Optimizing for keywords question on dilution?

[sfmatthews]

This post is deleted!

[EGOL]

If this was my site I would say that I learned something....

"a page that provides an overview of lake keowee real estate (more info than home page) and links out to subpages of the major communities around the lake." will rank better than a yada yada page about the biz model (which will probably not attract links very well).

That page is more relevant for your search term than a biz model page - that's what I think because it contains and links to subpages about geographically relevant areas.

So, I would move that information to my homepage, make a page that pitches the biz, and add links at top of site for "agents" "sellers" "buyers".

Maybe I don't get the purpose of the site but if I understand it properly you want agents as your customers and buyers as your product.

--- added----

My personal belief is that if I want to rank a webPAGE for a keyword I will begin by building a webSITE that has separate webpages for LOTS of highly highly relevant topics with very substantive content.  Then I will link to them from the webpage that I want to rank for that specific keyword.  This shows Google that my webpage is a good  starting point for everything that anybody anywhere wants to know about that topic.

Webpages on websites that I build this way seem to rank better than webpages with superior metrics  (referencing back to another of your recent questions).  However, they usually need  offsite assets to achieve top rankings.

[sfmatthews]

Well, that certainly makes sense. Tough to get that much content on current homepage design though. Either way, Sellers, Buyers, and Agents on top nav couldn't be clearer so I will work toward that.

Thanks for the feedback.

[EGOL]

Your current homepage is a biz model description that will not be very good at attracting unsolicited links.  However, if you fill it with links to geographic areas around the Lake and the latest beautiful listings your homepage can become the go-to-place for anybody looking for property in your area.

Buyers (your product) don't give a hoot about your biz model.  They wanna see listings.  Agents (your clients) will work really hard to learn about your biz model if they are convinced that your website can be helpful to them and will find the page about your biz model no matter where you hide it on the site.

If I owned your site the homepage would be HUGE and would include lots of links to geographic locations around the lake - each a category page with all of the listings for that specific area.  The homepage would also contain all of the newest listings so that buyers can visit to immediately find out what's new.

Just my opinion... but believe that having a huge amount of content on the homepage is a great idea and all of my sites have performed better and better as amount of content on the homepage has grown.  Of course there is a limit but I don't think that your site is anywhere close to pushing it.  You want visitors to hit your site and say WOW!  (they are currently asking "what is this?" - at least that's what I did - not your typical real estate site)

If you have lots of listings make a section on your homepage for each geographic area and put the two newest or two best properties in them.  Then link in to the category page on your site for that geographic area.

I am not guaranteeing results.. just saying what I would be doing.. and what I would be betting on.

[sfmatthews]

Thanks for the detailed response. I can certainly work toward tweaking the homepage now that I've discovered this. What you say makes sense to me.

In the next 12-18 months, I think that social will play more and more of a role, particularly in real estate and getting the word out about certain properties. That said, I want to leave some room for that. It takes a little more room if you want 1-click following or liking vs being taken to some other page.

I suppose the map on home is just wasting space, so maybe I could move a smaller property search there and by some more room in the primary content well.

If I move the content from the page that is currently ranking, would a 301 allow me to save that tiny amount of juice?

Thanks again for the feedback.

Steven

[EGOL]

If it was my site and I was going to move the content from that page to the homepage I would do a 301 redirect.

I definitely agree on the importance of social... but I can't say how to develop that area.

Good luck!

[sfmatthews]

Take a peek, done and done! That better?

[EGOL]

oh... I like this a lot better.  The homepage is much more substantive.  I hope that others who know the last "look" will say what they think.

Here are a couple other things to consider.....

Your "Get connected" area is really big... that could be reduced to a sleek set of buttons.   If you make them very sleek you can place them on ever page of the site - perhaps in the same location - top of right column?.  In my opinion people will be more likely to share a property than they will be to share your site.  So I would want the share buttons on the property listings page.

I don't know your revenue model. However, the way that you make money would determine if the property listings are on the right or on the left.... and how I place listing links on other pages of the site.   If you are being paid for leads then you want to place them where they will get maximum use.

Your paragraphs...  "Whether you're looking for....  ".... Honestly.... I would either CHOP that severely.  That is something that most people will never read, yet it will push down links that lead to sales every time someone visits a site.  If those links are making money I would bring them up.

Can you get listings on pages such as "Keowee Key"?... That might get sales.

Finally... are you using CrazyEgg.... you can place it on your site and see how people use your links.

Nice site.  Keep up the good work.