IDX on www.jboyerhomes.com

[Morristown]

Ok, guys here is a question for you. My local MLS is asking me what I want. Here is what they say, "You must select either FTP or Smart Frame for each URL. Also, you may only select one choice for each URL." so what do I pick and why??

[REfid]

James, I have used them before. (If it is g s mls)
Regarding your question, you’re basically asking which one is better: custom idx (ftp) or the smart frame. I’m sure everyone here will tell you to use the custom IDX.
The mainly problem with their smart frame is that it shows the listing office, listing agent and agent's phone number. In other words, people might use your site to search for homes but may contact the telephone number showing on the listing (not yours).
For you to have an idea about the smart frame, just go to their main website and search for properties, the results is just the same as the smart frame. new.gsmls.com/public/index.jsp

[Morristown]

Thanks for the info REFid,

Not really interested in displaying other agents names and numbers, but not sure I am capable of doing the custom IDX on my own.

Jim

[REW Reed]

If we are talking about the Garden State MLS, then their rules say:

11.5.6 ADVERTISING OF IDX LISTINGS: The advertising of IDX listings on an individual’s website is subject to the following requirements:
- Listing brokers have the option, but are not required, to include identifying information (i.e., names of listing broker/listing agent, address, telephone number) in the listings they place into the IDX database. To the extent this information is included by the listing broker, other individuals participating in the IDX program must include at least the broker's name in the IDX advertising of that listing

Only the listing broker name is required. But, yes, custom IDX's require quite a bit of work to accomplish. You have to turn the FTP data into something meaningful and set up scripts to keep your listings up to date, you have to interface with the web through your website to display the listings, and you have to make sure you follow all of the MLS's rules or they will take your feed away.

You could always get a company with a lot of experience to do it for you...

[webmaster]

James - Because you are an REW user, if you wanted a true (Built in search engine friendly custom IDX) you would have to use REW IDX - you could of course hire an outside programming firm to create a custom IDX for you, but you will still be forced to iframe in that solution and pay a large secondary hosting fee for the data.

For your info: REW DOES service your MLS market - although they don't provide addresses or geo-codes, so mapping is currently not available in your area.

[webmaster]

So back to your question - unless you want to spend several thousands of dollars on a custom solution (Which is really beneficial if you have the funds and I recommend it) you choose the smartframe option as there is no cost, just your labor to create the iframes.

[Morristown]

James - Because you are an REW user, if you wanted a true (Built in search engine friendly custom IDX) you would have to use REW IDX - you could of course hire an outside programming firm to create a custom IDX for you, but you will still be forced to iframe in that solution and pay a large secondary hosting fee for the data.

For your info: REW DOES service your MLS market - although they suck (I guess I could have said that nicer) they don't really suck, they just don't provide addresses or geo-codes, so mapping is currently not available in your area.

So should I assume that since G-S_M-L-S does not currently provide addresses or geo-codes that there is no real current additional value in going custom, other than it looks lots better and may work better. Meaning all those other pages are not generated with addresses and such so someone is not likely to stumble upon me by googling a property address that happens to be listed with someone else??

That is how I read what you said, and what others have said on the subject. Am I wrong???

By the way I would be carefull what you say about G-S-M_L-S as there is no telling how they react to stuff

Thanks,

Jim

[Calgary Agent]

James - Your MLS's "smartframe option" would be iframed into your site, and would NOT be considered content by Google bot's (so none of the listings would contribute to site content as seen by SE bots)

OTOH, the custom IDX (that REW can create) would be fully visible to SE bots. Not only that, but the display of content is fully customizable - all you need to do is comply with your board's IDX requirements (i.e. displaying listings brokerage)

[webmaster]

edited at your suggestion

[Morristown]

James -
OTOH, the custom IDX (that REW can create) would be fully visible to SE bots. Not only that, but the display of content is fully customizable - all you need to do is comply with your board's IDX requirements (i.e. displaying listings brokerage)

Does that apply to a MLS which is not providing property addresses or geo-codes?? what is there for the SE bots to latch onto as individual things that are unique??