS search, which is true. Our IDX only offers a fraction of what is truly available on the market.

I work in suburbs of Chicago & don't optimize much for Chicago, itself. Although I still get a lot of leads from outside my area (we have a huge MLS), I seem to be getting more local leads, too, which I'm happy about.

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Next door you can find Tinley Park homes for sale and get Orland Park amenities at a more affordable price.

Thanks Judyo..... quick clarifying question. What is VOW?

Sorry for the silly question.

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Robert Rambo, Ph.D.
Yale New Haven Condo

VOW actually stands for virtual office website & I'm not sure how that relates to full MLS search. VOW is the full MLS (active listings) vs. IDX, which offers those listings agreed to by broker reciprocity. In our MLS, it's unbelievable how many brokers opted out of broker reciprocity for their listings. I just don't get it.

VOW requires registration, IDX does not
VOW offers full active MLS listings, IDX does not

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Next door you can find Tinley Park homes for sale and get Orland Park amenities at a more affordable price.

I posted this in the other thread, but I guess I'll post it again here...

It depends what part of the process the buyers are at... Someone just starting out will be searching for the general keywords like "[area] real estate" while someone further along in the process will start getting more specific with their searches.

That is why the long-tail keywords will convert better... but the general "[area] real estate" type keywords will bring in more volume. In my experience, by optimizing for the general keywords, the long-tail automatically becomes picked up from all of the content that is developed. This is the point where I analyze the log files to get an idea on what/if I should be optimizing for the long tail...

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---cK

CK Chung is an independent SEO consultant who provides premium Holistic SEO services, including services specific to Real Estate SEO. You can find his alter-ego, Kid Disco, spouting off on his SEO blog at SEOdisco.

My experience has been if someone is looking for a house for rent they typically go to one of the major websites, google, yahoo, MSN and type in house for rent in gainesville, florida or gainesville florida condo or gainesville apartment. I would assume since there are so many realtors that people would prefer to find a site which buys and sells everything and is not just that realtor specific. When I was looking to rent a home I searched by the area and just typed in house.

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Todd Williams
gainesville apartment - house for rent in gainesville florida -
gainesville florida condo