I’ve been dreaming of content.
To be a guy who wants a bit more control of his web presence and to control his own destiny as far as the internet is concerned is a dangerous thing. When we last spoke about my site, www.rerockstar.com, I had worked on my profile a bit and then I went silent on the issue (other than to tell you that we’d return to the subject soon). I have been working behind the scenes and I’m now at a point, that I’m ready to talk again.
Blog or full-fledged site?
That was my first major decision. My thinking is this; why give someone two URLs when I can give them one. Why be confined to the search of my broker’s IDX choice? I want to set myself apart from the rest and using my office’s template website for searching isn’t going to bring the traffic pouring through. So I started the research. I checked a ton of sites and saw lots of cool stuff. So many choices. Then one night, while not thinking about it, I was checking out housechick’s site for inspiration on some writing I wanted to do. I was just going through some of the people I know and reading their sites for that spark I needed. I didn’t get that spark from Kelley – not that I don’t like her writing, but I was distracted by something else. Instead, I saw her IDX. I drooled over it. I wanted it. So I saw the link to are-tec.com, followed it, read it and wound up writing an email asking for more info then and there. I also tweeted Kelley about how awesome her search was. I got a response back from ARE-TEC and thought, “hey that’s funny, the guy who emailed me has the same last name as Kelley.” Little did I know that it was Chris, Kelley’s husband. So we emailed back and forth discussing the potential for using their tools. We finally organized the paperwork and Chris is bringing his awesome IDX to San Antonio (I’m the first to use it here). I think it looks great and definitely projects the tech-side of what I want to accomplish.
Road map to my success.
I want my site to be the best place in San Antonio to search for, learn about, and get information on real estate and the process of buying and selling. I drew up a little map in my head of what all I wanted to offer on my site with the vision that I would start with the basics and build from there. Its a vision for the future and a road map to my success on the internet. I’m very curious to see what everyone thinks as it is an ambitious site, but with content being king, I think it will grow to be the best site in San Antonio (I have to say that!).
The basics are there on the site now (although the content isn’t yet…I’m working on that). I also (you may notice) switched to a new layout. I’m working on some of the graphics to make it a bit more “rockstar,” but I thought the other layout wasn’t conducive to what I wanted to bring to my “complete” site.
Is there such a thing as too much information?
I know I tend to write lengthy prose every time I post, so I am forced to wonder – those of you with tons of experience – do you think there’s a limit to how much one site should cover? I’m not talking about getting outside my “area” or not concentrating on what I know best, but I want users to be able to get the big picture of San Antonio as much as the little picture. I want them to know more than just a tiny slice of it and I want to provide them a place to get their feet wet (especially since we have a large population of people who relocate here). Are the basics enough? Do I need more? Less? Something completely different?
photo courtesy of spike55151
Missy Caulk
December 5, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Looks good, I personally think one site is best. If I was just starting out that is exactly what I would do. However, being the business as long as I have I have several and good SERPS for most of them…so I am stuck.
Is their a way you can have them register to see more details or something so you can capture their email and phone numbers.
I know there is two points of view out there but I get more sales from sites that folks have to register on.
Then we can follow up people, connect with them and convert them to work with us.
Mack
December 5, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Matt, sure content is king but site layout is also very important. Having proper meta tags on each page (Title and Description/Content) are also important. A very wise man once told me that each page of my site should look like it could be the home page of a site. Mine is still a work in progress but it is getting there. I like the fact that you are using a wordpress platform. Incorporating a blog into your site will help with the adding content thing. Good Luck with it and keep us posted.
Brian Miller
December 5, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Matt,
I think your site looks great. I can COMPLETELY relate to wanting control over your site, etc. It’s funny, too, because the IDX issue has been a sore spot with me. Until just two week ago our local MLS required we use our brokers IDX solution. I was seeing so many good ones. You and I might be on the same wave legnth here – I firmly believe if you have an IDX that completely rocks you can become the go-to site for your area…. I’m in the process of searching for that IDX solution now. yours is great…
Karen Goodman
December 5, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Matt,
I just went through the same process as you. I had a template static website on Point 2 which included an imbedded blog which helped with SEO, but the blog visually looked like it was a separate website and was limited in what you could do (no widgets).
I spent hours looking at everyone else’s websites, then finally decided on what I needed and put it together. I just launched it last week. (Would love everyone’s opinion!) Like you, I still have some pages that need content and hope to get that done this weekend.
I’m sure my site will evolve over time. The next step would be to hire a graphic designer that could give it a more polished look (my site designer was quick to admit that his strength’s weren’t in graphic design).
For now I’m keeping my 2 free P2 template sites for stuff that would just clutter up the main site or are more of a hyper-focus. Who knows what I will do in the future.
I also looked into are-tec, but couldn’t justify the costs to bring them to St. Louis. I talked my broker into switching to Wolfnet since it was the best map based IDX in my MLS region, and my MLS requires agents to use the same IDX as their broker.
Paula Henry
December 6, 2008 at 8:47 am
Matt – Your site is really coming along nicely! I wish I had one site; it would keep me a bit more sane.
One of my next projects is to have the front page of my blog look more like a website, so it appears more organized and easier to navigate.
Take your time so you get the final product you want, although a website or blog is rarely ever final or finished.
Bob
December 6, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Missy, it isn’t too late. You can save most of your serps and at the same time make your one site even stronger by consolidating your content and using 301s from the others to the one.