5 Easy Ways to Be Found Through Online Directories

Most real estate investors purchase their investments under the name of a corporation.  Obviously, that is smart both legally and for accounting purposes, but it is also smart for marketing purposes.

Any business that had a product or service to sell knows that it is a lot easier to sell to people who knock on your door rather than vice-versa.  This also applies to the internet marketing world.

There are many free, online directories where you should be listing your business.  By doing so and using keyword rich titles and descriptions, you will see your traffic increase along with your search engine rankings.

If you have not done so already, your business should be listed on:

1. Google Local Search:  http://www.google.com/local/add
2. Yelp: http://yelp.com
3. Yellow Pages: http://listings.yellowpages.com/
4. Yahoo Local Search:
5. Bing Local Search: https://ssl.bing.com/listings/BusinessSearch.aspx

Give yourself time to enter your business information completely and accurately.  By "keyword rich", here is what I mean:  Let's say your business is "XYZ Properties", instead of listing the name of your company by just it's "name" in the directories, add some description as well.  For example:  "XYZ Properties - Real Estate Investors in Chicago".  As you write your title and descriptions, think of the person who is trying to find you.  Is it "Rent to own properties in Toledo" or "Real estate investment in Cheyenne"?  Think of those keyword phrases, write them down and use them in your title and description of your business.

In addition, you have the ability to add pictures and video to some of these directories.  DO NOT ignore this!  Statistically, business listings with pictures and videos are viewed much more often than those without!  Enter a few pictures of your rental or rehabbed properties.  Use a webcam or even the video recorder on your cell phone to take a short (no more than 1.5 minutes) video introducing yourself and your business.

Lastly, once you have your listings live, ask a few trusted clients or customers to add a testimonial.  A bribe of a free gift certificate for coffee might not hurt either!