The main methods of attracting traffic to your site are:

• Creating a niche market
• Making your site search engine friendly
• Linking
• Registering with search engines
• Participating in social community sites, forums and blogs
• Informative writing

It would be interesting to start the group off by discussing who has recognised their own niche market, applied that to keywords and not try to aim for the very general keywords like 'spanish property' for which it takes serious effort and indeed a focused website to achieve.

What do you think?

Hi Richie, i have just seen that you joined the group - thanks

although we are not going to give away our most guarded secrets, we can discuss the merits of various seo techniques.

Some very true comments there Emma, I believe well over half of this forums members could benefit from just signing up to this group to gain some direction on their internet shop window and put a little more effort into something that could drastically improve there chances of selling more than they already doing as so many agent estate websites do not even cover the absolute basics upon websites should be built, maintained, marketed and presented.

Will be interesting how many do join and take note...

I am writing a series of articles for all registered agents on Se Vende Casa.
They will be online in the next few weeks.

Here is the introduction, feel free to ask questions...

Optimising your site

There are three main objectives when optimizing your site:

1. Attracting traffic to your site

Increase your profile throughout the internet by focusing on your unique selling points and optimizing your site for this. Users will search by various keywords under which you should appear in search engines.
We do not merely focus on optimizing your own site for search engines but also participating on other optimized and related sites to open another road by which you can be found.

We will discuss the many aspects of site optimization from keyword rich content to participation on forums and blogs that relate to your business.

2. Converting traffic to leads

Once a user visits your site, have you got the formula right to grab their attention, give them the right information and make them want to learn more?

When a user enters your site from a search engine it is primarily because they are searching for specific information or a specific solution, make this information easy to find.

We will discuss the techniques for making an easy to use website that will be a pleasure for your users to navigate.

3. Encouraging returning users

It is three times easier to retain a client that find a new one, this is also true in the world of the internet, if you do not deliver on the user’s expectations then why should they return?
The other dilemma is that they probably visit numerous websites on a daily basis, why should they return to yours? And how will they remember to return to your site?

We discuss the many methods of communicating to your user after they have left the site, in a reminder to return and also to offer them the desired information they are looking for in a format that is convenient for them.