The document provides tips for real estate agents on how to effectively blog to improve search engine rankings, including focusing on a specific keyword or phrase, repeating it throughout the blog post, and using ActiveRain to connect blogging to social media for increased exposure and traffic to their website. It also discusses how to track the success of blogging efforts using Google Analytics and metrics from ActiveRain.

1. Blogging Essentials
- Post Google Panda

2. How does Google’s new Panda
Algorithm affect my blog site?
• If you currently buy content from a content farm, then your website is
going to be punished.
• If you write your own content and keep focused on providing quality
information for your visitors, then Google’s Panda will be a boost for
your search engine visibility. There has never been a better time to blog!
Maximum Exposure > Minimal Expense
Allows you to rank Organically in the Search Engines
Enables you to choose what keywords and phrases you rank on

3. Successful Blogging Campaigns Require:
Dedication | Persistency | Consistency
• Google does not owe you anything! Google is in business to make money
and they make money when people use their search engine more than
Yahoo and Bing (and occasionally click on a pay per click link).
• That being said, they do enable you to compete for search engine
rankings on their platform for FREE! Creating a blog post for customers
and search engines is not that difficult once you understand some basic
concepts and then practice and apply them on a regular basis.
• Blogging requires a commitment of time. This technique is well worth
your investment and it can be tracked and measured much easier than
traditional advertising.

4. Become An Information Provider!
Keep in mind that people generally tend to search for real estate on Google
and other search engines for three specific reasons:
1. MLS Search Capabilities – “I want to buy a home!”
2. Valuations – “How much is my current home worth?”
3. Information – “I am looking for information regarding…”
Blogging allows you the ability to create your expertise and be found in the
search engines when someone is searching for information. A carefully
crafted blog posting can result in a steady stream of unique visits to both
your blog and your website.

5. How Do I Rank on
The First Page of Google?
• Pick a keyword or phrase for the Title of the blog.
• Repeat the Title at the beginning and ending of the blog.
• Make sure that the blog is between 200-500 words in length.
• Ensure that the keyword or phrase is embedded in the content of the
blog between 2-4% of the time.

6. Picking A Keyword or Phrase
• Focus on one keyword or phrase per blog.
• Research and identify the best search
variations using Google’s Adwords
Keyword Tool.
• Include your geographic region and the
keyword or phrase that you are trying to
rank on in the Title of the blog.

7. Think Local. Extremely Local.
Most users initially search for information with “short tail” keywords. As
they continue to search, they begin using “long tail” keywords to find
exactly what they are looking for.
• Short Tail Keyword Search Example:
“St Augustine Real Estate”
• Long Tail Keyword Search Example:
“Marsh Creek Homes in St Augustine FL”

8. Anatomy of A Well Crafted &
Hyper-Local Blog
• Notice that the Title of the blog
matches the long tail search.
• The search phrase is being used in
the Title of the blog, at the beginning
of the blog and again towards the
end of the blog.
• The specific phrase “Sunwood
Condominiums in Shelton CT” is
very focused and resolves on the
First Page of Google.

9. The Icing on The Cake!
This Author took the time to make sure that her blog ranked well in the
search engines by adhering to a few simple rules. What she did after that is
what helped push her to the top of Google. She fed it candy!
Placing information about your images Google Loves Videos! 
enables Google to find you easier.

10. Pay Attention To Keyword Density
Rules
• Blogging is more like a marathon than a sprint. You must publish
content on a consistent basis in order to rank well in the search engines.
• Avoid stuffing keywords in to your blogs. It will only confuse the search
engines and weaken your efforts to rank well.
• Focusing on a specific keyword or phrase and repeating it in a blog
enables you to pull rank more effectively.

11. A Few Key Things To Remember
• Take time to ensure that you are competing for rankings on keywords or
phrases that have the most commercial intent for you and your business.
• Make sure that this keyword or phrase is the most common phrase
within your blog. (Remember the 2-4% Density Rule)
• Consider using variations of the keyword or phrase to ensure that your
campaign is successful.
• Use the keyword or phrase in the Title, at the beginning and at the end
of your blog to ensure success within the search engines.

12. Why ActiveRain Should Be
Part of Your Blogging Strategy
ActiveRain has over 217,000 real estate professionals participating on their
FREE network. This arena is the perfect place for you to:
• Connect with other real estate professionals
• Stay informed on current events in and around your industry
• Educate yourself on real estate trends and topics
• Receive incredible results in the search engines
ActiveRain pushes hundreds of thousands of blog postings to the search
engines on a daily basis. The search engines recognize them as an Authority
or information provider and tend to rank their content higher.

13. Activity = Points = Exposure = Closings
ActiveRain awards points for your activity on their network. These points
equate to higher exposure on ActiveRain. You receive points for many
things on the network like:
• Logging in to your account
• Completing your Profile
• Uploading your picture
• Posting a Blog
• Commenting on a Blog
• Inviting others to the network

14. Set Up & Complete
Your Personal Profile
This part is critical to your success on ActiveRain! You have made the
decision to invest the time on your blogging campaign and in return you are
going to get more traffic to your website and blog. Take the time to
complete your Profile and allow someone the ability to get to know you.
This is the online perception of you without a completed Profile:

15. Welcome To The Rain!
A Few Things You Need To Know…
• Whatever you say or do can and will be used against you! Remember that
you are posting to the internet and use caution when doing so.
• Take time to get a feel for the network. The Home page has the most recent
“Featured Blog Postings” and this will allow you to jump right in and
comment on posts that interest you.
• You receive 25 points for every comment that you make. This is one of the
most overlooked features on ActiveRain. You receive points up to 10
comments per day on other people’s blog postings = 250 points per day!

16. Tracking Your Success
With ActiveRain
ActiveRain allows you to keep track of how well your blog postings are
performing. How many advertising mediums are you currently using
that give you immediate feedback?

17. Tracking Your Success
With Google Analytics
Google Analytics provides detailed information about your website. View
your traffic patterns, as well as, how that traffic got to you and where it
came from.

18. Discover Where Your
Traffic Is Coming From

19. Map Reports Show Where In The World
You Have The Most Traction

20. Detailed Map Reports Show Where
Your Focus Should Be

21. Let’s Get Started On A New Blog!

22. Do You Need Help Connecting Your Blogging
Campaigns and Your Social Media Accounts?
Contact us today and learn how our Social Media Experts can help you
increase your online presence. With over 90% of home buyers using the
internet to search for their new home, you owe it to yourself to check out
our valuable Real Estate Tools and services.
• Training and Consulting
• Social Media Solutions
• Real Estate Websites
• High Definition Real Estate Videos
• High Definition 360° Virtual Tours
Listing Solutions · www.ListingSolutions.net · Info@ListingSolutions.net
1789 Lakeside Avenue · St. Augustine, Florida · (904) 540-9962

23. Call Us Today At (904) 540-9962