Home > Blogs > Jeff Gray > A blog about how to use ActiveRain.

Widgets: Sometimes "FREE" can cost you!

By Jeff Gray

Education & Training

January 03, 2013 09:02 AM

We all know that ActiveRain helps you rank well in Google's SERPs by using the long tail search. Don't forfeit some of your advantage by using "free" widgets!

Today, I found a new (to me) ad hanging out on my "My Home" page. I followed the link and was rather pleasantly surprised by what I found. This is a truly eye-opening info-graphic. I have no experience with Real Geeks, good or bad, but this sounds like great advice for anyone who is trying to rank for real estate in their local area.

How You're Helping Zillow and Trulia to Outrank You was created by: Real Geeks IDX Solutions

Thanks for the heads up Real Geeks!

Re-Blog

Comments(9)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Gay E. Rosen

Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY

As Real as Real Estate Gets!

Jeff- Phew! I read from top to bottom and thank goodness I am not linking to eiuther site... I now am wonderiing about other sites!

Jan 03, 2013 09:08 AM

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Nothing is Free! Those Widgets are a Trojan Horse.

This article cannot be re-posted enough.

Jan 03, 2013 09:11 AM

John J. Woods

Big Dog Press, LLC - Winder, GA

Going where no man has gone before - wouldn't you?

WOW! What an eye-opener. Makes me wonder, as Gay (#1) said, what's going on with other sites and other widgets. I know that lots of people use widgets in their WordPress Blogs/Sites and there is a ton of them available. This is scary stuff! Should I be concerned about all these other widgets, or is there traits (such as Terms of Use) to be on the lookout for?

Jan 03, 2013 09:26 AM

Jeff Gray

Seattle, WA

@Gay: Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you're "safe" :)

@Fred: You should be able to re-blog this. Try clearing your cache and giving it another attempt. :)

@John: I would suggest following the link to the full article. The nice people at Real Geeks have a much more in-depth answer to that question already written. ;)

Jan 04, 2013 04:37 AM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for the info Jeff, I learned a lot about backlinks and the little tricks that trulia uses with this cool infographic.

Jan 04, 2013 10:49 AM

Erna Neal

The Viking Team, Realty - Winter Park, FL

A Knowledgable Central Florida Realtor

Jeff, such good info there. I don't use the widgets from Zillow or others, but would love to use IDX Brokers widgets, but I can't in the Rain. I would love to know why we can put widgets to Zillow that hurt our SEO, but widgets to our IDX are not allowed.

Jan 28, 2013 07:27 AM

Kristi Knutson

Kirkland, WA

Blog Trainer ☂

This ad is sooo cute! The information is super useful, but the little guy is just so adorable. :) Thanks for the info!

Feb 21, 2013 12:36 AM

Janis Borgueta

Newburgh, NY

Retired RE Salesperson

Amazing how many agents are still using these widgets. It is smart marketing for those companies .. not our businesses.

Mar 07, 2013 09:17 AM

Mike Baltierra

Rise Realty - Eastvale, CA

Full Service at Your Service Realtor-Eastvale CA

That was crazy what there doing. Great info. I understand a lot more now. Great graphic.

Nov 06, 2013 10:33 AM

Widgets: Sometimes "FREE" can cost you!

We all know that ActiveRain helps you rank well in Google's SERPs by using the long tail search. Don't forfeit some of your advantage by using "free" widgets!

Comments(9)

Jeff Gray

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information