Real Estate Directories

[Wayne Griggs]

THIS IS A POST I MADE ON ANOTHER SITE


First from my research and from the conclusions I have come to. The real estate directories such as www.epoweredprofessionals.com and www.relo-experts.com

Are capturing local real estate search phrases. This in its self is costing real estate agents that have rankings business.

Me personally I figure it could cost me 40k or more per year in business. Directories are meant to target national search phrases not local.

Since I see this as a trend I have recommended to everyone within our relocation group that they remove these sites. I will also recommend through other real estate sites that the same be done.

Since I know Doug who owns this site and Epoweredprofessionals as well will not be happy with this post.

It is time as Realtors we stop being scammed by these directories as to what benefit they offer us. Those realtors that dont rank in the search engines this has some benefit to but those of us that do rank it cost us money.

I believe by removing these types of directories it will affect their positions in the search engines greatly. I personally do not mind a directory coming up in the lower half of the top 10 for a search phrase of mine...but when you have them ranking # 1 2 and 3 for phrases like Atlanta real estate agent .. atlanta real estate...Boca raton real estate.. atlanta real estate... las vegas real estate agent and there are many others and I only use those because I search those markets.

Coming up for those search phrases pulls a realtor out of those top positions and that cost them money.

I can say this is a mission of mine dont know how long it will take but I will proactively fight and post to make sure all that are affected by this does something about it. We as website owners spend a lot of time and money on our sites to have someone whom you must pay to get listed in their directory to where it would offer you benefit have them pass you in the search results. This COST YOU MONEY in your market.

I believe that this post will be deleted but I hope that it doesnt. Either way this post is being posted on every real estate website forum and some seo forums that I am listed with. I am not the only one that feels this way there are a great number of realtors that have started to look at this and want to take action. Please check your own local markets and search phrases

If you have any comments please post them if this isnt removed. Would love to hear ALL opinions on this. I dont claim to know it all but this is how and many others like me see it.

[Kristina]

Hi Wayne,

Moving my reply over to the correct thread, lol. What do I think of your post? Hmm... First off, I do not classify myself as an 'expert' and I am of the mentality that 'I learn something new everyday'. I started learning about SEO back in '98 submitting all of our AA websites to Yahoo and making 'friends' with the Yahoo editors. Then I just kept learning more as things changed.

I work with Bill Koelzer (Debbie Ferrari's website) personally in making the changes on the site (Bill does the content and decides where it goes, we just do the actual HTML changes) so I have been following some of the comments going on these past few days in change the Referral Network around.

My first question - Are you grouping those two directories with other places such as IRED.com, RealEstateABC.com, Reals.com, and RELibrary.com to name a few?

IMHO, these are quality websites that Realtors should acquire a link on. a) it is great for exposure and b) it's giving you a good backlink/PR to start with.

Or, are you just directing your comments to these smaller directories? Where do you draw the line?

Kristina <----- Would like to know more....

[Rich@vtws]

SOrry but I had to copy my reply from another site...I'm typed out

Hey Wayne,
Don't hold back brother...tell us how you really feel It's obvious from your site that you put an enormous amount of time and effort into things and I can sympathize with having your traffic gobbled up by directories. That being said...how many people put in the effort that we do or ever will? The vast majority of the real estate sites out there would have exactly zero visitors if they weren't in directories. My feelings are that the tide will turn over time as Realtors become educated on the importance of having a real net presence and the fact that it costs money to do so. Aside from the directories... how do you think it makes me feek for my clients when everytime I turn on the TV I see ad after ad for sites like justlisted.com and so on. They convey the idea that this is some kind of wonderful service to the homeseekers...far from it. How much traffic do you think their sites would get if their marketing told the truth like : log onto our site and give us your information...we will then take it and sell it to realtors in your area for a profit"
Realtors and brokers continue to look for the fast free fix when the answer is comprehensive marketing, branding of themselves and their companies and investment in the future. Most fall into two categories from where I sit. Not willing to see the value and future or not willing or able to invest appropriately in their businesses. Case in point, Our clients have hundreds of full time proffessional agents. Since we are handling all their marketing,advertising, web stuiff and so on, we recently decided to create some programs for them that wouldn't cost them a dime. Free ad design help, marketing plan examination and restructuring, special website with ad templates, marketing stuff..yada yada yada... Since we launched and pushed it to them would you care to guess how many have taken any measureable advantage of it?.....exactly 7. Just so happens that these seven are in the top 10% in closed commissions. Go figure All we can do is coach, guide and help the ones who want it and take pride in that. Holy crap..did I just type all that

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Rich
Advertising, Marketing & Virtual Tours