How To Increase Website Ranking And Visibility

[centuryappraisal]

Hi guys,

1) Just want to hear your inputs on how to go about increasing your website ranking and visibility on search engines like Google, Bing ?

2) Also, do you think, as an independent appraiser, do we really need a website at all?

Thanks.

 

[JAW]

Hi Century Appraisal,

While you don't need an elaborate website, this is 2018. An appraisal business without a website tells potential clients that the appraisal office is not serious and doesn't plan to be in business for the long term. Work with a reputable web development company that will produce a modern website with a "responsive design" (it can be viewed correctly on either a desktop computer or mobile device).

Next, your website needs to be found. Search Engine Optimization is a science and profession unto itself. But, when shopping for a web development company, ask them how they will ensure the site will be found by search engines. There are a variety of things they will do to set up the website properly. Then, you will need to produce some content on regular basis that will keep the website fresh because the search engines lower the ranking of websites that are stale and unchanging.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of course.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

So, the kid from the local community college may not be the best person to handle this I am hearing.

 

[Michael S]

Search engine optimization (SEO) can be very involved. The key is just making sure the basic tags are embedded in each page. If someone is searching "appraiser in xyz city" make sure that you have something similar to that on your main page in the page header. Think about what sort of search terms potential clients would use. It's crazy when a business website with the business name as the URL doesn't show up until the third or fourth page of search results. If your company is name say Redwood Appraisal and you have the domain name redwoodappraisal . com then you had better make sure your title header says Redwood Appraisal as well.

The other key is getting links from other websites. Google, which is where frankly almost all search traffic originates from, bases a lot of their rankings by how many other websites link to you. Wikipedia always rates near the very top because so many people reference it an link to it. Same with any reputable long-standing domain such as a major news website, .edu or .gov website, etc. If you can write a blog post for a local realtor for instance you could ask them to provide a link back to your website. Or maybe get a client to list you on their page of references. That might not work with a bank but if it's a local attorney or some other non-lender client you've done work for it could certainly help.

Finally, have some fresh worthwhile content. Even if it's just a blog post of 500 words once a month that's better than 95% of your competition. Post a quarterly market update complete with a few statistics that some local realtors or news organizations might want to link to. Make yourself out to be the expert for your area or niche.

If you use something like Wordpress there are lots of free plugins that will help you with SEO to make sure things like page headers are properly embedded and the little snippet of text that shows up in the Google search is what you want it to be.

Beware that a lot of SEO consultants are crap and not worth the money. They might do shady things like get spammy website to link to you. This can backfire and cause Google to essentially blacklist your website. SEO is a long process. If done right it will take months to see the results, possibly a year or two. Just make sure you have a good website with good content.

 

[Phil McDonald]

Hi guys,

1) Just want to hear your inputs on how to go about increasing your website ranking and visibility on search engines like Google, Bing ?

2) Also, do you think, as an independent appraiser, do we really need a website at all?

Thanks.

If you are only doing residential work and loving the AMC life then just put up a business card website for free. If you are doing commercial work or seeking residential work outside of AMC work then make it an investment.

Master everything about Google Places or hire someone who can. This is powerful. SEO is important for organic search and videos dominate organic search.

It all depends on what work you are seeking.

 

[Carnivore]

My Page used to work fairly well especially in google search. But I have not optimized the page nor do I pay Google or anyone else. So it no longer shows up as well.

http://charlotteappraiser.net/

 

[JAW]

Lots of great thoughts posted here. It can be overwhelming, since as I mentioned, SEO is a profession unto itself. After getting a simple, professionally-built website from a company that knows how to set it up to be found by search engines, the next thing to do is as was mentioned earlier, to get in directories. Some people search directly on the web, but others go to directories such as where you hold your credentials, or other locations. Not only are you then found where people are looking, but those references to your website will improve your search ranking.

 

[Eli]

It depends on who your client base is and who your target market is. It won’t matter pretty soon on appraisals for federally insured institutions because the insurer will engage it.

Now, that will open new doors tremendously.