Every bit of knowledge I have used to improve my rank on Google in 30 days came from within ActiveRain.
Let me start by saying my pre-AR Internet presence was my Weichert agent site; I had not done much to it & it, therefore, hadn't done much for me. Much of what I'm learning here, I'm applying both places, so will be reaping double benefits. Despite the recent accolades, I still have a long way to go. I give up before I page through to find my Google placement for many areas I cover.
I'd love your company on this journey, so let's do it together and have some fun.
Irene's Hard and fast RULE 1 - Semi-Ignorance is Bliss
We don't have to understand SEO - we don't even need to know what it means. Let's not give a hoot what moves us from page 3 of Google search results to page 1 - let's just get there. Repeat after me: Magic, it works by magic. This is the same force that yields 45 -50 miles per gallon in my hybrid Prius. You all have permission to laugh at me here - just as I'm doing.
RULE 2 - If those with more knowledge, suggest it, just DO IT FAST.
I'll go way out on a limb here and say that Brad Andersohn, Jeremy Blanton, Bob Stewart, Joel Kruse, etc. probably don't think SEO works by magic. They post info that explains the ins-and-outs in clear detail as my eyes glaze over. (There go all my points!)
Seriously, in each post is a suggestion or a how-to. Scan the post, skip all the details if you'd like, but implement the tip and move on. Remember to also implement on any other website you have.
If you need surgery, would you enroll in medical school? Our job is to follow the prescriptions lovingly handed out by the AR doctors even if we don't understand much. Let them guide us on our trek! Trusting others don't come easy - but I know it is the way to go. Let's spend our time on content, not becoming experts in new fields!
RULE 3 - If at all possible, become a RainMaker.
Is money tight in my budget? You betcha. The very day I joined AR, my phone rang. Just what I needed - sign up for a free service and bingo! the sharks swarm with enhancements. Joel Kruse did NOT come across like that. He explained the pluses and that I didn't have to commit for a minimum period. My memory is that Joel said that was because "no one" ever quits, but he probably said it was rare. Joel then had me call him back so he could walk me through. He is a top-notch hand holder! And everyone now knows what decision I made about month 2...
RULE 4 - You don't need me.
Hang on a sec while I wipe the tears away. Other than giving moral support - which I'm delighted to do - why would you ask for help from a self-proclaimed ignoramus who insists it is all just magic?
- M
ake generous use of the search function; lots of the helpful posts are older but still available. For example, find Active Brad's SEO Tools - You Should Know, about SEO is 10 months old but still a goodie.
- Subscribe to the blogs by all the AR staff. That way you won't miss new tips.
- Find other experts whose posts make sense to you and subscribe. For me, Katerina Gasset has a spectacular way of explaining magic so that it is clear and I can immediately do what she suggests: Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes. I do recognize that we all learn and absorb differently, so you might find others who speak more to you.
- When you see a post with a fabulous feature that you're dying to copy, ask the poster. Lyn Sims has spectacular graphs. I asked how she did it and in poured her help. Maybe she'll do a post on graphs so that we all don't bug her for personal tutorials!
- Bookmark. When you read a post that seems to contain great data, bookmark it. Sometimes there is a bit I implement immediately. Other times, I think, "Hmmmm. Bet I'm gonna want to find this again."
- Take the AR Webinars- live or on Memorex. There have been 3 and I've attended all of them. So I'm a brown-nosed teacher's pet, but HELLO - I've learned and am moving forward at a good clip. This was not magic. Let's avail ourselves of this help that is freely offered!
- Look at each screen we use regularly and click promiscuously. For example, when you're drafting your post, look to the right column. More Info: More about tags. As it was sitting right there, it tipped me that they just might be important. You'll learn some magic...
- Mimic. For this post, I'm copying the tags that Joel Kruse used in his kind words about me. We don't have to reinvent the wheel even if we're unclear about tags.
- Be teachable. When anyone takes the time to give you a suggestion, try it! Sally Dunbar spent her valuable time to point me toward using groups for posts. I'm on it and grateful to Sally.
RULE 5 - Acknowledge Properly - Unlike me here!
I'm in hot water here because I can't find the older post where I read about different ways to "give love" by linking in a fashion that helps the other person too. I neglected to bookmark it and can't find it via "My comments on" either. I used this person's best-of suggestion with the link to Katerina's blog. Maybe Jeff Turner?? If anyone can help me identify this post, I'll immediately credit and link to it! Thanks to Shane O'Gorman for giving me the right terms to find Jeff Turner's AR Tutorials - How To Add Links To Your Blog Posts
Also add a comment when something helps. When I've just searched and scanned 4 of Jeremy's older linked posts, I don't necessarily take the time to comment on each one. Bad girl! Like I said, progress, not perfection...
RULE 6 - Give Back. Yes, even without Points
My best post to date is the one you will never see. Something
shown in a Webinar gave me a great idea. Had a catchy title, thanks to Jeremy's post about titles, which I cannot now call up.(Mr. Blanton, are you messing with my head?)
In the back of my mind, however, a little bell went off. So before posting, I asked Bob Stewart a question. It WAS a great idea except that it could negatively impact AR's bottom line. And I freely chose not to post. I don't need to promote my business by hurting someone else's. Why would we bite the hand that is feeding us?
Giving back means taking time to share freely. Turn off your speakers while I whine a little. New to blogging, this post has taken me tons of time - searching futilly for a reference, linking, graphics, and the hardest - thinking! It's Members Only, so the adoring public on my Outside Blog won't again see what a wonderful, giving gal I am. Safe to turn volume back up. So why, especially as I recognize I'm an expert in NOTHING when it comes to AR? Because someone asked... Because my learning experience might help you... Because you might not have believed it works easily... Because it is a great way to say thanks to all those who have (and will) help me...
Tremendous in depth post Irene. You are right to subscribe to the Active Rain powers that be for tremendous information and I like your giving back thoughts as well. Many helpful ones here too like Sally Dunbar I agree.
Gary,
Your kind words mean a great deal. Especially as I'm just aping folks like you!
Irene I think what you are looking for is called anchor text.
Its when you link to something like this Google Loves Keywords Used to Anchor Hyperlinks
instead of Google Loves Keywords Used to Anchor Hyperlinks so go here
or instead of http://www.example.com
or worse still http://www.example.com
I hope that helps and you are very right about SEO. I had never even heard those words before I came to this site. I had never ran a website and had absolutely no need to know any of this information. And now 6 months later I write posts about SEO all the time. I spent hundreds of hours reading every post on Active Rain there is. I literally think I read every single post on the subject. I also read all the posts those posts linked to. I then found which sites had the best information and read the majority of the posts there. Soon I realized I knew the language of what they were talking about and understood the concepts rather well. Now I feel comfortable sharing that information.
Hi Irene
An excellent post and information, thanks for sharing thoughts.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Exceptional post! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us all, and I hope everyone reads it. Thank you. Now...it's up to me to "do it"!
Irene...
Wow, you spent a lot of time on this! An excellent, well crafted informative post and well deserving of a Gold Star!
Thanks and remember that Google cares more about customers that buy ad space than those seeking organic ranking. Panasonic TY-LA1001
Irene I can tell you spent a lot of time writing this post. And I can see why it is a featured post. Excellent job! You're right. Everything you want to know (and even more because you didn't know you wanted to learn it) can be found right here on AR. One just has to search for it.
Great post! All of this info is so important for us to follow. You are right it is MAGIC!-Dinah Lee
Irene: Great post... I'm ready for fun on Google Mountain !
Irene, great post and deserving of a gold star. When I was first introduced to AR just a few months ago, my first reaction was: huh? What the heck is Active Rain? Now I know and agree that it's the best single location I've found to help me understand the intricacies of SEO and growing my website.
Irene - You are so fun to read, and now I'll add that you are a fast learner, willing to share, empowering, and one of my new faves. Hey... anyone who mentions me in their post jumps right up to the top... but you deserve to be there.
I'm coming back to read more of your carefully crafted links. Thanks for taking the time to contribute to all.
Hi Irene. Great advice.
I think it applies to life too...
Let's shoot for progress, not perfection.
Thanks for writing,
Ken
Irene- Thank you so much for your link love and kudos for my explanations. I am one of those people that has to understand, I have to know why. Something about being a control freak:) LOL. I just love to know. SO I study to know. I research and then I apply what I learn, rinse and repeat.
Keep doing what you are doing, don't fix what ain't broke! Just make sure your phone is ringing with clients on the other end:) Katerina
We all appreciate the extra effort in putting together this post with such depth.......
What a great post and I agree that AR is such a great place to learn, I've learned things that I didn't know I was missing. I've seen the results. One of my agents is out with buyers now. :)
Irene,
This is a fantastic analogy, "If you need surgery, would you enroll in medical school? Our job is to follow the prescriptions lovingly handed out by the AR doctors even if we don't understand much."
Admittedly this is tough for me to do because I want to understand all of it, but sometimes it is best to just do it. :)
Shane,
Thanks for helping me out. Your assistance with the right verbiage helped me find Jeff's post. Can't wait to follow your other pointers!
Lou - So glad you visited! Thanks for the encouragement.
Li - With all dem points you have, you're clearly "doing it" already.
Richard - I simply try to follow your lead...
Steven - Don't burst my bubble! Google loves me - I can feel it!
Debi - Having folks agree with me makes my heart sing. :-)
Dinah Lee - We newbies are following YOUR footprints! You're further up that mountain, marking the trail by leaving candy for us to follow.
Roland - Ditto. But you're close enough that we can still share the fun!
John - You understand SEO? I'll rank you as a magician then. Wand is in the mail.
Sally - You make me blush. I'll have to drop your name into more conversations.
Ken - It certainly depicts my life, which has been richer and more fun since I stopped being perfect.
Katerina,
I'm delighted that you love mastering these concepts. We ALL are even happier that you then put it in comprehensible language and share it with us. Thank you for being such a generous teacher.
And your tip about keeping my focus on the phone is KEY. Fortunately between the time I posted and got featured, I was getting a signature on a contract. I'm only neglecting my wonderful husband, Chip. (Just kidding, all!)
Tim - Your kind words mean a lot to me. I'll remember them next time I'm considering cutting corners.
Tammy - And may that agent walk back in to write an offer!
Mark,
Much to my chagrin, I can't sing at all. That doesn't stop me, just limits who I make suffer listening. One of the many gifts I have been given is relates to words. I was pleased when that analogy sprang to mind, so thanks for noticing it.
We share the desire to be master of all. A friend imparted some AA wisdom that has also helped me - to some extent. I'll mangle the story but it relates to a man drowning. He is struggling to keep his head above water and crying out for help. A passerby yells, "Drop the rock!"
Sometimes I can let go and give thanks that AR folks share their wisdom so that I don't have to haul that rock up Google mountain!
AR has an edge esp when it comes to sharing knowledge. Though I have been online since 1989 I try to learn something new every day. IMHO AR is one of those places where there is so much information that can be helpful. Congrats on your hard work.
Irene you are so right about just doing whatever they say.........I just keep on keeping on and it really is magic. What a super crafted post with lots of humor tucked in. Love it! And Congrats on your GOLD star. You deserve it!
Irene, Good information for us who are trying to climb the latter.
Irene,
It's obvious you've already learned much from your short time in the Rain. There are many people here willing to help and give back as you've seen.
Good I was hoping that was what you meant! Glad it was helpful.
Irene, in less than a month here you've been more impressive with how you've wrapped yourself around this whole thing.. and trust me, I am not an easy man to impress. This is a well deserved feature post, and I'd like to thank you for taking the time to share it with us. Oh and btw, Shane- you just gave me the key to getting my boost from Google juice. Off I go!
Hi Irene -- You have sure figured out things a whole lot quicker than I have, so I can tell you are going to have an incredible online presence and the dividends will be huge!
Oh my gosh what an incredible post from someone relatively new to ActiveRain! This is awesome! You really have gotten the grasp of it and I'm so impressed!
Let's spend our time on content, not becoming experts in new fields!
Hi Irene,
You hit the nail squarely on the head! Good job.
Lana - A quick peek at your blog and I know who I'm coming to for help with my photo questions!
Anna - Glad we're sharing the magic together.
Debra - We're climbing together, which will make it soooo much more enjoyable!
Christine - It IS an amazing environment here, What do I need to do to get lines at MY open houses?
Like Shane said, I knew nothing about SEO until I came here. But, as I implemented a few things here, on my outside blog and website, I saw myself coming up higher in SERPS.
I don't do a lot and don't obesses about it, just here a little there a little and BIG results.
Shane - Thanks for keeping me honest by checking back to see if I kept my word. ;-) Your help here is just reinforcement that none of us are alone trekking to the top!
William - Or maybe I should now address you as Mr. RainMaker? Don't be overly impressed, I'm just following doctor's orders - and clearly, you're doing the same! Kiss the mother of that beautiful baby for us all today!
Chris - Now maybe you too can stop trying to figure it out. Let's just act and benefit together.
Christine G - We'll both be working on Mother's Day, but your appointment is a blog success story! I intend to try to copy you.
Bruce - Thanks for taking the time to listen to me and share some feedback!
Missy - When I learn what SERPS is, I'll try not to obsess about it either. In the interim, I shall just peruse your blog, steal all your great ideas, and try to remember to say thanks! Your encouragement means a lot.
Hi Irene. Good post up here. Active Rain is something you have to definitely work at. You can't just open up a profile and expect the calls to come rushing in. You have to get those prescriptions from the active rain doctors. It's helped out my real estate sales out here in Victorville Ca for sure
Another good one! I am so working on this aspect of my AR presence and this is quite helpful to me. Many thanks for your post and others like it to help me navigate the waters of SEO!!!
Winston - Thanks for keeping us motivated by sharing your success. Peeked at your blog and LOVE the post on plants!
Jeani - Even if my Barbie never dreamed of going into real estate, glad Generation-2 found something helpful in my post.
Excellent post Irene - I am also trying to work on website ranking and getting back to AR. Thanks for all your suggestions.
P.S. I also drive a Prius LOL
Sharon & Greg,
May they prove as practical as our little autos! Fun too...
Active Rain is certainly a fountain of knowledge and you can learn quite a bit about SEO from reading some of the articles in the respective groups on the topic. It can make a huge difference in your business if you know what you are doing.
Irene, you are so impressive in your attitude, enthusiasm, learning curve, knowledge, and results!
As a newbie who has not yet put in the time that you so obviously have, I am motivated by your achievements. I have bookmarked this fabulous featured post. Congrats, and keep climbing. I hope to be right behind you.
Bill,
Just yesterday I discovered some of the wisdom YOU impart about SEO, so you have a new subscriber. You are now officially among my Google mountain guides! So, thank you!
Lynn,
Sorry, no deal - per Rule 4. I INSIST we do it together! ;-) We'll just follow the leaders... Thrilled to have you as a fellow climber!
Irene - Great post and congrats on the feature ! Active Rain is certainly a great place for a newbie or a veteran to learn a ton about internet marketing and social media ! The Rain has really helped us build our presence on the Internet as well as our Google rankings for our site and blog.
Christopher & Stephanie,
And thank you for paying me a "return visit" - especially as you're cranking to keep up with TD Bank and all the great comments on YOUR featured post!
Hi Irene!
Your post is one of the best I have seen...because it didn't make me feel stupid and I understood what you are saying. Thanks sooooooo much!
Paula,
With all your points, you clearly understood this a LONG time ago! Thanks for your kind words!
I am so glad you voiced what has been going on in my head for the last two weeks. I will get there eventually on the understanding some of these technical things. I told someone in my office that I felt I needed a bachelors in IT to get things to the level I want and desire them to be at.
Heather,
I'm delighted to have you as a companion as we make the trek. For now, we can just piggy-back on all our colleagues. Glad to have you along!
I just signed up for Rainmaker but am actually clueless what the benefits are. Joel Kruse -- please call me!
Lori,
Welcome, welcome, welcome. Joel foolishly bravely left his direct phone number on another one of my posts, PDA Reminder to Self - Evaluate AR Membership. I vouch for the fact he means it when he says he is delighted to help!
Stick with it Irene! If you want any more help with blogging, or anything at all, I'm here to help you be successful! I'm glad you are keeping it up. Blog once a day for 15 minutes, and you'll start to see your internet presence building, and so will potential customers!
Joel
425-636-3315