A Brief Description of SEO and SEM

If you want your business to be successful online you must get visitors to your website. Not just any visitors however, you need targeted visitors and you need a great deal of it. Among the best techniques for getting targeted visitors is from the various search engines and social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook which are very popular in South Africa and around the world. If someone types a keyword into a search engine they are looking for specific information so if your web site appears within the results you will have a pretty good chance at getting a very targeted visitor to your site. But exactly how does one ensure that your website is the one that comes up in the search engines? That’s where SEO or search engine optimization enters the picture.
Search engine optimization can be explained as employing a number of strategies to get your site ranking higher in the search engines for particular phrases. Effective search engine optimization should always begin with good key-phrase research. You must make an effort to optimize your web site for key terms that folks actually are trying to find in sufficient quantities but also key terms that are not so competitive that it’s going to be nearly impossible to rank for them.

This is where Website Analytics comes into our strategy for you. The analytics of what is going on ‘behind the scenes’ of the website is monitored by your webmaster and relevant alterations are made to keep your Websites Up-to-date with (or rather aiming to be ahead of) other websites in your area. There are many Companies around that help/sell these strategies. We would like to inform you of what it is you will get when subscribing to an AIDA Office Website and not be left alone in the dark and unaware of what it is that promotes websites and will get you on top with the Search Engine Results. We exclusively cater for Google Search Engine since recent statistics show that 55.98% of our visits on the National website since November 3rd 2010 is coming from Search Engines and 51.92% from Google alone. Therefore that 4% other search engines is not Priority to us and will to be attended to, since Google is South Africa’s leading Search engine when it comes to Real Estate (as many other industries).

The route that AIDA is going with the Website Strategy is to get a Website to represent each area/ city we are painting red. That websites will be linked directly to a provincial and the national website in a Spider-Web-like structure with each website linking back and forth, from and towards all the websites in the network. This strategy promotes all the websites and increases availability of AIDA Websites in search engine results.

One of the most important parts of a website is the URL (the name of your website). Explaining this very briefly, a website called www.aidaptaproperties.co.za will show as a good result when searching for keywords such as pta, aida and properties even before any code, keywords and info on the website is being looked at. In the case of www.pretoriaproperties.co or www.pretoriaproperties.co.za obviously the keywords when searching for Pretoria and Properties it will most definitely be more available in Search Engine Results.
Having one of these domains in our possession is important and would help you as an office with viewers to your office website as well as our National and Provincial websites.
SEO is very closely associated with another term, SEM or Search Engine Marketing. This is the practice of promoting your business using the major search engines, seeking to get targeted visitors to your website by ranking for your carefully selected keywords. Smart business people know that getting their goods or services in front of these types of targeted visitors boosts conversions and higher conversions means more money.


We have already explained the importance of choosing the right key terms but there is a lot more to SEO and SEM than just choosing the right key terms. That is only the beginning. The tasks you will need to complete can fall into two categories, one is called on-page search engine optimization which would be the steps you can take on your website that the major search engines want to see and off page SEO which is in essence getting back-links directed to your website from other websites. These one way links behave as a vote of confidence for your own website and the greater the number of back-links you can acquire and the better the calibre of those links the better.
There is much more to ranking highly in the search engines than I can talk about in this brief article and in reality learning proper Search engine optimisation usually takes quite a long time.
With all this said. Yes, it is very important to have SEO in place within your website and to update your website almost daily with new stock or info relevant to the Real Estate industry and or your area/city. And Yes, it might easily become very expensive to have and maintain this type of websites. Although there are many offices owning additional websites we would like you to consider having a AIDA Office website which is integrated with Our Listing Managing System (Prima List) and other AIDA Websites. Should you require more than what we offer and have other websites out of the AIDA arrangements, it will be on your own account.
In the case of websites being more available and having more ‘windows’ to connect your office and agents to is important. Less is not more in this case, thus we try feed and post our information to most of the South African Property Portals and websites available.
For any website questions and enquiries regarding your office websites you may contact me
Jaco Smit (AIDA Webmaster) at
012 6829600 or email jaco@aidasa.co.za

Best Time To Buy Real Estate From HUD Foreclosures

What current real estate boom? There's not a week that goes by that CNN or Forbes or Fox News or your local paper media doesn't carry a major article about foreclosures, the housing surplus or more stringent financing by mortgage lenders. EXACTLY! It is the best time to buy Real Estate in decades primarily due to all those reasons, plus for the near term anyhow, the lowest interest rates and the cheapest home prices in our lifetime. This will drive the current real estate boom in 2012. Three times in my past I have bought at the "height" of the market, depending upon long term appreciation for the value of my homes to increase. Well the old model just doesn't work as well now but that can be overcome by adapting new strategies, such as bidding on HUD homes, that I'll cover in this and future articles.

Quality of business will be better this year, says Mr. Y.W. Carr

It would be hard to over-estimate the effect that consumer sentiment has on the property market – and the past 12 months have been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for most South Africans, politically as well as financially.

“However, recent positive moves on both fronts, especially with regard to tackling unemployment, and corruption in the public service, are sending the right message to both local and overseas investors, and we expect stable interest rates and rising household incomes to further boost consumer confidence during the course of 2012,” says Young Carr, CEO of Aida National Franchises.

From a real estate industry point of view, Carr is “fairly positive” although he does not foresee that there will be any significant change in bank lending policies or increase in sales volumes.

“Affordability will no doubt increase, but we do not expect this to translate into a surge in demand or home prices, as many households will still be determined to avoid any new borrowing until they have paid off much more of their existing debt.”

But there will be a difference, he says, in the quality of the business being done. “This means, for example, that homes are less likely to be sold two, three or even four times before someone can obtain a home loan to complete the transaction. It also means that agents are less likely to spend their time and resources on marketing properties that are overpriced.”  

The main reason for this change, he believes, will be that many of the agents and principals who have “toughed it out” over the past three years to stay in the industry have gained much in the way of training, resources and systems and are now able to look beyond basic survival to the growth of their businesses.

“In our own group, for example, we have not only helped our franchisees to keep their doors open by streamlining their existing businesses and making them more efficient, but also spent much time over the past few years creating several additional income streams to help them grow in the future.

“Meanwhile, we are pleased that the newly-formalised real estate industry is starting to attract new entrants once more as it steadily gains back its reputation as the place to build a good career. Aida has also signed up quite a few existing agencies that see value in our brand. This new confidence in the industry – and the property market – is evidenced by the fact that Aida has just processed over 400 applications for SETA bursaries and learnerships for new candidate agents in 2012.”

Issued by Aida National Franchises

Aida head office: 012 682 9600

Contact: Young Carr

Top Berea estate agency joins Aida

A long-established agency operating on Durban's Berea has joined the Aida National Franchises property group and just re-launched under its new banner.

Principal Renu Sewpersad said she was confident her office would further entrench its already-strong market position as part of the Aida group, as there were many synergies that would benefit both the agency and its clients.

"Apart from sharing our vision, Aida is bringing formidable business partners and a stable, reliable brand name to the table."

Aida CEO Young Carr said the Berea agency, established in 2003, had proved its mettle in the local market and would further enhance his group's countrywide representation, bringing the total number of Aida offices in KZN to seven.

Sewpersad says the Berea residential market is currently underpinned by a healthy interest among younger buyers with good credit records.

"Berea currently attracts young buyers between the ages of 25 and 35. Buyers

in this age group are moving out from Durban Central but are not quite ready

to embrace a fully-fledged suburban lifestyle. Situated between the city

centre and suburbia, Berea is the ideal transition destination since many

new residents who prefer a quieter neighbourhood still work in the city.

"The suburb also offers good schools - an important consideration for buyers

with young families - and ample shopping facilities. And the nearest beach

is a mere 3km away."

Affordability also contributes heavily to Berea's popularity among young

buyers, Sewpersad adds. "Units priced between R500 000 and R1m are in

greatest demand and sell relatively fast but buyers' resistance kicks in at

prices above this level.

"However, sellers are now more amenable to negotiation and are willing to

drop asking prices by up to 10% to accommodate buyers who qualify for

smaller bonds."

Issued by Aida National Franchises

Aida head office: 012 682 9600

Contact: Mr.Young W. Carr

Aida Berea: 031 309 4007

Contact: Renu Sewpersad (Principal)

South Africans pack for Hermanus instead of Perth

Hermanus in the Western Cape is replacing Australia in the affections of many South Africans who want a slower and more secure lifestyle.

With the exchange rate currently at about R8 to an Australian dollar it is not only cheaper to move to Hermanus instead of “Down Under”, says Ludwig Schulenburg of the local Aida franchise, but Hermanus also meets all the criteria of the most popular Australian destinations.

"The town is relatively crime free, offers a wonderful lifestyle on the coast, a pleasant climate, and business opportunities aplenty," he says. "And, of course, buyers who opt for Hermanus instead of Perth still have their local support network of family and friends."

Hermanus, traditionally a holiday and retirement destination, now regularly draws economically active buyers from large metropoles in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Cape, he says, and the new 'settlers' have swelled the number of permanent residents to 55 000.

"Buyers are typically in their forties and relocate to Hermanus to escape the rat race, but the booming local economy allows them to set up own businesses, earn a living at their own pace and have time to spend with their families.

"The local state school, with a 100% matric pass rate for the past 17 years, is an added attraction and a Curro private school, which opened its doors earlier this year, now offers parents the choice of giving their children a private school education."

Holiday homes are, however, still in demand and buyers are taking advantage of market-related prices, Schulenburg says. Sellers, who up until very recently held out for their asking prices, are now much more inclined to negotiate with prospective buyers in order to clinch a deal.

Prices of two-bedroom apartments currently start at around R600 000, townhouses are selling at prices from R800 000, while prices of family homes start at the R1m mark, he says.

Issued by Aida National Franchises

Aida head office: 012 682 9600

Contact: Young Carr

Aida Hermanus: 082 444 0592

Contact: Ludwig Schulenburg

Sleepy Muldersdrift wakes up

Muldersdrift, traditionally a quiet agricultural area characterised by smallholders keeping a few horses, sheep and chickens, has become the new housing hotspot on the West Rand.

"It's the new hip place to be", says Sienie van der Merwe of the local Aida office. "Muldersdrift is now the focus of new residential development on the urban edge and buyers are spoilt for choice between sectional title units and units in housing estates.

"It is conveniently located within easy reach of Lanseria airport and many professionals who have to travel often prefer to fly from  - and live near - Lanseria rather than battle through traffic from the West Rand to reach Oliver Tambo International," she says.

"It is also near the main routes leading to Pretoria and Midrand, where many residents work. And once the upgrade of the R28 crossing to Muldersdrift is completed, access to and from the main routes will be much improved."

New office blocks are also drawing businesses to the area and Van der Merwe expects that this will stimulate the local residential market as employees come to realise the benefits of living close to their work places in an area that also offers a sought-after lifestyle.

"Another draw card is the nearby Ruimsig Golf Course - especially among retirees and businessmen. And the Silver Star Casino on the R28 is a popular entertainment hub on the West Rand. It has become a favourite venue for a night's entertainment at the many excellent restaurants or at one of the regular shows," she adds.

Prices of townhouses in the area start at around R700 000 for a two-bedroom unit, while units in security estates such as Featherbrook start at around R2m.

The demand for development land has seen prices escalate, she says. Undeveloped agricultural holdings of 1ha that can be rezoned for development now reach prices of about R2m.

Developed holdings are selling at prices ranging from R1,5m to R7m, depending on location. "But," says Van der Merwe, "at these price levels buyers are making lifestyle choices - the days of buying a holding in Muldersdrift with an eye to growing a few crops or running a few sheep are numbered."

Issued by Aida National Franchises

Aida head office: 012 682 9600

Contact: Young Carr

Aida Randfontein: 082 854 7196

Contact: Sienie van der Merwe

Aida flag now flying in Fishhoek

Aida National Franchises has acquired a new office in Fish Hoek with the conversion of an existing estate agency to the tried and trusted South African brand.

Co-owner Maggi-Mae Vidas says the office, established in 2008, has built up a sound market presence and she looks forward to introducing Aida's expertise and solid reputation to the existing client base. Aida Cape Lifestyle Homes will serve the whole Cape Peninsula market.

Maggi-Mae says investors are still buying holiday properties in the area although sales are slower as investment buyers take their time to source good value. "Our core market remains local buyers who are attracted by the comfortable lifestyle offered in Fish Hoek and surrounds.

"The area is still very popular among retirees who prefer a comfortable seaside lifestyle within reach of a host of amenities. And then, of course, the more temperate climate here clinches the deal for many retirees as well as family buyers. Superb views are an added bonus for many."

The area has a wide variety of properties on offer, including entry-level flats at prices from R500 000, comfortable family homes starting at about R1m and luxury homes with price tags of up to R10m.

Maggi-Mae adds that the peninsula offers price advantages to buyers. "Properties here offer better value than similar areas closer to Cape Town's city centre while office workers can comfortably commute to workplaces by train.

"Another factor favouring Fish Hoek is that the area is very family-friendly. Good schools, a hospital, several banks offering forex, and a host of excellent restaurants are some of the conveniences that residents enjoy.

"And then there is the family-sized beach with lawns for comfortable weekend outings, while the local sailing club launching off the beach adds a touch of glamour. A resident Great White Shark has become something of a local mascot and attraction - but lifeguards make sure that swimmers remain safe when the predator puts in an appearance," she says.

Issued by Aida National Franchises

Aida head office: 012 682 9600

Contact: Young Carr

Aida Cape Lifestyle Homes: 021 782 9263 

Contact: Maggi-Mae Vidas