Intro

Real estate in Austin is booming at a breakneck pace. A buyer begins his purchase journey by researching online. They look up a real estate agency's website for more details on the property.
If you are a real estate company, you must invest in SEO to gain more leads and beat other players. SEO for your website lists your company among the top search results for real estate companies in Austin. We share some great tips here to make it happen!

10 Effective Tips to Promote Your Austin Real Estate

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1. Audit Your Website

Before you start with your SEO plan, you must know your current position. An SEO audit is the right way to do it. It tells you the main areas that your SEO effort must focus on for maximum gain. A site audit can take time but pays off in the long term.
You can use tools like SEMRush to check the health of the website.
Take a look at this screenshot from SEMRush.
There are a few areas that must be your priority. These can be broadly divided into content, on-site, and off-site SEO elements.
Examples include checking for top viewed pages, broken links, and mobile compatibility. Check all your pages for correct tagging and metadata in the headings and sub-headings.
There are many free online tools to get you started.

• Google Analytics tells you which pages need work.
• Google Search Console identifies page issues.
• Use the Mobile-friendly test tool to identify mobile compatibility issues.

2. Optimize for Mobile

Statistics show that more than 60% of all real estate searches happen on mobile devices. Your website must look good on mobile devices. An unsupported mobile site is not suitable for SEO. It deters potential buyers and lowers your credibility.
There are many aspects to mobile-responsive sites. For example, make sure that the site loads fast and looks good on any screen size.
Spend time on charting out an intuitive navigation scheme. Work with your developers to make your site buttons and pages welcoming and easy to figure out. Your users must find what they need without struggling.
Use the free Mobile-friendly test by Google to check if your site meets the acceptance criteria.
You can also use Browser stack or Responsinator.
E.g., Check this Screenshot taken from Responsinator.
A helpful tip to increase site speed and optimize for mobile devices is to reduce image sizes and chunk your content into relevant sections.

3. List on Google My Business (GMB)

Google My Business (GMB) is a valuable and free tool for local businesses. It lets you add details about your business to make it easy for new customers to reach you. Adding these details helps with Local SEO and increases your site's chances of coming up first for a local real estate search.

Start a GMB account and update your profile regularly. List useful details like location, phone number, and business address. Get more out of GMB by adding pictures of your business or videos. GMB helps you rank higher but is not the only directory service online.
Sign-up on other directories as well.
A few popular directories that you can consider are:

• Yahoo Homes,
• Realtor.com &
• Yelp

Listing your real estate business on these channels is not just great for SEO but also generates leads.

4. Create Unique Articles

A property buyer often has many questions. These queries may be property-specific or generic in nature. Property-specific queries such as price, dimensions, location, etc., are common. Answering these on your website is helpful but does not deliver much SEO value.
Check this blog section from Habitat Hunters.
Creating content around generic queries has excellent SEO potential. Let us take an example. A new buyer may want to know the best type of bathroom fittings within a specific price range. You can create content listing a few top brands and why they are the best.
Brainstorm a list of common questions a new buyer may have and spin unique content around it. Generic FAQs are a great way to beat your competition.

• Any content you create must be factual,
• Make sure they are helpful to users, and
• Use the right keywords to rank your site among top search results.

5. Create Helpful Videos

Video content may not be as easy to produce but has immense SEO potential. For one, video content is a lot easier to consume than reading a block of text. The newer generation prefers bite-sized content rather than lengthy articles.
Create a YouTube channel and upload videos. Take a look at this YouTube video from an Austin realtor.

Your video content must be unique and engaging. This will ensure that it shows up in searches and gets shared on social media. As a real estate company, there are several topics for videos that have SEO potential.
Here are a few video ideas:

• Create open house and walkthrough videos. These give a buyer a visual picture of the property.
• Virtual tours. Create 360-degree virtual tours for a new buyer to explore your property.
• Make use of Q&A videos where you can answer common questions about the location and property.

6. Do Keyword Research

Keywords are the backbone of a strong SEO strategy. Search engines use keywords to map a user's query to a relevant webpage. Research the best keywords for real estate. Please make a list of them and use them meaningfully all across your content and landing pages.
Use free resources like Ubersuggest to get a list of possible keywords to use.
Keywords should be a combination of generic and unique words. You probably won't fare better with words like 'real estate' or 'house sale.' Instead, try unique phrases such as 'Houses in downtown Austin.'
Such long-tailed keywords have a higher chance of ranking your site better. Another helpful tip is to avoid overusing keywords. It is a bad practice and hurts your site SEO score and reputation. Google even penalizes sites that "overstuff" their content with target keywords.

7. Provide Online Calculators

Add tools such as online calculators to your site. These make your site stand out from other competitors. Visitors find these tools useful and often search the web for them. For example, include a mortgage calculator on the site. This tool should be simple and provide mortgage and interest details when entering a property amount and tenure. Other tips for calculators are home loans, balance transfers, and more.
Many of these calculators are open-source, and you can download them for free from here. Use them on your website to draw more visitors. You can use these calculators as a point to engage with customers on their buying journey.
For example, you can place a message or ad to browse for "Best properties with low mortgage rates" when someone uses your calculator.
Take a look at this simple mortgage calculator.

8. Keep Tabs on Competition

Ignoring what your close competition is doing can prove to be a big mistake when planning an SEO campaign. You always have to stay one step ahead.
Keep close tabs on their campaigns. It can be offline campaigns such as billboards or trade shows or online Ads or promo offers. Try and match your marketing campaigns to entice more leads.
Audit your competitor's website. Analyze their SEO strategy to identify any gaps in your own. Many free and paid tools help you with competitor analysis. A few popular ones are:

• Ahrefs - Let's you access the backlinks used by your competition.
• SEMRush - See all the keywords your competitors are using and more.
• Page Optimizer Pro - Perform detailed on-page SEO analysis of your competitor's web pages.

You can check this traffic comparison of Top Austin real estate websites in SEMRush.

9. Focus on Local SEO

Local competition in Austin is fierce when it comes to real estate. Get one step ahead by optimizing your website for local searches. Most businesses often ignore local SEO. Leveraging its power can help your site be among the top for a local property search.
The first step to a winning Local SEO strategy is to claim your business on Google My Business. Update your details such as location, address, and phone. Include customer reviews and images of your office. These bring your business credibility with visitors as well as search engines.
Here are a few more local SEO tips to promote your business:

• Optimize site for voice search.
• Create content about local events and traditions.
• Create location-based pages with Austin or the neighborhood mentioned.
• Get quality backlinks from other popular local blogs and related websites.

10. Leverage Social Media

Maintain a social media profile for your real estate business in Austin. Create an account on popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Going social is not directly linked to better SEO. However, it helps you get your business publicity at little or no cost.
Update your accounts often. Share helpful content from your site to gain a loyal following. A few tips for content that gets engagement are:

• Open house videos and pictures of new properties for sale.
• General articles on buying property or interior furnishing.
• Live Q&A sessions.

Many tools, such as Buffer or Hootsuite and make it easy to manage all your social media accounts in one place. Hootsuite and Buffer help you schedule future posts and track valuable metrics about engagement and likes.
Here is a screenshot from Hootsuite.
Manage your social media accounts in-house or hire an experienced agency to do it.

Three Bonus Tips

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I. Improve Your Backlink Profile With Citations & Links

Here is a List of Top Websites to Get Citation Links:

• Zillow
  Zillow is a leading real estate agency in Austin. The company has hundreds of property listings. Choose from private or commercial properties at prices that fit all budgets.
• Realtor
  Realtor.com has been in the real estate business for many years. It not only offers property listings but also many useful tools and resources for buyers.
• Trulia
  Trulia is owned by Zillow, another leading name in the Austin Real Estate industry. Get great deals on property prices here, along with easy financing options.
• Redfin
  Redfin has hundreds of properties listed in Austin for all budgets. The website has a wealth of articles and FAQs for new home buyers.
• Homes.com
  Homes.com is a leading real estate website. It has an extensive listing of homes for sale and rent. It also features helpful content for new home buyers.
• Niche.com
  Niche is a platform that lets people find houses, colleges, workplaces, and more. It has a grading system for the best homes in Austin based on several filters.
• Movoto
  Movoto provides the latest real estate information for Austin. You also get many insights into pricing, proximity to schools, and more. The site features a helpful FAQ section.
• Century21
  Century 21 makes it easy to buy and sell homes in Austin. Their site has resources for buyers and sellers as well as must-know basics about mortgages.
• Sotheby
  Sotheby's is a real estate company of international repute. They have premier listings for homes in Austin as well as all over the world. The site has useful articles too.
• Har.com
  Har.com is a one-stop-shop for all your real estate needs in Austin. Buy, sell, and rent homes. The site also helps you find the best neighborhoods and agents.

II. Gain Links from Austin Real Estate Directories

Here Are Some Austin Based Real Estate Directories to Consider:

• US Real Estate Directory
  The US Real Estate Directory is one of the largest in the USA. It has hundreds of verified listings of homes for sale or rent in Austin.
• Austin Chamber
  The Austin Chamber lists commercial properties for sale or lease. It features a list of builders in Austin investing in commercial properties. The site is updated regularly.
• Bigger Pockets
  Bigger Pockets is different from other sites. It helps you find investor-friendly agents in Austin. The site has a listing of reputed and verified real estate agents in the region.
• Realty Austin
  Realty Austin curates a list of the top real estate agents in Austin. Use the site to contact a reputed agent to buy and sell homes in the area.

III. Create Great Content on Your Blog

Here Are Some of the Top Austin-based Real Estate Blogs to Follow:

• The Regent Report
  The Regent Report has a wealth of information about Austin real estate. You can find the latest news, pricing trends, local regulations, and much more.
• Habitat Hunters
  The Habitat Hunters blog is an excellent resource for home buyers. It features Austin-specific blogs as well as general articles that a home buyer can use.
• Realty Austin Blog
  This is one of the best blogs about everything related to Austin. You can find the latest lifestyle and culture news along with real estate news and blogs.
• Spy Glass Realty
  The Spyglass Realty blog covers real estate news stories around Austin. The blogs here are helpful if you are moving to Austin for the first time.
• Pauly Presley Realty
  Check out this blog for the latest Austin real estate news and trends. The site features engaging blog posts on lifestyle and culture for Austin residents.
• The Cain Realty Group
  Visit this blog for a wealth of news, articles, and special features about real estate and lifestyle in Austin. The blog is updated regularly and is easy to navigate.

Key Takeaways

• Investing in SEO is a great way to promote your real estate business in Austin.
• List your business in local online directories as well as Google for maximum reach and leads.
• Spend time developing engaging and unique content for your blogs and videos. Stand out from your competitors.
• A well-planned SEO campaign boosts site visits organically. More visitors mean better conversion rates.
• Get a better ranking on search engines for real estate searches in Austin.
• See a rise in inquiries from buyers in Austin. Higher rankings on search engines increase your brand credibility.
• Amplify your reach on social media channels through great content. Factual and helpful blogs get the most shares on social media.
• Improve the user experience of your website. Make your site mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
• SEO for real estate is a relatively low-cost investment compared to other marketing methods.