May 22, 2012, 10:48 am -- /EPR NETWORK/ -- In order to show MLS data on a real estate website, MLS Integration needs to be deployed. There are quite a number of IDX and RETS providers in the market, each with a different technology and pricing. After the integration, the end result may look similar, but the underlying technology plays an important role in the popularity of your website, especially from the search engine point of view.

Organic MLS is a method of MLS integration that brings search engine value to your website by inserting the MLS properties directly to your website database. For search engines it is very important to read the properties directly from your database, rather than through a third party database such as MLS or IDX providers.

In Organic MLS integration, metaphorically the downloaded properties (from MLS to your website) become like the living organs of your own website. As a result, the search engines will consider your website as an informative website with hundreds of URLs to index.

As a realtor you should know that there are quite a number of famous MLS/IDX providers that do not use the organic method.

Non-organic MLS integration methods might seem cheaper at first glance, but at the end of the day they cost much more. The integration providers use methods that take all the search engine advantages of your marketing efforts, leaving you with nothing.

How to identify Organic MLS Integration from non-organic ones?

Fortunately realizing whether a real estate website uses organic or non-organic MLS integration is easy. Suppose that the website name is MYDOMAIN.COM and the MLS IDX provider’s website is IDXPROVIDER.COM

1- Each property MUST have a unique URL. In some websites, no matter you open which property; the shown URL in your browser’s address bar remains the same, for example ‘www.mydomain.com/something’. This proves that the website is using iFrame or Framing method which is NOT organic.

2- In addition to the above, the URLs must NOT be in one of the following formats:
a. idxprovider.mydomain.com/rest_of_the_url
b. mydomain.idxprovider.com/rest_of_the_url
c. idxprovider.com/mydomain/rest_of_the_url
d. idxprovider.com/rest_of_the_url

3- The individual URLs of each property should be in the following format:
mydomain.com/rest_of_the_url

In order to see and inspect the URL of each property:

1- Position your mouse over one of the links of a property, for example ‘details’ button and right-click (Windows) or secondary-click (Mac)
2- Click on ‘Open in new Tab’ and look at the address url on top address bar (in your browser)

OR:

1- Right-click (or secondary click) and select ‘Copy Link’ or ‘Copy Shortcut’ on the ‘Details’ button of a property.
2- Open a new tab and paste the copied link into the address bar.

Contact Details: Realtyna LLC, 113, Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711
Tel: (347)482 2110
Email: giselle@realtyna.com
Website: http://www.realtyna.com
http://rpl.realtyna.com/MLS-Articles/Organic-MLS-Integration