If you answered "No" or "not in a while," do it now. It's okay, I'll wait...
You probably found that the search results aren't what you hoped. You likely found:
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How Do You Show Up Correctly On Google?
Okay, so you're not happy about what Google returns for your name or your business name. I probably don't have to spell out what it means if you're not coming up in searches. People aren't finding you, and they don't know you're a local Realtor.
The fix for this is relatively simple, but it does take some time and definitely some patience.
You'll have to verify your business listings online and fix what is known as your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number).
For the purposes of this task, your online business listings are the places your name or business name appears online. It includes websites such as Yelp, Foursquare, Yellow Pages, and even Facebook.
The fix for this is relatively simple, but it does take some time and definitely some patience.
You'll have to verify your business listings online and fix what is known as your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number).
For the purposes of this task, your online business listings are the places your name or business name appears online. It includes websites such as Yelp, Foursquare, Yellow Pages, and even Facebook.
Check Your Business Listing Score
Even us pros use this free tool from Moz to first check the business listing. This will show you where you have duplicate info, incorrect info, or where you need to add your business to improve search ranking.
If you're not listed anywhere yet, you'll have the benefit of starting fresh with your correct NAP.
If you have a lot of duplicate, incorrect, or incomplete business listings, you will have to work to correct the issues.
Either way, you will start by creating accounts and verifying your business listing on as many of the sites as possible.
To do this efficiently, you will want to be at the phone number you are using, because some websites will call that number to verify. You will also need to be able to access your email to verify listings.
Some of them you likely won't be able to correct or add. Some of the sites make it impossible or nearly impossible. In my experience, as long as you verify and correct as many as you can, you will see a significant improvement in your Moz score.
One thing that is paramount, you must decide what your NAP is, and use the exact same thing for each and every business listing you add or verify.
If you're not listed anywhere yet, you'll have the benefit of starting fresh with your correct NAP.
If you have a lot of duplicate, incorrect, or incomplete business listings, you will have to work to correct the issues.
Either way, you will start by creating accounts and verifying your business listing on as many of the sites as possible.
To do this efficiently, you will want to be at the phone number you are using, because some websites will call that number to verify. You will also need to be able to access your email to verify listings.
Some of them you likely won't be able to correct or add. Some of the sites make it impossible or nearly impossible. In my experience, as long as you verify and correct as many as you can, you will see a significant improvement in your Moz score.
One thing that is paramount, you must decide what your NAP is, and use the exact same thing for each and every business listing you add or verify.
What To Use For Your NAP
As I said above, your NAP is your Name, Address, Phone Number, and it must be the same everywhere. For most businesses, this isn't difficult. Most have a set name and there's not a lot of room for error.
However, individual agents have to decide what the naming structure for their online real estate business listings will be. Is your name your brand? If so, do you want to include the word REALTOR? Do you have to include your brokerage's name? Will you include your location?
If you're using your name as your brand, I would recommend you keep it as simple as possible, and if you don't have to include your brokerage, don't. If you should decide to leave your brokerage, it will be a giant pain in the rear to go through and remove it from all your branding.
Once your NAP is corrected and you have verified your business listings online, you will begin to see your rank improve in searches.
Keep in mind, this is part of improving your search rank, but it isn't the only thing that needs to be done. Building your brand online takes time and effort. No one tactic will make it happen. You need to apply SEO best practices in everything from blogging, to meta data, to social media.
However, individual agents have to decide what the naming structure for their online real estate business listings will be. Is your name your brand? If so, do you want to include the word REALTOR? Do you have to include your brokerage's name? Will you include your location?
If you're using your name as your brand, I would recommend you keep it as simple as possible, and if you don't have to include your brokerage, don't. If you should decide to leave your brokerage, it will be a giant pain in the rear to go through and remove it from all your branding.
Once your NAP is corrected and you have verified your business listings online, you will begin to see your rank improve in searches.
Keep in mind, this is part of improving your search rank, but it isn't the only thing that needs to be done. Building your brand online takes time and effort. No one tactic will make it happen. You need to apply SEO best practices in everything from blogging, to meta data, to social media.
Get Your Business Verified Online
If this all sounds too confusing or you simply don't have time to do it properly, you're not alone. Many Realtors are not even aware that they need to verify business listings and they don't know how much their incorrect NAP is hurting their business.
This is an ideal task to have an experienced real estate virtual assistant handle. In fact, most Realtors have someone do this for them.
The benefit to using a virtual assistant is that the cost will likely be much lower than if you use a big company. Besides, a company is just going to send it to their virtual assistant. They'll just charge you more and pocket the difference.
So if you weren't pleased with the results when you Googled yourself and would like some help or even guidance, contact me, Sarah Davila, owner of TriangleREVA.com. We'll discuss your business listing needs and develop a plan of action to get your NAP sorted out quickly.
If you're in the Triangle area, I can come to your office and handle the entire project for you. You won't have to do a thing.
This is an ideal task to have an experienced real estate virtual assistant handle. In fact, most Realtors have someone do this for them.
The benefit to using a virtual assistant is that the cost will likely be much lower than if you use a big company. Besides, a company is just going to send it to their virtual assistant. They'll just charge you more and pocket the difference.
So if you weren't pleased with the results when you Googled yourself and would like some help or even guidance, contact me, Sarah Davila, owner of TriangleREVA.com. We'll discuss your business listing needs and develop a plan of action to get your NAP sorted out quickly.
If you're in the Triangle area, I can come to your office and handle the entire project for you. You won't have to do a thing.
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