Home Staging Marketing:

Anchor Text Variations

In past blog posts here and on several articles I’ve shared on Active Rain I have explained the value and use of anchor text.

Everything I have said about anchor text as a major asset for home staging marketing results remains true.  However a recent change in Google’s algorithm may have negatively affected some of you in highly competitive markets.

While this is probably relatively few of you, I wanted to share some insights into the recent “Penguin Update,” that has thrown the SEO world into a bit of a tumult this past week.

First let me remind you what I mean by anchor text, then I will tell you what Google seems to want and why, and finally suggest the obvious steps you may need to take in case your home staging marketing efforts were negatively affected.

The key to effective home staging marketing from an online perspective is getting your business to show up on the first page of results when a prospective customer does a search for your services online.

You have four options as I explain on another web site of mine addressed to dentists but worth a quick look if you want to understand all four.  Click here.

For most home staging marketing that means getting your web site ranked by Google higher than that of your competitors. There are two major aspects to winning this battle. On page factors and off page factors.

The off page factors center around the quantity and quality of backlinks to your website.  In my discussions of anchor text I instructed you to use your main keyword, “home staging ________” with the blank filled it to be your home town, or other geographical name you want to do business in.

Thus if you posted an article on Active Rain, did article marketing, or blog posting on other people’s sites you would include the anchor text phrase in your posting and then hyperlink that phrase back to your web site.

This process told Google that your site was about “Home staging Minneapolis” or what ever city you are in.  This is still true and still powerful.

However, as more and more people learned of the importance of the technique, people began in the larger internet marketing circles to over do it.  So much so that Google has now started to penalize sites that have most if not all of their backlinks specifically linked to the same keyword(s).

It is far more natural in Google’s eyes to see people link with ‘naked’ urls such as http://minneapolisseweranddraincleaning.com used by a local vendor in my area.

And we have all seen a lot of  “Click here’s” in our internet experiences.

Turns out that if you have followed my advice too well and created a ton of backlinks to your site that all use the same anchor text, Google will see that as unnatural.

They would expect to see more “Click here’s,” and naked URL’s and at least a reasonable number of “Minneapolis Home Staging” versus “Home Staging Minneapolis,” etc.

So if this past week, you have all of a sudden seen your web site drop from neat the top of Google in your local area to the bottom or worse yet on a second page or worse, you need to take action. You need to restore some more natural balance to your backlinks.

What is the right balance? Lots of speculation on that. But the preponderant thinking is that you want 40-60% of your anchor text to be for your primary keyword phrase. Do another 20% or so on major variations. And then mix up some naked url’s and click here’s and lesser keywords that are clearly related for the balance.

Such efforts should help restore your balance in Google eyes and help you regain your top position faster than you may have otherwise.

In the long run, the best course of action for home staging marketing is to build backlinks anchored to your site by doing blog commenting on other home staging sites, writing articles for article directories and posting on relevant sites like Active Rain.

Home Staging Marketing Consultation

Feel free to contact me, if you would like a professional assessment of your web site and of your competition within your marketplace. I work with a wide variety of locally based businesses throughout the US and Canada.

I enjoy working with home stagers who are serious about building a real business via online home staging marketing.  It’s where I first started my local business consulting practice some years ago.

enetwal @ gmail.com  Put “Home Staging Marketing Consultation” in the subject line

Technorati Tags: Home Staging Marketing, Marketing Home Staging, Home Staging Business tips, Marketing online

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Technorati Tags: Home Staging business tips, home staging marketing, Marketing Home Staging, Marketing online

Stage Right Design’s Home Staging Tips Video is toward the bottom of this post… First let’s look at some practical tips on attracting new customers to your home staging business.

 Building Your Business:  Home Staging Tips

Would you like to have your video seen every time someone searches for “Home Staging” in your town?  Now you can!   I personally guarantee your success with my YouTube Visibility program.  It works. You will get more new customers.

Google Tip for Home Stagers

Most of your home staging prospects search for you on Google. Those businesses who have a listing on the first page of the results will get 93-97% of the calls. Only 3-7% or so of prospects ever get to the second page of results.

It’s possible to show up more than once on the first page of Google. If you do, you basically double your chances of getting those calls.

When you get a Youtube video showing up on the first page of Google, Google displays a thumbnail of your video. This draws people’s eyes, and is at least 157% more likely to be clicked on.

Properly Optimized Google Local Pages

Next to properly optimizing your Google Local Pages, these are my number one home staging tips for for an effective online marketing campaign. Implement these and you will attract new clients.

About Earl Netwal

Earl Netwal

I am an internet marketing consultant.  I have been working with home stagers and publishing this blog for about three or more years now.

I initially did a survey of about 300 home stagers that discovered that many home stagers needed help getting their websites seen by more people, and then to get more of those who did to take action and call them.  I have since learned how to do both.

I  am active in my neighborhood business setting, and throughout the Minnepaolis – St Paul Twin Cities metro with a number of national and even international clients engaged in a wide array of businesses.   I call myself the micro business specialist.  Sometimes even the internet marketing magician.

I’d be happy to provide you with a no obligation assessment of your current and potential online home staging marketing campaign.

With the exception of out of pocket start up fees, I work on a performance basis. You get results or I don’t get paid.  No long term contracts, you can quit at any time, but you won’t. Cause either I am making you money, or you let me know and we part ways.

I can’t handle everybody, so I may have to say no.  I prefer to deal with one person in each market. That way we are free to dominate the market using multiple strategies.

You can call me at 612-724-4392 during business hours, Central time zone.

Technorati Tags: home staging tips, home staging tip, home staging business tips, home staging business tip, youtube, youtube visibility

Home Staging Tips

Here are a couple of good Home Staging Tips from Ryan Dressel, the owner of Stage Right Design in Sacramento, CA.

Among the home staging tips shared is how to create a greater sense of depth in a room by placement of the sofa away from the wall.

He also shares a tip on how to keep the flap on a pillow sham from folding over on your bed dressings.

Then he shares a couple of tips on the proper hanging of artwork, including a general rule for all artwork that he adapts from the standards of most art galleries, and a specific guideline for artwork over a sofa.

Home Staging Tips For Attracting Clients

Home Stagers, would you like to have your video featured on a future post? Email me with details. I would like to include more videos of this sort on this blog.

My email address is enetwal “at” gmail.com

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Home Staging Tips

Here are a couple of good Home Staging Tips from Ryan Dressel, the owner of  Stage Right Design in Sacramento, CA.

Among the home staging tips shared is how to create a grater sense of depth in a room by placement of the sofa away from the wall.

He also shares a tip on how to keep the flap on a pillow sham from folding over on your bed dressings.

Then he shares a couple of tips on the proper hanging of artwork, including a general rule for all artwork that he adapts from the standards of most art galleries, and a specific guideline for artwork over a sofa.

Home Staging Tip for Home Staging Businesses

Home stagers, I would like to include more videos of this sort on this blog.  If you have created a video with general tips on home staging, drop me an email with a link to your video and I will consider posting it here.

My email address is enetwal “at” gmail.com

By the way, if you have created a video and would like to get it to rank on the first page of Google results in your marketplace, let me know that as well.  I have a risk free YouTube Visibility program that could get you more new customers.

Most of your home staging prospects search for you on Google. Those businesses who have a listing on the first page of the results will get 93-97% of the calls. Only 3-7% or so of prospects ever get to the second page of results.

It’s possible to show up more than once on the first page of Google. If you do, you basically double your chances of getting those calls.

If you get a Youtube video showing up on the first page of Google, Google displays a thumbnail of your video.  This draws peoples eyes, and is at least 150% more likely to be clicked on.

Next to getting set up on Google Local Pages, these are my number one home staging tips for home stagers who want to grow their business and attract new clients.

Technorati Tags: home staging tips, home staging tip, home staging business tips, home staging business tip, youtube, youtube visibility

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Small Business Survival: Going Online

The small business sector is extremely competitive and anything you can do to add presence is a great way to boost sales and expand your customer base. If you an entrepreneur and want to transform your business, increase your profit margin and introduce your goods or services to markets beyond what you could otherwise reach, an online store could be just what your business needs.

Going Online: What it Takes

Going online does not need to be an overwhelming or difficult process. If you break it down to small manageable steps, you will have your e-commerce site ready for business in no time at all. To begin the process of starting an e-commerce business, a business owner should consider three important elements.

The first one is the planning stage, write up a business plan just as you did with your brick and mortar store. This can serve as your guidelines and blueprint as you tackle the rest. It is also important to analyze your competition to see what they are doing as well.

The second element is to develop a good, solid and effective marketing strategy. Consider who your target audience would be and which type of customer would be most attracted to your goods or services. You should determine not only how to get word out you are in business, but a way to maintain a satisfying relationship with your customers.

The last element is knowing the tools of the trade. Many people are intimidated by computers and the thought of running their own online store, but if you take the time to learn the industry, you can make it all happen easily and efficiently. There are many online tutorials and videos that can teach you everything you need to know about opening your own online store.

Going Online in Five Easy Steps

You can have the basics of your e-commerce site set up in five easy steps.

Step one is find a web host and decide on a domain name. There are countless web hosting sites available online, look for one with excellent technical support, especially if you are unfamiliar with this process and one that charges a fair market fee.

Step two is selecting a shopping cart. Shopping cart software can range from free to a couple thousand dollars. There are many suitable free shopping cart programs, however you will want to find one that is easy for you to use and easy for your customer to navigate.

Step three would be to obtain a merchant account and payment gateway if you do not have one already. A merchant account allows you to accept credit or debit cards as payment. A payment gateway processes the payment in real time and acts as a facilitator between your merchant account and the payment method account. You can also get an account that would allow you to accept and process mobile money as well.

Step four can be as fun as you make it. The next step is to design your online store. The default option of your shopping cart software is plain and boring. If you are tech savvy enough with HTML and CSS, you can design your own template from scratch or you can choose one of the already made templates and install it in a few easy steps.

Step five is adding your inventory. If you are selling goods, make sure to include high quality pictures and detailed descriptions to tempt your customers. Make sure your site is easy to navigate and all your products are easy to find.

Your business has the chance to expand its reach far beyond a brick and mortar store by going online, the Internet has no boundaries.

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Do you use LinkedIn?

If not you should. It’s free to set up a profile and a great way to network with key people in your community. Unlike Facebook where most people are interested in socializing and sharing photos, Linked in is about business.

And being in business, that’s just where you want to be.

The typical Linked In member is older and more affluent than the Facebook friend as a result far more likely to appreciate your home staging services. More importantly, they are far more likely to be used to the idea of paying for professional services.

LinkedIn is also a great way for you to network with other allied business professionals and build your referral resources.

I have just created a five part crash course highlighting the key things you need to know to put LinkedIn to work for your business.

Linked IN Crash Course

Technorati Tags: LinkedIn, linked in, internet marketing, crash course, linked in crash course

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Technorati Tags: crash course, Internet marketing, linked in, linked in crash course, linkedin

What ever business you are in, it helps to have a crystal clear conception of your marketing purpose. For me, that has required a bit of reconsideration of late.

For a long time I have and continue to refer to myself as the Micro Business Specialist. This was fine as far as it went, however, what is it that I actually specialize in?

On one of my recent walks, (I have become an avid walker this past year – which has helped me lose 70+ pounds) I finally was able to crystalize just what it is I do.

I develop Online Media Customer Acquisition Strategies for both online and offline businesses.

The internet has blossomed and warped into dozens of key media that go well beyond the original web site that used to be the primary vehicle for home stagers and others to get found by their prospects.

Today, social media from Twitter, to Linked In, to Facebook and several dozen other venues are demanding attention.

Not all are equally valuable for every business. And all require more know-how than the typical business person is able to devote.  Heck, it’s hard enough for those of us who work in in the field 40-80 hours a week to keep up.

So that is what I do. I work with businesses to identify where they should strategically place their emphasis, to maximize their ability to attract customers.

Now there are some basics, that continue to start with your main web site. Most small business web sites still stink as my first eBook from several years ago stated.  But the fix, is usually not that difficult to accomplish.

What I am seeing today that is front and center and still not effectively implemented by most homestagers is their listings on Google Places Pages, and the appearance of their sites on mobile devices such as smart phones, ipods, and other such tablet devices.  Both of these are important today and increasingly important as each day passes.

Like most business people, I note that most home stagers are far more expert in their main business and tend to not pay much attention to their online marketing. Unfortunately, this is costing you potential business in your market, IF you are in a competitive one.

If you are the only homestager in 50 miles it doesn’t matter.  If on the other hand you have two or three or more friendly rivals it matters a lot.

Let me suggest that you need to focus on what your key business mantra is, and if you need more customers consider hiring me or someone like me to be your online marketing assistant. That way you can do what you do best, and I or someone like me can focus on devising effective strategies that will help keep you busy doing it.

Currently I am offering a $150 marketing review of your site, and a look see at your competition in your specific market and a proposed course of action.  If you decide to hire me to implement a particular  set of strategies I will credit the $150 toward the cost of implementation.

I also offer a 100% money back guarantee on the marketing review. If you are unhappy with what I have to offer for any reason, I will immediately refund your $150 and we will part company with no hard will whatsoever. So there is virtually no risk on your part.

To take advantage of this limited time offer, email me at enetwal@gmail.com or call me at 612-724-4392 to discuss details and timing.

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Blatant commercial here for a new lens I produced using Squidoo on Top 10 Women’s Halloween costumes for 2011. Thought it might be of interest to you.

In the process I have created a backlink to the site from this blog. That will assist the site with both traffic from this site (if you go to see it) and a better ranking in Google when the google bots come around because they will go and see that the site is about Women’s Halloween costumes. It will remember that and give that site a bit of a boost because of the anchor text in the first paragraph saying so.

Thus I’ve turned this purely self promotional post into a mini lesson on anchor text, and backlinking. Hope you enjoyed it.

Technorati Tags: anchor text, backlinking, seo

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Technorati Tags: anchor text, backlinking, SEO

Here’s a nice post put together by Signature Furniture rental. They asked me to post it and may well be willing to let you post in in your blogs as well. Great way to point out the benefits of home staging.

If  interested you may want to contact

Created by Signature Furniture Rental

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

I have on many occasions stressed here how important it is for Home Stagers and frankly any locally based business to learn how to get on Google Maps.

It’s actually easy, if you know what you are doing.

I am pleased to announce that my newest eBook, How to Get On Google Maps has been accepted for sale as a Kindle eBook by Amazon.

I am thrilled to have Amazon as a marketing partner. In addition to my work being available there for use by Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android devices, PC, and Mac users.

In addition you can buy and download a pdf copy directly from How to Get On Google Maps.

Product Description
Every Business Needs New Customers.

This Kindle book describes the easiest and most effective way to get new customers for main street businesses serving a local area or region. The tools and insights provided are applicable to single establishments and chains with multiple locations.

In this book you will learn how to get your business “Found” by prospective customers by ranking high on the Google Places Pages, which are today’s answer to the now obsolete yellow pages of the last century.

Not only will you learn how to claim and set up your Google Places pages properly, you will gain insights into some of the best online marketing tactics of the day.

You will learn how to do effective keyword search using free tools. Tools that will not only allow you to better understand your own customer demands, but also to spy on your competitors and discover their secrets.

You will understand the three main ways to get of top of the search results on Google.

The specific step by step instructions to make sure your Google Places Information is complete, and what is important and what isn’t so that you show up on the favored 7 pack that Google Displays on its Map.

You will discover why you need to and how to create videos and learn about a free service you can use to create animated videos with special effects that will wow your viewers.

You will discover which other directories in addition to Google Places you want to get listed in, including Bing and Yahoo and nine others.

You will also learn of an inexpensive short cut you can take to minimize the time and effort required to complete these listings and gain valuable “citation” support for your listing.

As importantly, you will learn what not to buy.

You will also learn about a free Google service you can use to monitor your own reputation and to keep an eye on your competitors so you know what they are up to.

And finally, you will get a quick glimpse at the significant change that will render many of your competitors web pages obsolete. This same change will work to your advantage when you apply the lessons of this powerful “how to” book.

Technorati Tags: how to get on google maps, google places page, how to get found online, home staging, mareting home staging businesses, How to attract customers

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Technorati Tags: google places page, Home Staging, How to attract customers, how to get found online, how to get on google maps, mareting home staging businesses

Today I have a guest blog post by Douglas Elliman Realty.  He is active in the New York City Condo market, which features a large number of vacant condos.  He uses Virtual Staging to assist in his efforts. Below he discusses the merits of virtual staging.

If you are interested in posting a guest blog post on this site, email me at enetwal@gmail.com and I will try to accommodate you.  If nothing else, you can get some back links to your web site that will help its ranking in the search engines.

 Virtually Staging a Home

Staging a home can be difficult, especially for those properties that are already vacant. Let’s face it; a vacant condo can appear quite atrocious if there’s nobody to maintain it. Similarly, the fact that it’s empty doesn’t help the clientele envision what it could look like, or the possibilities of redesign.

Ultimately, staging a home through a virtual service provider may be the way to go, particularly for large New York City Apartments or Condos, where there’s a ton of space, but nothing but bare walls and floors.

Here are some of the advantages to staging a home online:

• Computer generated furnishings make the home look elegant and filling.

• CGF (Computer generated furnishings) prepare the home flawlessly, leaving no room for mistake or mishap.

• Not only can the interior be redesigned, but the exterior as well.

• 3d panoramic views.

• The process also allows for items to be removed, if the seller wishes to view the home empty.

• Most importantly, everybody likes visuals, especially those that can constantly be revisited.

• In return for staging your home online through a certified professional, you’re able to sell much quicker than those with simple photographs.

It’s quite clear why virtually staging a home online would benefit the buyer/seller, and most real estate companies have already bought into the practice. In fact, the process of staging a home online through a virtual expert has become common practice, predominantly through luxury real estate brokers.

The photos generated through virtual staging can be used for brochures, cards, websites and much more. In the next few years, real estate professionals in the NYC area will probably be the first to jump at this opportunity to really make their properties shine.

Courtesy of Douglas Elliman Realty, New York Condos.

Technorati Tags: Douglas Elliman, Virtual staging, New York Condos, home staging, staging a home

The simplest and easiest way to get prospective customers to call you, beyond word of mouth, is a properly completed Google Place's Page. They are free, powerful and easy to maintain, once you have them set up properly. I share tips on this blog from time to time on this blog about how best to do so. I also have been known to hire myself out on occasion to help others get it done for them. If you would like to get your Google Places Page properly set up send me an email at enetwal@gmail.com and put "Free Initial Evaluation" or something similar in the subject line. Be sure to include your current web site and contact info.

Technorati Tags: Douglass Elliman, Home Staging, New York Condos, staging a home, virtual staging