A few years back I spoke at a private investigators' meeting on Googloscopy. If you visit the website, the definition is simple: The procedure used to learn everything you can using a search engine.
While I taught PI's how to use Google to find people, I hope this blog will help Realtors to see that they may be missing and need to be found online by buyers, sellers, and investors. Sellers are going to want a Realtor with high search engine placement so buyers will see their home.
So let's start with an easy one. Type in your name on http://www.google.com/. Now I don't mean type in "your name"! I mean type in the letters to your first and last name. You should be on the first page or chances are you will never be found by consumers. I am number 5 without quotes and number three and five when my name is searched for in quotes. I am number one, two, three, five, and ten on Rob Lang realtor, number one, two, three, and ten on Rob Lang real estate, and number one, two, three, and six for Rob Lang properties.
Now if you checked me out on this and didn't find me in these spots, please know that Google is geographical in nature which means that the order of search results will vary depending on the location you are in when searching. Therefore, a Rob Lang in Ohio who searches for himself online while in Ohio should see his hits higher than mine if he has done as much SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as I have.
A search for Douglas County Open Houses finds http://www.douglascountyopenhouses.com/ listed #1.
A search for 66025 Homes finds http://www.66025homes.com/ listed #1.
A search for 66047 Homes or 66049 Homes finds http://www.movetolawrence.com/ listed #1.
A search for Realtor Rob Lang finds:
http://activerain.com/langrob listed #1,
http://activerain.com/groups/MLS listed #2,
http://www.letrobdoit.com/ listed #3,
http://www.918pine.com/ (one of my listings that SOLD) listed #5, and
http://www.douglascountyopenhouses.com/ruralother.htm listed #6.
The first six listings for Lawrence Kansas Real Estate Visual Tours are all my sites as well or where I can be found such as Active Rain and Localism websites:
http://activerain.com/blogs/langrob/tags/fireplace
http://localism.com/real-estate/KS/Douglas%20County/Baldwin
http://localism.com/real-estate/KS/Douglas%20County
http://www.eudoraks.com/market/
Now what about you? Where did you show up on http://www.google.com/? If you have written blogs, advertised your listings, wrote about your local real estate market, etc., you should be doing real well.
Here are just a few examples of Active Rainers with #1 placement (search name used at beginning):
Broker Bryant http://activerain.com/blogs/tutas
Lucky Lang (my younger brother In Iowa) www.qcfsbr.com/ was #1 and http://activerain.com/lucky was #2
Rich Jacobson http://www.kitsaplife.com/ was #1 and http://activerain.com/rich was #3
Krystal Kraft http://activerain.com/blogs/krisk
Rich Schiffer http://activerain.com/rschiffer
Sorry if I didn't use your name as an example. Please provide a comment with your name and the website that came up as #1 if it was your website. Just by commenting with your website link will raise your website's ranking in the search engines.
Now if you haven't been writing blogs, advertising your listings, writing about your local real estate market, etc., you should start now so you too can found. Active Rain and Localism have made it extremely easy to be found by consumers. For tips on SEO, keywords, #1 placement, etc., just Google the answer to learn all you can. You can use search phrases such as how to use keywords or SEO 101 or how to SEO.
So Google yourself and if your website is #1, get used to saying to people, "Google Me!"
Thanks and "Don't keep me a secret--I'm never too busy for your referrals!"
Rob (FREE 2-10 Home Warranty with every home you buy or sell through me!!)
Rob Lang, ABR, ePro, GRI Realtor®
Rob's Blog at www.ActiveRain.com/blogs/langrob
Realty Executives, Hedges Real Estate (four convenient locations)
112 E. 10th, Eudora, KS 66025
1037 Vermont, Lawrence, KS 66044
3300 Clinton Parkway Ct., Lawrence, KS 66044
300 Rockfence Place, Lawrence, KS 66049
785-393-2274 (cell) 785-542-1661 (fax)
langrob@sunflower.com
http://www.letrobdoit.com/
http://douglascountyopenhouses.com/
http://ihaveaddresses.com/




































































