RealBird Blog

Thanks for the update.  I really appreciate it.

Glad you like it. 

-- Zoltan

Zoltan:  Do you guys ever sleep?

Just when I think you couldn't possibly get any better, here you go, doing it again!

Looks great!  I've been embedding the Craigs List Real Bird html into AR and it's worked well, but this looks even better.  Thank you!

Hi Mirela,

We noticed that many of our members were using the Craigslist code on AR, so we thought we should provide a better way to do it. Craigslist and AR has different restrictions of what can be embedded so this one is optimized for ActiveRain, Localism and Wordpress blogs (referring to the high quality Flash slideshow mainly)

-- Zoltan

This is really really great!  I am so excited!  I can't wait to try it out!!!

Hi Janie. Let me know if you have it posted. I need more examples for the other blog post :)

Thanks

-- Zoltan

Another great service from RealBird - I always used the mini-site widget for AR but a custom one is better.  Your products are far and away the best in the business!

Zoltan - This is good to know.  I will have to try this on my next listing.  I too have used the mini-site widget, and look forward to using this new one.

Looks great Z! The 1st home caught my eye as it is in my home town. Kathleen found Realbird through me:)

Great, looks very nice, I use the mini widgets but this looks great for a full blog. Way to go.

Love that it has even more SEO juice. It is so consumer friendly to look at, smooth flowing pictures. What client would not want to see their lisitng posted like this.  THANKS for making us look so good.

More Really Good Stuff! :)

Thanks for the post and the info. I am flagging you so that I may use you later and check this all out. It is appreciated

I have used realbird in the past, but have not used it lately.  I will check it out again when I get a chance.

Thank you for the information.  I had not ever heard of REAL BIRD Inc. before today!

I just read Mirela blog post about craig's list I will need investigate this Have a wonderful weekend.

Zoltan- That really looks great too! It is more elegant that the last widget. Very nice. I look forward to applying it this new week coming up. Thanks! Katerina

I am working on doing one right now and when I logged into ActiveRain, I saw this Featured Post. Looks like another Realbird winner!

Dixie

What a uselful post.  THis is the kind of stuff I love.  I'm going to check it out right now.

Zoltan:  I just posted my first one:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1256957/reo-deal-in-myrtle-beach-

It was so easy!

I'm off to put in my social media tags in both Real Bird and Active Rain. 

Any agent who doesn't use Real Bird on a consistent basis is losing some serious money. 

Real Bird has been an extraordinary tool to use to both market my listings and to "impress" more potential sellers into listing with me.  The proof is in the pudding:

Active Rain Gold and How You can Lead a Horse to Water, but you can't Make Him Drink...

Active Rain and Real Bird have proven to be the winning combination for me.  Sixty deals in two years is not something to ignore...

Wow ! What a start of the weekend. Featured on ActiveRain !

Barbara, Troy, Bill, Corinne, Linda, Jennifer, Charlie, Vickie, Sybil, Lynn, Nestor & Katherina, Dick & Dixie, Michael and Karen, Mirela - Thank you for your comments and enthusiastic responses It seems that so far everybody likes the new look and feel of the embed code. All previous options are still available as they all have distinct advantages depending on where you post your RealBird listings to. But this one certainly looks powerful on AR and Localism.

Mirela - As always, thanks for featuring this on the The Optimist group and the live example. 

We welcome everybody to post their own RealBird examples here. The more examples we see, the more motivated others will be to start using this new RealBird feature.

Thanks again,

-- Zoltan

AWESOME!  I love realbird and now I have another reason to love it more!  Thanks for the updates and the new tools too!

Zoltan-Here is our example that we posted today. I tried to quickly add some seo ideas that Katrina had posted previously. Still need to tweek it.

Dixie

Zoltan:  I went back through my blogs and found this old gem [which got featured, but lost the star due to my attempt at revision during AR upkeep :(  ]

Listings Made Easy! This is AWESOME!

Real Bird has been instrumental to my success and a cornerstone of my marketing.

Zoltan:  one more thing:

I just discovered recently that I can now embed video on my Real Bird Websites.  That is soooooooooooooooooo COOL!!!

I will be updating most of my current listings to incorporate video open houses right on my Real Bird Websites.  After that, I will simply show up and just garner the listing (it's a slam dunk now, it will just makes it even easier!)

For the smart agents using Real Bird: Don't forget to give your Real Bird Websites domain names; it impresses the heck out of Sellers.  Here are a few of my Real Bird websites:

www.BankOwnedHome.info

www.BayTreeGolfColony.info

www.MarshVista.com

www.BestBuyInMyrtleBeach.info

www.BestCondoInMyrtleBeach.com

www.MyCondoInMyrtleBeach.com

Another nice feature from RealBird. The layout is very clean and appealing.

We are overwhelmed by the great responses. You made our weekend. 

Thanks everybody.

Mirela - Thanks for the domain name examples. 

-- Zoltan

A small bug, will be fixed ASAP: The proper AR width should be 640px vs. the current preset of 690px. 640px fits nicely into the AR outside blog as well. Until we have the fix out in a few minutes, please use custom width with the code generator and set it to 640. If you want it to appear on Localism as well, please use the current preset option (490px)

I post an update as a comment as soon as the configuration tool is updated.

-- Zoltan

The configuration tool is now fixed. It generates 640px width as a default preset width for ActiveRain. Thanks Dick and Dixie for finding this bug for us.

It's all good now !

-- Zoltan

Zoltan, this is another great feature from you guys! Thanks so much. We have a new assistant now, so there will actually be time to implement your great features.

Frank & Sharon - Glad you like it.

Thanks for the post.  Redbird looks like a great website with some interesting features.  I'll keep it in mind in the future as it seems to have some nice potential.

This is great! I'm already a RealBird fan, and this will make my listing blog posts so much easier to create . . . not to mention more appealing. Thanks and keep up the good work!

Z - if you use the default 640 so that it is sized well for AR and outside blog, will it resize properly to fit into Localism's 500 width or will it overlap?

Hi Virginia - To properly fit into all three UIs (AR, AR Outside blog, Localism) you have to use the preset option (ActiveRain & Localism), which sets the width to 490px Currently the embed code does not auto-size, although we are working on a version which will. I use the 640px one in this example as we do not post to Localism only AR and the outside blog. Please note that this works with other blog platforms as well using the custom width option.

Jeff, Trent  - Thanks

I am having issues getting started with uploading the issues, Do you have blow by blow directions posted any where?

Hi Sandy - Do you have issues with entering the listing info/photos into RealBird or with adding the embed code to ActiveRain. Please advise and I will send you the detailed steps.

Thanks for the reblog.

-- Zoltan

I'm so happy I stumbled across RealBird here on AR! I've been using the listing flyers religiously the past 3-4 months and have seen a HUGE increase in internet leads as well as new traffic to my blog and social media profiles. The free service is a no-brainer but upgrading to the PRO account opens up a whole new layer of opportunities. Keep up the GREAT work!!!

It will be great when they have all the listings and all the MLSs, then this product will rock.

Excellent. Realbird is terrific. Going to make the changes as soon as I can.

Jeff

This looks like a great tool that I need to incorporate.

Bill - I thought his might be your listing as it's your home town.

This looks like a great feature... Thank for sharing this information. I also book marked this for later review

Zoltan:  BTW, I want to thank you for whatever you've done in the past few months to expedite uploading all the pictures.  I wish other sites uploaded as fast as yours does: I can keep my finger on the ctrl button and highlight all the pictures I want to upload to RealBird, then click Upload and up they go in a matter of seconds.  Remarkable! 

Setting the location on the map is a breeze too and being able to post video to it all simply rocks!

You guys are awesome!  Thank you!

Zolton:  Real Bird is featured prominently on my new post:

Why Mirela Monte Sells Her Listings - Part I - Internet Exposure

I know I've made many remarks on here, but I am so devoted to Real Bird because it delivers the goods.   It's hard not to get excited about something that works so well.  If I had my way, every single Realtor would be mandated to do two things:

1.  Belong to AR and be consistently involved with it, in order to stay on top of the market and the latest developments;

2.  Create Real Bird websites for each and every listing and post them weekly to Craig's list, kijii,backspace, etc.  Anchor the sites with proper domain names, post them to AR, get first page Google coverage. Ah, and don't forget your magical Cooliris widget for your Facebook Fan page!

Ok, I'm done now.  Please excuse my enthusiasm, but How can I not love Real Bird?

Thank you for all that you do for us.  The Premium service is superb!

Thanks, I will look into this. Aloha ~ Yvonne

I do like this listing widgit.  Looks much better on localism.  Thanks.

I tried out Realbird on a listing and it was a winner.  Nice presentation and great SEO value.  This enhancement looks great.  Can't wait to try it out.

Mike - We are happy that you stumbled across RealBird too:) Thanks for highlighting the value of the RealBird PRO account. We just introduced a monthly payment option (only $11.95) to make it easier for members to go PRO

Chris - The RealBird Property Search has a nationwide listing database. It's pretty much the biggest private labeled search solution for real estate agents and brokers (millions of listings) with a lot of features and configuration options. You can of course limit your service to your own market

Jeff - Thanks for the kind words.

Christine - Can't wait to see the new widget on your blog.

Roland - Thanks

Mirela - Thanks, thanks, thanks. Batch photo upload is indeed a very popular improvement. And we support unlimited photos. Your post with all the RealBird reference is simply amazing. A must read:)

Yvonna - Aloha and Mahalo

Kryste - Glad you like it

Barbara - Glad to hear the success with the RealBird service.

More to come... Make sure you check back often !

Hi Zoltan, this displays quite nicely.  I already had my listing in AR with my own code so I tried the RealBird AR code (not the backpage code) in my Backpage ad, and it worked nicely there.  Thanks!  John

PS - is it OK to frame in the property listing page into our own websites?

Wow. Thanks Alexander !!! Did you guys hear that? it looks like that this new RealBird embed code works in Backpage too. So you can use this rather than our previous, basic code. Do you have a link to your backpage ad? I'd love to see it.

Re: PS - could you send me a link of the property listing page you refer to? You can email it to us at support@realbird.com.  I let you know the options as soon as I understand what you'd like to achive.

Thanks again for pointing out the Backpage compatibility !

-- Zoltan

RealBird, You All Rock!!

Uber Cool Coding... Just implemented and tried a few new ideas for listings here:

BentleyBeachHilton817.Miamidreamrealty.com

RealBird Listing SlideShow

ActiveRain BlogPost

The SEO Benefits seem to be working quite well! I'm all over PG1 of Google for different keywords pertaining.

Thanks again for the updates, coding and additional SEO help,

Ashton

Ashton - Very nice !!! Thanks for sharing. Lot of innovative uses of the the different RealBird widgets.

Great feature and great responses!

Thanks Kathryn

Hello Zoltan, here's the backpage link: 

http://portland.wweek.com/HomesForSale/_155_000_2br_vancouver_wa_condo_for_sale_one_level_ground_floor_right_size_/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=1930895

This morning doing a Google search for "vancouver wa condo for sale" the backpage ad using the RealBird AR code is in 9th position, and the RealBird ad is in 10th position!  :) cubed!  John

Amazing ! The slideshow works on Backpage.com perfectly. I repost it with the link below (maybe it moves your Backpage post with the RealBird code up to the 8th postion :) Great SEO, great presentation. So here it is properly linked:

http://portland.wweek.com/HomesForSale/_155_000_2br_vancouver_wa_condo_for_sale_one_level_ground_floor_right_size_/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=1930895

This worth another post, may I use your comment and data above as an example (SEO :) ?

Thanks

-- Zoltan

Alexander - It's at the 8th position as of right now. If searching for the exact term "vancouver wa condo for sale" with quotes, it's #1 !!!, although very few consumers do that. 8th position for such a generic term is simply amazing. Great job Alexander, BackPage (and RealBird:)

Hello Zoltan, I think a post on the use on backpage makes sense.  However, yesterday I did a second ad for another of my condo listings, and put the two separately on backpage.  Only the one noted above had the great juice, while the other one did not go anywhere.  If we could find out why the one was better, and keep doing that thing better (or improve on it), it might be worth donig before the next blog post.  Thanks.  John

Could you send me the link to the other one? I analyse it. What I found in this good performing one is that both the RealBird listing website, both the BackPage ad using it has Vancouver WA condo for sale (the exact target keyword) in the title and the post slug (Url). Both on RealBird and on BackPage.

There is two purpose for the next post: 1) show that the new RealBird widget works and looks great on BackPage and their distribution partner sites 2) using BackPage with the RealBird code generates good search results.

Let's fix the other one and I start writing the post in the meantime. (Having a dedicated post using your example with proper link will certainly add even more SEO juice to your own ad)

-- Zoltan

Hello Zoltan,

Here's the link to the other condo home's bp ad:

<a href="http://portland.backpage.com/HomesForSale/_134_500_2br_cute_and_comfy_one_level_ground_floor_condo_home_come_see_/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=1927797"></a>

I see I did not start this ad's title with "vancouver wa condo for sale".   Anything else?  Thanks!  John

That seems to be the major difference. I suggest to use Google Keyword Tool to find slightly modified keywords so that your ads do not compete with each others in the search engine.

I did some keyword search volume lookup and found a few variations. Please try it yourself. You can just plug in your RealBird Url and the Google tool will suggest keywords with search volume stats. Search volume indicated by the Google Keyword Tool does not necessarily translates to more click-throughs as head of the search curv vs long tail is harder to target. But nevertheless adding the location (vancouver wa) to the begining of the title/url and then some variation of condo for sale may help. Interestingly "condos for sale" - prular - vs "condo for sale" single has much higher search volume. That sort of things. But changing the title on BackPage is definitely big step forward.

-- Zoltan

Hello Zoltan, I'd also note that my previous AR listing post for the condo at $134,500 (not using RealBird code) got knocked from 10th position to page two.  If we can work an getting a triple play, all on page one (with perhaps some variety), now that would be fun!  John

See, that's what happens if you are not using the RealBird code :) Just kidding.

It would be fun if we could create a case study for such a great search term and showing how RealBird, BackPage and ActiveRain post of the same can rule the first page on Google. 

BTW: The RealBird version of your Vancouver WA condo for sale is now at the 5th position on the first page on Google. It's climbing up step by step all day long

A few suggestions: 

1. Add a Vancouver WA condo for sale link to the sidebar of your ActiveRain settings and make it point to your RealBird or Backpage ad. Those links are on each of your distinct posts so they may count as extra backward links. I suggest to link to a few most recent RealBird listing websites of yours, but I suggest not to overdo it. You have to balance usability with SEO. Make sure you use the keyword term as the anchor text.
2. Why don't you post another AR post with using the RealBird widget code and see how that performs compared to your other code. It's up to you but I think doing it once (i.e. duplicate post with different design, content and links) might not be a problem but would reveal a lot as a test case
3. You may want to add a link pointing to your AR post to your RealBird listing website. In the editor in RealBird you can add a Even more info link. No need to change the Backpage post. But this way you would have a backward link coming from your highly ranked RealBird listing website to your AR post

Wow, lookin' good!

Ryan - Thanks for the wow. Glad you like it. 

Thanks, you just saved us 10 minutes of layout and editing every time we blog a new property on AR (about 5 hours a year!!!). We Love Real Bird! 

Thanks ! More productivity improvements are on the way

Thanks for all the tips, great stuff!