SEO for Property Managers - Part 5 Picking a Great URL

Picking a URL (Website Name). Many companies agonize over picking the appropriate website name. Others buy hundreds of URL’s and point them to their site in hopes of capturing search terms that are in contained in the URL. A large part of search algorithms still focus on the website URL, and it is important to consider the following factors when selecting a URL:

Age – The age of the URL matters. All things being equal, older URL’s will greatly outperform newer ones. If the company owns a URL that has been conducting a property management business on it for more than 10 years the business has an advantage in starting SEO efforts. Brand new URL’s are useless for two years without a re-direct of a seasoned URL, or incredible links from other powerful websites. Search engines consider new URL’s new businesses that might fail at any moment. Starting a new property management business on a new URL is not impossible, but the business owner must understand that search rankings are at least a year away. If possible, a new company should purchase a URL that already has some ranking for desired terms even if the rankings are not on the first few pages.

Exact Match Domain (EMD) – An exact match domain is a domain that contains a search term as the URL. Most search algorithms are gradually discounting the importance of EMD over time. In property management it is still a very important factor. Search results, especially in non-competitive markets almost always contain exact match domains. This is important enough that many property managers enjoy great success purchasing an EMD and re-directing their old website to the EMD. There is almost always a big increase in rankings as long as the company properly re-directs the old site.

URL Length – Generally, shorter URL’s are better than longer ones. The exception is EMD. Always err on the side of using an EMD over a shorter URL. If a suitable EMD is not available, opt for the shortest URL possible.

Bad Links – Many property management companies are paying for their previous purchases of links. Several years ago it was a common business practice to purchase links and direct them to the business website to increase rankings. Google’s panda update penalized companies that had unnatural and spam links coming in to their websites. This update was devastating to many top companies and those companies have spent thousands removing and disavowing those links. Make sure that the URL the company will be using does not contain any unnatural or spam links.

David Borden

Co-Founder

With a resume that includes West Point graduate, Captain of the West Point Team Handball team (which, interestingly, is also referred to as “Borden Ball” around the world. Google it. We’re not sure which name came first, but we’re pretty sure Dave could tell you), US Army Chinook helicopter pilot and Co-founder, President & CEO of what is now the leading website in the country for advertising long term residential rentals, it stands to reason why Dave has a place at the PMW kitchen table...

With a resume that includes West Point graduate, Captain of the West Point Team Handball team (which, interestingly, is also referred to as “Borden Ball” around the world. Google it. We’re not sure which name came first, but we’re pretty sure Dave could tell you), US Army Chinook helicopter pilot and Co-founder, President & CEO of what is now the leading website in the country for advertising long term residential rentals, it stands to reason why Dave has a place at the PMW kitchen table: his appetite for success. And, well, because he keeps us laughing. As our resident funny-man (possibly self-proclaimed), his booming voice can be heard spreading the PMW gospel to anyone who’ll listen. And, frankly, even those who have no interest in property management. (Don’t they teach “Inside Voice” at America’s oldest military academy?) But his high-decibel, funny ways become awfully serious when it comes to staying one step ahead for the good of our customers; because Dave has been there. As a second-generation property manager from Colorado Springs, CO, he knows the struggles that property managers go through and painstakingly dissects every step of their process to come up with ways to ease their burden. As former CEO & President of RentClicks (which went on to become Rentals.com), he strategically positioned their business to become NARPM’s first official partner and was awarded NARPM’s National Affiliate of the Year three times. When he’s not devouring industry information at our kitchen table, you might find him bellying up to a plate of wings while watching his beloved (understatement) Broncos, flipping channels in search of a historical documentary, searching out a tennis match or preaching the ways of the world to his pre-teen sons, Andrew and Brady.