Texas SEO: More Mortgage SEO Tips

Texas SEO:  More Mortgage SEO Tips   Austin | Dallas | Houston | El Paso

It’s not just getting to the first page of Google that counts, it’s performing well once you’re there.  Unless your site PERFORMS well then all the SEO’ing doesn’t really matter.

For example, websites with geographic indicators are more likely to get clicked on than generic domains w/o geographic indicators.    So if you want business from more than one city…. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio be prepared to add pages to your website.   (Example:  www.yourwebsite.com/Austin, www.yourwebsite.com/Dallas)

And if you’re really serious about adding business from other markets you might have to launch a new website altogether on that specific market.  You really can’t have too large of a SEO footprint.

Remember, SEO isn’t hard-it just takes persistence and constant attention. And time.  And a little money.  SEO is not an event, it’s a process.  It’s more like planting a garden than hunting for deer.   Your SEO garden will take time, it will take prunning, you must water your SEO garden.

This is why PPC (Pay per click) is so popular. We Americans want everything yesterday and we want it free!  And because most small companies lack the $$, the patience, or the desire they just do some version of PPC and hope.  But you’ve probably heard the popular phrase ” Hope is not a viable (SEO) strategy.”

It’s true. 

I’ve had people call me and say “we see your mortgage websites all over page 1 and we want you to do  the same for us!”  I then ask them what they are currently doing and typically it’s some form of PPC (pay per click).  I then say:  “Be prepared to spend $300+$500/month, and don’t expect anything for the first 6 months.”    I then go into the “SEO is more of process than an event…”  Most of the time they client kindly listens and then says “When will I get leads?”

That’s more “hunter” than “garden” thinking…which is fine. If you want Mortgage Leads–go buy them.  There are lots of great mortgage lead companies out there.  The problem is they are expensive.   And what you’re really doing is buying leads from somebody else’s SEO garden. 

What Jakerbaker.com does is simple:  We help you plant (and grow) your own mortgage lead garden.  

Remember, organic SEO takes time. 

But I’m always willing to give some free SEO advice so here you go:  NEVER GO BACK TO WHAT DIDN’T WORK.  This is true in any aspect of life.  Be it a relationship or an SEO strategy.  If buying mortgage leads didn’t work.  Stop doing it.  

If you’re spending 1K a month in PPC and it’s not working and you call me, don’t go back to PPC!  Try something new, put up a facebook business page, start a free blog….something…but to admit failure and then go back to it is the very definition of insanity.

However, if you’re a Texas Mortgage Professional and want to be apart of existing Mortgage Websites, give me a call as our mortgage websites are already up and performing.  Our gardens are already producing fruit.  Come be apart of our newest SEO garden…..take a look at http://www.texasmortgageassociates.com.

So here’s my today’s SEO tip:

Make sure you have a Good Website Name!  I can’t over-state this!  So I’m going to say it again.

If your SEO efforts are not what you want, you’re going to need a stronger URL name (with your ideal keywords). 

What’s a good website name? One that includes your “target” keywords.   For example, if you’re an insurance person in Lubbock, Texas your website better have something with the words “Lubbock, Texas Insurance dot com”   Chances are most of the better named URLs are already taken. But you get the idea.

Your URL needs your target keywords.

And listen up realtors, no more YourNameIsAwesome.com websites!  We know you’re the bomb-dizzle but nobody Google searches your name!  The only people who do are people who already know you!  SEO is about attracting people who don’t know you.

So instead of having a website such as:  JonSpearsisAwesomeandCoolandSellsRealEstateinTexas.com, maybe try something  with “Austin, Texas, (Specific Area) dot com.”  Or more specifically, since people usually Google something with “Texas Mortgage” I’ve launched http://www.texasmortgageassociates.com. See how having a URL with the “target keywords” gets you half way to your ideal customer. 

So if someone Google’s Austin Mortgage Rates they are going to find (and hopefully) click on http://www.texasmortgageassociates.com/austin-refinance/.  

In short, the more your URLs match the Google keywords that are actually typed–the better.

You get the idea…

Keyword Rich URLs are critically important.   However, let’s take it a step further.   Not only do you need your target keywords in your URL, but if you want to garner business from other areas (other cities perhaps) you’ll probably need to add additional complete and stand-alone websites with those keywords.

Because people in Dallas, Texas are way more likely to click on a Dallas URL vs. a URL with the words, say, from El Paso.

Here’s a real-life example:

Notice there are two websites here…both sites are on the FIRST PAGE for the term “dfw mortage rates 15 year .”  Notice there’s www.dallaslending.com and there’s www.mylendingplace.com.

 Both websites belong to me yet the website that got chosen was the searcher was www.dallaslending.com. And notice the www.dallaslending.com website was actually further down the page than www.mylendingplace.com.

See, being #1 isn’t as important as you might think…even though it’s VERY important.  Being on the first page AND having a URL that appeals to that client’s geography is golden! 

It’s not just getting to the first page that counts, it’s performing well once you’re there. 

So websites with geographic indicators  are more likely to get clicked than generic domains w/o the geographic indicator.

Remember, Mortgage SEO isn’t an event, it’s a process. If you’re ready to have your websites impact your bottom line, call us!