Local SEO for Real Estate in 2024: Dominate Your Market
September 28, 2023 / SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
“Houses for sale near me,” “apartments for rent near me,” or “best home broker in my area” are some common local Google searches that we all do whenever we are up for buy, sell, or rent any property.
Isn’t it better to sit on your couch, open your laptop, and find the best-suited property to buy around you? No one likes to roam around the streets looking for those “To-let” and “For sale” signboards anyway.
That’s the mindset of ordinary people nowadays. Over 96% of home buyers use online search engines to buy their dream home. This makes sense as to why real estate SEO services is one of the most essential things for businesses.
What is Local SEO: Why It’s Important for Real Estate Professionals in 2024
Local SEO—let’s create a clear understanding of it. Well, this is an intelligent SEO strategy that targets a specific region, city, or country. Here, we aim to improve the ranking and visibility of your business in local Google searches or simply on Google Maps.
According to Google, “Near me” or “close by” type searches are growing day by day, with billions of queries per month. And it’s no surprise that 3 out of 4 customers are using Google for local searches.
If you believe the National Association of Realtors, you will know that 44% of all new buyers search for properties online.
So, if you want to take your business to the highest level, especially in real estate, you need a perfect local real estate SEO services solution. With the rise of technology, smartphones, changing customer behavior, and social media, the SEO services for real estate is becoming busier and more competitive.
There’s always a competitor behind you who’s trying to get more bids and more clients than you. And the number of such competitors is increasing with time.
You can easily find the exact property listed on 50 different websites. So, how can you ensure that the buyer approaches you first? The answer is simple: this is possible if your ranking is high in local searches.
How Local SEO Has Changed Over the Years
For the last 17 years, we have been tracking each SEO algorithm and each change in the search rankings. Many search engines are using end-user data, including their previous search histories and interests, to customize the results for each user. Relevance, Distance, and Prominence are three basic parameters of local search nowadays.
What’s more interesting is these engines are trying to rank those listings to users that are near them, fetching the location of both parties.
To stand out among 1,548,058+ realtors in your area, just following common local real estate SEO strategies won’t cut it. It would be best if you powered up with advanced fundamentals of local SEO services for real estate.
Introducing New Fundamentals of Local SEO for 2024
1. Google My Business (GMB) Optimization
Optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) listing is something that can improve your online visibility and attract more customers. This will indicate to Google that you’re the relevant search result for what your audience is looking for.
Google uses GMB information to determine which businesses to show in local search results. It can also improve your placement on Google Maps. A well-maintained GMB listing with eye-catching photos, reviews, and updated information can attract more clicks from users searching for local businesses.
Don’t forget to use UTM Tagging for Google Business Profiles.
2. On-page SEO For Real Estate Listings
On-page SEO services for real estate is the key to organic searches that can ultimately boost your local searches as well. For example, let’s search “luxurious home for sale,” and you will observe some sites coming at the top of the SERP. (As you can see in the image below)
Now, let’s search “luxury homes for sale in Canada.” Here, you’ll get the same sites still ranking at the top of the results. Well, this is the power of On-Page SEO services in real estate! Consider using all the On-page factors effectively to get effective results.
3. Local Keyword Research and Long-Tail Keywords
Identify relevant keywords and phrases that potential buyers or renters might use when searching for properties. Use keyword research tools to discover high-traffic, location-specific keywords.
Implement location-based keywords in your content and meta tags. Consider using “near me” phrases, as many mobile searches are location-specific.
4. Content Strategy for Local SEO
Create unique and informative content for each property listing that’s useful to your audience. Avoid duplicate content across listings, as search engines penalize this. Please describe the property, its features, neighborhood, and amenities in detail.
Include high-resolution images and, if possible, videos of the property. Optimize image file names and alt tags with descriptive keywords.
5. Mobile Optimization and Voice Search
As the use of mobile devices and voice assistants (like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa) is increasing with time, you have to optimize your local real estate SEO services for it. Google usually prefers those sites that are optimized for fast loading times and user design on mobile devices.
Talking about voice searches, 50% of US citizens use them daily, while 34% use them every week. This has been induced by the usage of smart speakers. This indicates how voice search optimization is also a necessity.
Advance Tactics and Techniques for Achieving Local SEO Success In 2024
1. Voice search optimization
For high ranking on voice searches, write content that matches how people speak rather than how they type. Create FAQ pages on your website that answer common questions related to your business or industry.
Focus on long-tail, conversational keywords that users are likely to use in voice searches. For example, “What are the best restaurants near me?”
Create content that answers local questions and includes information about nearby landmarks, events, and attractions.
2. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual tours
Visuals are all that matters to buyers. The more visual quality you have, the more chances you have to catch the deal. But it’s time to upgrade. Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) is something that can generate virtual property tours that can help your client preview the property design as they’re physically present in it.
However, AR can be more effective than VR for real estate through your GMB. The reason for saying that is its accessibility and ease of use. You don’t need any goggles or headsets, as you can easily access AR through your smartphone. It can reduce too many physical property visits and save you time.
3. AI-Driven Recommendations
AI is everywhere. Whether it’s about improving efficiency, decision-making, or customer experience, AI can genuinely power you up with the best user experience (UX) as well as on-page SEO services for real estate.
AI can easily identify the most relevant and high-traffic local keywords related to real estate, such as “homes for sale in [city],” “real estate agents in [neighborhood],” or “property listings in [region].”
AI can help in optimizing local business listings on platforms like Google My Business, Bing Places, and actual estate-specific directories. This includes ensuring accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information across all listings.
4. Schema Markup for Real Estate
Schema, also known as structured data, is an online language that directly communicates with search engines about your content. With zero-click search results on Google, you need to focus more on schemas, especially those question-and-answer drop-downs.
These FAQ schemas for frequently asked questions can enlarge your SERP listing and improve search visibility or click-through rate.
You can use other powerful schema markups such as video schemas, event schemas, organization schemas, and more.
Use Local Structured Data, such as “LocalBusiness” schema markup, to provide search engines with precise information about your location. Also, use other strategies, including creating a mortgage calculator, securing featured snippets, and using new call-to-action.
Measuring Success: Local SEO Analytics and KPIs
Real estate SEO services isn’t just about throwing keywords into your website and hoping for the best. You have to track your progress, analyze data, and tweak your strategy. If you are thinking about how local SEO services for real estate is measured, you need to follow some important Local SEO KPIs, including:
=> Watch your website traffic: See how much traffic you’re getting on your website. The more visitors you get, the more effective your real estate SEO services is.
=> Take GMB insights: Look over the page views, engagement, customer calls, bookings, and other actions. See which part of your GMB profile customers are more interested in.
=> Keyword Rankings: To rule the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages), you need to know which keywords are carrying your banner to victory. Are you on the first page, or are you still fighting your way up from the dungeons?
=> Click-Through Rates (CTR): It measures the percentage of people who click on your website’s link when it appears in search results. High CTRs indicate that your website’s title and meta description are appealing to users.
=> Check Your Conversion Rate: It will let you know how effective and good your website is at turning visitors into loyal subjects (customers). You can check it through the number of visitors signing up for your newsletter or making a purchase.
The Future of Local SEO in Real Estate:
It’s totally safe to say that local SEO services for real estate are the future of this industry. Unfortunately, those old local SEO tricks won’t work any longer.
Voice and visual search optimization, AI-driven local searches, hyper-personalization, zero-click searches, user experience, E-A-T, or AR optimization are some SEO strategies that are going to be the biggest trends in the local SEO services for real estate industry in 2024.
Not only that, businesses will need to actively monitor and manage their GMB listings, online reputation, new AI technologies, customer feedback, and positive reviews to boost their local SEO rankings.
Conclusion
42% of people prefer Google Map Pack to find their local queries. This can be a great advantage if you’re targeting regional audiences. If you also want to elevate your business through local SEO in the field of Real Estate, Look no further than Deftsoft. As a leading provider or SEO services for real estate, we can help your business to reach new heights. So, what you’re waiting for? Contact Deftsoft now and enjoy the trusted SEO services.
FAQs
1. What is the primary goal of local SEO for real estate professionals in 2024?
The primary goal is to enhance online visibility and attract potential buyers and sellers within your specific geographic area. Local SEO helps real estate professionals rank higher in local search results, driving more relevant traffic to their websites.
2. How can I optimize my Google My Business (GMB) profile effectively?
Optimize your GMB profile by providing accurate business information, including your name, address, phone number (NAP), hours of operation, and high-quality images. Encourage client reviews and regularly update your GMB profile with relevant posts.
3. Are long-tail keywords important for local SEO in real estate?
Yes, long-tail keywords are crucial. They will help you target specific local queries that potential clients may use when searching for properties. Include location-based long-tail keywords to capture local search intent.
4. How can I leverage social media for local SEO in real estate?
Use social media platforms to engage with the local community, share property listings, and showcase your expertise. Consistent social media activity can help improve your online presence and drive traffic to your website.
5. How can I track the effectiveness of my local SEO efforts?
You can track your local SEO performance using various tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and third-party SEO tools. Monitor key metrics such as website traffic, keyword rankings, click-through rates, and conversions to gauge the effectiveness of your strategy.
6. Is local SEO a one-time effort, or does it require ongoing maintenance?
Local SEO is an ongoing effort. The digital landscape, algorithms, and user behavior change over time. Continuously update and refine your local SEO strategies to maintain and improve your search rankings.
7. How can I stay updated on the latest trends in local SEO for real estate beyond 2024?
To stay updated, follow reputable SEO news sources, attend industry conferences and webinars, and consider joining SEO forums and communities. Networking with other professionals can also provide valuable insights.
