Are you looking for things to sell on Etsy? If you are looking to start your own business and work from home, then starting your own Etsy store can be a great way to earn extra income from home. Last year, around 7,500,000 sellers from around the world sold items on Etsy, and there were…
Are you looking for things to sell on Etsy?
If you are looking to start your own business and work from home, then starting your own Etsy store can be a great way to earn extra income from home.
Last year, around 7,500,000 sellers from around the world sold items on Etsy, and there were over 96,000,000 active Etsy buyers around the world.*
Many, many people shop on Etsy every single day for both themselves and to find gifts to give to others. I shop on Etsy frequently for gifts, in fact! I like how I can find something a little more personal and fun by shopping on Etsy.
And, many others feel the same way too!
This is where you come in.
If you are interested in starting an Etsy store and selling items online, then this is a great place to start. Today, I want to talk about what to sell on Etsy as well as answer some common questions that you may have.
Whether you want to make a part-time income or a full-time income, Etsy can be a great platform to allow you to start your own business and work from home.
The average income on Etsy is around $40,000 to $50,000 each year, but there are also many, many Etsy sellers who are making well above that.
Of course, this depends on many factors, such as the type of item you are selling, the amount of work you are putting toward your Etsy store, how you’re getting traffic to your Etsy shop, if you have a team of people working for your Etsy store, and more.
Here are 16 things to sell on Etsy.
Below, I am going to list 16 different things you can sell on Etsy. There are links to actual tutorials that will show you how to make items such as a rug, earrings, a hat, soap, and more.
There are many different categories of items that you can sell on Etsy, so the list of things to sell on Etsy definitely does not end here. There are many different kinds of Etsy shop owners all around the world selling millions of items.
Printables
You can make and sell printables to sell on Etsy, and you don’t even have to ship anything. Your customers would be downloading printables, and you can sell them an unlimited amount of times.
You can create and sell printables for all sorts of things and events, such as holidays (Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, and more), graduation parties, baby showers, educational (teacher) printables, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, grocery shopping, digital planners, journals, invitations, banners, wall art, jar labels, gifts, and more.
You can learn more at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.
Stickers
You can sell both printed and printable stickers online.
Stickers are extremely popular right now and will most likely be for years to come. Stickers are used for so many different reasons, and you don’t need a ton of equipment to start a sticker business.
You can learn more at How To Make $1,000+ A Month Selling Stickers Online.
Canva Templates
You can create Canva templates to sell and make money all from your home – and never have to ship a thing.
Creating Canva templates can be a great way to make extra income because you just need to create the templates once, and you can sell them an unlimited amount of times.
A Canva template is a graphic design template that you sell to people who are looking to make an ebook, presentation, planner, and more.
You can learn more at How I Make $2,000+ Monthly Selling Canva Templates.
Pom Pom Rug
Household items and home decor, such as rugs, are fun items to sell on Etsy. There are many different designs and household items that you can make and sell, as buyers are wanting something unique.
Learn how to make a Pom Pom Rug here.
Fabric Divided Basket
Fabric-divided baskets are a great organization tool, and I have a few that are in constant use! I know many other people who have bought these as well.
For example, I use one as a diaper caddy, and I find it to be much more useful than having a big diaper cart or drawer. There are many other uses as well for a fabric basket!
Learn how to make a Fabric Divided Basket here.
Bath Bombs
Bath bombs are a fun Etsy item to make and sell and are a popular item to buy as well. This is because they make a quick and easy gift, which makes it a great item to sell on Etsy.
Learn how to make bath bombs here.
Quick And Easy Wreath
Learn how to make this modern quick and easy wreath. You can make custom wreaths year-round and take advantage of all of the different seasons like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more.
Learn how to make a DIY wreath here.
Crochet Hand Towel
Handmade hand towels are popular items on Etsy. These towels are relatively easy to make for beginners and easy to whip up.
Learn how to make a crochet hand towel here.
Oatmeal Honey Soap
Self-care items, such as soap, are great items to sell on Etsy. Other items related to self care may include lip balm, lotion, and massage oils.
Soap looks like such a fun item to make and sell on Etsy, and people love buying bars of soap! Again, this can make a great gift for others, so they sell easily on Etsy.
Learn how to make oatmeal honey soap here.
Sweaters
Clothing items are popular on Etsy, whether they are handmade or vintage.
A sweater is probably one of the more difficult items to make and sell on Etsy, so you will want to make sure that you price it correctly according to your time and the amount you are spending on materials.
Learn how to make a sweater here.
Boho Earrings
There are many different kinds of earrings that you can sell on Etsy, and homemade jewelry is a very popular item to buy on the website.
Jewelry is something I look for all the time on Etsy, and this is because I love how there are so many different and unique items for sale on the Etsy platform.
Plus, they make for great and meaningful gifts. Many people like to shop around on Etsy for jewelry gifts for their loved ones!
Learn how to make boho earrings here.
Fluffy Slime
Slime is a favorite of many, and it is a fun and popular item to sell on Etsy. You can see a bunch of examples of slime for sale on Etsy here.
Slime is a very popular item to buy, especially for kids. It is also fairly easy to create slime and you can easily make it at home.
Learn how to make fluffy slime here.
Clay Earrings
Clay earrings are quite popular on Etsy. You can get really creative with clay earrings and make all different kinds of shapes and colors.
Learn how to make clay earrings here.
Earrings
Here’s another fun pair of earrings that you can make at home to sell on Etsy. There are so many different styles that you can get started making!
Learn how to make earrings here.
Crochet Hat
Crochet items are popular to buy on Etsy, which means that it may be a great item for you to sell on Etsy. This is a hat pattern in sizes from toddler to adult, and there are many other types of hats that you can make and sell on Etsy as well.
Learn how to make a crochet hat here.
Macrame Coasters
Macrame projects are incredibly popular on Etsy and a hot seller. You can even branch out into selling macrame wall hangings, plant holders, dresses, bookmarks, and so many other items.
Learn how to make macrame coasters here.
Common questions about selling on Etsy
I’m sure you have questions about selling on Etsy. Below are the answers to questions such as:
What is Etsy?
What sells easiest on Etsy?
What are the best selling items on Etsy?
Is selling stuff on Etsy profitable?
How do beginners sell on Etsy?
How much does it cost to sell on Etsy? What percentage does Etsy take?
How can I find customers for my Etsy shop?
What is Etsy?
So, what is Etsy? That is a great question! Etsy is an online marketplace that was started in 2005 where you can buy and sell items from handmade items to craft supplies to vintage items.
Etsy has over 120,000,000 items listed on their marketplace and is an online website for buying handmade and vintage goods.
Etsy items are sold directly from the seller – this means that it’s different from Amazon because there is no Etsy warehouse. Instead, you would be delivering the product to the buyer.
What sells easiest on Etsy?
There are many items that you can sell on Etsy such as:
Printables
Stickers
Planners
Clothing
Homemade jewelry
Soap
And so much more. Etsy shoppers buy many different types of items, so you can see what fits you the best.
What are the best selling items on Etsy?
Best selling items are constantly changing, but they are typically items such as knitting patterns, printables, stickers, wedding items, handmade jewelry, and more.
Thanks to websites such as eRank and Marmalead, you can conduct research to see what product keywords that shoppers are searching for on Etsy.
With sites like these, you can even see who your competitors are and their daily sales, view the latest trending items, conduct research on search engine optimization, and more.
Is selling stuff on Etsy profitable?
Yes, selling stuff on Etsy can be profitable. Some items will have a higher profit margin than others, such as digital products that you don’t have to ship.
To be profitable on Etsy, you will want to see what is actually selling on Etsy (after all, you don’t want to make a bunch of things to sell only to find out that no one is buying them), make sure that you are pricing your items correctly (take a look at your competition!), take good photos of the items you are selling, get traffic to your Etsy store (such as with Etsy SEO and social media), and sell a quality product so that you can get good reviews from your customers.
Is it hard to make a living on Etsy?
Just like with any business, selling on Etsy will take hard work. Not everyone will see success, and you will need to make a plan in order to become a successful Etsy small business.
How do beginners sell on Etsy?
Etsy can be a great place to get started as it is very easy to open a shop on Etsy. Plus, Etsy has built-in traffic from customers simply searching their platform for things to buy.
Here’s a quick look at how to get started on Etsy:
Create an Etsy account
Choose a shop name
Create your first listing and build your inventory
Decide how you want to be paid (credit card, debit card, Paypal, etc.)
You can learn more about how to sell on Etsy by clicking here.
How much does it cost to sell on Etsy? What percentage does Etsy take?
Opening a small business on Etsy has a lot of positives, so they do charge a listing fee.
You can list your first item for only $0.20, and you only pay the transaction and payment processing fees (6.5% transaction fee, 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee) when you make a sale. You will want to think about these Etsy fees when determining the price of the product that you will be selling.
There is also a 15% Offsite Ads fee, and this is when Etsy pays to advertise your items across the internet (such as Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and Instagram). You only pay this fee when you make a direct sale from one of these ads, though.
Don’t forget the shipping cost as well. If you have a product that you will be physically shipping, you will want to think about what your shipping fee is.
How can I find customers for my Etsy shop?
There are many ways to get traffic and views to your Etsy shop so that customers will purchase your items.
The ways include getting found by Etsy search (when someone types what they are looking for directly into Etsy), making a visually appealing Etsy shop, sharing on social media (such as Pinterest), and more.
There are Etsy Ads as well, which is a way to advertise your products directly on Etsy. You can set your budget and choose what you want to advertise.
One fun way that I’ve noticed Etsy sellers attracting customers to their shop is by showing the process of creating your product in a short video on Instagram or TikTok. For example, there are people who record themselves making earrings or slime and posting it on their account for their business – people love watching these types of videos.
Here are some examples:
Also, remember that the photos you take of the items you sell on Etsy are so very important. This is what will help you stand apart from your competition, and it is also the only thing that your potential customers get to really look at! If your photos are not good, then they will simply go to the next shop.
What to sell on Etsy
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on what to sell on Etsy.
The list does not end here either.
There are so many other things to sell on Etsy as well, such as paintings, artwork, handmade jewelry (such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets), decorations, invitations, beads, yarn, knitting patterns, clothing, pet supplies, notebooks, furniture, pillows, party decorations, accessories, wedding products, mugs, socks, personalized gifts (such as engraved items), candles, craft kits, toys, and more.
The list is endless.
Etsy shoppers are looking for all different kinds of items to buy.
Collecting and trading Pokémon cards has been a popular hobby since the 1990s for both children and adults. In fact, as a kid, I was obsessed with Pokémon cards. I enjoyed opening new packs, collecting cards, and trading with my friends. And, I know I’m not alone. So many people have enjoyed Pokémon cards over…
Collecting and trading Pokémon cards has been a popular hobby since the 1990s for both children and adults.
In fact, as a kid, I was obsessed with Pokémon cards. I enjoyed opening new packs, collecting cards, and trading with my friends. And, I know I’m not alone. So many people have enjoyed Pokémon cards over the years as well.
As the value of certain cards continues to rise, finding the best places to sell your collection of Pokémon cards is more important than ever.
Whether you’re looking to make some extra cash, simply downsize your Pokémon card collection, or if you are decluttering everything you own and find a long lost box of childhood mementos, knowing where and how to sell your Pokémon cards can be important to make the most money.
In this article, I’ll discuss some of the best places to sell Pokémon cards online and locally and provide tips on how to price and present your cards in the best way.
Quick Summary
Identify and evaluate the value of your Pokémon cards before selling. Some cards are worth way more than others. For example, one card may be worth $0.10, and another may be worth over $100,000.
Look at your different selling options to see how you can get the most money.
Learn effective selling tips and strategies for presenting your cards to potential buyers.
How To Sell Pokemon Cards
Selling your Pokémon cards can be an exciting and profitable way to make money, especially if you have rare, holographic, or near-mint-condition cards in your collection.
To help you make the most profit, follow these tips to find the best places to sell your Pokémon cards. Before starting your Pokémon cards selling journey, it’s important to know your cards’ condition, rarity, and type.
Related: How I Made $40,000 In One Year Selling Items
Near-mint cards with no creases, scuffs, or whitening edges tend to have a higher value. Also, rare and holographic cards, like the famous Charizard, are highly wanted by fans, collectors, and trading card game enthusiasts, making them valuable in the Pokémon card market.
To figure out how rare your Pokémon card is, look for the symbols in the bottom right corner of your card and if you have a lot of cards, then you should become familiar with the Pokémon card rarity indicators, as well as the different sets and booster packs in which your cards were released.
For more accurate valuations, you may even look for professional grading services, such as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). They evaluate and grade cards based on their condition, ensuring buyers of their authenticity and quality.
If you’re selling Pokémon cards online, make sure to take clear, high-quality pictures that showcase your cards’ condition, as this will give potential buyers a better idea of what they’re purchasing.
By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be prepared to sell your Pokémon cards and get the most amount of money.
Best Places To Sell Pokemon Cards Online
There are many ways to sell Pokémon cards online. Here are some Pokémon selling sites to start with:
1. eBay
eBay is one of the most popular marketplaces for selling Pokémon cards due to its large reach of customers around the world.
I did a quick search on eBay and there are currently over 160,000 Pokémon cards for sale – so they definitely have a huge market!
You can choose to sell your cards through auctions or fixed price listings. When selling on eBay, be mindful of the seller fees and PayPal fees that will be deducted from your earnings. Shipping will also be another cost.
eBay is especially good for selling valuable cards, such as holographic cards or rare Charizard cards. To reach a wider audience and increase the chances of a successful sale, make sure you write detailed descriptions and add high-quality photos of your cards so that people are more likely to click on your listing.
2. Troll and Toad
Troll and Toad is an online store that specializes in collectible card games, such as selling Pokémon cards and they have been around for over 25 years.
They offer a buy list where you can sell your cards for cash or store credit. To sell on Troll and Toad, simply use their search bar to find the cards you want to sell, add them to your cart, checkout, and then ship your cards to them.
This is a great feature of Troll and Toad – the fact that you can see the exact cards they will accept and the exact amount that they will pay you for each Pokémon card. As you will learn below, many of the Pokémon card selling websites have this same feature, which is so helpful!
After you complete the list of cards that you plan on selling to them, you will print out an invoice that they give you, and then choose a payment method. Then, you will ship your box of Pokémon cards to them. Once they receive the package, they will verify the cards that you have sent to make sure they are in the correct condition as you stated. After that, they will pay you.
Troll and Toad also accepts Pokémon cards in bulk.
Keep in mind that they may be selective about the cards they accept, so it’s important to research and determine the value of your cards beforehand.
3. Mercari
Mercari is a site where you can quickly set up an account and start selling your used items, such as Pokémon cards. This site is not dedicated to just Pokémon cards, but they do have many listed and it is an easy option for Pokémon collectors.
There are well over 1,000 Pokémon cards listed on Mercari.
It’s important to create persuasive listings with photos and a relevant, detailed description, and include relevant keywords related to Pokémon cards. (Remember, they don’t just sell Pokémon cards, they also sell clothes and other items, so keywords are important!). Also, Mercari takes a minimum 10% fee from each sale you make on their platform.
4. TCGplayer
TCGplayer is a popular site with card game collectors in the U.S. and Europe.
People love selling on this site because they say it’s easy to use and they have great customer service.
To sell Pokémon cards on TCGplayer, simply list your cards on the TCGplayer marketplace, set your prices, and wait for potential buyers to purchase them. The marketplace handles the transactions, making the selling process easy.
Note: You will have to pay a commission fee of around 12–13% for each sale you make on TCGplayer, and you might also have shipping costs.
Here’s a quick guide on how to sell Pokémon cards on TCGplayer:
Create a seller account – You will need an account to get started selling Pokémon cards.
Set up your inventory – Once your seller account is created, you can start listing your Pokémon cards for sale. Enter details like the card’s name, set, condition, and quantity available.
Pricing your cards – Decide on the prices for your Pokémon cards. You can either manually set the prices or use TCGplayer’s automated pricing tool to match the market rates. TCGplayer has a pricing algorithm to help sellers be competitive and adjust prices based on the market demand.
Shipping options – Decide on the shipping options you will have for buyers.
Receiving payments – TCGplayer usually collects payments from buyers, processes the orders, and then deposits the money into your seller account. From there, you can withdraw your funds.
Maintain your inventory – Keep your inventory up to date. Remove sold items and add new ones to reflect the current availability of your Pokémon cards.
5. Card Cavern
Card Cavern is an online store that specializes in buying and selling Pokémon cards.
They have a straightforward buylist system where you can quickly find the cards they’re interested in and the prices they’re willing to pay.
Then, you ship your cards to them (they recommend purchasing tracking and insurance).
If you choose to sell your cards to Card Cavern, you’ll receive payment through PayPal or receive store credit, depending on your preference.
Their buy rates only apply to near-mint, English, tournament legal cards. You can send as many or as little Pokémon cards as you want to Card Cavern.
6. Dave & Adam’s
Dave & Adam’s is an online store for trading cards, including Pokémon cards, and it has been around for over 30 years.
They offer a buy list where you can see which cards they’re currently interested in purchasing. If your cards match their buy list, you can submit a sell request, ship your cards to them, and receive payment via check, PayPal, or store credit.
If you have a big collection, they will even travel to you.
7. Pokémon Facebook Groups
Pokémon Facebook Groups are communities of Pokémon card collectors and enthusiasts who use the platform to buy, sell, and trade cards. Pokémon Facebook Groups are exactly what you think – Facebook groups for Pokémon card collectors.
This can be a great place to sell your Pokémon cards because these groups are filled with people who are very interested in buying Pokémon cards.
These groups allow you to talk directly with fellow collectors and cater to various interests, such as specific regions, sets, or rarity levels.
To sell your Pokémon cards in these groups, make sure you follow group rules, post clear photos, and respond quickly to potential buyers’ inquiries.
8. CCG Castle
CCG Castle is a website that specializes in games since 2007.
They buy Pokémon cards that you no longer need and have a buy list on their site that will tell you exactly what they are accepting and how much they will pay you for it. They pay in either PayPal cash or store credit.
Best Places To Sell Pokemon Cards Near Me
If you’re looking to sell your collection or particular Pokémon cards, there are several options near you to consider. This section will cover the best local places where you can sell your cards, such as Facebook Marketplace, comic book stores, pawn shops, and Craigslist.
9. Facebook Marketplace
A popular and easy way to sell your Pokémon cards is through Facebook Marketplace. Nearly everyone has a Facebook account, so it can be easy for you to get started, and it allows you to connect with local buyers who might be interested in your cards.
Posting on Facebook Marketplace is simple, and you can include photos, descriptions, and set your price. Also, you can communicate with potential buyers through Facebook Messenger, making it easy to negotiate and set up a meeting location.
There are no listing fees when selling on Facebook Marketplace, which means that you get to keep everything you earn. But, you do have to handle everything yourself.
10. Local comic book stores
Comic book stores, particularly those that specialize in trading cards, card games, and board games, can be a great place to sell your collection.
Many local comic shops are interested in buying Pokémon cards to stock their inventory for other gamers and collectors.
You can visit stores in your local area, ask if they purchase Pokémon cards, and provide the store owner with a list or photos of your cards. They may make an offer on the spot or ask you to come back later. Remember, each comic store is different, so it’s a good idea to try a few stores near you to compare offers and don’t stop at just one.
11. Pawn shops
Another option to consider is pawn shops.
Pawn stores are known for buying various items, including sports cards and collectibles like Pokémon cards. Take your cards to a few pawn shops near you and see if they’re interested in buying your collection.
Keep in mind that pawn shops usually offer lower prices than other options (this is because selling Pokémon cards is not their sole business), but they can be a quick and convenient way to sell more popular cards.
12. Craigslist
Craigslist is a site for buying and selling various items locally – I’m sure you’ve heard of it. You can create a detailed listing for your Pokémon cards, including pictures, descriptions, and asking prices.
Interested buyers in your area can contact you, allowing you to arrange a meetup in a safe and convenient location.
Craigslist is usually a little more difficult to sell Pokémon cards on and that is because this site does not specialize solely in Pokémon cards and is very localized.
Where to Sell Pokemon Cards in Bulk
Selling your Pokémon cards in bulk may be something that you are interested in if you simply don’t have the time to look each one up.
When selling your Pokémon cards in bulk, it’s important to find the right platform. In this section, we’ll focus on three popular options: Full Grip Games, Safari Zone, and Sell2BBNovelties. With their unique offerings and easy-to-sell process, these companies can help you get the most value for your collection if you simply don’t have the time or have too many cards to sort through.
13. Full Grip Games
Full Grip Games is a local game shop in Ohio that buys bulk Pokémon cards online and in person.
At Full Grip Games, they make it easy for you to sell your bulk cards in increments of 100 or 1,000. Also, they accept rares and other card types as well. To make things simpler for you, their website has a bulk buy list that breaks down all the packs and cards they accept along with individual prices.
To get started, follow these easy steps:
Click on the “Buylist Instructions” link on their website.
Choose their full singles buylist or their bulk buylist.
Select the cards in your collection according to the buylist.
Review the pricing and total value of the cards submitted.
Once done, send the cards following their shipping instructions.
Once they receive your bulk cards, it will take them around one week to go through them. For the cards they accept, you can get paid via PayPal, store credit (you will get a 30% bonus if you choose the store credit option), or check via USPS mail.
14. Safari Zone
Safari Zone is another great option to consider for selling your Pokémon cards in bulk. They accept a wide range of cards, but they do need to be in near-mint condition.
Here’s what you should do to sell your cards on Safari Zone:
Create an account on the Safari Zone website.
Review the cards they purchase on their buy list.
Enter the card details.
After submitting the card information, you’ll receive a quote for your collection.
Ship your cards to Safari Zone, and they will process your payment after validating the cards.
Safari Zone only pays via store credit.
15. Sell2BBNovelties
Sell2BBNovelties is a website that has been around since 1999 that specializes in toys and collectibles, such as Pokémon cards.
They have an easy platform to sell your Pokémon cards in bulk and accept various card types, including rares, holographic, and common/uncommon cards.
To sell your Pokémon cards on Sell2BBNovelties, simply:
Go to their website and click on the “Buying Prices” tab.
Select the cards you’re selling according to their buying list.
When you’re ready, submit the form. You’ll receive a confirmation email with the total value of the cards and further instructions.
Ship your cards to Sell2BBNovelties, and they will process your payment upon receiving and verifying your cards.
You can receive payment for the cards they accept in either PayPal cash or store credit.
How to Make a Website to Sell Pokemon Cards
If you have the time and a lot of cards, you may even be interested in starting a website to sell your Pokémon cards.
Creating a website to sell your Pokémon cards is a great idea to reach a wider audience and have lower fees. Of course, there will be more work in this because you will be managing everything yourself.
Choose a platform and create your design – Look for an easy-to-use platform to build your website – my favorite is WordPress. You will want to pick a clean looking design that customers can look at on both computer and phone. Most platforms have a variety of premade themes that you can use. You can also personalize your website by adding your logo, choosing colors that represent your brand, and adding images.
Organize your products – Categorize your Pokémon cards by sets, rarity, or other criteria that make sense for your target audience. Clear product descriptions and high-quality images of each card will help potential buyers too.
Set up payment and shipping – Choose a payment gateway to securely process transactions. Options like PayPal, Stripe, or Square are widely used and reliable. Choose shipping options and rates based on your preferred carriers and shipping destinations.
Create valuable content – In addition to listing your Pokémon cards, consider creating helpful content such as blog posts or videos that add value to your website and attract more readers and buyers. Providing informative content will establish you as an expert in the field and help drive traffic to your site.
Promote your website – Use social media, search engine optimization (SEO), or even paid advertising to increase page views to your website.
Related: How To Start A Website Free Course
Pokemon Card Selling Tips and Strategies
Selling your Pokémon cards can be an exciting way to make extra money, but it’s important to have a little strategy so that you can make the most money and find the most buyers.
Here are some tips for selling your Pokémon cards successfully.
Determine the value of your cards. You should research how rare the card is, the origin, and the condition of your cards, as these factors will affect their worth. Keep an eye out for rare and valuable cards (such as first edition cards and illustrations), as these will attract more interest from collectors. Grading your cards can help with this process – professional grading services can rate the condition of your cards and encapsulate them in a case, increasing their value.
Consider where to sell your cards.There are numerous platforms for selling Pokémon cards online, such as eBay, where you can list your cards as single items or in an auction format. There are also more specialized Pokémon selling websites which are dedicated to trading cards. These sites often have dedicated communities of potential buyers who are very interested in Pokémon cards.
Write clear and accurate descriptions of your cards.You should always be clear and honest about your card’s condition. For example, are there any scratches or bends? Is there a tear or water damage?
Ship your cards carefully.Carefully package your Pokémon cards to protect your cards from damage during transit. You will want to keep your cards waterproof and not use rubber bands (rubber bands can damage the cards). Also, consider offering a tracking number and insurance to your buyer as an additional layer of security. Many of the Pokémon selling sites above have a very exact way they want you to ship the cards to them to prevent any damage, so be sure to see what their rules are.
By following these Pokémon card selling tips and tricks, you can increase the chances of finding the best places to sell your Pokémon cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about selling Pokémon cards.
How do I know if my Pokemon cards are worth money?
So, how do you know if the Pokémon cards that you have are worth anything? Many people have Pokémon cards, probably stuffed in a box somewhere, or maybe you came across some.
Whatever your reason is, yes, your Pokémon cards may be worth something.
Knowing the value of your Pokémon cards is important before selling, and there are a few key things to think about.
First, look at the rarity symbols on your cards: a circle indicates a common card, a square represents an uncommon card, and a star denotes a rare card. These symbols help you determine the rarity of your cards and their potential worth.
The condition of your cards also plays a big role in their value. Cards in mint condition, meaning they have no visible wear or damage, are worth more than cards with minor imperfections. Holographic cards, especially in mint condition, can be more valuable.
To take it a step further, you could even get your Pokémon cards professionally valued and graded by a reputable company like PSA. Grading involves a professional inspection of your card’s condition, assigning a numerical grade based on factors such as centering, corners, edges, and surface. The higher the graded number, the better the condition and, often, the higher the value.
Keep in mind that while Pokémon cards typically have higher values, other trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh can also be valuable. Make sure to research the prices of similar cards sold recently, and compare the condition of your cards to decide if they’re worth selling.
How do I sell Pokemon cards for cash?
To sell your Pokémon cards for cash, first organize your cards by set and look for rare ones to see what you have. Once you’ve prepared your collection, follow the selling instructions on your chosen platform.
You can sell your Pokémon cards online, locally near you, and even in bulk.
Where can I find buyers for my Pokemon cards?
You can find buyers for your Pokémon cards on online marketplaces, local card shops, and social media groups. Websites like eBay and TCGplayer are popular places for selling Pokémon cards, as well as community forums and local collector’s events.
What are some reputable websites to sell Pokemon cards?
There are many reputable sites to sell Pokémon cards as we discussed above, such as:
eBay
Troll and Toad
Mercari
TCGplayer
Card Cavern
Dave & Adam’s
Pokémon Facebook Groups
Full Grip Games
Safari Zone
Sell2BBNovelties
Where is the best place to sell Pokemon cards?
The best place to sell your Pokémon cards depends on your preferences. eBay gives you a worldwide market and you are probably already familiar with their platform.
TCGplayer and Troll and Toad specialize in trading card sales and have a lot of Pokémon cards for sale.
Pokémon Facebook Groups are a great way to connect with those interested in Pokémon cards, and there are no listing fees – but you would be dealing with people on your own and handling everything yourself.
Are there any local stores that buy Pokemon cards?
Some local stores, like comic book shops, game stores, and pawn shops, may buy Pokémon cards. You can call local stores to see if they buy cards before bringing your collection in person.
Can you sell Pokemon cards on Etsy?
Etsy is generally geared towards handmade and vintage items, so it’s not an ideal platform for selling Pokémon cards. It’s best to stick with platforms like eBay, TCGplayer, or Troll and Toad for selling trading cards.
I did a search for Pokémon cards on Etsy and it said there were 43,326 results, but I think many of these are for custom art, in that they would be turning a picture of you or your pet into a Pokémon card. So, not the same thing.
Can I sell Pokemon cards on eBay?
Yes, you can sell Pokémon cards on eBay. It is one of the most popular sites for selling Pokémon cards and it gives you control over pricing and listing options.
Can you sell Pokemon cards at GameStop?
GameStop typically does not buy or sell individual Pokémon cards.
Do pawn shops buy Pokemon cards?
Some pawn shops may buy Pokémon cards, especially if they are valuable or rare. Call your local pawn shops or visit them in person to inquire about their interest in buying Pokémon cards. Remember, they do not specialize in Pokémon cards and have a smaller market, so you may not get as much for your Pokémon cards at a pawn store.
What does TCG and CCG mean?
As you’re going through the sites above looking for one of the best places to sell your Pokémon cards, you may come across these two terms. CCG means collectible card game and TCG means trading card game.
How can I determine the value of my Pokemon cards?
Figuring out the value of your Pokémon cards involves considering factors like:
rarity
condition
age
Websites like TCGplayer and Troll and Toad provide price guides and historical sales information to help you estimate the value of your cards.
How do I check the value of my Pokemon cards?
Check the value of your Pokémon cards by researching on websites like TCGplayer, eBay, and Pokémon Price. These platforms can give you a good idea of the current market value for individual cards.
Do you need a license to sell Pokemon cards?
You generally do not need a license to sell Pokémon cards, unless you’re planning to sell them by opening an in-person store. Check your local regulations to make sure you’re following any required guidelines.
How much is Charizard Pokemon card worth?
Charizard cards vary widely in value and can be worth anywhere from $25 to over $50,000. The Charizard Pokémon card that is worth the most is typically a mint condition 1st Edition from the base set.
What Pokemon cards are worth more than $100?
Some Pokémon cards worth more than $100 include rare Pokémon cards, such as first edition holographic cards from the original sets, high-grade cards, misprints, and promotional cards like the Pokémon Illustrator card.
What is the most expensive Pokemon card?
The most expensive Pokémon card varies over time; some examples include the Pokémon Illustrator card, the 1st Edition Charizard, or unique, one-of-a-kind promo cards handed out during official Pokémon events. The rarest Pokémon cards obviously cost more money and sell for more.
According to TCGplayer, the most expensive Pokémon cards include:
Pokémon World Championships No. 2 Trainer Promo
No. 2 Trainer Toshiyuki Yamaguchi (2000)
Neo Genesis 1st Edition Lugia (2000)
Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer (1999)
Family Event Trophy Kangaskhan (1998)
Test Print Blastoise Gold Border (1998)
Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Promo (2017)
Trophy Pikachu No. 3 Trainer Bronze (1997)
Commissioned Presentation Blastoise Galaxy Star Holo (1998)
First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard #4 (1999)
Illustrator Pikachu (1998)
These were all sold for over $100,000 each.
Best Places To Sell Pokemon Cards – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best places to sell Pokémon cards and how to sell Pokémon cards for cash.
If you have Pokémon cards that you no longer want, there are many ways you can sell them. And, they may be worth a lot of money!
To figure out the value of the Pokémon cards that you want to sell, you’ll want to look at their rarity symbols, Pokémon card condition, grading (if applicable), and market comparisons. Understanding these factors will help you decide if your cards are worth selling and where to find the best prices.
Once your cards are sorted and evaluated, it’s now time to choose the best places to sell your Pokémon cards. Here are some popular options:
eBay – This site has millions of Pokémon cards sold every year. It’s a great place to find a worldwide audience, but remember to factor in shipping costs and eBay fees.
Facebook Marketplace and Pokémon Facebook Groups – Connect with local collectors or fans without worrying about shipping fees. This option may mean that you will meet the buyer in person.
Local comic shops – These stores can be an easy place to sell your cards, especially if they specialize in Pokémon cards or trading card games.
TCGplayer – Catering specifically to trading card game fans, this site has a dedicated space for buying and selling Pokémon cards.
Other options include Troll and Toad, Card Cavern, Dave & Adam’s, Sell2BBNovelties, pawn shops, and more.
Good luck selling your Pokémon cards!
What do you think is the best place to sell Pokemon cards for cash?
This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.
Driving traffic to your site can be a challenge, and one of the most difficult aspects of that challenge is getting Google and the other major search engines to trust your site and consequently increase its ranking position for high-value keywords. Though there are hundreds, possibly even thousands, of components that factor into Google’s ranking algorithm, inbound links (links from another site to your own site) are one of the most important.
To help make the process as painless as possible, we’ve put together the following guide. It will help highlight the importance of inbound links and explain some of the best ways to generate high-value links to your site.
Why you want inbound links
Inbound links do two main things:
1. Drive traffic to your site
Ever clicked on a link and wound up at a website you otherwise would never have found? That’s the power of inbound links. They bring you users who would not have gotten there otherwise.
2. Increase search engine ranking
Search engines want to give users the best results. If a site has many links from other sites, that’s usually a good sign that it has worthwhile content on it, and its search ranking will go up.
Want those things to happen? Of course you do.
Quick Tips
It’s no easy feat to generate inbound links, but here are some tips to get the ball rolling:
Link to other blogs
When someone smiles at you, thanks to mirror neurons, it’s likely that you’ll instinctively smile back. It might be a little different from a biological point of view, but when other bloggers see that you’ve linked to their site, they’re more likely to reciprocate and link to your site.
So when you write blogs (if you’re not doing that already, you should be), add some links to other blogs. With so much fantastic content on the web, it shouldn’t be hard to find resources that naturally fit into your posts.
Guest blog for other sites
Creating quality content is tough, which means most sites welcome the opportunity for a guest post on their blog. So set aside a few posts and reach out to various outlets to see if they’re interested. It’s common courtesy to allow at least one inbound link to your site per post. Don’t be surprised if they contact you in the future wondering if they can do the same on your site.
Create infographics
We live in a largely visual world. If you have information that you can craft, or have someone craft, into a compelling infographic, people will share that image and link back to you as the source. You might think to yourself, “I’m a loan officer; I can’t create infographics…”
Not so. You don’t have to be schooled in design, you just have to know some of the basics. There are many tutorials online that take as little as an hour to run through what you need to know to get started.
Considering your site will be around for a while, it could be worth it to learn how to design an infographic. Who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy it.
Do something funny
Laughing is fun. Humor is one of the most desirable traits in a significant other for a reason. The mortgage industry isn’t known for its jokes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try your hand at some comedic relief.
The key here is to know your audience—the last thing you want to do is offend someone. So make sure you bounce your joke off several different people before sending it out into the internet. And if for some reason you aren’t sure how your idea will come across, don’t do it.
Influencer (Social Media) Marketing
When it comes down to it, you’re going to have to reach out and promote yourself if you want to generate inbound links. That means talking to social media influencers. They are seen as authorities of their industry, and therefore, links from them have a lot of weight. And as a bonus, they have followers that are ready to devour any content that’s fed to them. If you build up a good relationship with several influencers, you can find yourself with a steady stream of inbound links.
Who are your targets?
It’s important to properly identify your targets. You need to figure out who the biggest influencers are in the mortgage and real estate industries, and whittle down what relationships will be the most productive. There are a few different ways to go about doing this.
1. Analytics sites
There are several sites that have software that crawl social media sites to gather data which then goes through an algorithm, resulting in a score. The most popular are Klout, Kred, and PeerIndex.
Klout is kind of the de facto authority for ranking social media influencers. It’s fairly straightforward, the algorithm comes up with a score between 1-100, where 1 is the worst and 100 is the best. Klout is particularly notable in that it takes into account blog influence.
PeerIndex shares a lot of similarities with Klout. It does get into a little more detail with its reporting, but that’s about it.
Kred doesn’t just rate individuals based on influence, it adds in an outreach score that lets you know how often someone engages with other people.
2. Messing around on social media
It might sound crazy, but doing your own direct searches on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media platform can help you discover new influencers. It’s a lot less low-tech than the algorithms, but it has its merits. If you’re wondering where to start, take a look at our article on maintaining your social media presence.
3. Search engines
You use google when you want to find out about nearly anything on the internet, so it only makes sense that you would use it when trying to find social media influencers. A good place to start is by googling different mortgage related topics to find out who the big names are in the mortgage blog world.
How will you reach out?
Twitter? Facebook? Email? Once you know who your targets are, you have to figure out how you will reach out to them. There are many ways to go about this. Will you have to offer a cold pitch or will you need to build a relationship with them first?
Having a standing relationship definitely makes the process easier, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to pitch an idea to someone you’ve never talked to before. If the idea is good enough and you sell it to them in the right way, it’s not out of the question that they’ll go for. In the end, don’t overthink it. The important part is that you make the effort and contact them.
Content Outreach and Promotion Tips
Keep the conversation going
Influencers are people, and people generally don’t like it when you only talk to them when you want something. That means reaching out to influencers only when you have a new post you want them to share is poor etiquette, and unlikely to help you build lasting relationships.
The solution? Engage when you can.
Make sure you’re following them on whatever social media platform they use and keep an eye out for their posts. Commenting on their posts shows that you aren’t just in it for the links. As you’ll see, there are other benefits to commenting on blogs.
Comment on other blogs
There’s a certain element of skill to this one. You can’t just say, “Nice post! Thanks for sharing. www.yourloanofficerwebsite.com.” Not only does that look like spam and will most likely get deleted before anyone sees, it looks desperate and doesn’t give a user any reason to follow your link.
You have to thoughtfully engage and respond with a comment that brings something to the table. That way people know that you are capable of bringing them value and will be more apt to click the link to see what else you have to say.
Bigger Outlets
Breaking into a popular media outlet like the NY Times or Wall St. Journal can be challenging. They most likely don’t know who you are, and sending the editor an article to read is basically guaranteed to get ignored. Editors are busy, and they only look at material from unknown writers who get vouched by someone they know. That’s why you should reach out to a writer on their staff.
Send them an email telling them how you really love their writing and point toward an article you’ve recently read (if you don’t already, start reading their work and find a piece that you can really engage with).
Flattery is all well and good, but what will really set you apart is if you can offer some sort of constructive criticism. Tell them that you think their readers would appreciate it if you added in so and so. You want to emphasize that you aren’t trying to be negative, you just want to keep seeing them producing high-quality content.
If your feedback has validity, they will probably be grateful that you reached out to them, and will respond. After a few emails back and forth, you can ask them how you would be able to get to their level and write for them.
There are no guarantees, but getting your work into more prominent media outlets will certainly increase your exposure, making the reward worth the effort.
How to Create Quality Content
Without quality content, no matter how suave of a networker you are, no one is going to link to your site. That means posting quality content on a consistent basis is of the utmost importance. How do you figure out how to do that? As part of our loan officer marketing series, we’ve already created a blog on Creating and Curating Content.
Bottom Line
Generating inbound links is one of the most important steps on the path to a thriving website. It also takes time, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a million links after a few weeks. Just keep on hacking away at it and eventually the links will come.
You can learn more about what the Total Mortgage marketing team does for our loan officers by checking out other articles in this series, or by visiting our career portal.
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
Are you looking to learn how to find a free car? Cars are expensive. There’s no doubt about that. Is it possible to get free cars? Getting a free car may sound too good to be true, but it’s possible for people who meet certain requirements, which we will talk about below. In this article,…
Are you looking to learn how to find a free car?
Cars are expensive.
There’s no doubt about that.
Is it possible to get free cars?
Getting a free car may sound too good to be true, but it’s possible for people who meet certain requirements, which we will talk about below. In this article, I’ll show you how to get a free car through different ways, from charity donations to assistance programs, and more.
I understand that there are so many people who would benefit from a more affordable transportation option. After all, a car can be essential to landing a job, getting to work, helping you pick up and drop off your children at childcare (so that you can work!), getting groceries, and so much more.
Low-income families, single parents, individuals with disabilities, veterans and their families, and so many others may particularly benefit from getting free vehicles to improve their quality of life.
Whether it’s making it easier to get to work, taking the kids to school and childcare, or simply attending important appointments, acquiring a free car can have a significant impact on your daily life.
Related content:
Why do free cars exist?
Free cars exist to help people who need transportation.
There are many organizations whose sole purpose is to help you get a free car because they know how much it can change a person’s life.
Below are some organizations that may help you find a free car:
Nonprofit Organizations— Some nonprofit organizations give away cars for free to those who need one. They work with local partners and households and accept donations of old cars and used cars, which are then fixed up and given to those who need them. These organizations usually target specific groups of people, such as low-income families, working families, single parents, military families, or disabled individuals, who may find it hard to afford a car on their own.
Churches and Private Charities— Churches and private charities may offer car help in your community as well. They usually work on a smaller scale, providing help to local residents experiencing hardships and may just give out a free car here and there. These organizations often rely on donations from members of the community and local businesses, and they require applicants to demonstrate a genuine need for a vehicle. You may need to contact local churches and charities directly to learn more about how to get a car for free.
People donate their used cars all the time. Their reasons may be either because they have no use for the car, they want to avoid the hassle of selling a car, for tax breaks, or they want to help others.
Who can benefit from free cars?
There are many people who can benefit from a free car, such as:
Low-income families— If your family is struggling with money and you are finding it hard to afford your bills, you might be eligible to receive a free car if you can show your need to an organization.
Single mothers and single parents — Single moms and parents need transportation so that they can get to work and also be able to bring their children to childcare. Not having a car can make this much more difficult.
Domestic violence victims — Having reliable transportation can be important for the safety and well-being of domestic violence victims. Some organizations have experience providing a free car in this situation and understand the need for privacy.
Disabled individuals — If you have a disability, you might be eligible to receive a free car to help you get around and be more independent.
Veterans and military families — Veterans and military families can also benefit from free car programs. There are organizations dedicated to providing assistance to those with a military background, to repay them for their service and sacrifices.
Victims of natural disasters — If you have experienced loss from a natural disaster, then you may benefit from many charitable free car organizations.
Of course, there are many more people who could benefit from finding affordable transportation as well. This is not a full list of those who might need a free vehicle.
Now, you do want to be cautious with getting a free car. If you are receiving government assistance, such as housing assistance, welfare, or food stamps, then accepting a free car may be considered income and it can affect your benefits. This is something that you will definitely want to think about as you do not want to lose these benefits.
How To Get A Free Car
There are organizations that help you get a car when you need a free vehicle. And there are other ways to find a free car as well. Below are some of the options that you may want to look into:
1. 1-800-Charity Cars
1-800-Charity Cars (also known as Free Charity Cars) is a nonprofit organization that provides free vehicles to eligible people, including domestic violence victims, the medically needy, victims of natural disasters, veterans and military families, and families transitioning from public assistance to work. It was the first charity of its kind in the nation.
This is the original free charity cars organization and they have given away over $70,000,000 in cars (over 9,000 cars) nationwide since they started the organization in 1996.
To apply, you will need to meet their eligibility criteria and submit an application on their website. Some of their eligibility requirements include being over the age of 18, being a resident of the U.S., having a valid driver’s license, being at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and having a genuine need for a vehicle.
This is a good place to start if you need a free car and you’re wondering where can I get a donated car for free.
2. Vehicles for Change
Vehicles for Change was started in 1999 and has given out over 7,500 cars to low-income families for little to no cost.
This organization helps residents in the states of Maryland and Northern Virginia. Cars are repaired and restored by people seeking workforce training as auto mechanics.
Donated vehicles are provided to families in need who meet their eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants must have a verifiable job offer or be working at least 30 hours per week, have no DUIs, and have a valid driver’s license to begin the application process.
3. Good News Garage
Good News Garage is a car donation program to look into if you’re trying to find a free car. They provide refurbished free cars for low-income families that meet their eligibility requirements. They give out around 200 cars to families in need each year and have provided around 5,500 cars since starting in 1996.
This organization is available for those in need who live in the New England area of Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
Good News Garage also has a transportation program. If you need to get to a job or get your children to childcare, then their program Ready To Go may be able to help you with this as well.
4. Online Car Donation
OnlineCarDonation.org is another platform that donates refurbished vehicles to needy individuals and families.
Online Car Donation gives free cars to people such as those with physical challenges, families living in homeless shelters, military families, and more.
You can apply by filling out their application form on their website and providing the required documents to prove your eligibility.
After you submit your application for a free car, if you are chosen, you will be contacted within 30 days. If you do not hear back within that time frame, their website says you can apply again as applications are only valid for 30 days.
5. With Causes Charitable Network
The WithCauses.org Network helps individuals and families in need by providing resources and assistance, which includes help getting a free car. The eligibility requirements may vary, so visit their website to find out if you qualify and how to apply.
6. Salvation Army free car program
The Salvation Army offers a free car program for eligible candidates.
They mainly focus on helping domestic violence victims, families in dire financial situations, and the homeless. Visit your local Salvation Army branch to inquire about their car donation program and how to apply.
7. Cars 4 Heroes
Cars4Heroes donates free cars to first responders, military veterans, and their families who are in need of transportation.
Cars 4 Heroes was started in 1996, and the organization currently gives away over 300 cars a year in the Kansas City, Kansas, metro area.
You can fill out their application form on their website and provide the required documentation to be considered for a free car.
8. Local church
Your local churches or other religious institutions may have programs that provide free vehicles to families that need help getting a car.
You may want to contact your nearby churches to find out if they have any car donation programs and how to apply or if they have eligibility requirements. They may know someone that they can connect you with to help you get a free car.
9. Check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist
Many people often give away their cars or sell them at low prices on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
If I was wondering about free cars near me, then I’d browse through these websites regularly to find out if anything is available. The search can be customized by entering your budget and location to see if anything suitable turns up.
10. Find a job that gives you a free car
There are jobs that may give you a free car as well, in case none of the above options works for you.
Some job positions that may come with a company car include sales representatives, district managers, or regional directors who spend a lot of time traveling between different offices.
To start your search for jobs that give you a car to take home, you can look for job postings with phrases like “company car provided” or “full-time vehicle provided.” Job websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor make it simpler to find such job listings by using specific keywords, so you may try searching for those. I did a quick search and was able to pull up jobs easily by typing those phrases into the keyword search bar.
Some employers might offer a car allowance instead of providing a free car. In this case, you would receive a monthly stipend to use toward your vehicle expenses. This would offset some of your car expenses, such as monthly payments or maintenance.
Also, if you know someone who currently has a company car, you can try asking them for tips and advice. They might even refer you to open positions at their workplace, and this can help you get a job with a free car as well.
11. Look for a free dealer donation
Dealer donations are a little more difficult of an option, as car dealers are in the business of making money, not giving away all of their cars that make them that money.
But, it doesn’t hurt to try if you have the time to write a letter and reach out to a car dealership.
To obtain a car dealer donation of a free used car, you’ll want to start by seeing what local dealerships are in your area. You can research their involvement in charitable activities to see if they even give out free cars (maybe do a simple search of the dealership’s name plus the term “free car” or something like that), as this will show you that they are open to the idea of donating a vehicle to those in need of a free car.
Once you have a list of local dealers to reach out to, there are ways to get a free car from a dealership. You can write a letter talking about your situation and reasons for requesting a donated car. You should talk about your struggles and the positive impact the donation will have on your life (such as, what a donated car will help you do).
When writing your letter for a free dealer donation, here are some things to think about:
Write the letter to the dealership’s owner or general manager, as they will likely have the authority to approve a car donation or be able to talk to someone who does have that authority.
Explain your situation fully and provide the specific reasons why you need a car.
Talk about how a car donation would improve your life and allow you to overcome challenges or achieve goals.
Provide information on any relevant programs or resources, such as a community organization or nonprofit, that may support your request for a free car.
After you have written your letter, submit it to the dealership. You may do this by sending it to the physical mailing address of the person, their email address, or perhaps even handing your letter to them in person.
Here are answers to common questions you may have about finding a free car:
What are other transportation options if I can’t find a free car?
There may be a long waiting period if you are applying for a donated car. If you are not able to find a free vehicle, then you may need to look into other options to get around town. Here are some ideas on how to get around if you don’t have a car of your own:
Public Transportation— If you live in a place with public transportation, then this option is something to look into. One great thing about public transportation is that you won’t have to pay to maintain a vehicle or repair anything. Of course, public transportation sometimes takes longer and may not be widely available to you (unfortunately, there are many towns in the U.S. that do not have great public transportation options), and that is something to think about. Also, more and more cities offer public transportation at no charge. You may have to apply for a special card to get this free service, or it may be available to everyone. It’s worth asking around about because it can save you hundreds of dollars a month.
Carpooling — Carpooling is an option to think about if you are unable to find a free car, especially for people who live in areas with limited public transportation. Car owners may be looking for riders so that the expense of ownership is offset a bit. You’ll need to share the cost of expenses, such as gas, tolls, parking, and wear and tear. You may be able to share rides with coworkers, friends, or neighbors. To save money, you could offer to trade babysitting, gardening, or home repairs for the ride. Also, check out carpooling apps that apply to your local area.
Rideshare Services — Now, rideshare most likely won’t be the most affordable option, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, may be able to get you to where you need to go if you don’t have any other options. To save money, use an app that compares rideshare companies and finds you the cheapest price. And, as far as your work commute, it’s good to know that some companies offer rideshare services as a benefit to their employees and will pay for the full cost or part of it.
How can I find free cars given away near me?
Yes, you can find free cars given away near you. There are many local organizations that may be able to help you out. You can research the various charity programs in your area and see if you meet their eligibility requirements for a free car.
Many charities, such as Charity Cars, provide free vehicles to people in need. These organizations often target specific groups of people, like veterans or victims of domestic violence.
Next, reach out to local branches of organizations like the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries. These organizations may also auction off donated cars at affordable prices. Reach out to your nearest branch to learn more about available vehicles and to find out if they hold any auctions.
Another option is Online Car Donation, which aims to provide free cars to as many people in need as possible. Fill out their application to see if a reliable used car is available for you. They also offer trucks, vans, and sometimes even modified vehicles for individuals with disabilities.
Remember to be patient but also to keep trying, as it can sometimes take time to find the right opportunity for a free car. And, many times your application is only good for 30 days, so keep in mind that you may have to submit it over and over again.
Is Free Charity Cars legit?
Yes, Free Charity Cars is a legitimate organization that connects eligible people with free vehicles. They have high ratings and many endorsements.
How to get a car if you can’t get a free one?
If you’re not able to get a free car, you do have some other options, such as learning how to get a cheap car and learning the best way to get a car loan with a low interest rate.
Here are my tips for finding a cheap car:
Shop around for cars that are affordable to you: Many organizations offering a free car may also give you the option of purchasing a refurbished vehicle from them at a much lower cost than elsewhere. Otherwise, check out your local dealerships, online car-selling platforms, and even Craigslist to find the best deals on reliable cars in your area. Don’t limit yourself to just one site; shop around and be patient until you find a car that fits your budget.
Buy a used car: Buying a used car rather than a brand new one can save you money. Pre-owned vehicles tend to be more affordable and can still offer reliable transportation.
Negotiate for the best price: Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price of the car with the car seller or dealership. They may be able to lower the price, especially if you can show them that similar cars are around for cheaper prices elsewhere.
Check your credit score: Before applying for a car loan, make sure that you know your credit score. A better credit score increases your chances of getting a lower interest rate on your car loan. If you can, I recommend you take the steps to improve your credit score (even while searching for a free car) in case you need to apply for a car loan.
You can learn more about building up your credit score at Everything You Need To Know About How To Build Credit.
Shop around for car loans: Just as you should shop around for the best car deal, you should do the same for car loans. Different lenders may offer different interest rates and loan terms.
Choose a shorter loan term: While a shorter car loan term means higher monthly payments, you’ll pay less in interest overall, making the car less expensive over the years.
There are plenty of options for finding cars that may not be entirely free but are still affordable to you.
Related content: Save Money With These Top Tips For Buying A Car
How To Get A Free Car — Summary
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to get a free car.
If you need a car but cannot afford one, there are several ways to possibly get a free car. Many programs and organizations exist to help people get a free car, especially if you belong to certain categories, such as low-income families, veterans, domestic violence victims, or those transitioning from public assistance.
Remember, you do want to be cautious with getting a free car as well. If you are receiving government assistance, such as housing assistance, welfare, or food stamps, then accepting a free car may be considered income, and it can affect your benefits.
To find free cars near you, it’s important to explore local nonprofit organizations, as well as community centers, churches, or social services agencies that may have information about free car programs or resources in your area. Some jobs come with a company car that you can take home.
Here are some potential resources to assist you in getting a free car:
Local nonprofit organizations
Online car donation websites
Community centers and churches
Social services agencies
Remember that just because you meet the eligibility requirements for a free car and apply for one, it does not mean that you will succeed. There are many people who would like to receive a free vehicle as well. However, you can increase your chances of getting a free car if you can show that you have a need and you have a story to share (since people personally review the applications to see who needs the car the most).
This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.
Launching a website with strong content is important to initial success. However, to maintain a high amount of traffic you’ll need to regularly update your site with fresh content. Whatever your medium (e.g. blogs, videos), without new content your site will inevitably get pushed into the back corner of the web. That’s because the algorithm that search engines use to determine what results show up first gives more weight to sites that are fresh and dynamic, as opposed to stale and static.
The following guide will teach you how to go about finding the best topics and optimal post times to help keep your website at the forefront of the web.
Killer content starts with a killer topic. You can write a mind-bending blog on adjustable mortgage rates in Amarillo, Texas, but if no one cares about that, it’s not going to perform well. You’ve got to tap into the minds of homebuyers and figure out what information would be most valuable to them. Remember, the best topics are based on questions that lots of people have, but that haven’t been answered before—or haven’t been answered well before. Here are a few tips to keep the ideas flowing.
Check out sites like Quora and Reddit
These two sites get lots of traffic and lots of curious users. Questions are posted periodically and typically have a high amount of engagement. It’s an easy way to check in and see what prospective homebuyers are thinking. You can search for whatever mortgage/home-buying topic you want at Quora, and Reddit has a subreddit dedicated to mortgages.
Google Autocomplete
Google likes to try and figure out what you’re going to type. As a user, it can be both helpful and annoying. As a marketer, it provides a glimpse into the inner-workings of potential clients. If a phrase is popping up in autocorrect, that means a lot of people want to know about it. That provides a great opportunity for you to answer a question or provide information for a large audience. You can type anything into google, but starting your phrase with who/what/when/where/why/how often yields the best results.
Google Keyword Tool
Google AdWords has a keyword planner tool that can be useful when trying to choose a topic. You can get search volume data and trends, new keywords using a phrase, website, or category, and enter keyword lists to get new keywords. Search volume data is helpful when you’re unsure if there is enough interest in a given topic to warrant a post about it.
Think about your interactions with borrowers or referral partners
Keeping your ears open and paying attention to what borrowers want is another way to come up with topics. If you are consistently getting asked the same question, there’s a good chance a post about it will perform well.
On the other end of the spectrum, remember the quirky questions that you’ve only gotten asked once or twice. They might not have high search volume, but they’re interesting enough to capture the attention of a borrower and show that you can handle anything.
Read the comments
If you carefully read the comments sections on other mortgage/home related websites, you might stumble across some ideas for your own post. You may not find a gem of a topic every time you do it, but if you make a habit of checking, eventually it will pay off.
Add to a conversation
Sometimes, you don’t have to have the original spark—you just have to make something better. For instance, maybe there’s a question that someone has written a blog about, but you feel you have something to add to the conversation. As long as you aren’t just rehashing the other post, there’s no shame in piggybacking off of someone else’s high-performing content.
Work with your expertise
Another way to start brainstorming ideas is to work with your expertise. Writing about things that you have an extensive knowledge on a) cuts down on time because you don’t have to do as much research—if any, and b) makes it easier to dig deeper into a topic and fully answer questions. Naturally, your success with this approach is greatly influenced by the demand for your given topic.
Sometimes, you get lucky and a topic will jump out at you and other times it takes some serious digging before you strike gold. Either way, the type of content will fall into one of two categories.
Evergreen Topics
“’Cause, honey, your soul could never grow old, it’s evergreen.”
Ed Sheeran might not have been thinking about awe-inspiring website content when he wrote those lyrics, but he sure could have been. When we say something is evergreen , we mean it’s going to stand the test of time. With website content, that means that the information in your post will always be useful to whoever is viewing it. It’s not some flash-in-the-pan post that will be irrelevant in a month. There are times where short-lived content is acceptable, or even preferable, but those situations depend heavily on perfect timing.
In a world where 2,000,000 blog posts are written every day, the idea of creating evergreen content might sound like a pipe-dream, but rest assured—evergreen content does indeed exist in reality. Naturally, some serious elbow grease will almost definitely have to be applied in order to make it happen, but that just makes the end product that much more rewarding.
When you look at what kind of content has done well over a long stretch of time, a few things should pop out at you.
Details reign supreme
There is a lot of fluff out there on the internet, so unless you happen to land on a gold-mine of a topic, you’re virtually guaranteed to have to get down to the nitty-gritty in your post. That means data. Hard numbers are always welcome and can do a lot to bolster the impact on your readers. It’s one thing to throw some words around, but if you can back them up with concrete facts, you’re more likely to win the reader over.
They are optimized with strong keywords
Keywords are what search engines use to bring up results. Think about what you type into Google. The more something gets searched for, the more likely it is that those pages that come up in the search will get traffic. While evergreen content doesn’t necessarily get massive traffic (although it definitely could), it always gets consistent traffic. All you have to do is set the ball in motion and the traffic train will chug along indefinitely.
There are many different ways to optimize your content with strong keywords—including optimizing the title tags, meta descriptions, and body copy. All these methods can be time-consuming and exhausting. Our marketing team has done this for years, and lends our expertise to all our loan officers so they don’t have to sweat the small stuff.
Trending Topics
Trending topics can be a good way to supplement the evergreen content on your site. Think of them like shooting starts—they burn brightly but fizzle out fairly quickly. It’s fine to take advantage of their trendy nature here and there, but it’s definitely not the best strategy to have them as your main source of content.
Trending topics are easier to spot because they’re in the news and everyone is talking about them, but for those who want to make sure they don’t miss out on anything, there are a few places to check out.
Google Trends
Google Trends allows you to see what topics have the most search volume at any given time period. The homepage displays trending topics in the past 24 hours. Mortgage industry news isn’t usually trending on the front page, but it’s worth checking out every now and then to see if there’s an angle you can take on a seemingly non-related trending topic.
Reddit
As mentioned previously, Reddit isn’t just that place on the internet where memes are created and destroyed. It’s a treasure trove of information, with subreddits for nearly every topic imaginable, including mortgages. With its upvote system, it’s also a great place to check watch for trending topics.
Social Media Hashtags and Trending Topics
Twitter and Facebook both make it easy to observe trending topics. With Twitter, the top trending hashtags are always on the left-hand side of the platform. With Facebook, the top trends are on the right-hand side of the page. They are constantly being updated are a great way to check the pulse of the online world.
They key with trending topics is to jump on the bandwagon early so you take advantage of as much time in the spotlight as possible. You’ll also be competing with everyone else who’s trying to use the topic to their advantage, so having a creative angle will help you stand out.
Once you’ve picked out juicy topics and created fresh new content out of them, you’ll want to figure out when the best time to post them will be.
You might think that if your content is amazing enough, it will gain traction no matter when you post it. That might be true, but it’s not just about gaining traction—it’s about getting the most traction out of your content. After all, you put a lot of hard work into the creative process, so there’s no point in losing out on pageviews, comments, and conversions all because you posted at the wrong time. So when you’re thinking about when to post, consider the following:
Posts that are published on Monday at 11am get the most traffic
It’s the new week and for some reason, everyone wants to surf the web. Maybe they’re trying to tackle their to-do list, maybe they’re trying to put it off—whatever the case is, they’re searching out content on the internet.
Posts published on non-popular hours get the most social engagement and shares
If your main goal is to get a lot of comments and shares on your social media platforms, then don’t post when everyone else is. It’s simple; posting during peak hours means that you’re competing against a massive amount of content. The result is that fewer people will see your stuff, and even fewer will engage with it.
The morning is best for most pageviews
Looking to straight up increase your pageviews? Post in the morning. Morning people are awake and highly caffeinated, meaning they’re ready to click and read and click and read until the central nervous stimulant wears off.
In the end, the only way to discover what is true for your website is to experiment with several different posting schedules. Case studies can point you in the right direction, and their advice might hold true for your site and content, but you’ll never know for sure if you don’t mix it up.
Be consistent
Consistency is important. No matter what your posting schedule looks like, you have to stick to it. It might seem challenging at first, but posting in a consistent manner is one of the top ways to increase traffic in the long-term. That means it’s important to set realistic goals. There’s no point in trying to commit to producing a blog or video three times a week if you’re going to run out of ideas in a month. Also, making the work manageable will keep your motivation up and make it easier to post in a consistent manner.
The bottom line
There’s a reason the phrase “Content is King” has been repeated millions of times across the internet. With the right topics and the proper posting schedule, your website should be able to avoid slipping into the darkness of the forgotten web.
Want more? You can learn more about what the Total Mortgage marketing team does for our loan officers by checking out other articles in this series, or by visiting our career portal.
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
Marketing is an expense, but it can also be considered an investment in the success of your small business. When done correctly, it can build your brand, draw prospective customers to your website or store, and ultimately drive revenue.
To make the most of your marketing dollars and successfully promote your small business, you’ll want to avoid the following mistakes.
1. Not making market research a priority
Market research, one of the first stages in the marketing process, is used to confirm demand for your business’s product or service, identify its target market and assess competitors.
“If we think of marketing, it’s not only the promotion of services, the promotion only of products. It’s the creation of products. It’s the creation of services. It’s connecting with people,” says Islam Gouda, a marketing scholar and author. “As a small business, I want to understand how my customers are thinking about different aspects in terms of their wants or their needs.”
When researching your target market, consider the platforms and channels they frequent and market your business there.
”Make sure that you’re really focusing on how people are going to find you,” says Jennifer Fortney, president of Cascade Communication, a PR and marketing communications company based in Chicago. Beyond the largest, most popular platforms, Fortney suggests also looking into niche publications and local magazines.
2. Brand inconsistency
“Always have consistent branding across all your channels: your social media, your LinkedIn profile, your website, your brochures, your fliers, whatever it is,” says Vanessa Castillo Bell, a consultant for the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency. “Once you have consistent branding all across your channels, your customers will recognize your brand.”
Establish brand guidelines for the logos, colors, images and text you’ll use across your marketing materials. Consistent branding creates a brand identity that looks professional and can offer benefits such as increased customer trust and loyalty — which can all lead to higher revenue for your business.
3. Not having a clear website strategy
There are many platforms on which to market your business, but your website is especially important. “Businesses own their website. That’s their online home,” Castillo Bell says. Therefore, you have complete control over what information you provide and how.
Castillo Bell recommends learning search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and identifying keywords that your customers would use to search for your products and business. Including those keywords in blogs, newsletters, white papers, videos and other types of content marketing can help your website appear on search engine results pages and gain traffic. Optimizing your website for mobile — since many consumers search online using their phones — is another key step, Castillo Bell says.
You’ll also want to make important details about your business easily accessible to website visitors. “If you’re a local business, be very specific about your location, what areas you serve, and put all of that information on your website,” Fortney says.
Building an effective marketing strategy requires patience; however, a mistake many businesses make is that “they are looking for a quick process,” Gouda says. “They are looking to generate revenue on the spot. They do not wait for return on investment,” he says. Ultimately, “they confuse marketing and sales.”
In reality, the results from your marketing strategy may not be noticeable for months. Researching your target audience, creating consistent messaging in all your marketing materials and exploring free marketing ideas can all help you stay the course.
From Facebook and YouTube to Instagram, TikTok and many more platforms, social media is a great place to market your business. However, trying to build an online presence on multiple channels doesn’t guarantee success.
“Just because a social media outlet or a social media platform exists doesn’t mean you have to use it. If you stretch yourself too thin, you’ll do none of it well,” Fortney says. “Own one. Pick one that’s the best for your business and your product or service, own it.”
After you’ve become successful in managing one platform, consider whether you want to add another social channel to your marketing strategy.
6. Not utilizing free resources
Before paying consultants to help with your marketing strategy, “one resource you should take advantage of is your free agencies,” Castillo Bell says.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers, Minority Business Development Agencies and community development financial institutions, as well as nonprofit organizations for women, minorities and veteran small-business owners, can all be good options when you need free or low-cost help with your marketing plan.
When it comes to marketing your real estate business, video is king. Global statistics from 2023 show that people watch videos for an average of 100 minutes a day, with millennials — the largest share of home buyers in the U.S. — spending 10 to 20 hours a week watching videos.
From short Instagram reels to long videos on YouTube, video is here to stay. Here are 13 video marketing best practices for your real estate business.
1. Understand your audience
Your video marketing strategy starts with your audience.
You wouldn’t show the same scary movie to a 5-year-old as you would a 25-year-old. Videos for your real estate business are no different.
Watch videos on YouTube aimed at luxury home buyers and compare it with ones tailored to first-time home buyers. Chances are good the script, the angles and the highlighted features will be very different.
Ask yourself:
Who am I selling to?
What are their priorities?
What do they need to know?
How can I meet their needs?
Create your videos accordingly.
2. Tell a story
It’s easy to click away from a boring video that rambles on and on without a point. To capture a viewer’s attention, you need to tell a story about the property you’re showing. The story might highlight the historical features of the home or explain how a starter home helped buyers build their lives together.
Whatever it is, tell a tale that keeps them on your page. Just like an in-person walkthrough, viewers need to see themselves in the home to imagine how they will make it their own.
3. Use better technology
If you are marketing a home with expansive grounds, beautiful architectural details or gorgeous scenery, invest in a drone and learn how to use it properly. Drones capture details that regular photos cannot. They also reveal the scope of a large property and illustrate clearly where outbuildings and other landmarks lie in relation to the main house and the homes around it.
4. Add virtual walkthroughs
Record and post virtual walkthroughs for potential buyers. Your written listing is easier to visualize if it’s accompanied by a narrated walkthrough, especially if the viewer can move and turn in each room. Virtual tours can also highlight the exterior of the home, plus neighborhood features and amenities.
5. Spend time in production
There’s a time and a place for a quick Instagram reel, but in some cases, you’ll need a beautifully produced video. Invest in good video equipment and spend time editing your footage. If it’s in your budget, then hire a professional videographer or purchase quality editing software.
6. Choose an appropriate length
Whether you’re posting drone tours, virtual walkthroughs or TikTok videos, size matters. In many cases, home buyers want to see short clips, not a 15-minute video. If each room in a listing deserves 15 minutes of fame, break it up into shorter clips. Aim for two-minute clips, especially on Instagram and TikTok. Try not to exceed five minutes.
7. Utilize SEO
Search engine optimization, which determines where a website appears on the search results page, is critical in the age of video. Most organic search results list the top three links as videos, and you want to be as close to the top of that list as possible.
On YouTube, this means:
Adding keywords in the description of the video
Naming your video with keywords
Tagging topics relevant to your video
Customizing a thumbnail
Captioning videos on Instagram and TikTok is also helpful, as is using relevant hashtags in the optimized comment section of the video.
8. Optimize for mobile
Because 99% of homeowners begin their search online, your videos must be viewable on a variety of devices. This means optimizing for mobile. Optimizing for mobile streamlines the content so it isn’t cluttered or hard to navigate on a smaller screen. Optimized videos won’t have lags, skips or take forever to load either.
9. Don’t forget a call to action
When a potential home buyer finishes watching your video, what do you want them to do? Most viewers wait for instructions, and if you don’t provide a call to action, they’ll keep scrolling. Consider directing viewers to contact information or asking a question and requesting answers in the comment section.
10. Share across platforms
Millennials loves YouTube, and Gen Z scrolls TikTok, but both are potential homeowners you want to reach. Market to different generations by sharing videos across platforms, where possible. For example, the same company owns Facebook and Instagram, meaning one simple click posts in both places.
You might need to tweak the description or add tags for different platforms, but sharing across the big three — YouTube, Facebook and Instagram — casts a suitably wide net for potential clients. Don’t forget to share videos with your email list, too.
11. Engage with viewers
Good or bad, the comment section of any video can be illuminating, heartbreaking and infuriating. Don’t ignore it. Engage in a professional way with the people who reach out to you. Many home buyers want to see how a real estate agent handles conflict and roadblocks. Engagement builds relationships and trust — exactly what you need to build your business.
12. Analyze and improve
Don’t post a video, answer a few comments and walk away. Use simple analytics tools to determine how your video is performing in reach, views and conversions.
Specifically look at:
How many people have seen the video
How many people have clicked links or visited your profile
How many people have contacted you via direct message or email
If your numbers are low, your description or tags may need work. You won’t know until you look carefully at what’s working and what needs to change.
13. Keep posting
If the first video doesn’t get a lot of traction, keep going. There is a lot of noise on the internet, and it can take time to build a following. Just like it takes multiple home showings to find the right buyer, it can take a series of videos before potential clients reach out. Keep posting high-quality videos, and your efforts will pay off.
This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.
When we talk about on-page optimization, we’re talking about factors that can influence how a page on your site will perform in a search result.
Everyone wants their site to come up at the top of the search engine results page (SERP), so there’s some serious competition. To increase your chances of claiming the coveted first position, you’ll want to make sure your page is optimized.
Fortunately for you, this blog will give you the ins and outs of on-page optimization.
Structuring Your Content
When a user comes to your site, you want your content to be structured in a way that makes it easy to understand. That means using a variety of headers and other organizational tools.
Title Tags
Tittle tags help search engines figure out what your page is about. They consist of the text that is placed in between the title tags in your HTML document. To anyone who isn’t a developer, you’ll think of title tags as what the results that up in blue in search engines.
Title tag = Title Tags: How to Improve CTR by 20%+ – Siege Media
Here are some quick tips for title tags:
Include your keywords: The first place someone will look is at your title tag. Make sure your targeted keywords are in the title tag, preferably at the beginning. Don’t go overboard trying to jam as many keywords as you can in your title tag. Not only will “keyword stuffing” get you penalized by search engines, but it doesn’t read well.
Optimize the length: You want your title tag to be between 50-60 characters.
Descriptive: For obvious reasons, you want your title tag to clearly reflect what your post is about.
Headers
After your title, the headers will be the next thing that a user sees. It’s important that the headers guide them to the information that they’re seeking. Internet users don’t have a lot of patience and aren’t interested in reading unnecessary words.
Often times, they’ll get to a site and scroll down, only reading the headers. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they quickly bounce back to the SERP. Just like your title tag, it’s crucial for you to include keywords in your headers. We’ll talk later on about the different options you have with keyword use.
Sub-Headers
You might think that a simple header would do, but you’d be wrong. Dialing down into sub-headers makes it that much easier for users to follow the flow of your content. It’s not always necessary, but you have to think about what will funnel the readers attention down to the granular sections of your page.
Anything that helps the reader navigate your page will help on-site optimization. It might take a few posts to get a good grasp of when to include a sub-header, but stick with it. Feedback from friends or colleagues is invaluable.
Bullets vs. Paragraphs
Bullet points are nice and neat and are therefore easier to read than wordy paragraphs. That doesn’t mean you should go overboard, but if the time comes, don’t feel like it’s poor taste to use them. Readability is key when it comes to getting likes and shares, and will help keep your readers coming back for more.
One way to make intimidating paragraphs more approachable is to break them up. Since most readers scan through blogs, as opposed to reading them start to finish, you’re better off with smaller paragraphs.
Think about it. If you have a large block of text, the reader certainly isn’t going to jump in at the middle of the paragraph and start reading, and it’s entirely possible that they’ll skip over the whole thing. But if you break that paragraph into three smaller paragraphs, the chances greatly increase that they will read any one of them.
Images/Multimedia
If you’re trying to craft masterful blogs, you’re going to want to include images and videos. There is a lot of data that shows users are more likely to stick around and engage with your site if you have images and videos.
With text, bots can crawl your site and easily figure out what your post is about, but bots rely on your help in order to figure out what images and videos are about. That’s where the file name and alt-text come in.
File name
Search engines love when you feed them clues about your page. Often times, the file name of an image will be some random combination of numbers and letters. That’s not a very good clue. If you help search engines out by using descriptive file names, it will have a positive effect on your on-page optimization.
Alt-text
Alternative text (alt-text) is another place for you to drop a hint to search engines. As the name suggest, they are a text alternative for browsers in the event that they can’t be properly rendered. The same guidelines that apply to file name apply here. You want a clear description of your image.
Meta-Description
The meta-description is the text that appears underneath the title tag in the SERP. Its main goal is to get users to click the link and enter their site. The best way to do that is by combining informative text with a strong call to action. The user won’t know if they want to enter your site until they have an idea of what’s on that page.
One way to help them out is by using keywords. If you have the keyword they searched for in your title tag and meta-description, the odds are good that your page is relevant to their query. Also, when you type a keyword into Google, it appears in bold text if it’s in a meta-description. In the example below you can see the keyword I typed into google—quesadillas—is in bold. It makes it stand out more and draws the user into reading your meta-description, which makes it more likely that they will click through to your page.
Ideal Word Count
Search Engines Prefer Long Posts
Studies show that longer content outperforms shorter content by a substantial amount. What’s the magic number? Well, that depends on who you ask. Different studies have shown that the average word count of top ranked searches is 2,416, 1,890, 2,250-2,500, 2,000+.
They might disagree on the exact number, but they all share one thing in common: long-form content usually outperforms short content.
Why is this the case?
It’s a simple concept. You know a lot, so you write a lot. If there are two blogs on FHA Loans and one of them has 1,000 more words than the other, odds are, that blog is more informative. People think this way, and from what the data says, search engines do to.
Every Post is Different
The content of your page will also play a large factor in determining the ideal word count. Not every topic needs a 2,000+ word post about it. After all, the purpose of a post is to relay information to a curious reader, and if you can satisfy that need in under 1,000 words, then so be it. You want your posts to be readable and shareable, and excessive wording will most likely detract from both of those efforts.
Taking a look at some of the blog posts here at Total Mortgage, these findings ring true. For our mortgage rates blog, there is definitely a correlation between the length of the post and the number of views. There is always some degree of variation depending on market conditions and current events, but overall, longer content does better.
We’ve also noticed that nothing beats a good topic. It’s not something you can always count on, but if you strike gold, you might not have to write a novel to reel in a high amount of traffic. One of our top performing evergreen blogs is under 600 words, but that’s enough for it to rank #1 in google for our targeted keyword.
Which brings us to…
Keyword Density
Keywords are words used to classify or organize digital content, or to facilitate an online search for information. They are what people type into search engines, and they’re incredibly important.
The general theory used to be that the more you mention a keyword in a post, the more likely it is that your article will rank for that keyword. Now, it’s true that the more you use a keyword the easier it is for search engines like Google to figure out what your page is about, but it’s hardly true that there is a direct correlation between the times used and search ranking.
Rand Fishkin, Founder of the highly respected inbound marketing company Moz, says that you should definitely include the keyword in your headlines and a couple times in the body of your post, but other than that, you really don’t have to stress repetition.
Readers want to be reassured that the page they’re on has the information they’re looking for, and seeing keywords in the headers will not only keep them from leaving, but get them to read the copy below it.
As for keyword density metrics, Rand says, stay away.
The long and short of it is that there is no ideal keyword density. You should strive to write posts that naturally have the keyword in it. After all, no one wants to read a clunky keyword stuffed post.
Semantically related keywords
Search engines are always refining and expanding their methods. One of the most important advancements they’ve made in recent years is the ability to recognize semantically related keywords. The best way to explain this is with an example. Say your keyword is “how to buy a house.” If you type that into google and scroll down to related searches, you’ll find semantically related keywords.
Google knows that someone searching for “how to buy a house” could very likely wind up wondering about any of these keywords. As stated earlier, you don’t want to keyword stuff. However, if you use various semantically related keywords throughout your post, the copy doesn’t get clunky and you’ve made it much clearer to Google what your post is about, which will help you rank in the SERP.
Selecting the right topics
No matter how well your page is optimized, if your topic selection is terrible, you’re not going to get viewers to read any of your posts. Fortunately, we created a blog post entirely devoted to Creating and Curating Content.
Experience Matters
On-page optimization sets you up for success. If your posts aren’t fully optimized, you’re missing out on users, conversions, and new clients. It’s not unusual for someone who is new to all of these concepts to feel a little overwhelmed. One benefit that loan officers at Total Mortgage have is the ability to engage with a seasoned marketing department. We’ve been blogging for almost a decade, and know all the ins and outs of on-page SEO.
Whether you don’t want to deal with on-page optimization, or you would want us to show you the ropes—we’ve got you covered.
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
Homebuyers, especially first-time buyers shopping for entry-level homes, can expect to pay a significant premium for houses with listings that tout popular farmhouse or craftsman-inspired features, according to a new report from RealEstate.com, a Zillow Group brand tailored to helping first-time buyers find and budget for their first home.
RealEstate.com analyzed listing descriptions from millions of entry-level homes, defined as those priced within the bottom third of the market, to see how certain home features, amenities and design styles affected sale price.
Starter homes mentioning “coffered ceilings,” “claw foot tubs” or “farmhouse sinks” in their listing descriptions saw some of the highest sale premiums of the keywords analyzed – selling for as much as 29 percent above expected values. Furthermore, homes described as “craftsman” performed better than any other design style analyzed. Even though Chip and Joanna Gaines’ ‘Fixer Upper’ TV show may be over, their farmhouse chic style has certainly had an impact on home trends, especially among entry-level homes or first-time buyers.
Energy efficient features also command high premiums among entry-level homes. Homes mentioning “solar panels” sell for as much as 40 percent more than expected, but mentions for higher-tier homes only saw a 13 percent boost.
Millennials are playing an increasingly larger role in the housing market. They make up 42 percent of all homebuyers today and 71 percent of first-time buyers, and their preferences – from location to home features – may have an increasingly notable impact on the market.
“In today’s competitive housing market, understanding what homes may command a premium or attract multiple offers can be hugely beneficial to buyers,” says Jeremy Wacksman, Zillow Group chief marketing officer. “However, it’s important to keep in mind which features or amenities matter most to you in a home. While a farmhouse sink or butcher block counters may appeal to many millennials and first-time buyers, not everyone may want to pay the premium those features may command.”
Buying a home can feel like a moving target. With 24 percent of homes selling over list price, determining a realistic budget – and sticking to it – can be challengingiii. To help first-time buyers, RealEstate.com allows home shoppers to search for homes based on the home’s “All-In Monthly Price,” which includes estimates for costs such as mortgage, property tax and utilities, giving them a more accurate picture of the cost of homeownership.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
Years ago, when most realtors were still making the transition to online, getting found on the internet wasn’t that hard. Now, however, there’s a lot of competition, and a lot of competition makes for a lot less visibility.
This is where picking the right real estate keywords comes in. Keywords are the words or phrases that your potential buyers and sellers search for, and having the right ones can increase traffic to your site.
Whether your goal is ranking in Google or writing the perfect listing descriptions, I’ll walk you through the basics.
What is search engine optimization?
First things first.
Search engine optimization (or SEO, as you’ll see it more often) is basically what it sounds like—optimizing your page so that search engines will know how to find and recommend it.
While there are many search engines out there, Google is the one you’re going to want to focus on. It has the largest market share, and other search engines tend to follow its example.
High search volume isn’t always your friend
While a lot of resources out there for realtors will give you a list of keywords with impressive monthly search numbers and send you on your way, that isn’t exactly how this whole SEO thing works. In reality, monthly search number give you only a part of the story.
Let’s look at the search term “realtor.”
According to Google keyword planner, it is searched about 3.35 million times a month. That sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? But a closer look at a show you two things
First, despite the large number of searches, the competition is low. There’s a disconnect there–none of your competitors want this keyword. While low competition is ideal in most situations, this is not one of them. (Sidenote while we’re on the subject: you almost never want to go after a keyword with high competition. That would put your odds at ranking on Google’s first page for this term at pretty much nothing.)
Second, what would you say the average person searching “realtor” is looking for, exactly? Someone to sell their home? Realtor.com? The definition of a realtor? Job opportunities as a realtor?
Only one of those is good for you—but even then, what are the odds the searcher is located near you? This and the lack of competition all point to the fact that “realtor” is not a high-intent keyword. That means that it is too general to consistently drive quality traffic to your site.
Choosing the right keywords for your website
So general keywords don’t work. But which ones do?
Your best bet is to focus on what those in the SEO industry call “long-tail keywords.” These are longer, multi-word search phrases that describe more specifically what the searcher wants, like for instance, “real estate agent in Milford Connecticut.” Maybe it only gets 30 searches a month, but odds are much better that you will be exactly what those 30 searchers are looking for.
One of the best ways to add high-value long-tail keywords to your site? Start a blog. This gives you an opportunity to not only find and target a wider variety of keywords, but to share your expertise with potential buyers and build credibility.
For more a more in depth (but still beginner-friendly) guide to optimizing blog posts, take a look at this blog post we created on the subject. It was originally intended to be a resource for loan officers, but many of the same points still stand.
Search engine tools
As you’ve probably already guessed, finding keywords requires a little help. Here are some good (and free) tools you can use to feel out your keyword options.
Google Keyword Planner. If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to this workhorse. Though it was intended to be used for Google adwords advertisers (these are the ads you see at the top of Google search results) it provides a lot of general information that can be used almost anywhere. It offers three main tools: one that helps you come up with new keywords, one that gets you search and competition data on those keywords, and another that lets you create lists of potential keywords from keywords you already have.
Keywordtool.io. While there is a more robust premium version of this site, the free version is a great way to get keyword suggestions quickly.
Google autofill. Surprisingly, this simple trick is a another easy way to find keywords suggestions. You know how when you type something into Google, they provide you with a list of things you could be typing? That’s because Google collects a lot of data and is able to suggest search terms based on it.
Mozbar. Moz is one of the most respected SEO programs out there, and this free Chrome extension offers you a few of its most helpful tools for free. It’s great for investigating a keyword you’ve chosen and can, among other things, show you the domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA) of current Google rankings for your keyword. The lower those competitors are, the better chance you have of beating that page and ranking.
Picking the right listing keywords for buyers
Now, on to a different kind of keyword: the listing keyword.
While the programs we’ve just discussed won’t apply directly to writing your listings, there is some crossover in strategy.
Buying a house isn’t the same thing as investing in stocks and bonds. There’s a lot of emotional baggage that comes with a home, and buyers don’t always make their decisions rationally.
That’s why it pays to really think hard about what kind of buyer you’re trying to attract.
Say a potential buyer is looking to narrow down their search for their dream house and adds the term “granite countertops.”
Could it mean they just really have a thing for granite? Sure.
But because of what granite signifies in most peoples’ minds (upscale, in a new development, recently renovated) and what you often find along with it (high-end fixtures, custom cabinetry, neutral tones), a search for granite countertops is also likely shorthand for something hard to describe or fit in a search bar, whether buyers realize it or not.
So what does that get you? A good idea of who these people are and what they want to see upon finding your listing—and your blueprint for keeping them hooked.
Whenever you’re writing a listing, remember to have a clear picture of your desired audience. Like with website keywords, that audience may be narrower, but it will be much more motivated to take the next step.
Keywords for upscale or move in ready properties
Though the properties maybe very different in reality, buyers of upscale and move-in ready homes tend to have similar tastes. Both are swayed by amenities and turned off by potential projects, and you’re going to want to stay aware of that as you write.
These 20 words, for instance, came from a study conducted on the listing descriptions of NYC homes that sold faster than the average. For the full list, check out the pdf.
beautiful
hardwood floors
stainless steel appliances
renovated
private
spacious
washer dryer
shopping
closet space
brand new
luxury
high ceilings
huge
wood floors
quiet
city views
enjoy
home office
fitness
pool
Keywords for homes that could use some love
Not all homes are (or can pretend to be) upscale, though. And in some cases, they shouldn’t try to be.
Homes that need a little work often attract a different set of buyers—investors and bargain hunters willing to put in a little sweat equity. Disguising your listing with careful wording can make it more difficult for the right buyers to find, keeping it on the MLS for longer than it needs to be. Just take a look at this Biggerpocket forum thread where users discussed how they search for investment properties.
Here are some of the words they like to see in listings: