Custom Page Question (SEO)

[Ryan Ward]

Not sure if I'm in the right spot here or not, but, I'll shoot from here and see where it goes.

Now that I have this beautiful newfangled IDX, I would like to use my own custom searches as a service to buyers I capture as part of my follow up when they inquire, register...instead of setting them up on the FMLS client gateway. My concern is that if I set up searches like this, I will be creating little or no original content on the pages.

Here is what I surmise:

Instead of dup content, it will be more like a bunch of interlinked pages on my website, but I want to make sure I'm not going to hurt myself.

So my question is whether or not I should nofollow, noindex and if so, do I have the ability to do that myself?

Anyone reading this that has a good suggestion, I'm open.

I think that this is a much better use of my website and should keep them with me much better than if I used an outside service client gateway to set up the searches.

[David Abernathy]

Ryan - did you ever receive feedback to your question?

Thanks

Dave

[Ryan Ward]

No. But it still seems like a good idea.

[David Abernathy]

Ryan - are you thinking about having a single page for each client?

I have my REW IDX underway and we just started thinking about how best to support our prospects ongoing searches.

Based on the ideas that you have prompted - i guess I need to chat with Morgan again

kudos on your site!!!

[Ryan Ward]

Well, that was my idea anyway...If someone was looking for homes for sale in Alpharetta between 4 & 500,000 I would just create a custom search page for them and they would be able to go and look. The reality is that if they have a saved search the are going to get the listings anyway. BUT, it's one more service and it's completely integrated into my website so it looks better.

Some people set up these search with their MLS gateways and I think they are ugly and cheesy. Seems it would be the same thing, but, on my site...

[David Abernathy]

How big of an area around Atlanta do you serve? If someone wants lakefront proprety do you show properties other than just Lake Winward - perhaps Lake Lanier or Allatoona?

if a person wants golf course properties how would you display properties at the Golf Club of GA, Crooked Creek, White Columns and the Atlanta National Club? Would you show on the same page properties in Roswell also?

thanks for sharing.

[webmaster]

The reason for the lack of staff answer is because this is the CSR forums and CSR staff are not equipped (Nor are they allowed) to answer SEO questions (Don't want them giving bad advice)

For those reading this and wondering (Well where could I post that and get help from REW staff) - I am really the only person that can answer questions like these, and it does fall under personal consulting as it is quite high level SEO discussion personalized to your specific situation (You could of course post it in the public Google forum as well and get members takes on it)

But since you asked Here is my suggestion -

You would normally write an email to your prospects once you were at this stage right? And this email would take all of 5-10 minutes each time right? Well why not take this opportunity to MAKE unique content for your site while at the same time sending them these links back to your site where they can become even more impressed with your services and expertise.

Take the time to write essentially what you would write in an email as a static page: I envision something like

"Alpharetta homes available from 200k-400k (Title)
Sept 17, homes available from 200-400 in the central Alpharetta area with 3 beds 2 baths. (Description)

You would of course use a snippet to create and pull in your listings (Which will be semi unique and dynamic - but then take the time to write what you would write in your email.

"Currently there is not a ton of inventory between 200-400 in the central Alpharetta area if you are looking for at least 3 beds and 2 baths, however in doing a search for these homes and looking slightly over (And even slightly under) I found several other suitable homes (Just raising the budget 25k increased the available inventory from 50 homes to 100) - certainly if your budget is a bit flexible, I think we could certainly find something to suit your needs - Keep in mind in this area, homes typically sell for 80% of asking price, so you might be able to get in right on budget and get more home than you realized.

It's fictitious and I don't know a damn thing about Alpharetta, but do you see my point? You have to write the email anyway, why not put it in the site, and write it in such a way that the link was personal enough (Because of history and prior conversations) to ensure you are being professional and taking care of your clients issues, but written in such a style that other users encountering the link (Which would have no personal client info) would find it exceptionally helpful and informative (Might just land you another buyer or two of the exact same type)

There you go - unique content, access to available inventory and increase relevant page count - with the added bonus of potentially showing off your prowess to a large audience which in turn can land you more buyers.

[webmaster]

Incidentally, I finally got around to creating an IDX specific forum for users of our REW IDX product, I have moved this thread to that forum.

[Lydia]

You would normally write an email to your prospects once you were at this stage right? And this email would take all of 5-10 minutes each time right? Well why not take this opportunity to MAKE unique content for your site while at the same time sending them these links back to your site where they can become even more impressed with your services and expertise.

Take the time to write essentially what you would write in an email as a static page: I envision something like

"Alpharetta homes available from 200k-400k (Title)
Sept 17, homes available from 200-400 in the central Alpharetta area with 3 beds 2 baths. (Description)

You would of course use a snippet to create and pull in your listings (Which will be semi unique and dynamic - but then take the time to write what you would write in your email.

"Currently there is not a ton of inventory between 200-400 in the central Alpharetta area if you are looking for at least 3 beds and 2 baths, however in doing a search for these homes and looking slightly over (And even slightly under) I found several other suitable homes (Just raising the budget 25k increased the available inventory from 50 homes to 100) - certainly if your budget is a bit flexible, I think we could certainly find something to suit your needs - Keep in mind in this area, homes typically sell for 80% of asking price, so you might be able to get in right on budget and get more home than you realized.

It's fictitious and I don't know a damn thing about Alpharetta, but do you see my point? You have to write the email anyway, why not put it in the site, and write it in such a way that the link was personal enough (Because of history and prior conversations) to ensure you are being professional and taking care of your clients issues, but written in such a style that other users encountering the link (Which would have no personal client info) would find it exceptionally helpful and informative (Might just land you another buyer or two of the exact same type)

That is a really good idea, and I have just the client right now for that...Thanks Morgan!

[webmaster]

Not a problem