Marlene Sheffer sent me an email with the following question:
"OK, I am LOVING listingdomains.com. I think that RES provides a better show, though. I need to know how to do a RES show, and get a website address that is specific to that home, and do it quickly and easily for less than about $40 per listing. I have absolutely NO knowledge of html or code, except to know that I don't know it."
Well, in this day and age, you can register a domain name just about anywhere for less than $10, so the cost will not be an issue. I use Names Direct. Each domain name costs $8.95. But you can find them cheaper if you look hard.
Here's the term you need to know: URL Forwarding.
URL Forwarding is free with every domain registration service. So, that means you can point any domain you register to any other existing web page without any additional cost. All you need to know how to do is copy and paste the URL of the existing page into the right place. So, you will need to find the URL Forwarding edit field at your registrar. Typically you can choose standard forwarding or stealth forwarding. Stealth forwarding will retain your domain name when you land on the page, but the contents of the page will be hidden from the search engines. Standard URL forwarding simply redirects and doesn't hide the existing page's URL. I usually choose standard, since there is little SEO benefit from a single property domain name and the main objective is to make the URL easier to remember.
I'm going to show you how to do this using a Real Estate Shows Flyer. (But this will work with any URL) I registered 1234 Turner Road (http://www.1234turnerroad.com) this morning and forwarded the URL to this flyer page: http://www.realestateshows.com/flyer.php?id=0000001965.
Here's how I did it.
Jeff Turner aka respres
Thank you, what a great tip and one I will be using
Hi Jeff, I love the idea of buying a domain name and pointing it to the Show. I've found that the flyers with addresses are indexing fairly well, however, a domain name for an address which points directly to a targeted page is well worth the money. Bookmarked:)
Jeff,
Great post, as usual. You touched on something I've been doing with my re-directs which is to "mask" the domain name. I had no idea it created a "wrap" and that I would need to put in new keywords and metatags. In fact, I often wondered what those boxes were in GoDaddy and never really used them -- probably much to my disadvanatge.
If you ever come back to this topic, talk about masking and tagging, etc. Or if it's even worthwhile.
Jeff,
Great movie! And much better than the crap that's on television. When are we going to get you to a Rotary Club lunch? With everything that you and your wife are involved in I would love to introduce you to some people here in Santa Clarita.
I had never heard of 'stealth forwarding'. I use GoDaddy and they don't use any big words with us.
Awesome, those of us who are technologically challenged appreciate the easy ones!
Thanks!
Hey Turner,
Did your family break your computers and gadgets for Christmas? Long time no hear and you didn't comment on my 2008 Prediction. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Hello Jeff!
Question for you. Your opinion before I take the next step. Do you think it is proper to "mask" or forward my new domain name to my brokers current website? I would ask them of course...but just wondering if it is a proper suggestion before I proceed. I would think that since I am still promoting their website, why should they care, right? But, maybe I am wrong. I would love your advice. It was suggested by GoDaddy.com where I purchased my domain name recently.
Thanks Again
{SVW Hubba}...
Well this is really cool.
In light of the fact that I own a mess of goofy domain sites I'll have to put this to good use...
Active Rain Ka-Ka could use to be re-directed :)
TLW...ROAR!
Jeff-
I was just about to send you an email asking the very same question. So each specific real estate show must be done this way? Actually, I'll email you to clarify with an example...
Art
Jeff,
This is so useful; thanks for posting. I'm loving your RES product, and your tutorials are a real bonus.
Mike in Tucson
When I try to register a domain name on names direct it says its $30.00. This is for address ones too.
Thanks!
Jeff, I know this thread hasn't been touched in a while, but just wanted to see if you had any info about this method and SEO? Just wondering what the traffic implications would be of using REshows to create single property websites. Thanks!
Jeff: This is an oldie but a goodie. I'm glad I found it because I need to direct some URLs to my main web site. Thanks!
Jeff, thanks for another helpful tool, I think I am starting to understand all of this stuff
Yeah! I thought I new how to do this, but it was good to find this video as a memory refresher. Thanks!