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Craigs List is a great SEO tool often overlooked

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

I have written in the past about my luck with Craig's List.  I am a fan of it not only for advertising properties but it is an awesome SEO tool if used correctly.  The more popular sites link to your site, the higher your site will be ranked by the popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.

Many know that I am not a fan of using Postlets, VFlyer and similar real estate fliers with Craig's List.  The more information we give to viewers, the less likely they are to link to our sites, it is the basic rule of advertising that has never changed.  I use Craig's List in many new ways that most have never thought of and one thing I always do is give limited photos and encourage the viewer to link to my site by having a link to it.  This causes two things:  First I get the SEO benefit of the viewer linking to my site and secondly, I encourage them to look at other listings and other valuable information I have posted on my site.

The data below was taken from my site tonight and shows that two Craig's List postings I posted early in the week rank directly behind Google in terms of attracting the most viewers to my site. It can't be any clearer than that.  At one time when I tried using Postlet I had NO VIEWERS link to my site.  As soon as I went back to the system I currently use the links to my website skyrocketed and I started getting sales.

Postlet, VFlyer and other real estate flyers look nice but they don't encourage visitors to link to your site and this in my opinion is a big mistake in the proper use of Craig's List or any other real estate portal. Don't give the farm away in advertising.  Give visitors a reason to link to your site. The search engines will smile upon you and you will have viewers view other listings of yours they otherwise would not have done.

 

(no referral)129  28.04%     
www.google.com122  26.52%    
eastoregon.craigslist.org56  12.17%    
boise.craigslist.org39  8.48%    
search.yahoo.com33  7.17%    
activerain.com27  5.87%    
search.msn.com13  2.83%    
search.live.com9  1.96%    
www.buildrealestateresults.com5  1.09%    
realestate.aol.com

 

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker 
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.
Posted by

Native Idahoan and Boise Idaho Real Estate specialist serving Boise, Meridian Eagle, Nampa, Caldwell and the surrounding Treasure valley area of southwest Idaho. Specializing in residential, investment, land and commercial real estate. Search thousands of MLS listings at Boise Homes for sale and learn all about Idaho by visiting Search Idaho Homes

Comments (64)

George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Don - Thank you my friend and have a blessed Easter to you and your family.
Mar 23, 2008 03:15 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty
I have always entered information about the home but just started using postlets since it looks nicer in Craigslist and never thought about it until I read your post.  Thanks for the info George, I am not going to try this out instead.  You are so smart! 
Mar 28, 2008 03:20 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Patricia - This is basic advertising 101.   The more information we give the reader, the less likely they are to call us.  In the case of Craig's List, the more we give them, the less likely they are to link to our site. I have tried Postlet and Vflyer on Craig's list with no success.  As soon as I started with my new ideas my sales increased and the SEO benefit sky rocketed as you can see.
Mar 28, 2008 03:26 PM
Steve Harless
Resolution Realty - Las Vegas, NV

George: If You Love Using Craig's list click here

hope this helps everyone generate more hits and sales!

good luck, Steve Harless

Mar 28, 2008 03:46 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Steve -  Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend. P.S. I just learned about photo bucket earlier today from another Active Rain member.  It is an awesome site.
Mar 28, 2008 03:50 PM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

George,

 

Interesting info...thanks for heads up! 

Mar 29, 2008 01:35 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Sandy - You are welcome...have a great evening.
Mar 29, 2008 01:36 PM
Janice Slaven
Berkshire Hathaway GA Prop - Suwanee, GA
Suwanee Georgia Real Estate

This isn't reallyr related to your article. How did you get the "Featured Listings" and "Search MLS" buttons at the bottom or your article with a link?  I really like that. I assume (I didn't click) that they both go to your website.


Thanks,

Janice Slaven, Realtor,ABR
Active Phoenix Member

If you would email me: Janice@MyRealtorJanice.com

Mar 30, 2008 12:44 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Janice - I will email you the information, thanks.
Mar 30, 2008 01:24 PM
Barb Hutchinson, Fruitland Idaho - Payette County homes and real estate
Silverhawk Realty - Payette, ID
www.BarbHutchinsonHomes.com
I have used Postlets on Craigslist as well as my own format for information, depending on the listing, and I just went back and checked my traffic report.  WOW!  The listings that had a minimal amount of information and a photo or two definitely outpulled the listings that I advertised with Postlets. This is very amazing information and I thank you for it, George!
Mar 30, 2008 05:58 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Barb - I'm glad you read this and see the difference because MANY REALTORS ARE BEING FOOLED BY POSTLET AND VFLYER!  At first these programs WOW US into thinking they are it but they go against the biggest rule in advertising "The more information we give the less people will search us out".  Good luck and have a great week!
Mar 31, 2008 02:45 AM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta
Thanks for the info George.  Besides you...."Craig" may be my new friend! :)
Mar 31, 2008 04:17 AM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate

Janice - Thank you my friend.  I hope all is well in your world.  Have a great day!

Mar 31, 2008 04:49 AM
Jan Huchteman
Associate Broker, Duffy Realty - Decatur, GA
Thank's George for the Craig's List hints.  I am new to activerain and loved reading your great advice and will put it to use for my Atlanta area listings!
Mar 31, 2008 01:27 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Jan - Welcome to Active Rain and I wish you well!
Mar 31, 2008 01:39 PM
Thomas E. Elder
Mortgage Broker Compliance Consultants - Forest Hill, MD
Founder, Mortgage Broker Compliance Consultants
Great infomrmation.  It never even occurred to me to utilize Craig's List.  It does make all the sense in the world though.   Thanks again.  
Mar 31, 2008 01:46 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Tom - You are welcome and good luck to you.
Mar 31, 2008 01:48 PM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

George, I had missed this post earlier for some reason, but I am going through all your posts as a "college class" tonight.  I am glad I did.  I will definitely try this.

Thanks for your helpfulness.

May 15, 2008 04:33 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate

Pam - Thanks my friend...I miss seeing you. Stop by my office and say hello when you get a chance and have a great weekend.

May 16, 2008 06:43 AM
Michele Hanigan
Keller Williams Realty Plano, Texas - Dallas, TX
Realtor - Dallas & Plano Real Estate - (214)738-5555

Great Post George.  Good information.  Our office automatically posts it to Craig's list, but I really need to check into that more to see what that's all about.

Jun 22, 2011 11:59 AM