A little while ago, Jim Marks asked a question about whether address searches were valuable or not, trying to spur some discussion on that, among other things.
Allow me to answer. To provide the agent perspective on address searches.
Yes, they're valuable. In fact, on my listings search where all listings are searchable by Google by address and subdivision and zip code and whatnot, 30 of my top 50 keywords in the last month were address searches.
People Google property addresses for lots of reasons. Some have driven by the property, made a sign call, and the agent hasn't called them back. Many times, the house they're looking at is already under contract, so the agent doesn't call back immediately, and they turn to the internet for more information. Some drive by and just google it for more information when they get home. Some are checking out their neighbors homes for sale, and some are just looking to see if their own home on the market is ranking at all.
So they Google the address, and then they call me, because my site shows up with all the information about the house. Would you want those calls? I sure do. Those are the calls that keep my buyer agents busy in a down market.
Worthwhile to compete on address search in your market? It is in mine. Absolutely.
Kelley - I see a lot of home address searches too. Have you read the AgentGenius post this morning? I saw Benn hyping it up yesterday before it was publsihed, so I went there first thing to read it. I'm curious to hear what you think - "Did Google Scrape My Website? You Be The Judge. Rules Threaten Realtors & IDX Providers."
Matt - I talked to someone involved in that last week up in Phoenix. My gut says it is being blown out of proportion at the national level, but we'll have to wait and see.
kelley,
Thanks for the post. The question that begs to be answered is who's protecting whom? Since when do we want limited exposure for our sellers in the information driven age? Those at the controls aren't in the business, not the way that we are, on the front lines every day striving to solicit showings for our clients.
It cracks me up when you see the titles on listing posts as "Just Listed 3BR Beauty" How many people really search google like that? Excellent point!
I have just started doing this. It saves me from trying to think of a new title, too! I like your explanation. Even if the neighbors are checking, just because they are curious, yours is the name that they are seeing. Very nice:)
It's a Good Life!
Fran