| You may like the idea of selling your own house | | | | At the bottom of each of your articles you will |
| without hiring a real estate agent. This is | | | | have what's called a "resource box" or "author's |
| understandable, as it will save you roughly 6% in | | | | bio" area. It is here that you will write a sentence |
| real estate commissions...which can easily be more | | | | or two about your home with a link back to your |
| than ten thousand dollars. For example, if you sell | | | | website. You will then submit your article to the |
| a home for $250,000 you would traditionally pay | | | | many different articles directories on the Internet. |
| your real estate agent $15,000...the buying agent | | | | There are many to choose from and, of course, |
| gets 3% ($7500) and the selling agent (your | | | | there is software you can buy or paid websites |
| agent) gets the other 3%. The buyer never pays | | | | you can join that will submit your article to many |
| any commission. That burden falls completely on | | | | different directories, but you can always submit |
| the home seller. Therefore, it is easy to see why | | | | them yourself for free. The three main article |
| you would want to sell your own house without a | | | | directories I would use are EzineArticles.com, |
| realtor and save on that commission. | | | | GoArticles.com, and |
| However, before we go any further let me make | | | | Once you have submitted your article you will |
| it perfectly clear that there is a reason why | | | | want to bookmark that article just like you did |
| realtors make a 3% commission...they work for it. | | | | with your blog posts. |
| If you try to sell your own house without using a | | | | **If you don't feel comfortable writing articles, |
| realtor, you too will quickly learn that selling a | | | | you can always hire someone to write articles for |
| home is hard work. | | | | you. You can usually find someone to write a 250 |
| Fortunately, the Internet has completely leveled | | | | article for as little as $5/article. |
| the playing field making selling a home without a | | | | 4. Create a video for you home. This is really |
| realtor easier than ever before. | | | | easy to do. Simply create a slide show using the |
| Unfortunately, most home sellers simply do not | | | | photos you have taken to advertise your home. |
| know what to do in order take advantage of all | | | | Use iMovie, or Windows Movie Maker (or any |
| the Internet has to offer. | | | | popular movie making software) to save your |
| Below is a step-by-step guide on how to sell your | | | | video as .mov, .mpg, or .wmv file. Again, if you |
| own house by using the Internet: | | | | struggle with this you can easily find people to do |
| 1. Keywords. First things first, you need to do a | | | | it for you at roughly $10/video. Once you have |
| little keyword research before you start. | | | | your video you will submit that video to the top |
| Keywords are the words people type into search | | | | video directories on the Internet such YouTube, |
| engines when doing research on the Internet. You | | | | Veoh, DailyMotion, Viddler, Revver, Yahoo Videos. |
| want to find keywords that people are searching, | | | | And of course, you will want to include your |
| but do not have a great deal of competition. For | | | | keywords in both your title and description. And, |
| example, it is going to be impossible for me to | | | | make sure to include a link back to your website |
| rank anywhere in the search engines for a | | | | blog in the description as well. |
| keyword phrase such as "real estate" or even | | | | Once you have submitted the videos you will also |
| "real estate for sale". It will be significantly easier | | | | want to bookmark those videos just like you did |
| to rank for a keyword phrase such as "Lakewood | | | | with the blog posts and articles. |
| Ranch real estate" or "Lakewood Ranch real | | | | 5. Get listed in your local MLS. This could be the |
| estate for sale". There are plenty of keyword | | | | most important step of all. The fact of the |
| tools on the Internet that can help you with | | | | matter is 90% of all home sales in the United |
| flushing out good keywords. Google's free | | | | Sates are listed in MLS (Multiple Listing Service). |
| keyword tool is a good place to start. Do NOT | | | | Unfortunately, the only one who can list you in |
| underestimate this step! You will be using your | | | | MLS is a licensed realtor. However, that does not |
| keywords in nearly ever other step of this | | | | mean you need to pay out a 6% commission. |
| process. | | | | These days you can pay a flat fee listing service |
| 2. Create a blog. You can create a website, but | | | | to put your home in MLS for a one-time flat fee. |
| these days a blog is much easier to set up and | | | | This fee usually ranges from $299-$799 |
| much easier to rank well in Google. You could | | | | depending on the company. Just make sure to do |
| always set up a free blog with Blogger.com, but | | | | your research because not all flat fee listers are |
| there are many search engine advantages to | | | | created equal. |
| creating your own blog with your own domain | | | | 6. Add your listing to other top real estate |
| name using WordPress.org. | | | | websites including Craigslist, Realtor.com, |
| So first step...buy a domain name through a | | | | Point2Homes, Google Base, LiveDeal, Cyberhomes |
| company such as This will cost you roughly $10 | | | | and AOL Real Estate, Truila, Zillow, Oodle, |
| for the year. Try to include your keyword phrase | | | | Homescape, Vast, HotPads.com, CLRSearch.com, |
| in your domain name. Depending on your | | | | Clickable City Directory, |
| keywords, it may be difficult to find an available | | | | WorldWide-RealEstate-ForSale.com, House.com, |
| domain so you may have to get creative. For | | | | TheHousingPages.com, CityCribs, |
| example, the domain name | | | | VideoHomes.com, BEATyouThere.com, |
| "lakewoodranchrealestate.com" will not be | | | | NTXHouseHunters.com, LandWatch.com, and .. |
| available, it is more likely that the name | | | | Of course...bookmark those listing pages with your |
| "bestlakewoodranchrealestate.com" or | | | | keywords |
| "greatlakewoodranchrealestate.com" or even | | | | 7. Backlink, backlink, backlink! One of the most |
| "Lakewood-ranch-real-estate-for-sale.com" will be | | | | important things to do in order to get a high |
| available. Again, get creative, but try to include | | | | ranking in Google is to place "backlinks" to your |
| your keywords in your domain as best as you | | | | website from other websites. This is usually done |
| can. | | | | by placing comments on blogs, in forums, as well |
| Once you have chosen your domain, you will now | | | | as setting up profile pages on various social |
| need to host it with a reputable web hosting | | | | networking sites...there are literally hundreds of |
| company. There are many to choose from but | | | | thousands of these sites (and that might be an |
| the most recommended are or Personally, I use | | | | understatement). However, to this right you need |
| Bluehost for all my web hosting needs. The cost | | | | to find websites that not only allow you to place |
| is roughly $7/month, they have all the bells and | | | | links on their site, but also have what's called a "do |
| whistles you will ever need, and their customer | | | | follow" tag. Without getting too technical, a "do |
| service is second to none. Anytime you have a | | | | follow" tag simply means that the website allows |
| problem you can call them up 24/7 and talk to a | | | | Google to "crawl" through the site and "follow" the |
| real person. | | | | outgoing links thereby giving your site a boost in |
| OK, now that you have your domain hosted with | | | | the search engines. There are many ways to go |
| a reputable host you are ready to install you blog. | | | | about finding these sites, but the easiest thing to |
| If you went with Bluehost you will simply log into | | | | do is buy Angela Edwards backlink package for $5 |
| your account and click on the WordPress icon and | | | | month. In this package she provides 30 high |
| follow the simple directions to install your blog. | | | | ranking "do follow" sites that you can easily add |
| Once your blog is set up you will devote all your | | | | your backlink to. There are other packages you |
| blog posts to information about your home, your | | | | can buy as well, but Angela's is a great place to |
| neighborhood, your schools etc. And of course, | | | | start. |
| make sure to include your keyword phrases in | | | | When placing your backlink you will use your |
| the titles of your posts and several times | | | | keyword phrase as your "anchor text". |
| throughout the posts as well. | | | | Do NOT underestimate this step. Of all the search |
| I suggest making one post per day. After each | | | | engine optimization I have done over the years |
| post make sure you bookmark the post using the | | | | nothing has even come close to giving me the |
| top social bookmarking sites on the Internet such | | | | results that "backlinking" has...it is part of my |
| as Digg, Mixx, reddit, Delicious, Evernote, Google | | | | every day routine. |
| Bookmarks, Google Reader, StumbleUpon, and | | | | OK, at this point you may very well be |
| Twitter. These social bookmarking sites have the | | | | overwhelmed. I told you this was going to be |
| potential to drive a great deal of traffic to your | | | | work. Just remember, you can always outsource |
| website/blog. Also, sites such as Facebook and | | | | what you do not want to do yourself. In fact, |
| LinkedIn work great as well. And of course, when | | | | every single step listed above can be outsourced |
| bookmarking your sites use your keywords | | | | and can be done so with very little money. Think |
| whenever possible. | | | | of it this way. If you were to sell your house with |
| **Note: there are many ways to optimize your | | | | a real estate agent and it sold for $250,000 you |
| blog in order for your posts to be found easier in | | | | would pay out $15,000 in commissions...so why |
| the Google search engine, but I wont get into | | | | not just take $1,000 of the money you save by |
| them here. Just do a quick search for "SEO | | | | selling your own house and hire people to do all |
| plugins" and "permalinks" to get more information. | | | | the steps above. |
| 3. Article writing. The next step is to use article | | | | By following the above steps and consistently |
| writing as a way to drive traffic to your site. | | | | making blog posts, writing and submitting articles, |
| Don't get nervous...it's actually very simple. You | | | | creating and submitting videos, bookmarking |
| are going to write short articles (250-400 words) | | | | everything, and getting listed in your local MLS. |
| about your town, neighborhood, schools etc. | | | | The chances of selling your own house are much |
| Again, make sure to include your keywords in the | | | | more likely and you can do so without paying a |
| title of your article and roughly once per every | | | | Realtor 6% of your selling price, thereby saving |
| hundred words within the body of your article. | | | | yourself thousands of dollars. |