The Perfect Storm
My blog got an unusual amount of traffic yesterday. I guess from a bloggers point of view I can call it the perfect storm. The combination of link love because of some posts I recently wrote and home buyers looking for a Realtor generated an extra 600 visits.
When my traffic spikes I always take a peak and see where the traffic is coming from. I found a bunch of links from Google and found that someone had used the search string “homes prices in St. Paul MN”.
Google Really Loves Me
I looked at the search and found that my blog comes up one and two on Google’s first page for that search. The number two is an indent in the index because Google won’t let me have the entire first page. A silly rule but I can’t change it.
Beneath me were links to some big real estate web sites. I point this out because the internet is the great equalizer. Google doesn’t care if there is a huge community of bloggers on a site or just one.
Unique Content Rules
The posts that were getting all the attention could have been published on a free blog on any number of real estate web sites but I don’t post the unique local content that drives my business on real estate web sites.
It doesn’t hurt to have buyers and sellers come directly to me instead of coming in through a third party. If I published the same type of content on the real estate web sites Google might find those sites instead of my site, but maybe not. I guess that would be OK but again what is wrong with having them come directly to me? What is the downside? The concentrated content I have has given me concentrated traffic.
Web Sites with POWER
There are real estate bloggers who believe that some of the real estate web sites and social networks where they have blogs have “power”. I am not sure what kind of power they are talking about. In fact one of those powerful sites with a ton of bloggers on it didn’t even show up in the Google search that brought my visitor. I only went to page five but I think that is far enough.
It isn’t just that single search that brings in the business, there are many others, which is a good thing because people use all sorts of searches. The bloggers who write on the big sites have each other. They can comment on each others posts and talk about the “power” of the web site. I don’t have that kind of interaction with other Realtors on my blog. I may have to join a support group of something.
monika
October 29, 2008 at 7:38 am
I love that my little Blog reaches the consumers I really want to reach. I blog and enjoy being on a big social network but I concentrate mainly on my own blog. I’m in control and I like that very much.
Ken Brand
October 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
Thanks for sharing. For me, and I’d imagine others, it’s interesting and informative. Hearing how a bona-fide producer manages social/web 2.0 media and the impact of pulling various levers, pushing buttons, adding spices, what to leave in, what to leave out, etc. Very helpful. Again, thanks for sharing.
Matt Thomson
October 29, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Do you see any value in a network such as the Undressed Network? My (limited) understanding of Google is that the power of that network helps solidify my individual blog (perhaps through linking?). Have you found that to be the case and you’re referring to big blog parties (like AR), or in your view does an individual blog have as much presence (or potential for presence) as a network?
Teresa Boardman
October 29, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Matt,
In my view and individual blog has as much presence or potential presence as a network and I think my blog proves it.
Jack Leblond
October 29, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Great post Teresa! BTW, that indented listing that you wanted to change – you are much better off with it indented. Google does that on sites it perceives as being authoritative for the particular search query. Additionally, studies have shown that searchers are more likely to click to a site with indented listings than they are with consecutive listing.
You are doing something right – keep up the good work!
Elaine Reese
October 29, 2008 at 4:41 pm
You don’t know it, but I followed you advice last year … and you ARE correct! Little blogs can do very well … THANK YOU!
Teresa Boardman
October 30, 2008 at 8:00 am
wow Elaine thanks, you have no idea how much that means to me. 🙂
Susie Blackmon
November 17, 2008 at 5:55 am
Your blog proves a lot… I am thankful to have someone like you out there to look up to; i.e., admire. Very thankful.