If you have a website listing of all available properties for sale in your area from a range of different real estate companies and brokers then you are using an IDX service. This is basically a feed that allows all the listings within specific criteria to automatically be displayed on your website, even if you don’t have the listing yourself. IDX optimization allows you to go beyond just the basics to help to bring traffic to your website rather than losing them to the competition.
Create Your Searches
IDX optimization, where the IDX actually stands for Internet Data Exchange, is really not specifically tailored to any site until you create the specifications. It is important to choose the terms that you want the IDX feed to put on your site. You can be very specific and bring in results by location, by property type or even by geographic location.
Then, you can also create your own search preferences that will immediately link people on your site to this information on the feed. However, the customer will see this as coming from your site, not sending them to another site.
Make Your Content Count
When you only use the content provided on the IDX material you are not going to get IDX optimization. In fact, the search engine may read this as duplicate content from multiple other sites all using the same IDX search criteria. So, to maximize your IDX optimization, add some unique content to replace the stock information in the description.
This is also a great way to include links to other listings on your website or to content from your website. These links within the description will add to your IDX optimization.
For example, if you write a description about a home with hardwood floors, and you have a blog on the advantage of hardwood floors in home, link the two with a hyperlink. This not only keeps people reading on your website but it helps to build your brand and reputation as a buyer or seller’s agent.
Last but not least with IDX optimization, be sure to frequently update your content and your listing descriptions and to choose the keywords that you use carefully. Try to consider what the customer is likely to use and check analytics on keywords use to further refine your selection.
