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Optimize Your Online Reputation with Local SEO for Real Estate Agents

Discover how to supercharge your real estate business by building trust, improving your reputation, and mastering local SEO strategies that bring clients straight to you!

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Think about how you’d choose a local service provider, by asking around and checking online reviews. That’s exactly how potential clients vet you as a real estate agent. This Local SEO Checklist shows you how to optimize your Google Business Profile, strengthen your website’s foundation, and actively manage reviews. By consistently updating your online information, creating valuable content, and earning quality backlinks, you’ll build the trustworthy online reputation that draws more local clients straight to you.

If you had a leak in your home, how would you find a trustworthy plumber?

You’d probably start by asking your friends and family if they have recommendations. If you got a solid referral, you’d probably end up looking them up online to learn a bit more before scheduling an appointment. If you couldn’t get a decent recommendation, you’d probably start Googling local plumbers near you to compare their services, pricing, and above all, their reputation.

Let’s nerd out to some data:

A recent Home Buyer & Seller Trends Report from NAR (PDF download) highlighted some interesting stats related to common characteristics among buyers and sellers.

According to the report, 43% of home buyers found an agent through referrals and used 3 main factors when evaluating the agent before hiring them:

1️⃣ The agent is honest and trustworthy
2️⃣ The agent has experience
3️⃣ Reputation of the agent

You’ll see the most important factors for sellers are slightly different:

1️⃣ Reputation of the agent
2️⃣ The agent is honest and trustworthy
3️⃣ The agent is a friend or family member

Notice a theme?

If you take all these factors and boil them down, the biggest reason(s) someone ultimately hires an agent is because they believe the agent is honest, trustworthy, and has a good reputation.

Sounds a lot like the plumber example.

Enhancing your local SEO is crucial for attracting clients and establishing a strong online reputation in your market. This comprehensive Local SEO Checklist for Real Estate Agents provides you with a list of actionable steps to improve your online reputation and rank higher than your competitors in search engine rankings.

Step 1: Build a Solid Foundation

Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is often the first impression potential clients have of your business. It’s free and helps your business appear in Google search results.

Claim and Verify Your Profile
Visit Google Business Profile, sign in with your Google account, and follow the steps to claim your business. Google may send you a postcard with a verification code.

Fill Out Your Information
Business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours. Ensure this information matches all your online profiles for consistency.

Choose the Right Categories and Service Areas
Select categories like "Real Estate Agency" or "Realtor" to help Google understand your services and put in all your focus areas or neighborhoods.

Add Profile Photos and Videos
Visual content makes your profile more attractive and showcases your services effectively. Post videos with quick tips for buyers and sellers, real estate infographics, and high-quality images, to get more engagement.

Post Regular Updates
Use the “Posts” feature on your Google Business Profile to share market data, new listings, community reports, and links to blogs on your website 2-3 times a week to keep your profile active. It’s similar to keeping your social media updated with content your ideal clients would want to read.

Get Reviews
Google Business Profile reviews are publicly visible real estate testimonials that potential clients can read when looking you up. Aim for 2-3 new reviews each month by asking friends, family, past clients, lender partners, and your SOI. Always respond to reviews, thanking clients for positive feedback and professionally addressing any negative reviews.

Google favors profiles with more (quality) reviews, so it’s an easy way to leverage your network to gain exposure even if you’re a brand-new agent.

Refer to the “Reviews and Reputation Management” section below for more on using reviews to your advantage.

Add Q&As
The Questions and Answers feature lets you answer common questions clients might have about buying or selling homes. Encourage friends or family to post initial questions to get the conversation started.

Monitor Performance
Check the "Performance" section in your Google Business Profile to see interactions and refine your strategy accordingly.

Keep Information Updated
If you change brokerages, get a new phone number, or expand your service areas, update your profile immediately.

Website Optimization

Your website is the heart of your online presence. Make sure it’s easy to find and use for your local clients.

Optimize Titles and Descriptions
Use clear, descriptive titles for each page (e.g., "Buy a Home in [City]") and write brief descriptions that include keywords your ideal clients might search for.

Submit Your Sitemap
A sitemap helps search engines find all the pages on your website. Use tools like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) to create and submit your sitemap to Google and Bing.

Improve Loading Speed
A fast website keeps visitors happy and is favored by search engines. Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check and improve your site’s speed and find recommendations for improvement.

Use Internal and External Links
Use internal links to other pages on your website to help visitors find related information. Use external links to reputable websites (like local news or community sites) to show that your content is trustworthy.

Fix Any Technical Issues
Regularly check your website for broken links or errors and fix them to ensure everything works smoothly.

Content Strategy

Creating valuable content helps attract and engage potential clients while improving your search engine rankings.

Define Your Ideal Client
Knowing who you want to help (like first-time home buyers, for example) helps you create relevant content.

Set Clear Goals
Do you want your content to generate leads, build your brand, or establish yourself as a local expert?

Find Topic Ideas
Think about what your clients need help with. For example, "How to Buy Your First Home with Less Than 20% Down."

Organize Content into Primary Categories (Silos)
Group related topics together on your website. For example, have a primary category for "Buying a Home" with subtopics like "Tips for Homebuyers" and "Down Payment Options".

Post Content Regularly
Add new blog posts, videos, and other valuable content at least once a week to keep your website fresh and engaging. Be sure to mix it up!

Link Related Content
Develop content that answers common questions and link related articles within each silo to guide visitors through your site.

Promote Your Content
Share your articles and videos on, in email newsletters, and through other marketing channels.

Include Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Encourage visitors to contact you, download a guide, or sign up for a newsletter.

🔍 Related Resources: 3 Content Pieces You Can Use 18 Ways

Reviews & Reputation Management

Positive reviews build trust and influence potential clients while boosting your search rankings.

Check Your Current Reviews
Look at reviews on Google Business Profile, Yelp, Zillow, and other platforms to see what clients are saying.

Create a Review Request System
Develop a simple process for asking clients to leave reviews, such as sending an email or text with a direct link.

Ask for Reviews Regularly
Aim for 2-3 new reviews each month by asking recent clients for their feedback.

Respond to All Reviews
Thank people for positive reviews and address any negative feedback professionally.

Use QR Codes for Easy Reviews
Create QR codes that link directly to your review page and include them on your business cards or printed materials that you give your clients.

Showcase Reviews on Your Website
Displaying positive reviews on your site builds credibility with visitors (also called “social proof”).

Monitor Your Reviews
Set up Google Alerts or use review management software to stay updated on new reviews.

Create a Review Report
Track the number and quality of your reviews to measure your reputation management efforts.

Additional Profiles & Directories

Make sure you’re on other social media platforms and online directories to further improve your local search rankings and make it easier for clients to find your information.

Audit Online Mentions of Your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP)
Make a list of all the websites and directories where your business is mentioned (like Yelp, Zillow, Realtor.com) and check if your information is correct.

Create or Claim Your Profiles
Go to each directory, create an account if needed, and follow their process to claim your business profile.

💡 Learn How to Take Control of Your Online Profiles to Get More Clients

Ensure Correct Information
Make sure your contact information and website are the same on every profile.

Use a Management Tool
Tools like Yext, Moz Local, or BrightLocal can help you manage all online mentions of you and your business in one place.

Remove Duplicate Profiles
If you find multiple profiles and directory listings for your business on the same site, keep the most complete one and delete the others.

Use Keywords in Descriptions
Naturally include relevant keywords in your profile descriptions to help potential clients find you in their searches.

Add High-Quality Photos
Good photos attract more attention and make your profiles look professional.

Track Your Performance
Most platforms have built-in analytics features you can use to gain valuable insights into how people are finding you.

Step 2: Implement Advanced Tactics

Backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites to your website. They help improve your site’s authority and search rankings, especially if they come from established, reputable sources.

Check Your Current Backlinks
Use free tools like Ahrefs Backlink Checker to see which websites are linking to you.

Analyze Competitors’ Backlinks
Look at where your competitors are getting their backlinks to find new opportunities for your own site.

Create a List of Target Websites
Make a list of 100 high-quality websites related to real estate where you’d like to get backlinks.

Reach Out for Backlinks
Contact these websites with a friendly message asking if they’d be interested in linking to your content. Explain how it adds value to their readers.

Remove Harmful Backlinks
Some backlinks can hurt your SEO. Identify and disavow any that come from low-quality or spam sites using a backlink checker.

Create Link-Worthy Content
Develop valuable content that others naturally want to link to, like detailed guides or unique market insights.

Promote Your Content
Share your content on social media, in newsletters, and with your network to attract backlinks.

Keep Creating New Content
Regularly add fresh content to increase opportunities for earning backlinks.

Search Engine Tools

Valuable Data & Insights
Utilize tools like Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster to monitor and improve your website’s presence in search results.

Use an SEO Plugin to Submit a Sitemap
Many website platforms (like WordPress) allow you to install plugins to help optimize your site and submit your sitemap to search engines.

Follow Google’s Suggestions
Implement the recommendations provided by Search Console to improve your site’s performance.

Check for Blocked Pages
Ensure important pages are not blocked from being indexed by Google and follow the platform’s instructions to fix any issues.

Analyze Performance
Use the data from Google Search Console to understand how your site is performing in search results and make improvements.

Google Analytics

Use analytics tools to track your website’s performance and understand visitor behavior to better inform your SEO strategy.

Set Up and Verify Your Account
Visit Google Analytics, sign in with your Google account, and set up a new property for your website.

Add Your Website
Follow the instructions to connect your website to Google Analytics by adding a tracking code to your site.

Verify Your Setup
Ensure data is being collected correctly by checking real-time reports.

Track Conversions
Use Google Analytics to see which actions lead to desired outcomes, like contacting you or scheduling a consultation.

Step 3: Continually Optimize Your Local SEO

Consistency is Key

Make sure all your online information (like business name, address, and phone number) is the same everywhere to build trust with both search engines and potential clients.

Engage with Your Community
Participate in local events, join online forums, and be active in community groups to increase your visibility and authority.

Stay Updated
SEO rules and best practices change regularly. Keep learning about the latest trends to keep your website ranking high.

Invest in Quality
Create valuable content and build genuine relationships for getting backlinks and reviews. Quality matters more than quantity.

Monitor and Adapt
Regularly check your analytics and reports to see what’s working and what needs improvement. Be ready to make changes to your strategy based on the data.

By following this Local SEO Checklist for Real Estate Agents, you can enhance your online presence, attract more local clients, and build a strong reputation as a trustworthy real estate agent. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, so stay proactive and keep refining your strategies for long-term success.

🚀 Start creating real estate content with customizable, done-for-you materials in the Marketing Center.

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