December is here! As the holiday season gears up and 2024 inches closer, we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favourite blog posts from the year. From customer support to new software, we wrote about a range of topics to ensure that everyone stayed informed. 

Spotlighting Some of This Year’s Best Content!

• How to Manage Your Sold Listings in EstateVue

Looking for some information about how to manage your sold listings in EstateVue? In this post, we went over a step-by-step guide to help you change your active listings to sold listings. In just seven easy steps, you can republish your listings in a sold state. Check it out if you haven’t already! 

• Creating a Stellar Online Presence: Key Elements of Effective Websites for REALTORS®

In today's fast-paced digital world, the real estate industry is no exception when it comes to the importance of establishing a strong online presence. For real estate professionals, having an effective website is not just a luxury; it's a necessity. In this article, we explored what makes a good website for realtors, emphasizing the key elements that can elevate their online presence and help them succeed in a competitive market. Get ahead of the 2024 real estate competition and read over this blog post.

• MLS® Listing WordPress Plugin

Looking to integrate a real estate listing “search by map tool” on your WordPress website in 2024? If you are, we encourage you to read this blog article. This tool emphasizes local, making your WordPress website a one-stop hub for property seekers who are looking for community-specific information. At EstateVue, we bring to the table a mapping software that ensures your listings are not only comprehensive but also up-to-date and accurate. The dynamic combination of a map-based search tool, and the plugin, offers users an intuitive and efficient way to explore properties. Learn more about our MLS® Listing plugin by checking out this post!

Make 2024 Your Best Year Yet by Ditching the Free REALTOR® Website Software

Free website solutions suck. No, trust us, they’re awful. Whether it's Wix, Weebly or Squarespace, none of them can compare to the robustness of a paid, custom website. Sure, they might be sufficient for a student or a hobby blogger, but as a REALTOR® you need something more sophisticated. Many people do not realize what they are losing by building a free website. This is no fault of the user. After all, free website software companies do a commendable job at disguising the downsides to their platforms in a big, free bow. To help you better understand the real cost of an unpaid website solution, we are going to reveal some of the less obvious drawbacks. 

• Bad Domain Name

Your domain name is a key component of the success of your website. By using key terms that pertain to your company you can drastically improve the traffic to your website, your brand recognition, and how easily your website can be found by others. By going with a free website solution you forfeit the ability to choose a unique domain name. Instead, you’ll be left with something like yourbusinessname.wixsite.com. Not only is this unprofessional, but it's also bad for your ranking in search engines. Many of these platforms offer custom domain names, however, they come at a price. So, now your “free website” isn’t so free anymore.

More Reasons to Run Away From Free Websites!

• Data Migration Challenges

Let’s say you build a free website with the intent of using it as a temporary solution. Perhaps, just until you get your feet off the ground. A few years later, you decide you want to add some features that the free software simply can’t provide. Effectively, you’ve outgrown your free site and it’s time to upgrade to something better. Should be easy right? All you have to do is migrate your data to the new, paid website—except there’s a catch! Migrating your data from a free platform is extremely difficult. Free software providers will often lock down your data at the slightest sniff of you leaving. Thus, resulting in you needing to pay more money to hire IT experts to migrate your data manually. We’re no mathematicians but this is starting to sound like an expensive free website. 

• It’s Not Yours to Keep

Okay, so let’s say that you overlook the above two points, what else could possibly go wrong? Well, after countless hours of perfecting and building your website, it is plausible that you could wake up one day with your website gone. Free website services often hide in their terms in conditions that they can cancel your account for any reason. If this happens, your website is generally removed from the Internet. Thus, deleting all of your hard work. Additionally, you also run the risk that your provider goes out of business. Which can also result in your website being permanently deleted. 

These items are just a few on our laundry list of reasons not to invest in a free website. Reach out to one of our team members today to learn more about paid Vs. free website solutions.  

Contact us About a REALTOR® Website for the New Year!

Thanks to all of our clients for another great year! Be sure to contact us with any questions about developing your own REALTOR® website in 2024. Visit our blog again next month for more content like this. We look forward to working with you shortly. Happy holidays everyone!

The post Year-End Blog Recap & Why a Free REALTOR® Website Sucks. appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

Integrating a robust real estate listing search by map tool on your WordPress website, especially when utilizing an MLS listing WordPress plugin, can bring significant advantages to your real estate platform. With the emphasis on local, and an MLS listing WordPress plugin, your WordPress website becomes a one-stop hub for property seekers that are seeking local information.  We bring to the table mapping software that ensures your listings are not only comprehensive but also up-to-date and accurate. The dynamic combination of a map-based search tool and the plugin offers users an intuitive and efficient way to explore properties.

This streamlined user experience enhances trust and credibility, as potential buyers can easily find properties in their preferred locations and assess their proximity to essential amenities, schools, parks, and other key features.  Some of these key features are:

Compare Real Time Historical Pricing Averages

Users can compare real-time pricing averages giving them significant research benefits by providing them with a deeper and more informed understanding of the market.

Deeper Insights

Our real-time pricing average calculations provide insights into current market conditions. Property buyers can see how prices are trending in specific areas, helping them make more educated decisions. For instance, if they notice a particular neighborhood's prices consistently rising, it could be a signal that it's an up-and-coming location.

Budget Planning

By having access to pricing averages, buyers can better plan their budgets. They can quickly determine whether a property falls within their price range, preventing them from wasting time on listings that are out of reach or ensuring they don't overlook a great deal.

Location Assessment

Real-time pricing averages help buyers assess the value of a location. They can see if a property's asking price aligns with what similar properties in the area are selling for, which is especially valuable for evaluating whether a specific neighborhood is a good investment.

Our MLS listing WordPress plugin, with our integrated map search tool enabled, reinforces your website's reputation as a reliable and trustworthy resource for real estate information. Users can navigate your platform with ease, exploring listings while visualizing the property's surroundings on an interactive map. This not only simplifies their search process but also empowers them to make informed decisions about properties they're interested in. The convenience offered by the plugin and map tool combination can significantly boost user engagement and encourage return visits, strengthening your online presence and setting you apart in the competitive real estate market.

Furthermore, the seamless nature of a WordPress plugin integration can have a positive impact on your website's search engine optimization (SEO). Google and other search engines favor websites that provide interactive, user-friendly features, which can lead to higher rankings and increased organic traffic. By incorporating an MLS listing WordPress plugin alongside a map-based search tool, you demonstrate your commitment to delivering valuable content and an exceptional user experience. This, in turn, can amplify your platform's appeal to both property seekers and real estate professionals, solidifying your position as a top choice in the real estate market.

DRILL DOWN INTO NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR DEEP INSIGHTS

Zooming into a neighborhood map to access more detailed information on a property and its surroundings offers several valuable benefits to both property buyers and real estate professionals. It allows users to delve deeper into the local context, enabling a closer examination of nearby amenities, schools, parks, transportation options, and other essential factors that influence the property's appeal. This closer view aids in making more informed decisions, whether it's assessing the convenience of the location, evaluating proximity to key features, or understanding the neighborhood's overall character. Additionally, zooming in on a neighborhood map can reveal unique details about the property itself, such as its proximity to neighboring homes, potential views, nearby green spaces, and the specific layout of the area. This level of detail can be critical for potential buyers or investors, helping them assess the property's suitability and desirability.

Now think about tailing the map to your specific needs, numbers, and variation of datasets in order to give your end user the exact experience you are looking for. All of this is possible with our software.

For more information on how our real estate software can benefit your development, brokerage a personal real estate website, please contact us.

The post MLS listing WordPress Plugin appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

In today's fast-paced digital world, the real estate industry is no exception when it comes to the importance of establishing a strong online presence. For real estate professionals, having an effective website is not just a luxury; it's a necessity. In this article, we will explore what makes a good website for realtors, emphasizing the key elements that can elevate their online presence and help them succeed in a competitive market.

1. Responsive Design: A Must-Have for Websites for Realtors

The foundation of a successful realtor's website lies in its responsiveness. In an era where people access websites on various devices, from smartphones to laptops and everything in between, having a responsive design is non-negotiable. A responsive website ensures that the site adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, delivering a consistent and user-friendly experience. When potential clients can effortlessly navigate your website whether they're on a mobile device or a desktop computer, you increase your chances of capturing their attention and keeping them engaged.

2. User-Friendly Navigation: Guiding Visitors with Ease

Navigating a website should be intuitive, and this is especially crucial for websites for realtors. A well-organized menu, clear search functionality, and easy-to-access property listings are essential. Clients visiting your website should quickly find what they're looking for without frustration. Imagine the positive impression you'll leave on potential clients when they can seamlessly explore your listings, agent profiles, and contact information.

3. High-Quality Visuals: Captivating Your Audience

In the real estate industry, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. High-resolution images and compelling videos of your listed properties are your secret weapons. Professional photography and videography can make properties truly shine online. Moreover, ensuring that these visuals load quickly and are optimized for the web will contribute to a fast website speed, keeping visitors engaged and preventing them from bouncing away.

4. Comprehensive Property Listings: The Heart of Realtor Websites

Websites for realtors should serve as a comprehensive database of available properties. Each listing should provide a wealth of information, including property specifications, location details, pricing, and, of course, striking images. To enhance user experience, consider implementing an advanced search feature that allows visitors to filter results based on their preferences. Regularly updating your listings ensures that clients are always viewing the most accurate and current information, building trust in your credibility.

5. Informative Blog: Establishing Authority

A blog is a potent tool for realtors looking to establish their authority in the real estate world and improve their website's search engine optimization (SEO). By creating informative and engaging content related to buying, selling, and investing in real estate, you provide valuable insights to your audience. Topics can include market trends, tips for home buyers and sellers, and neighborhood guides. Not only does this add value to your website, but it also keeps visitors coming back for more.

6. Testimonials and Reviews: Building Trust

Trust is a cornerstone of the real estate industry, and displaying client testimonials and reviews on your website is an effective way to build it. Genuine feedback from satisfied clients speaks volumes about your professionalism and track record. When potential clients see positive experiences from others, they're more likely to trust you with their real estate needs.

7. Contact Forms / SYNCRO and Calls to Action: Encouraging Interaction

Contact forms should be readily accessible throughout your website, making it easy for visitors to reach out to you. Additionally, strategically placed calls to action (CTAs) can guide visitors to take the next step, whether it's scheduling a consultation, signing up for email updates, or requesting more information. These interactive elements help you capture leads and turn them into clients.

8. Neighborhood Information: Showcasing Local Knowledge

Realtors often emphasize the importance of location, and your website should reflect that. Provide valuable information about the neighborhoods you serve, such as details about schools, local amenities, transportation options, and market trends. Demonstrating your local knowledge can help potential clients make informed decisions about where they want to live.

9. Social Media Integration: Expanding Your Reach

Integrating your website with your social media profiles can expand your online reach. By including social sharing buttons and live feeds from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you encourage visitors to connect with you on these channels. This is an effective way to keep them informed about new listings, market updates, and other real estate news.

10. Mobile-Friendly Features: Catering to the Mobile Audience

With the increasing use of smartphones, it's crucial to incorporate mobile-friendly features on your website. Include elements like click-to-call buttons for easy contact and virtual property tours to provide an immersive experience for mobile users. Ensuring that your website functions seamlessly on mobile devices is essential for capturing the growing number of clients who use their phones to search for properties.

Conclusion

Websites for realtors are the digital storefronts that showcase their professionalism, expertise, and available listings. A responsive design, user-friendly navigation, high-quality visuals, comprehensive property listings, and other key elements discussed in this article can set the stage for a successful online presence. In an industry where first impressions matter, investing in the quality of your website can be the key to long-term success and connecting with potential clients effectively.

The post Creating a Stellar Online Presence: Key Elements of Effective Websites for Realtors appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

The writing has been on the wall when it comes to real estate in Canada for some time. We all watched housing prices climb to an almost untenable high during the pandemic. Battles were waged for properties that some fathomed would never sell pre-pandemic and home buyers were in a state of panic and desperation.

Often times we saw unheard-of tactics to get the deal done. Frenzied buyers were forgoing protective practices like home inspections. Some even leveraged themselves in what could only be considered a dangerous game of musical chairs. Hoping that the music wouldn't stop while they scooped up their dream property on one side and waited for a buyer on the other.

And now, here we are. Waltzing intrepidly into uncertainty. Prices are declining in most markets throughout Canada. Buyers are tightening the screws, home inspections are back on the table and inventory is beginning to replenish itself. So what does that mean for agents and brokers now that the gravy train of multiple competitive offers has turned back to price reductions?

In most cases, it means buckle up because we are entering a buyers market.

How to market yourself during a buyers market in real estate

If you're an agent that has built your business thoughtfully by expanding your network and reinvesting in your marketing then you likely have a cushion for these rainy day scenarios. If you haven't been in the game long enough then you might just be in need of some advice on how to plan for the ebbs, especially if all you're used to is flow.  The name of the game in real estate is to get listings.

In order to get listings during slower times, you need to position yourself as an expert when marketing for real estate. Customers will gravitate towards a REALTOR® who appears to be aware of and capable of navigating customers through a changing market.  New customers are likely to find you online either through word of mouth or through key terms entered into a search engine like Google. Your first question should be what will they find when they get there?

Here's a quick checklist to review when you load your real estate website:

• No SSL - if your website does not have an SSL then it is not secure. That translates to your customer's data and privacy being exposed online. Invest annually in your SSL.
• Slow loading - some of it can be attributed to Internet connection but most of it can be attributed to your hosting and website infrastructure. Make sure your website performs well in a speed test.
• Outdated/incorrect information - are you still showing sales stats from 2020? Not a good look. Update those benchmark numbers annually and always provide your monthly regional numbers in a blog post.
• Bloated digital footprint - still have that Twitter account that you set up for a campaign that you never started? Now's the time to nuke it. Consolidate your digital footprint and edit it often.
• Broken images - broken images in your listings or your web pages are not ideal.  Show customers, that you care by taking care of your website.

Keeping your website fresh is the easiest way to present yourself as a REALTOR® who cares.  If your website is slow, broken and out of date then it's not a stretch for a customer to assign those same qualities to you. Your website is key when marketing for real estate during challenging market conditions.

Reinvest in yourself and your online presence to see results. The sooner you start the better chance you have at attracting the right kind of customers.

If you leave your website to collect dust online then it won't be long before your career is in the dust too. 

What else can you do to stand out? Respond to your leads.

This seems obvious, but it's shocking how many agents don't return contact requests. Your lead generation mechanisms do not have to be expensive, or complex. The only thing that your lead gen needs to do is work. By working, we mean the lead needs to be delivered. And they need to be delivered in a manner that will encourage you to respond - quickly. Think about how you prefer to communicate. If your leads don't come to you in a format that makes it easy to respond then change it.

When marketing for real estate focus on building a database 

A lead database is a simple way to keep on top of your customer list. If you build it, it will grow and by growing your database you will soon have a list of contacts that you can market to. Oftentimes, we see agents focus on conferences and education when they really need to invest a few moments each day adding to their databases. Your database is a savior when times get tough!

A database does not mean that you need more software or an expensive CRM! Don't get caught up in that hype! Start a spreadsheet in Google Sheets with the information you need. First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, and a few notes to jog your memory about the customer. This is a free solution to track your leads that works! This list can be uploaded to an email newsletter list, or used for direct mail in the future.

Don't sell out

We've all heard horror stories about agents who sell out a customer's best interest just to get the sale closed. Don't be that agent! Treat your customers like you expect to see them again. If you don't then you will see them either in a bad Google review or worse in court! Don't sacrifice your reputation for a commission check in tough times!

Build your network!

Great REALTORS® use their networks to their advantage, especially in tough times. Agents who have built a network of business, customer and real estate contacts do well because they have an audience for their inventory. If a customer hires an agent who simply posts their property on REALTOR.ca and sets and forgets it then what is the benefit to them hiring them at all in a buyers market? Use your network to promote your customer's assets. You never know what someone is searching for on the other end.

Your time is valuable when you're marketing for real estate!

When times are tough you need to do what you need to do. However, if you're considering picking up another full-time job while you're still advertising yourself as a real estate agent then we urge you to reconsider your career. Do one thing and do it well.

Another tip to consider is how you are pre-qualifying your buyers. Don't waste your time with tire kickers.  They'll have you wasting your precious gas and time driving them all across town, just to look at places they can't afford or are not qualified to buy. Pre-qualify your buyers before you let them in the door!

During challenging real estate market conditions it's important to simplify, but only where it makes sense. This isn't the time to cut down on your main web property, in fact, this is when you should be investing more time and energy into making it even more of a go-to local resource. The only thing you should be cutting out is the distractions of software and marketing gimmicks that promise to sell houses for you.

Software doesn't sell houses - REALTORS® do. 

Learn more about how EstateVue can take your website work off your plate so that you can focus on your customers and building up your networking opportunities. Just like these fantastic customers on our managed website program are doing below:

Brooks Lancaster is sharing tips on staging a Penticton property for sale this month.

The RE/MAX Vanderhoof office is discussing what types of renovations add value to homes in Vanderhoof, BC. 

Kevin Moist and Associates are sharing the latest market update for the area as well as information on the neighbourhood of Fort Richmond.

Neufeld Jones has added a new guide to Kelowna BC real estate near schools this month. Watch for updates!

Steve Leddy is an Edmonton Real Estate Agent and he's sharing answers to the questions he gets asked alllll the time!

Corinne O'Neil has great information about recreational facilities near St. Albert homes for sale.

Managed website program customers are talking about this right now:

The Current in Whitehorse is giving readers the lowdown on the best cafes near Whitehorse apartments for sale.

If you've been looking for a stand-alone cabin at Big White then you need to read more about Bullet Creek Cabins on the Big White Property Group this month.

Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is sharing tips on making your property in Comox Valley energy efficient!

The Kings Selling Castles are discussing the benefits of owning condos for sale in Winnipeg.

MYLIE Group Real Estate is at it again with great market updates surrounding homes in Ontario.

Janice Leffler is sharing an update for first-time buyers looking to buy townhomes in Comox Valley.

Miranda Moser is preparing buyers on how to buy real estate for sale in Calgary during a buyers market!

The post Marketing for Real Estate with Tough Times Ahead appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

Content is the most important part of any SEO campaign. It's the backbone of your organic strategy to rank higher without paying for ads. Good content needs to be written clearly and posted regularly to see success. All website content that you create will benefit from being optimized for SEO and readability. There are many tactics and processes involved with SEO for real estate websites but developing unique content is by far the most important.

Why is content important for SEO rankings in a real estate website? 

Unique content is important for a website to rank in the search engines. When we look to search engines like Google that develop the algorithms responsible for ranking, we have to look at what their company hopes to accomplish. That's why a read of Google's mission statement helps to clearly understand why good, fresh content on your website matters to them and in turn should matter to you.

Google’s mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. That's why Search makes it easy to discover a broad range of information from a wide variety of sources.

The 'wide variety of sources' that Google refers to are websites like yours. Real estate websites, blogs, news portals, social media, videos, and more are all 'sources' for Google. Their goal is to index those sources for people who are searching, by classifying those assets as important. The way they decide a website is important comes down to how good the content is. In fact, aside from security and UX, content is the single biggest factor when it comes to ranking or tanking in SEO.

What makes for great content? 

Great content starts with readability.  The Internet is vast, which means it is also diverse. Diversity means people from all walks of life, income, and education are effectively your audience. If you don't appeal to all those people then you aren't creating what is known as accessible content.

Accessible content should appeal to readers of all levels. Typically we write content that is geared towards a Grade 7-8 level of education. This way we know that the content should be fairly easy to read. When we edit our content we always look to shorten sentences and skip the $20 words.

Articles, posts, and pages should be written to include unique information. Information that is related to a topic that you are an expert in. It should also be written in an easy-to-read format. That's why we include shorter paragraph breaks and plenty of subtitles to make topics easier to digest.

How much and how often?

Never enough and never too much. That's the general rule when it comes to SEO. As long as you aren't plagiarizing or cannibalising your own content then more is more in the case of SEO rankings. As a minimalist working in a maximalist space, this can be a hard concept to digest. That's why content plans, calendars, and automation become your closest friends.

If you want to be relative in your industry then you need to invest time into your website content each month. Focus on updating cornerstone page content and adding a fresh new article or page each month.  Your goal should be to create an article based on solid keyword research. Once you have your keyword focus selected then plan to write a minimum of 300 words. Ideally, we suggest 800-1200 words to be effective.

If you are creating cornerstone content then the longer the better. Cornerstone content is the most valuable content on your website. It needs to be regularly updated and it should read like a resource with links to other related and optimized content.  Cornerstone content should be the most accessible content on your website. Make sure that it is the easiest to find in your menu or from your home page.

What else is important when it comes to content marketing?

We touched on this earlier but staying organized will help you to realize the full potential of a content plan. We suggest the following takes place to kick off your content plan:

Plan your content for 3 - 6 months 

This is where you sit down with your team and think of the ideas that will be important to your customers, potential customers, and audience. Think of who you want to attract to your website and what topics might encourage them to visit. Topics that are closely related will help you to develop a relevant linking structure which will be important throughout your content development strategy.

Schedule your writing

Add each content topic into a calendar for writing in the months ahead. We use a calendar system to make sure that nothing gets forgotten. Content is written a week or so before it is posted to a website. This gives us a chance to edit and make any tweaks before we post.

Schedule your posting

By scheduling your posting you make sure that you have ample time to optimize for readability and SEO. This is also the time to find images that you are going to use and format the post so that it is visually interesting to read. You should also use this time to create backlinks for visibility.

We suggest using your social media channels to share links back to the articles or pages that you have created. You can also use REALTOR.ca to share links directly to a listing on your website. Another great way to encourage strong backlinking is to get your brokerage involved.

Oftentimes, brokerages are looking for unique content for their websites as well. Offer to share your posts (after you've posted them to your website first) on their blog as a guest blogger. Anywhere you can get a link on a high-ranking site back to your website the better for your own rankings!

I have no idea what to write or where to start!

This is the thing. This is the main reason that people outsource, but trust us when you take a moment to plan ahead it makes it so much easier to produce great real estate content marketing. Here are ten ideas that you can generate content for when it comes to writing content for real estate websites in Canada. If you planned to write just one article on the topics below you would have 10 months' worth of content!

Keep reading for more advice on real estate content topics -

Market Conditions

Statistics, sales, sentiment - this is your area of expertise! Tell the people what is going on with your local market! Sales data changes each month, so this is an easy topic to create content around every month.

Market Trends

What are you seeing out there? Do people want bigger? Are they spending more to have something special? Is there a trend that has seen better days?

Neighbourhoods

Where are the best places to live in your area? Where is the crime the lowest? What housing styles can people expect to find? Are there amenities that stand out as selling features? You are looked to as an expert on all things local - show off your knowledge!

Developments

Everyone loves something new. Show people from out of town what the latest and greatest buildings, subdivisions, and developments are in your city or town. Even better use a map and sync it with real estate listing data!

Economic Drivers

This is another great one for people who are moving to your community, city, or a new neighbourhood. Tell them what to expect of the people who live and work in the area and shine a spotlight on what drives the community.

Amenities

People like to know what's close by. Focus on local restaurants, pubs, bars, and recreation to entice home buyers to a property. Great parks, schools, waterways nearby? Share what makes your city or focus neighbourhood desirable!

Selling Tips and Advice

First-time buyers and seniors are niche markets in real estate. Both are generally out of practice when it comes to moving so focusing on either market segment will be helpful. Think of other segments that would benefit from your real estate experience and answer their frequently asked questions. Other segments include farms, investment, empty-nesters, professionals.

Moving/Community Resources

This is a great way to feature local businesses, organizations, and resources. Connect with like-minded businesses if you can and write a post about how they can help with moving.  Think mortgage brokers, movers, stagers, delivery companies, insurance, etc. This is a great strategy for trading backlinks and cross-promoting services.

Schools and Education

Education is the marker of a great city. Explain where schools are located, what grade level they service, and transportation to and from. This is another great way to connect on a local level while building out a resource that you can continue to develop.

Yourself!

Or, your team, don't be afraid to toot your own horn every once in a while! Do you have a unique story to share? Have you recently closed a big deal? Are you marketing something new? Share it wide and watch the traffic flow, because the more personal an article - the more it gets viewed and shared.

And finally, real estate content marketing starts on your website first!

This is the final bit of advice on what to do with your content once it has been developed. The hardest part is getting content developed and once you've gone through that you want to make sure that all the hard work pays off.

Always pay yourself first. 

You may have heard this before and it certainly applies to SEO. Pay yourself first in this case means don't unknowingly give away your hard work! The content you create must be shared and posted on your website first. End of story. If it gets posted 5 minutes earlier on your brokerage's website, it's no longer good for you. Conversely, if you post an article on your blog or website and then share a picture on Instagram with no link back to the article you just created you are missing all the advantages that you created in the first place.

Content is a lot like a nutritious vegetable. It's the best value for you when it's consumed raw. When you boil it, fry it and overcook it, then it loses its nutrients. The same can be said for content.

Take a look at some of the real estate content marketing that EstateVue has created for our MWP customers this month!

Learn more about becoming an MWP by getting in touch with us!

RE/MAX Vanderhoof is offering advice on how to decide on a property in Vanderhoof.

Neufeld Jones is covering all the things to consider before buying a farm in Kelowna.

Brooks Lancaster is diving into the topic of how to make homes in Penticton more energy efficient.

Corinne O'Neil is showing off the fantastic neighbourhood of Erin Ridge North.

Graham Frey has all the info you need about condos in Whitehorse that support EV's!

RE/MAX Elite is showing the difference in properties in Edmonton vs the rest of the Canadian real estate market this month.

Alpine Realty shares tips on buying a house for sale in Canmore this month.

Big White Property Group has all the details on family fun at Sundance Resort!

Janice Leffler is talking about the amenities of Courtenay townhomes for sale.

Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is sharing everything about Cumberland real estate in BC this month!

Steve Leddy is giving you all the reasons to choose real estate in Downtown Edmonton.

Cliff and Scott King are providing all the details on houses for sale in Oak Bluff, Winnipeg.

Kevin Moist and Associates of Winnipeg have added three new Winnipeg neighbourhoods to their website recently. Learn more about the best places to live in Winnipeg!

John Mattiello is showing us some of the best homes in Edmonton this month on his blog!

Miranda Moser is helping you find a home in Calgary in one of the best neighbourhoods!

Hilbert&Crick Real Estate Team is asking if Kelowna homes for sale are on the decline this month?

The post Why Content Marketing Should Be Your Number One Marketing Spend. appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

We break down some of the items that we do differently this month, but really we want this post to shine a light on some of the great real estate agents, companies, and brokerages with who we are fortunate to work.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Our SEO program does not leave anything to the imagination. That's because each month our clients are sent a detailed report. These reports aren't just a regurgitation of stats either. They're carefully planned and executed to match up with the work we have done on your website each month. Reports from EstateVue's SEO team include all of the work listed in a bulleted format with easy-to-follow links for verification purposes.

This level of communication has been very well received by our customers. While not every month is a huge gain in ranking for every client, we always take the time to explain what is happening within your website. As a result, our clients learn a little more about the process, how they can contribute and why rankings, search visibility and more have an impact.

MAINTENANCE ALWAYS REQUIRED

Beware the SEO or web development company that says they can get you rankings without offering a solid maintenance plan to back that statement up. We generally only sell websites that come with a specific level of SEO and or maintenance package.

That's because even the most basic of a website requires maintenance. Plugins need to be updated, speed and security also need to be monitored. Without regular monthly maintenance, you can expect your website to:

• tank in rankings
• be really slow as time wears on
• get hacked due to outdated plugins or framework
• contain broken links, missing content, or look broken
• have outdated real estate listings

BLOG POSTS FOR THE WIN

Every SEO package we maintain for our customers comes with custom content. Custom content that has been designed to appeal to search engines and customers alike. We write all of our content in-house, so you don't need to worry about bad English, spelling mistakes, or cultural discrepancies due to a lack of local knowledge.

Our writing team has decades of experience in both SEO writing and literature. While our writing team is University educated and trained you will notice that our posts are geared towards a lower level of education. That's all part of the secret sauce and we are happy to explain this in more detail when you become one of our customers.

TECHNOLOGY - ALSO FOR THE WIN!

Our real estate SEO in Canada also comes with some great technology to help us gather and report website data. Monthly reports also share statistics about rankings, competitors, social media posts, and stats as well as traffic, lead generation, and more.

And the technology doesn't stop at the reporting either! Many of our customers also benefit from the lead conversion leader in chat - SYNCRO web chat. This little text to chat robot will help you close down leads all day long!

GET IN TOUCH

If you've been looking for a Canadian SEO company to help you with your SEO efforts then get in touch with us. We would love to hear more about what you're currently doing, where you want to be, and what we can do to help you attain your goals! Reach out to us today! Keep reading for some great examples of Real Estate SEO in Canada!

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS BELOW FOR SAMPLE BLOG POSTS THAT WE'VE WRITTEN THIS MONTH!

Houses for sale in Penticton are right this way! https://pentictonhousesforsale.ca/decorating-houses-for-sale-penticton/ 

Looking for real estate in Kelowna? https://neufeldjones.com/real-estate-in-kelownas-mckinley-landing-neighbourhood/ 

Moving to Houses For Sale in the Comox Valley

Real Estate in Calgary is Modern!

Finding houses in West Kelowna with Josh Miko is easy! https://joshmiko.ca/finding-houses-in-west-kelowna/ 

https://johnmattiello.com/real-estate-agents-of-edmonton-interior-design/

All Kelowna real estate is right here! https://hilbertcrick.ca/finding-kelowna-real-estate-online/ 

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Although still a quite unfamiliar term to many people, the QR code itself is quite recognizable; you’ve probably seen it before.What many of you might not realize is that this square-shaped symbol can be a marketing powerhouse for your business.

It has already busted a technological move all over brokerages on the top of their game. Why? Because it makes information more instant, available anywhere, and ridiculously easy to find. The ‘Quick Response’ Code is compatible with any web-enabled phone, so for the majority of working professionals toting a Blackberry, iPhone, or any other smartphone device under the sun, this is a useful feature.Here we’ll tell you exactly how you can incorporate QR codes into your business, and get maximum traffic to your listings and website.

First things first, how it works. The ‘Quick Response’ technology allows users to scan the code with their phones and be directed to a specific webpage or link associated with that code. See the potential? When brokerages and agents use these codes in their print marketing, the traffic to their website has the potential to skyrocket. Here are a few examples of uses:

Business cards
Name, Phone Number, Email Address, Website… it’s the same template for everyone.

The marketing business is all about setting yourself apart, and in real estate that is a very important task. The presence of a QR code on your business card can link potential and current clients to a welcome video or any other extra footage to make you memorable. It’s like granting them special access to something special about you, which can help them get to know you better and foster a strong client-realtor relationship. The potential with this is greater than anything else you could possibly fit on your business card. Plus, how cutting-edge would you look toting your own QR code?

Brochures
Whether you’ve had them made for yourself or a particular listing, brochures can be given an extra boost with a QR code conveniently placed for more information right on the spot. You can link users to a photo gallery or 360° tour of the home(s) featured on your handout.

Signs: Okay this is the really exciting one. When you’ve staked your ‘for sale’ sign in front of a property, a QR code on the sign itself can direct all the interested passerby right to your website or secret webpage. Give them the information they want to know, and the pics and vids they wanna see while they’re standing on the property they might possibly place an offer on someday.There is actually an endless list of possibilities no one has even thought of yet, but you get the point. Print marketing is an essential tool in the world of marketing, but the QR code allows you to step up your game and thrust users into another realm. A flashy flyer might generate interest, but extra footage from a QR code could hit the point home and give you an extra punch. Talk with us about some creative ways of posting QR codes, we love the way Jimmy Fallon did it (note: keep your eye out at 3:46) We’d love to get our QR codes tattooed on supermodels, but we’d have to look into the legality of that first, we’ll let you know. We are one of the first providers of this feature, so ask EstateVue about getting your QR codes set up for all your print (and tattoo) marketing.

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