Encouraged by the positive feedback from the real estate community about the initial release of the "Search The Real Estate Web" custom search engine, we are pleased to let you know that we released a co-branded version as a free service. We also offer a unique revenue sharing advertising model for those agents who deploy this co-branded version. But first thing first.

Vertical real estate search engine

The RealBird vertical real estate search engine allows consumers to search for any real estate terms across thousands of real estate sites and networks. It utilizes the familiar Google user interface and utilizes Google's technolgy to provide state-of-the-art content ranking and lightning fast results. Rather than searching the billions of pages in the regular Google index, this search engine focuses on hand selected professional real estate content. While the selection is focused, the number of content pages are still large and aggregated from distinct real estate sites. In other words, the vertical real estate search engine provides a more focused, but robust result set for the consumers and hopefully a very accurate search experience of real estate content.

Co-branded - your traffic, your brand, your links

With the current release, real estate professionals can create a co-branded version of the same service for themselves. It is a free service. The co-branded service provides you with a version of the service which carries your photo, name, links to website, blog and featured listings on ALL pages and upon subsequent returns of the same visitor (see Bill Gassett's example on the right). This branded information is presented to all consumers who arrives through your very own link. The co-branded version also comes with a branded search widget which you can add to your blog and ActiveRain sidebar. Embedded in this post below is Janie Coffey's live widget for demonstration. As you can see, the widget itself carries your brand and links and all searches submitted through a particular widget maintains the branding information. Furthermore, when a consumer shares your widget through social networks, bookmarking sites or via email, it maintains your co-branded version also, so that you get incremental traffic to your own co-branded search engine from additional placements.

Revenue sharing

As you can see, there are advertisement above, below and on the left of the search result. We thought that it is only fair that we share the revenue with you for the traffic and click-throughs originated through your co-branded service, your blog's traffic and through your social networking activities. The system is designed in a way, that you can add your own custom content to the footer section of the search result pages. Not only the header will carry your profile and links, but you can also add further revenue generating and promotional content below the search results. In short, click through traffic from the built in ads above and on the left will generate revenue for us and all click-thrus below the results will generate ad revenue or traffic for you (assuming you configured the service with your own ad code) .

SEO benefits

One of the beauty of this design is what I like to call "chain-linked" SEO. This may sound like a complicated concept, but in practice it is very easy to accomplish. The idea is that you deep link from your websites and blogs to your co-branded search engine result page with specif search terms, "do follow" links and proper anchor tags. When Google's main search engines indexes your content again (your website, your blog etc.) and it finds these links, it will follow them to your own RealBird search engine result pages and it will index those pages also. Those pages contain your search engine friendly links. These links are pointing back to your website and blog. Ideally, Google will follow these links to your 3rd party sites and consider them as backward links. The RealBird system allows you to create as many "deep links" to specific result pages as you want hence making Google follow and index even more pages with your own links on them. In turn, this may very well increase your website and blog ranking even more. We suggest that you set up a few direct links for search terms for which your own content comes up first (your name, your brokerage, your local market and your name) and add those links to your website or blog. You can also add a few to your ActiveRain sidebar, under the link section, which will be populated to all of your AR blog posts. Within the RealBird member area, we provide a handy tool to create these links in seconds. Furthermore, because hopefully many of you will create deep links, the overall number of pages Google will know on the same domain name (search.realbird.com) will increase drastically.

Here are three more examples:
Virginia Beach real estate
Healdsburg Real Estate Blog
Akron, OH homes for sale

Transparency - the value proposition

We love transparency, so here we go: the value proposition for everybody involved is the following:

Consumers - They have access to a focused, easy to use, general purpose vertical real estate search engine

Us at RealBird - We receive ad revenue on the portion of the traffic

YOU - Free marketing and branding tool for you. Provide an invaluable service to your visitors. Increase the SEO of your own content and generate additional revenue with the revenue sharing model, if you opt-in to do so.

Additional content

We are continously improving the search engine by adding more related websites and networks to its index. With this release we have added content from RISMedia, Real Estate Shows, ClassifiedFlyerAds, Zipvo, Postlets and VFlyer to the growing index. As always, if you do not find your own blog or website after searching for your name or your domain name, just let us know. You can request the inclusion by commenting below.

Best practices

I hope I could successfully explain the benefits of this new, free service. It's cobranded, all your visitors who comes through your widgets and co-branded links will see your own photo banner no matter what they searched for, the revenue sharing or additional promotional options and SEO. If you decide to utilize this service - and we certainly hope you will - than we suggest that you promote your co-branded version as much as you can. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

  • Use the built in social bookmarking feature on the co-branded widget - share the link on Facebook, delicious, Digg, Twitter and others
  • Create good, meaningful direct deep links using specific search term and your co-branded Url. Chose the ones which directly benefit you and make sure that the link's anchor tag has related, meaningful name and title.
  • Add the co-branded widget to your blog and website and share it through email as well. Ask your network (farm, friends) to share it with their friends as well.

How to get started - it's free

  • Existing RealBird members: Access the widget configuration page in the member area (login required)
  • New to RealBird? Register for free and configure and grab your private labeled widget on the "Widgets" => "Search The Real Estate Web™" member page

Finally, please share this announcement with your network !

As always, we do appreciate if you share this post by Re-Blogging, through FaceBook, via Twitter other networks or by simply emailing it to your collegues.

Thanks and do not hesitate to contact us with your feedback.

-- Zoltan
RealBird.com


 
Post is included in group: The Optimist
Post is included in group: Technology
Post is included in group: Tech Corner
Post is included in group: Real Estate Technology
Post is included in group: Free Tools For Real Estate Agents

52 Comments on Search The Real Estate Web - Take Two

MAR
01
Outside Blog

Thank you RealBird. As an existing member, I am off to check out the new widget. I will do my best to help promote you.

Catherine in NY

4:58pm • #1
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks Catherine ! Let us know what you think about this new service.

5:00pm • #2
158,648 Points 11 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Thanks Zoltan!  I lovew this service and will be sure to share it with the RE community!

Tina in Virginia

5:05pm • #3
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks Tina !!!

5:10pm • #4
174,445 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

real bird..I love you! Thanks to you I found Active Rainblue bird

5:28pm • #5
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hannah - We are glad to hear that. Thanks for the picture as well. It's funny, we call our development lab the Nest here at RealBird

5:32pm • #6
146,976 Points

Thank you Z, I can't wait to install it on my website and blog! Thank the "nest" for us!

Thanks for the mention in the post, it's great...............I will spread the word!

5:44pm • #7
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks David !

5:59pm • #8
121,532 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hey, I love this, I want to work with my website provider to swap out my search for this one.  On second hand, can you guys just become my website provider?  I don't know why I would ever need anything other than all the great tools RealBird provides the real estate community...  Always better and better, now just get the MLS feature for me please please ;-)

6:14pm • #9
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Janie - Your MLS is the next one. I promise. We just have to get through a few more product releases first. A few upgrades for the Listing Publisher and than the big one, that I can't tell just yet :) Than we are back adding more MLSs to the Map-based Search.

6:21pm • #10
427,325 Points 47 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Z - I skimmed your post here. I need to come back and really read it in detail but it sounds real interesting. You have put a lot of effort into this. It sounds like a great tool. I will flag it for a feature for you.

6:27pm • #11
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks Bill ! 

6:32pm • #12
Outside Blog

Zoltan, there is a lot of information here and I thought I was hanging in with it until we started "digging deep" oh my goodness...  I am bookmarking to go back and reread in pieces.  Great information.

6:50pm • #13
187,607 Points

Good information. I'm going to try this out.

6:57pm • #14
3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

You never cease to amaze me. I don't know what I'd do without RealBird. My real estate life would be so much harder without you. Thanks for all you do!

7:07pm • #15
186,615 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Zoltan~

Thanks to Active Rain, I found RealBird.com ~ Excellent and innovative tool that you are releasing. I hope to be a part of it. Perhaps someone will register RainBird.com ~ I have enough domains as it is...

7:16pm • #16
6 Featured Posts

Very cool tool Zoltan.  I like the simple style of it too.  Gives the same feel as a Google search, which people are used to.

7:26pm • #17
104,112 Points

Thanks for the heads up. Will check it out and get signed up.

Have a great day

Tony

8:31pm • #18

Sounds interesting...I will be looking into it more tomorrow.

 

8:41pm • #19
199,489 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Thanks Zoltan - now I just need to get more listings and try it out.

9:15pm • #20
232,553 Points 27 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Wow !  I need to come back an re-read this and sign up when I am more alert !  You definitely have some great links and great AR all-stars as good examples !  I am interested !  ~  Chris

9:26pm • #21

Thank you Z, very nice set of tools. 

9:54pm • #22
1 Featured Post

Hello Zoltan.  Your new search engine info sounds interesting.  Thanks!

10:32pm • #23
MAR
02
353,025 Points 30 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Zoltan:  I need to come back tomorrow with a clear head and read this. 

I just love Real Bird and I want all my friends to start using it to promote their business.  It is simply the best tool around.

You're at the top of the Optimist Board as a featured post.  I can't say enough about how happy I am with the results Real Bird confers.  You guys are awesome!

We now have that Real Bird map mash up on our site for both our listings and our property management.  I get leads from my many Real Bird flyers constantly.  Populating Craigs list, kidji and all the others is real easy with your Real Bird flyer. 

Real Bird has become my number one, most preferred source of Internet advertising.  I can't believe it's free!

By the way, you are welcome to use my testimonials any time, on any venue.  I support you 100%. 

12:21am • #24
156,121 Points

This is great! I'm off to get a widget! Thanks

1:36am • #25
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Kelly, Brian - Thanks, feel free to post a link to your blog as a comment when its deployed

3:09am • #26
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Dee, Mott - We love happy clients! Good to hear from you. I was somewhat reluctant to pick sample examples without prior notice to them, but both of you are long term supporters so I'd be happy to feature you as an example as well. You can also post a link to your co-branded version of course.

3:13am • #27
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Misty - Nice to meet you and thanks for your input. Your company has some great tools as well.

3:15am • #28
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Tony, Kristina, Kathleen - Let us know when you have your co-branded version deployed. I'd love to see more private labeled widgets out there.

3:16am • #29
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Christopher and Stephanie, Zilkia, Sandy - Thanks for commenting. Please let us know if you have questions on how to use it and your feedback is very welcome. The "chain-linked" SEO explained above might be just very well be a powerful tool. The deep links in the post above are already indexed by Google's main index with the private labeled info, so getting some link up with your version to your local market searches can reserve some spot in Google's index with your name and your own backlinks on it 

3:21am • #30
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mirela - Thanks for featuring it in the Optimist group. I will definitely use your quote as a testimonial with links back to you. I'll post it later today on our profile page and on RealBird. Others who would like to be featured with a testimonial please let us know.

Mirela, thanks again for your continuous support.

3:25am • #31

Very interesting I need some time to play eith it.

THANKS

Chuck Crafton
7:00am • #32
409,113 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I will bookmark this and read it again. I signed up recently and have a lot to learn about RealBird.

7:56am • #33
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Gita - Thanks. I'll also get the Clicky code set up today.

8:00am • #34
111,928 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Awesome tool, or so it sounds.  Have bookmarked the page to give a further look.  Thanks for sharing and explaining this to all of us!

Twitter

8:48am • #35
Outside Blog

Outstanding.  Had to find this blog again to comment but I found it.  I went onto RealBird and I have one of my listings so far on it's own web site.  Already getting hits.  Thanks for the info.

9:04am • #36
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks Kris. Come check it out on RealBird and let us know if you have it deployed. Deep linking to your preferred search term and your co-branded Url is important for maximum effect

9:06am • #37
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Ron - I saw you sent out invitations from RealBird as well. Thanks !!!

9:25am • #38
4 Featured Posts

This sounds like a tool I am going to really like.  I am going to sign up now.  I look forward to working with you.

2:27pm • #39
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Jodi and welcome to RealBird. Let us know your feedback and do not hesitate to contact us if you need support with any of the RealBird services.

2:31pm • #40
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I just deleted a comment which was clearly spammy. Not even "Hi everybody", just a large size ad. Those of you who are on the comment alert, you received it already, for the rest of you here is the the link to their site. Just to be fair.  

Now back to the topic. Please let us know when you have your co-branded search widget deployed. Feel free to link to it in the comments below to get more promotion for your version.

 

 

3:03pm • #42
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Here are a few co-branded widgets I found so far (see the sidebars on these blogs). Please share yours for the rest of us to see.

http://activerain.com/blogs/janiec

http://activerain.com/blogs/akronohiohomes

http://activerain.com/blogs/tinamerritt

 

 

4:47pm • #43

I have bookmarked your site and am going to check it out. Looks like I will use it though. Thanks for the post.

6:06pm • #45
381,083 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Zoltan,

i guess, I am another one, who skimmed the post, but wants to come tomorrow with a clear head and go through this carefully.

Thank you

11:31pm • #46
MAR
03
245,881 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I will check this out too.  I signed up for it = now, to have the time to play around with it!

8:36am • #47
MAR
04
Localism Sponsor Hit Router

Zoltan,

Here is an example of the new RealBird vertical real estate search engine with our RealBird listing widget incorporated into the footer section of the search result pages.
EXAMPLE 1:  Southlake Tx, Magness, Blaser and Yoakum Realty Group

I also placed the branded search widget on to the right column of my Active rain blog. 
EXAMPLE 2: AR Blog

Thanks for the great new tools!

12:04am • #48

Zoltan - this is very cool, you never cease to amaze me with what you guys come up with.

The RealBird in the Rain.

1:13am • #49
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Craig, Jon, Karen - Thanks. Let us know what you think.

8:53am • #50
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Brenda, Brenda & Pam - Excellent. Thanks for sharing the links

8:55am • #51
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Brad - Thanks for the kind words and the slogan too :)

8:56am • #52
MAR
19
210,080 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Updated stats: Approximately 496,000 pages from the hand-picked real estate websites are now in the search engine index.  

8:48pm • #53

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