06/18/2026
š Educational Post #29 ā Most Agents Search Their Name. Consumers Search the Market.
Here's something I've noticed over the years.
Most real estate agents know exactly where their website appears when they search their own name.
But that's not how most homebuyers and sellers begin their search.
They search for things like:
š” Homes for Sale in McLean VA
š” Living in Reston VA
š” Vienna VA Real Estate
š” Best Neighborhoods in Fairfax County
In other words, they're looking for information about communities, schools, homes, and the local market.
Years ago, a client asked why her website wasn't ranking for a particular phrase. When I checked Google's keyword data, the phrase had very little search activity.
That led to an important lesson:
It's very easy to rank #1 for a search nobody is doing.
The websites that attract attention are often the ones providing useful information before a buyer or seller is ready to make contact.
ā If you were moving to a new area, what would you search for first?