Do It Yourself SEO: A Lot Like FSBO

[HHI Golf Guy]

How much time do you spend each week on your web site and web marketing? Probably too much. In a way, do it yourself SEO is a lot like FSBO (http://www.thekosloffgroup.com/seo-vs-fsbo.htm)

[frobn]

How much time do you spend each week on your web site and web marketing? Probably too much. In a way, do it yourself SEO is a lot like FSBO (http://www.thekosloffgroup.com/seo-vs-fsbo.htm)


Excellent analogy. It also holds true for web design and development.

[Jade456]

I'd be on the computer anyway. At least I'm being productive. :)

[Real Estate Forum]

If I didn't know seo, I'd spend the next 50 hours learning it ... no sleep - just tons of coffee ;)

[frobn]

If I didn't know seo, I'd spend the next 50 hours learning it ... no sleep - just tons of coffee ;)

You mean I could learn SEO in 50 hours? Sign me up :)

[Real Estate Forum]

Hehe ... I think I am starting a 100 Club here for members with over 100 posts

[happy home]

Excellent offer it will teach alot

[HomeSurfer]

Not everyone in the forum is a Realtor or real estate agent. For some people who post, the web is their job and they may think they understand SEO principals pretty well, and even if they don't -- they may outperform some SEO's on their particular site.

Additionally, I know at least one agent who I would put up almost any SEO professional. Many agents are GREAT at promoting their own sites.

Then there are some agents who are misguided, spending too much time working on their web site when they could be making more productive use of their time by other methods of prospecting-qualifying-closing new clients. It might be better to hire an assistant or contract for services -- providing they get their money's worth.

Finally, not everyone agrees on what is best SEO.

I am writing four chapters for the 2nd edition of an upcoming book about internet marketing. My chapters are on SEO, and traffic-building.

[Thesa]

I think anybody that is good at marketing a site should use the line... about FSBO... never really thought about it.... but it is so true... kinda like the attorney that represents himself.... I like it.

[axemedia]

I am in complete agreement. Though there are some agents who do very well working on their own sites. Most of them had a tech background before getting into real estate

For the amount of time and experimentation it takes to learn SEO I wonder why so many agents try and do it themselves.

They may think their saving money, but in most cases their wasting time and money.

[JChristin]

When the internet started to be used as a marketing tool, it increased exposure - which is the name of the game. When I was in real estate sales, I created my own websites, checked for legalities, and uploaded to the net. By trial and error, I learned. Investing tons of dollars to promote my business, taught me to me leary. However, the old saying, "Contempt prior to investigation" is key.

Sounds like SEO may be a rewrapping of marketing services offered by companies that once promised first page search engine results. If the service provides a greater return on the investment dollar, with results based upon the buyers criteria, it could well be worth a try.

Hope to hear from others who try this marketing scheme, and that they will write about their results.

.

[HHI Golf Guy]

Sounds like SEO may be a rewrapping of marketing services offered by companies that once promised first page search engine results. If the service provides a greater return on the investment dollar, with results based upon the buyers criteria, it could well be worth a try.

Hope to hear from others who try this marketing scheme, and that they will write about their results.

To the uninitiated, SEO might seem like a marketing scheme - especially with a ton of dodgy SEO companies out there.

But ask any Realtor that has invested with a reputable SEO company and I would bet that almost all would say that it's well worth the investment.

SEO is part art and part science. Not only do you need to understand what search engines are doing right now, but you also need to anticipate what they will be doing in the future. This is why a lot of do-it-yourselfers either never achieve great rankings, of find that their site bounces all around in the rankings. In fact, most sites that get clobbered when their is an algorithm change are the DIY SEO crowd.

If anyone guarantees top results for a site, run away. Fast. Those companies that guarantee top results usually pick the keywords to optimize for, and its usualyy some obscure longtail phrase like "new luxury homes and properties in Bethesda" - something that no one searches for and no one else optimizes.

I have been doing SEO for quite a while now, and not once have I guaranteed any rankings. But I have had prospective clients ask me to guarantee rankings, and each time I have turned down their business. No reputable SEO will ever make that guarantee.

[spanishproperty]

I do agree that SEO is very time consuming but like lots of agents once you have built and promoted your own site, learnt about SEO (in your own way) and what you have your own beliefs about in SEO:

After all of that I would never let anyone touch any of my sites, as I dont know how they go about SEO, what their own beliefs are and I think SEO's and website designers are lazy so the amount of work that I would put in would well over do any work of anyone or company that I would employ.

(sorry to web designers about the lazy comment - just experience of my own friends that are designers - sat there playing games all day !!!)

[happymondays]

They may think their saving money, but in most cases their wasting time and money.

Couldn't agree more. I am an SEO... When my car broke I will find a mechanic. When the faucet broken I will find a handyman. When your website's traffic is, well, broken... Try to find someone who is a full time SEO not a weekend SEO.

[highlander]

How much time do you spend each week on your web site and web marketing? Probably too much. In a way,
SEO is very time consuming, and it should be considered at the very beginning