Link Building for Property Managers by Heather Hilder on April 25, 2024 Link Building for Property Managers How Does Link Building Fit into Your SEO Strategy? Considering that over 70% of property seekers search for options online, it’s no surprise that property managers should invest effort and time into building their website’s SEO and gaining visibility in the saturated marketplace. Link building, a powerful tool in the realm of SEO, is a strategy that can transform your website over time. As a property manager, link building can amplify your visibility, boost search engine rankings, and, most importantly, attract a larger pool of potential clients who discover your properties online. With our comprehensive guide, we aim to teach property managers about how link building works and what they should do to implement it in their SEO strategies. What Is Link Building? Link building is about acquiring backlinks for your website. These backlinks are essentially endorsements from other reputable and relevant websites. The goal is to enhance your website’s credibility in the eyes of search engines like Google, leading to improved search engine rankings and increased traffic. The four main ways of acquiring links are asking, adding, buying, and earning. Asking requires contacting other reputable website owners with your linkable resource and explaining why they should include it on their website. ‘Adding’ a link involves manually placing your website’s links on various platforms, such as social media, review sites, online directories, forums, and Q&A sites such as Yelp, Glassdoor, Trustpilot, etc. Buying links is easy, but Google considers it malpractice because these aren’t natural backlinks and, instead, just manipulate search engine algorithms. Similarly, most link sellers offer placements on poor-quality and irrelevant websites. Buying links can lead to penalties from search engines, including a drop in rankings or even removal from search results. It’s always best to focus on ethical link building strategies. Earning a link is when another website owner willingly gives your website a backlink without any solicitation. This is the most authentic way of acquiring links and is a significant achievement that will earn your website recognition in Google’s eyes. Role of Link Building In Property Management For property managers, link building is a crucial SEO strategy for acquiring backlinks from other niche-relevant websites to their property management websites. These links bolster their online presence and assist potential clients in navigating their online pages, thereby overcoming the challenges of a competitive market. Why Does Online Presence Matter? These are three factors that explain why it’s essential to leave a good impression online: In this modern age, when searching for homes or anything related to properties, the first instinct is to do a Google search for something like “1 BHK homes in XYZ.” If your website meets the crucial SEO criteria, your business is more likely to reach you through such search queries. People who see genuine and positive reactions from other companies or clients to your website will trust your products and services more. So, any testimonials or online mentions to your website build its credibility and encourage new clients to give you a shot. Similarly, your online activity also matters. The more you engage with people who leave reviews or ask queries, the more new people will ask about your services. Plus, your responsiveness shows your dedication to your brand and helps you build rapport with your audience. Ultimately, it’s not just about attracting people to your property management business; it’s about getting the right ones interested in working with you. Link Building Challenges For Property Management Before we build links, let’s discuss some challenges you may encounter. Being aware can help you create strategies for effectively navigating the ups and downs. Overcrowded Market Real estate is a competitive industry, and online competition can be incredibly stiff. So, it’s essential to acquire notable backlinks that leave an impact. Gaining links is even more difficult for small-scale property managers who compete with massive nationwide firms, making finding high-quality sites to link to even more difficult. Additionally, the property management industry is highly localised, so you must focus on acquiring local backlinks to improve your search rankings. Emphasis on Local Search Property management is highly relevant to search queries like “House for sale near me.” Local search terms like “near me” indicate the user is looking for opportunities in a specific location, so you must appear among these results. You must participate in community or industry events to build contacts and spread the word about your business, which can be a task. Misleading Metrics We know all backlinks are unequal; some are more valuable, while others can be harmful. Sometimes, websites use black-hat techniques to manipulate and boost their domain authority and traffic, and links from them can be detrimental. These also include PBNs (Private Blog Network) and link farms because they are among the lowest-quality ones. How Property Managers Can Build Links? While there are many strategies to build backlinks, those mentioned below are highly effective if you’re a property manager looking to improve your website’s online presence. 1. Guest Posting On Niche-Relevant Sites A guest post is when you write an article for another website in exchange for placing your link in it. Real estate-related websites interest many visitors in renting, buying, or managing properties. This way, the other website gets valuable content to share with its audience, and your website gains more visibility through the backlink. 2. Testimonials and Reviews Link building is give-and-take; you must engage and offer positive feedback to other local businesses when possible. These authentic testimonials are a great way to build connections because they show other website owners you appreciate their services. When you leave a review, include your website link in your profile. This way, you build your website’s authority and cultivate goodwill within the industry. 3. Property Listing Platforms Websites dealing with houses for sale or rent won’t just help you list a property but also improve online connections. When property managers have listings on such websites, they can insert a backlink to attract prospective clients to the company website for more details. Plus, these platforms are trusted sources, so people are more likely to follow links and engage. 4. Networking and Collaborating In-person and online networking are crucial for collaborating with real estate professionals. Leverage your local network and build relationships with other local businesses to acquire links and gain visibility in local searches. Similarly, you can connect with property bloggers or influencers to gain more exposure with their large audience base in the property sector. 5. Creating Link-Worthy Content If you have content that attracts people’s attention and makes them want to know more, half your job of getting a link is done. This is because getting backlinks won’t take much coercion; if you offer high-quality content, they won’t find it anywhere else. You can create visually appealing infographics with unique data, create a relevant tool like a mortgage calculator, or utilise the power of videos over text-based content. The options are endless. 6. Hosting Events or Workshops Property management has much to discuss: property maintenance, tenant rights, rental market, sale trends, and more. Partner with other experts to educate others on these specific topics through workshops, webinars, or simple learning sessions. You’ll also have to create ‘sign-up’ pages for the attendees and share them on social media and even the website you’re partnering with. Plus, attendees who gained a fresh perspective may share their learning and mention a link to your website. Are you in the process of selecting a Lettings Agent for your property in Brighton & Hove, or Worthing to Arundel? Call us on 01273 735237 / 01903 831338 or email pm@callaways.co.uk for more details. Try Googling ‘award winning property management agents in Brighton and Hove‘?