Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. For real estate agents, this is crucial. Most potential clients will begin their journey online, searching for real estate agents or homes for sale in their area. If your website and profiles aren’t optimized for local search, you won’t appear in those results, and that means missed opportunities.
As legendary adman David Ogilvy once said, “Great campaigns are born from brilliant local understanding.” The same is true for local SEO—understanding your local market allows you to tailor your SEO efforts to meet the needs of your audience and outshine the competition.
One of the most important tools for local SEO is your Google Business Profile. This profile ensures you show up in local search results and Google Maps, giving potential clients an easy way to find and contact you. It’s often the first thing someone will see when they search for a real estate agent in your area, so make sure it’s optimized.
Here’s how:
• Select the right categories, such as “Real Estate Agent” or “Real Estate Consultant.”
• Add professional photos of yourself, your team, and your listings.
• Encourage clients to leave reviews. These reviews build credibility and can improve your ranking in local searches.
As Seth Godin says, “Being remarkable means standing out, even when it’s not the loudest way to do so.” A fully optimized Google Business Profile makes you stand out by offering all the essential information in one place, allowing clients to connect with you easily.
Keywords are the foundation of any SEO strategy, but long-tail keywords—those specific, targeted phrases that users type into search engines—are especially powerful for real estate agents. Instead of trying to rank for broad terms like “real estate agent,” you can focus on long-tail keywords like “best real estate agent in [city]” or “homes for sale in [neighborhood].”
By doing this, you’re more likely to capture potential clients who are ready to act. As David Ogilvy wisely put it, “Consumers use the products they remember, and they remember the ones that show up first.” By using hyper-local, specific keywords, you make your real estate services easier to find.
• Ahrefs
• Ubersuggest
• SEMrush
Use these tools to find the specific phrases people in your area are searching for. Then, incorporate those keywords into your website content, blog posts, and service pages.
Building connections with other local businesses and websites is another key strategy for dominating local search results. Local link building refers to acquiring backlinks from other local sites, while citations are mentions of your business on local directories.
To build links:
• Partner with local businesses. Offer guest blogs or feature each other on your websites.
• Get featured in local real estate blogs, news outlets, or directories like Zillow, Yelp, and Realtor.com.
• Submit to local citation sites, making sure your NAP is consistent across all of them.
As Seth Godin famously said, “Connection is the new currency.” These local connections not only build trust with Google but also help establish your authority in your community.
Mobile search dominates in today’s world, especially for real estate searches. Most people are searching for homes or agents on their phones, so having a mobile-friendly website is essential.
Here are some key tips to ensure your website is optimized for mobile:
• Fast loading times: Clients won’t wait for a slow site to load.
• Easy navigation: Make it simple for visitors to find property listings, contact information, and more.
• Click-to-call buttons: Allow potential clients to reach you with just one tap.
Creating content that resonates with your local audience not only boosts your SEO but also positions you as an expert in your area. People looking to buy or sell homes want to work with someone who knows the local market inside and out.
Here are some content ideas:
• Neighborhood guides: Highlight the best neighborhoods in your area, including amenities, schools, and local businesses.
• Market trend reports: Write about the current real estate market in your city or town, and offer advice for buyers and sellers.
• Recent listings: Showcase homes you’ve sold or currently have on the market, with SEO-optimized descriptions.
SEO isn’t a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process. To stay ahead of your competition, you need to monitor your performance and make adjustments as needed. Track metrics such as your local search rankings, website traffic, and Google Business Profile interactions.
Tools to Use:
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• Local rank trackers
As David Ogilvy once said, “Test, test, test.” Continuously testing your strategies and refining them based on results will ensure your real estate business remains visible and successful in local search.
Local SEO is a powerful tool that real estate agents can use to dominate search results and attract more clients. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, using long-tail keywords, building local connections, and creating valuable local content, you can position yourself as the top choice in your area.
If you’re ready to take your local SEO strategy to the next level, let’s get started. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you dominate your local market and connect with more clients.
I’m Mitch Cornell, a patron of local SEO with a strong background in legal SEO, helping lawyers succeed in the search results. I worked for a top-rated legal marketing agency where I spearheaded hundreds of successful SEO campaigns for law firms. Now, I help real estate agents and continue to help lawyers achieve their best in search.