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Submitted by Pasadena Real Estate Agent on May 29, 2009 - 11:07am.

I personally don't think those names will make you come up first on the search engines like google, but they will in Yahoo! but they will only come up for the keyword city + real estate listings, content and SEO will make any name come up first.

The Manzo Team
RE/MAX Tri-City

Remax Pasadena

626 296-2900

Pasadena Real Estate For Sale | Pasadena homes for sale |

 
Submitted by Tony Spencer on May 29, 2009 - 11:19am.

Yeah its too many keywords to get a bonus in Google. It sounds spammy as well.

CITYrealestate.com would do well with little links though. Those are all long gone.

- Tony Spencer -

 
Submitted by Brett Young | Real Estate Keyword Tool on May 29, 2009 - 12:07pm.

The other posters here are correct. These are not premium 'exact match' keyword domains that search engines do put a little bit of value on.

The domain I checked was purchased only a few months ago. It seems as if someone wrote a keyword script and bulk registered these domains just a short time ago instead of having acquired a portfolio of desirable domains over time.

This really is nothing more than a publicity stunt that falls short for anyone who has any knowledge about domains. I pity the person who sees this as a good investment.

Brett Young
Real Estate Keyword Tool

 
Submitted by Sean Lee on June 5, 2009 - 2:42pm.

I think those domain are keyword rich URLs. But, I don't personally think there are lots of searchers who type in real estate listing with city's name...

Sean Lee

Real Estate License | Real Estate Broker License

 
Submitted by on June 6, 2009 - 5:18pm.

Don't waste your time or money. There is so much more to it than just the URL.

Rich Johnson
360-319-3267
http://www.johnsonteamrealestate.com
http://www.johnsonteamrealestate.com/blog/

 
Submitted by Brad Golik on June 6, 2009 - 8:45pm.

Having a great keyword strong URL is a very good start but after that it takes good content and lots of SEO!

Brad Golik
John L. Scott
http://www.GolikGroup.com
http://www.SeattleLuxuryHome.com

 
Submitted by on June 6, 2009 - 9:05pm.

"Any takers?"

Certainly not me. While keywords in a domain name can help, it is but a *tiny* factor in search engine ranking.

If a keyword loaded domain is so important, why do domains with completely fabricated words do well? (think Trulia, Zillow, or even "Google") What the heck does "Amazon" have to do with books?

Content, links, authority and more are FAR more important than words in a domain name...

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by henry b. nathan on June 7, 2009 - 4:34am.

While a good keyword could eventually help somehow, it is a minor factor,in my opinion. I would give it 5 points out of 100. At that might still be a lot if your site has no good content, structure, seo work, and constant updating and improvements.
I wouldn't spend more than a few dollars on a domain name and that only if it is a really good one.

Henry B. Nathan

The Beach Club Condos Sunny Isles real estate

The Beach Club Condos, Sunny Isles Real Estate

 
Submitted by Bruce Wagg on June 7, 2009 - 6:55am.

Looks like most of us agree that it takes a lot more than just a domain name to bring buyers to your site. Looking at the list, the majority seem to be "City Real Estate Listings.com" for hundreds of cities. Some large company will probably by it up and then start selling lead to agents.

Make your own site and get your own leads.Oakland Real Estate | Orinda Real Estate

 
Submitted by Emily Medvec on June 7, 2009 - 7:15am.

I think the economic value of domain names has changed as the web and ALL the access technology to it connects and reconnects users globally. Initially, urls were important, however, now the web has evolved to connect links, then pages and now data in a way that makes the value of the url change. Today's real estate model is evolving with lightning speed and the consumer information available is staggering. The difference I see is content vs. url. As for this auction, it is all about "real estate" and its value will depend on whether you are in the web 1.0 or web 2.0 or web 3.0 world.

Emily Medvec, Associate Broker
Santa Fe Properties
1000 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Best Anytime Cell 505.660.4541
www.emilymedvec.com
www.buysantafehomes.com

 
Submitted by Brad Golik on June 7, 2009 - 8:58am.

Hi Emily,

While agree that much has changed, I believe a good keyword rich URL is still of high value! What most of us tend to focus on is how the search engines view things. What about the people we are trying to attract? In the end, this is what matters the most. URLs need to catch the eye of the buying public, not just the search engines. Case in point, if I were looking for a new home in Santa Fe, chances are pretty low that I would click on emilymedvec.com. However, chances are much better that I would click on BuySantaFeHomes.com

Brad Golik
John L. Scott
http://www.GolikGroup.com
http://www.SeattleLuxuryHome.com
http://www.BellevueLuxuryEstate.com

 
Submitted by henry b. nathan on June 7, 2009 - 9:05am.

Bruce Wagg's comments are valid.

I am contacted every few days by web companies that has established this kind of network and try to sell me a "territory" with my name exclusively (or not) on it as a leading agent. I invariably refuse.

Unless it's free, of course.

What worries me, is that search engines are playing the game of these large corporations who try to monopolize the internet over thousands of independent agents who work hard to establish a presence on the net and sell their services the traditional way. Trading this expertise and knowledge in their local areas for a faceless global website that sells leads in the whole US is essentially a violation of Google's rules.

Investing millions of dollars to globalize the business in the hands of a very few corporations is not the way I see our industry improving.

Search engines should give preferred positioning to seasoned real estate professionals' sites which can easily be identified by the wealth of their information about local subjects, and local real estate locations and properties, as well as their blogs and their small-business image and face.

A real estate agent is a small-business by definition; sometimes a pop-and-mom affair, sometimes a partnership between buddies. And this has been the formula of success for themselves and their clients.

How distressing will it be to see our jobs incorporated in the so-called globalization.

The Trulias, the Condo.com, are naturally more present on the web with their millions of pages, than any of us can ever aspire to be. However, they are not the best solution for the consumer.

Just as gigantic banking corporations have absorbed most of the traditional small-town and local banks,and then, thanks to their monopolistic arm, stuck the consumer with arbitrary and ever increasing fees and despotic rules,their usurious interest rates, while robbing their shareholders to death, and then getting the tax-payer's money to "bail them out".

I believe that our economy should and will regain its balance when decentralization and "de-globalization" starts to make sense.

Of course, it's a dream and an illusion. But why not ask Google and Yahoo and the new (what's its name?)"Bing" to give us a little edge and consideration?
Why not give some attention to the local agent and small local brokerages?

Just do a search and you will always find the big "gorillas of internet real estate" at the top positions. Just by their size and power, they can fool Google into believing that they are the best bet for a consumer.

Meanwhile I read every day real estate blogs and forums, and browse the pages of "little-engine-that-could" realtors' websites, and I can't but feel proud to be one of them.

Henry B. Nathan is a Florida realtor.

The Beach Club Condos Sunny Isles real estate

The Beach Club Condos, Sunny Isles Real Estate

 
Submitted by on June 7, 2009 - 9:15am.

Urls, content, links and good old authority.

Susie Blackmon
http://www.google.com/profiles/Susie28751#about

 
Submitted by on June 7, 2009 - 9:29am.

"Just do a search and you will always find the big "gorillas of internet real estate" at the top positions."

I understand your point Henry, but this statement isn't always true.

Google 'Phoenix real estate' and on page 1 you'll find seven individual agent / brokers sites and my blog taking eight of the ten Page 1 results. Trulia and Yahoo come in at #5 and #6. Homes.com is on page 2, and HomeGain is on page 3. Zillow's first appearance is on page 4 and I can't find anything from realtor.com in the first ten pages of search results.

I think I could make an effective argument that the search term "City real estate" is not the gold-standard that many believe it is, but my point is that the "gorillas of internet real estate" CAN be beat in the search engines. It takes a ton of work, and it's not easy, but it can be done.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by on June 7, 2009 - 9:35am.

I agree with Jay-
"the "gorillas of internet real estate" CAN be beat in the search engines. It takes a ton of work, and it's not easy, but it can be done."

Jeff Manson
www.adrhi.com
American Dream Realty Oahu

 
Submitted by Missy Caulk on June 7, 2009 - 9:40am.

Just a minute I'll go ask all the SEO Experts on Twitter.

Pass....

Missy Caulk
Ann Arbor, MI
Missy@MissyCaulk.com

www.AnnArborRealEstateTalk.com
www.SearchAnnArborHouses.com

 
Submitted by Bruce Wagg on June 7, 2009 - 9:45am.

Brad,
While I do believe that for certain niche markets, YourKeywords.com is useful, I think that search engine results are what most people should strive for. But what attractive .coms are available anymore? I get many more leads from my Brucewagg.com website than I ever could from trying to find one of the few, if any, available .coms left for my market. I currently rank #5 to #7 for the search term Oakland Real Estate. Higher than OaklandRealEstate.com , Oaklandhomes.com and most other combination you can think of.
Being on that first page of google, and eventually above the fold, will bring you the most potential hits, whether they like your name or not. BTW someone bought up "Oakland Luxury Homes.com" and is willing to sell it to me. But I will have much more luck optimizing some pages for those keywords and out ranking him. The funny thing is that we don't refer to upscale homes is the bay area as Luxury so it really isn't a valuable term here.
Internet Real Estate is one of the most competitive fields on the web and what we are doing today will be obsolete in 3-5 years.I think the idea of yourkeywords.com is quickly becoming obsolete.

Change-Adapt-Change-Adapt

Bruce

Oakland Real Estate | Alameda Real Estate

 
Submitted by henry b. nathan on June 7, 2009 - 10:08am.

I also agree with Jay and Jeff.

They can be beat. It takes a lot of work. And that's why you and I are still alive and doing business on the net.
But they are growing and growing. Their influence is increasing. And every day I see new big hands trying to slice a piece of the cake.

For example:
I just noticed when I googled "Hallandale Real estate", which is one of my farming areas, that the first position belonged to:

realestate.yahoo.com/Florida/Hallandale

Now this is a search engine, evidently taking a bite off our business, are they? As are for example the local newspapers in my area, which have also established their own internet real estate set-up.

The fact is that the "gorillas" are growing, while our efforts and time on the net are limited. Taking into account that agents still have to go out and show properties, set up appointments, write contracts, and all the nine-yards, our websites and blogs maintained in after-hour work, are doing a surprisingly good job.

In other words, we as small businesses, have to be conscious of this threat, and keep our eyes open. Hopefully Google has the same opinion.
I hope I don't sound like a cry-baby.

The Beach Club Condos Sunny Isles real estate

The Beach Club Condos, Sunny Isles Real Estate

 
Submitted by Ashton Coleman on June 7, 2009 - 10:19am.

Great topic & debate and so my thoughts.... If it's a new site and the advantage is less than (let's say) 5% for SE advantages, then why not? On the flipside, as Bruce said above, a solid 'seasoned' site with non related keyword in the domain ie) KevinTomlinson.com will easily outweigh all keyword dense domain name sites with {prior longevity, proper structure, killer content and a lot of link love}.

An 'expert' in SEM is Leon Belenky with SunnyRealty, has a site that completely dominates almost every keyword in Miami and it's name: "sunnyislesmiamirealestate.com" all being keyword dense. I don't attribute it to solely the domain but moreso the work he places into the site(s) with massive content and linkage!

So if you've got a new site on the way, then by all means use whatever you like but get busy with content, links, etc.

Also the 10 year hosting is supposed to be another great debate with uncertainty yet I'll pay an extra $90 for the possibility I'm covering all ends! The main goal is to build the site with quality content, links and then longevity.

Think Big, Aim High, Act Bold,
@AshtonColeman
MiamiDreamRealty.com
JadeCondosSunnyIsles.com
Keller Williams Miami Beach

 
Submitted by Brad Golik on June 7, 2009 - 10:22am.

Bruce,

While I agree with several things you say, I will also disagree as well. I strongly believe that the benefits of having a "search specific" URL is important when combined with good content and good SEO. I have much experience in testing my theories. I own close to 2000 real estate domain names(no we don't sell them). I also own a company called LuxuryEstateOnline.com What we do is try to dominate search for specific areas with these "Search Specific" websites.

For an example in your area, if a person were to own 3-4 websites that were, let's say, InfinityCondo.com, InfinityCondominium.com, and InfinityViewCondo.com. If an agent used these websites as listing websites and used them to farm the building he/she could eventually dominate the listings for the Infinity. How, by doing a good job of SEO on the websites combined with good content, blogging etc. These websites will overtake most other websites and blogs. 1 year from now someone does a search on the Infinity and they see 3 websites in the top 5! Think it will be easier to get the best listings? No question
The problem is that agents try to optimize there personal sites to be all things. In doing so, it makes it hard to be at the top. While my main website is now ranked #6 for Bellevue real estate, I get much more benefit from my search specific websites because people will narrow there focus as they begin to search.

Just my thoughts...
Best regards,

Brad Golik
John L. Scott
http://www.GolikGroup.com
http://www.SammamishLakefrontHome.com
http://www.BellevueWaterfrontEstate.com

 
Submitted by Bruce Wagg on June 7, 2009 - 7:02pm.

I think we're talking apples and oranges.
Brad, if you have 2000 domain names and are making money then they obviously work for you. I think you are an exception to the rule because most Realtors don't have more than 3-4 domains. Because most of the good domain names are long since taken and hoarded, collecting 100's of domain names is not a viable model for most realtors. This auction will be a valuable resource but there are few people/Realtors who are properly placed to benefit or have the finances and know how to use these .coms. The bigger companies people such as yourself who are set up to consolidate .coms will find profit.
For the majority of us who just focus on one or a few domains, the difference between a yourkeywords.com site and a yournamehere.com sites are realtively minor.

Glad your making money, that's what this is all about.

Bruce Wagg

Oakland Real Estate | Moraga Real Estate

 
Submitted by Brad Golik on June 7, 2009 - 7:48pm.

One of the positive effects of this difficult market is that many good domain names are coming back onto the market. Many agents that are no longer in the business are letting go of some good quality names. I would keep an eye open for name you have wanted in the past!
One comment I want to make is that I don't believe agents need to hoard hundreds of URL's. But if they want to farm specific areas they should acquire 5-10 in those farm areas. The key is that these new "search specific" websites will alsways be in the radar of the SERPs unlike the majority of the single listing websites which are basically useless. You want to dominate listings in your farm? This is one way to go.

Brad Golik
John L. Scott
http://www.GolikGroup.com
http://www.LakeSammamishEstate.com

 
Submitted by Mack McMillan on June 8, 2009 - 6:43am.

While I believe some benefit can be derived from keywords in the Domain name I believe too that the benefits are minimal and do not justify a large price tag.

As has been said in this thread many times it takes good content, a lot of links and hard work to get a site to rank. The Domain name will never do it on its own.

And yes, the “Internet Gorillas” can be beaten but I wonder for how much longer. Google seems to be giving more weight every quarter to the massive real estate sites.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Las Vegas Real Estate | Columbia MO Homes | IDX Services

 
Submitted by Brett Young | Real Estate Keyword Tool on June 8, 2009 - 7:12pm.

I wanted to chime in again to re-iterate that there are far better real estate domain portfolios out there. The actual quality of these domains is low. In fact, I would venture a guess that just about any agent could find a similar keyword rich domain to city+real+estate+listings+search--even in very competitive areas. What they have done here is not unique and could be duplicated by anyone who is willing to pay for the expense of acquiring a large number of domains in a bulk registration.

As a result, there is really very little value in acquiring these domains as a block--especially when one understands that the real value of a domain hinges largely on being able to periodically add content and 'develop' the site. It is very unlikely that someone can add relevant content to such a large number of domains.

That segues well into an important point and one thing NAR actually did get right with one of their slogans--Real estate is local. The 'little' guys can beat the Realtor.coms etc. of the world in the search engine rankings because these companies cannot add as much relevant content about a very targeted area as an agent who is active and knowledgeable about that area.

On the agent name vs. keyword rich domain debate--There is no reason why each agent should not have both. The agent name or vanity domain can be utilized for offline ads and branding and the keyword-rich domain can be used for pay per click and organic seo purposes. One can always point their agent name domain to the keyword rich domain if they do not want to maintain two sites. As was mentioned several times already, the development of the website (in the form of content etc) is more important than the domain name, but an exact match domain name can give you a little bit of an edge.

Brett Young
Real Estate Keyword Tool

 
Submitted by Glenn Ginsburg on July 6, 2009 - 1:06pm.

Does anyone know what the RealEstateNet LLC portfolio sold for - just curious.
Glenn Ginsburg
A Delta Realty
Naples Florida

 
Submitted by on July 6, 2009 - 1:54pm.

Glenn -

Inman reported that the auction was canceled as it was apparent that the minimum bid (which was not reported) would not be met....

Huh.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by Glenn Ginsburg on July 6, 2009 - 2:13pm.

Jay - thanks for the response - any idea of what the minimum bid was? I did not follow it on Inman.

Thanks.
Glenn Ginsburg
A Delta Realty
Naples Florida

 
Submitted by on July 6, 2009 - 2:31pm.

Glenn - as far as I know, the minimum bid was never disclosed.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by Glenn Ginsburg on July 6, 2009 - 3:27pm.

Again, thanks Jay.
Glenn Ginsburg
A Delta Realty
Bonita Springs

 
Submitted by Kim Jameson on July 14, 2009 - 9:07am.

WOW. This is very interesting that the minimum bid was never disclosed or met... I wonder why?

http://www.bonusagents.com

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