If you have a website or a Blog you know how important it is to be on the 1st page of Google. Statistics tell us that 75% of the clicks in Google will go to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd result, after that, the numbers drop substantially. Think about it, how often do you click on a link that is not in one of these positions?
After waiting so long and working so hard on your internet strategy, as a Realtor or Loan Officer nothing is really more rewarding than being on the first page of Google in one of those 1st, 2nd or 3rd positions. It feels great, the whole world can see you now and your website or blog should be getting the attention it so richly deserves. But is it?
The guys and gals at Google are very smart, sometimes it feels like they are reading our minds, they often know what we are searching for before we do. It’s this Google intuition that can play tricks on your true ranking in Google.
Below, I google’d the “Housing Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Act” which is in regards to short sales. If you are a short sale agent and you don’t know what HAFA is, you will soon. A search for those key words from an earlier blog post gives me the #1 rank in Google. After turning off my personalized search option, I can see that it really is #1 in Google. (This explains all the calls I am getting from potential short sale candidates.)
Search: Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Act
If you search for a keyword or long tail search, Google after awhile learns what you are looking for and will display it on the first page. But, that may not be your true ranking. In December 2009 Google started a service to better provide you with the most relevant results possible. Its called Personalized Search.
From Google: “Google sometimes customizes your search results based on your past search activity on Google. This customization includes searches you’ve done and results you’ve clicked”.
“Previously, Google only offered Personalized Search for signed-in users, and only when they had Web History enabled on their Google Accounts. What we’re doing today is expanding Personalized Search so that we can provide it to signed-out users as well. This addition enables us to customize search results for you based upon 180 days of search activity linked to an anonymous cookie in your browser. It’s completely separate from your Google Account and Web History (which are only available to signed-in users)”
Meaning: If you Google “Chandler Homes For Sale” enough times, Google will learn what you are looking for and prominently display your search on the 1st page. BUT, that does not always mean that your keywords are truly in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd position.
In order to truly know where you rank for a certain keyword, you will need to turn off personalized search.
Turning Off Personalized Search
If you are a Realtor or Loan Officer in the Phoenix Metro area and would like assistance with your internet strategy, please give me a call. I would like to earn your business.
For All Your Marketing, Escrow and Title Needs
