Thread: MauiRealEstateSearch.com

Yeah not bad, bit "two tone" in terms of colour. But not a bad design at all. Again, another website with an iframe property search? Why don't you get a database of your own or at least use a mls that enables you to display the results on your own website.

I hate iframes, they look messy when they are not inputted correctly, the style doesn't usually match your site when you are displaying content from another website, and some older browsers can not view the iframe.

No, it's not an iFrame, it's a RETS global wrap. I know there is an issue with the sizing and I created a different thread to address that on this forum. Any help would be appreciated.

As far as the color scheme, thank you for your input. That is an aspect that is very subjective and people will always vary in opinion (my own included).

Again, any input/feedback as far as the SEO aspects would be most welcomed.

Here are a couple of constructive thoughts:
- I find the site a bit narrow...since most computer monitors have higher resolution these days, your site might seem a little less cramped if it were wider
- I think having a favicon makes sites look and feel more professional. There are lots of free tools you can use to create one...here's one of those tools
- Your descriptions of those maui communities are great, but how about providing the user with a 'one click search' for homes for sale in that community?
- Re: SEO, you have lots of links already, so you don't seem to need much help with that

All the best, Hugh

Hugh, thank you very much for all the useful information. I actually never knew what those 'favicons' were but assumed that it was done at the designer/developer level so I had no idea that I could do one myself. I will definitely do that, as well as add the one-click search button for those communities. Both of those were great ideas that I will implement.

The title tag should be no more than 60 characters and the description tag 150 or less. Lean and mean is the motto. Good luck

Seems you do have a nice website...

Just a suggestion, you may put your contact panel on the side instead you put it on the bottom... Client can easily access it if it was place on side...

Hope it will help...

Have a great day,

Sean

I took this one on, simply because I love Maui so much. I haven't been since 2007 and I'm having withdrawals. I went every year from 1999 to 2007 and then my high paying job went bye bye in 08.

Your <title> tag does contain a call to action, but I'd move the call to action to the front. That's what people see when they find your website on Google. The <Description> tag is what goes in the little short paragraph in the Google result. Not that many people actually search Google for Luxury homes. In fact, the Google adword keyword tool will show you that the average monthly search for Maui Luxury real estate is only 480 searches but has heavy competition for the term. That's in spite of the fact that the search volume is actually declining, according to the trending chart.

This search volume is in contrast to 22,200 searches for Maui Homes and 5,400 searches for Maui homes for sale those are both local search numbers. Competition is heavy but the effort is worth it, since that is what people are using for search terms online.

Back to your call to action. Since Maui Home and Maui homes for sale are your keywords, I'd make the title say, "Search All The Maui Homes For Sale..." and the description tag say something like "Use this website to search all the Maui Homes for sale right now. No signup required!..." Then your Google result will say just that, and catch people's attention. If your Realtor's board allows it, I'd put the term, MLS in the title and description as well.

Dave, thanks for the input. Very astute observations. I will definitely move the call to action closer to the left. And although the 'luxury' sector does not get any near as many searches monthly as other terms, I will still target that (We have closed a couple of leads we got from those terms, resulting in close to 8 figures in total sales... "Dont bite the hand that feeds you"). So when are you heading back to Maui? What are your favorite spots on the island?

Originally Posted by maui

Dave, thanks for the input. Very astute observations. I will definitely move the call to action closer to the left. And although the 'luxury' sector does not get any near as many searches monthly as other terms, I will still target that (We have closed a couple of leads we got from those terms, resulting in close to 8 figures in total sales... "Dont bite the hand that feeds you"). So when are you heading back to Maui? What are your favorite spots on the island?

I wish I knew, last there in '07. Lost a pretty nice paying job in 08 and still trying to catch up. We always have Maui on the horizon of our plans.

I've really grown to love the upcountry, Makawao and the Alii Lavender Gardens. We spend quite a lot of time there. I love the drive to Hana and on around the back side. Love the north-east side too, where the cousins have their shaved ice stand and the best homemade banana bread in the world. Hot too! I love how the Wailuku valley comes into view as you come around the bends and curves of the Northeast shore and the locals look at you like who's this crazy white guy driving around here?

The more I visit Maui, the more I appreciate the out of the way places from Kula to the out of the way places along Kahekili Highway. We've discovered graveyards with long forgotten beloved people's names weathering away, and met people who told us of lives in even more remote locations like the lady at the pink shaved ice stand who lived for years on the Marshall Islands and has her own CD of Hawaiian songs she recorded and will play for anyone who will, or can listen.

All this remembering is killing me!