Paid Real Estate Directories With No-Follow Tags
Posted Oct 8, 2007 @ 2:40 pm, Viewed by 324 Visitors, Read 335 Times.I first started working on ideas for my Scottsdale Homes real estate site approximately 6 months ago. During this period of time I have done much reading regarding SEO (search engine optimization). After all, following and implementing the basic principles of SEO is what's needed to climb the rankings in popular search engines such as Google or Yahoo for specific keyword phrases . Isn't that what every webmaster wants?
Recently, I decided that I would add my site to some of the more well known real estate directories out there for a couple of reasons.
- First and foremost, I'm hoping that potential clients visit some of these directories and find my website useful and relevant , resulting in additional business.
- The second reason is receiving a link back to your site from the directory that you are listed in. For a newer site like mine, a link coming from an authority site like a relevant directory with high pr (page rank) can't hurt. In fact, it would probably help.
So, off I went to start searching for the directories that I thought would be most cost effective and beneficial for my real estate website and business. I have a plugin for my Firefox browser that shows when someone has put a no-follow tag on links within their pages which would effectively negate #2 on my list of reasons to submit to directories.
During my search I came across a directory that ranks rather well (at least for the term I was searching) and had decent pr. It's a paid for inclusion directory, so I thought I would do some research and check out how user friendly it was etc... One thing I noticed was that on about half the listings per page, the site owner had put the no follow attribute on agents submissions.
So my question for real estate webmasters out there is this: Is it unethical and/or wrong for the directory owner to put no follow tags on agents listings in a paid directory?
Barry Cox
Realty Executives
Phone: 480-209-6277
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Social Bookmarking6 Responses to “Paid Real Estate Directories With No-Follow Tags”
Scottsdale Homes
Hi Brian, Here's a link where you can get the plugin for your Firefox browser: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/321 I don't feel comftorable disclosing the directory at this time, as there may be a valid reason for doing so. I hope you understand.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a webmaster applying a no-follow to outgoing links on their site, it is their site, they can do as they please. In terms of ethics, it should never be a question (Unless) they advertise "clean do follow links" and then apply the no follow after the fact.
Many areas of Real Estate Webmasters that are more prone to wannabe spammers have no follows applied, we are very public of their existence and it is my feeling that if someone was only here to get links back to their site, they are here for the wrong reason 
Scottsdale Homes
Morgan, thanks for commenting on my blog. When I said Real Estate Webmasters, I wasn't referencing your company. I have nothing but love. I just came across this while looking at other directories, and thought it would be great to get others opinions.
Brian Mc
Wow Morgan, I didn't see that you advertise "clean do follow links" for the REW featured directory link I just paid $120 for, did I miss the fine print? Hope you don't decide to no-follow it later. 
I am not suggesting that you would do this, but do you see where I am coming from? I just paid $25 to I-RED and didn't see that verbiage on their site either. Getting ready to do ABC but don't see that either. I have a problem with paying money in good faith and not getting what I pay for. I even used your own blog post about how to pick my directories carefully, I eagerly await part II now.
I can see why Morgan would want to prevent the spammers, however, if you are paying money to be included in a directory to gain exposure to your site and to also gain a back link, it makes no sense that a company could take your money and then apply a no-follow. That it a called disception.
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Don't understand why they would do this, definitely does not sound ethical. Please PM me the details of this company if you can as I am also submitting now and would hate to waste my money. Thanks for bringing this up, I will check closer at who I am listing with.