Estate Agents: How to Use Local SEO to Target Local Home Sellers

It's no secret that the vast majority of home sellers start their search for an agent online. In fact, according to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors, 92% of home buyers use the internet during their search process.

With that in mind, it's more important than ever for agents to have a strong online presence. One of the best ways to do that is by using SEO (search engine optimization), more specifically local SEO, to target local home sellers.

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a method of optimizing your website and online content to target potential home sellers in your local area. It involves using relevant keywords, backlinks, and other tactics that help you rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) for local searches.

The idea is that if you owned an Estate Agency in York, when someone types in 'sell my house in york', your Estate Agency shows up in the search results.

Difference between Local SEO and traditional SEO

If you’re an Estate Agent, local SEO can be one of the most effective ways to target homeowners in your area. As opposed to traditional (or “organic”) search engine optimization, which is designed to increase traffic from any and all users who use Google or other search engines, local SEO targets searchers using specific keywords and phrases that are associated with a specific location.

Here are a few 8 tips on how to use SEO to target local home sellers:

1. Optimize your website for local keywords

One of the best ways to optimize your site for local SEO is to include relevant local keywords throughout your content. When writing blog posts on your site, for example, try to include keywords that would be relevant to local home sellers, such as “real estate” or “houses for sale.” You can also add these keywords to your meta tags and page titles, as these are the primary factors that search engines use when determining where you should appear in search results.

2. Utilize local directories and review sites

Another key element of effective local SEO is building up links from other websites that are relevant to your business. Some good options here include local directory sites like Yelp or Zillow, which will help boost your authority and reputation with Google. Additionally, you may also want to consider reaching out directly to homeowners in your area who are looking to sell their houses; many of these individuals will likely have blogs or other websites where they’re sharing information about their homes for sale, and if you can get a link from one of these sites, it can do wonders for your SEO.

3. Create location-specific pages on your website

If you want to really target local homeowners with your SEO efforts, you should create separate pages on your site that are specifically designed for each location that you serve. These pages should include all of the relevant local keywords and phrases associated with that particular area, as well as information about why someone in that area would want to use your services. By creating these types of location-specific pages, you’ll be able to stand out in local search results and reach more of the homeowners who are looking for your services.

4. Maintain an active social media presence on sites like Facebook and Twitter

In addition to optimizing your website, it’s also important to maintain an active social media presence if you want to rank well in local search results. This means regularly sharing content that is relevant to potential home sellers in your area, as well as interacting with users who may have questions or comments about real estate in general. In particular, having a strong following on Facebook can be particularly helpful when it comes to building up trust and credibility with Google, so make sure that you are consistently posting new content and engaging with other users on this platform.

5. Use Google My Business to improve your visibility in search results

If you want to make sure that you’re appearing in local search results, one of the best things you can do is create a free listing on Google My Business. This service allows you to provide essential information about your business, such as your hours of operation, contact information, and location, which will then be displayed prominently whenever someone searches for estate agents in your area. Additionally, you can also use this platform to post updates and special offers that may be relevant to potential home sellers, so make sure that you take advantage of this powerful tool.

6. Make sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) information is consistent across all of your marketing materials

One of the most important things you can do to improve your SEO is to make sure that all of your NAP information is consistent across all of your marketing materials. This means having the same name, address, and phone number on all of your website pages, as well as in any print or online directories that you’re listed in. Having inconsistent NAP information will cause confusion for search engines, and may result in lower rankings for your site. So if you want to appear more prominently in local results, make sure to use the exact same NAP details everywhere!

7. Audit your website regularly to identify and fix any broken links or redirects that may be harming your SEO

Another important factor that can affect your local search rankings is the quality of your site’s backlinks. This means checking to make sure that you don’t have any link-related problems on your pages, such as having broken links or redirects that are hurting your visibility in the search results. To do this, you can use a free tool like Screaming Frog or SEMrush’s Backlink Checker feature; these tools will help you quickly spot any technical issues with your site so that you can take steps to optimize it and improve its rankings overall.

8. Track how well your local SEO efforts are performing with Google Analytics

Finally, it’s important to keep track of your local SEO progress over time so that you can see how well your efforts are paying off. The best way to do this is by setting up Google Analytics on your website and then monitoring your progress in the “Acquisition” section of the platform. Here, you’ll be able to see how much traffic you’re getting from organic search results, as well as which keywords and phrases people are using to find your site. This information will be invaluable as you continue to fine-tune your local SEO strategy and work towards improving your ranking in the search engines.

Is Local SEO good for generating leads?

According to HubSpot, leads from SEO have a 14.6% close rate, though this rate can be higher depending on the industry you are in. SEO is just one of the methods Estate Agents can use for generating leads, and ultimately it is down to you to decide whether to implement an SEO strategy.

Be sure to use SEO alongside other digital marketing methods such as social media and paid search to help generate leads for your estate agency.

That's it. By following these tips, you should be able to improve your local search rankings, drive more traffic to your site, and reach a wider audience of potential home sellers. With consistent effort and the right strategies in place, you’ll be well on your way to success