With today’s announcement of the Google-Twitter search deal and the Bing- Twitter search deal, it is more evident than ever that Twitter should be an important part of your SEO strategy.  Why?

Well, if Twitter results are going to appear in Google and Bing search results, don’t you think it’s a good idea you get your important information on Twitter?  Google is going to pull in what people have tweeted on Twitter. For example, if you search for “online advertising” in Google, you may see some tweets in the Google search results that relate to this search, and possibly even some of this http://search.twitter.com/search?q=online+advertising integrated into the Google search results themselves.

It will be interesting to see how Google displays the tweets in their search results. Will they display them within their regular search or will it be a side option? I have concerns about spam issues. The spammers know how to hijack all the Twitter trending topics with their spam links. I hope Google has a good way to filter this stuff out.

So for all those who argued Twitter has no importance for SEO – think again.

Google+Twitter = important for SEO.
Bing+Twitter = important for SEO.

Welcome to “real time” search!

In the real estate business, what is the best model for attracting leads to listings? At the Inman Real Estate Connect in San Francisco today, Sami Inkinen, Co-Founder & CEO of Trulia, and Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain, dueled to answer that question.

With a central focus on the agent, Cammarosano spoke of the HomeGain model that has content designed to connect buyers to agents, as well as forms which capture leads. “I don’t think you’re going to hear anyone saying that they closed major sales or sold homes from anwsering questions on a website”, he said, taking a stab at one of the main features on the Trulia site.

In quick defense of Trulia Voices, Inkinen argued, “The mindset of the consumer is moving towards [research] behavior, as they are really doing their homework before making a decision on who to use for services”. He recounted a story that was told to him from an agent who uses Trulia Voices who has received “tons of business” from using the forum.

Both, however, seemed to agree that syndicating real estate listings is a highly effective method. In an open question to the hundreds of real estate professionals in attendance, Inkinen asked how many agents do not syndicate their listings. With only about 1/4 of the room raising their hands, there was a strong indication of how popular and successful this method is for real estate advertising.

Near the end of this intelligent debate, moderator, Brian Boero, Partner at 1000Watt Consulting, asked a thought-provoking question to the combatants when he mused, “How do we get these two models (buyer-centric and agent-centric) to work together?” Suggesting the name “TrueGain” for this merging of models, Boero seemed convinced that this all-encompassing approach could deliver the most powerful real estate marketing of all.

Photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

As the rental market becomes saturated with vacant homes and more renters turn to the internet to search for apartments and condos, RentShout launches its online rental marketing service as a cost-effective option for property managers. The service allows property managers to create full-page online advertisements for their rental listings, which are then syndicated across the web to leading rental sites and search directories such as TenantPlus.com, SimpleRent, GoogleBase, and Oodle.

View Full RentShout Press Release

Searching for the perfect candidate is a difficult task when there are plenty of prospects on the market. The problem with multiple opportunities is in separating the wheat from the chafe. Today, because of the increase in the unemployment ranks, Job seekers apply for a variety of positions even if the skill set they currently have is off the mark from the description listed in an employment ad. The tight market has made job seekers think about future employment in a more open minded manner. The old confines and constraints that a position would normally hold in a fast paced employment market (i.e. travel, salary, benefits) have become secondary to job seekers. Job seekers who have been out of work for awhile or who have immediate financial constraints are willing to forgo their desires for the immediate need of employment today.

How does an employer sift through applications to find their “glass slippered” candidate? Here are the top three ways to find the employee that fits your employment ad.

1. Circulate

Get back to networking at its most fundamental level. Networking among peers for recommendations is still a top notch way to find qualified prospects for the employment ad you’re looking to fill. Don’t stop with immediate business associates who you come into physical contact with daily or even once in a while. Network online using business social networking sites. LinkedIn allows you to connect with employees, employers and contractors in a social atmosphere. Join groups that cater to your specialties and interests and you will soon be networking with like-minded business professionals. Use the keyword search tool to find contractors and job seekers in the network and peruse their business profiles and recommendations. Post questions to other business owners on how they found top candidates online and put their recommendations to use.

Extend your reach even further by purchasing a premium account so that you can reach out to recruiters and send direct “inmails” (emails) with the normal free account restraints.

2. Permeate

All of a company’s online advertising efforts need to filter through every branch of opportunity. Spread your roots and extend the reach of your employment ad by using simple syndication. The best syndication is the “set it and forget it”, low maintenance approach. Create a branded employment ad with a detailed description of your job specifications and requirements. Go for the gusto. You need to be succinct and to the point without cutting away too quickly from the details. Include your expectations and some of your wish list too. This will help to filter out the meat and potato prospects from the garnish on your application plate.

Choose a cost effective solution that will syndicate your employment ad and do the heavy lifting for you.  Job seekers aren’t just on Monster.com or HotJobs, they are reaching out across niches, job boards and social networks across the Web 2.0 space.  Online advertising companies who continuously ad new websites to their syndication list will provide you with the reach you need for your employment ad.

3. Infiltrate

Who you know is important.  Getting to know the connections of who you know is just as important.  Take some time to create a well with a link to your company and clear contact information.  Invite people you know to connect with you on Twitter and advertise your Twitter account on your website and employment opportunities page.  Seek out potential candidates by using a simple search function of twitter or a more advanced search application created for twitter.

Talk about your company- its perks, its searches, its qualities, its products, its likes, its and dislikes by microblogging online. By using a platform like Twitter to microblog and in 140 characters or less, you can build a branding history behind your company. Who you know will connect you with people whom you might like to know. Associate with these people and they can connect you with even more people.

Suddenly who you know becomes an expansive and endless opportunity for you to find candidates who are ready, willing and able for employers to find them online

5 Steps to Create An Engaging Online Profile

Creating an online profile that’s engaging is a key component of an essential online marketing strategy. The goal in creating a meaningful profile is to engage your prospects. Online shoppers are likely to review several service providers before making a decision. Your business profile needs to be remarkable in order to capture your prospects’ attention within 3-5 seconds or less.

If you are transparent and thorough, prospects will contact you after reading your profile because you have given them enough information openly and honestly for
them to know, like, and trust you.

Here are five easy steps to create a head-turning profile.

Bedazzle with a great photo

A logo is a standard feature on most business profiles. While logos are essential for branding, a photo will add a humanistic quality to your profile. Online shoppers like to know who they are buying a product from and who the face is behind the services they will be receiving. A head shot or full length photo in a casual setting could be just the right touch. Investing money in a professional head shot could make the difference in zero to hero.

A simple photo could be the reason why a consumer chooses your services over a competitor’s.

Make Your Background Visible

Stand out from the crowd. Don’t let your background take a back seat on your profile.
It should appear front and center. Try to stay away from “mechanical copy” that reads more like a robotic resume than an impressive reflection of your skills and expertise. If you have examples of your past work online don’t hesitate to link to it. Consumers and Business Professionals want the play by play highlights.

Sell Your Services with Style

What is it that you REALLY do? Don’t make online shoppers read between the lines.
Provide a detailed bulleted list of your services. Don’t make assumptions. Your online visitors may never visit your website, so make sure you present every service you represent on your profile. Link out to photos you have of services you have completed or products you sell. If you add services to your business make sure to update your profile.

Oftentimes, people do not list services/products that they don’t perform even though they
can provide a referral to another service provider. Create a small section within your profile that list services your can cover with your own little black book of reputable service providers. The power of referrals can come back to you in spades.

Allow Your Personality to Percolate

Your personality should drip through like our morning coffee brew. Let’s go back to “know, like, and trust”. You can maintain a professional tone and allow your personality to permeate your profile by using a more conversational tone. Consumers and business professionals should be able to read your profile and get a sense of who they will be talking to or buying from, so don’t be shy about including your personal interests and hobbies.

How do you create a conversational profile? Have someone ask you questions and then respond verbally. Record this interview session, then replay and transcribe the words without editing. Once you have laid down this initial track go back and edit for grammar and cohesive writing, but keep the tone of the conversation intact.

Keep Your Contact Points Simple

Don’t confuse consumers. Provide one answer for each point of contact.

You only need to display one phone number, one email address and one website. If you have a blog that is separate from your website and is related to your business
you can include that website address. Also if you micro blog on a platform like Twitter and communicate using @replies and Direct Messages, make sure to include your Twitter Handle (user name).

Use these five steps to create an engaging online profile that makes prospects want to pick up the phone and work with you.