Anybody heard of this? I heard a podcast replay about it, and it sounds very interesting. Basically, it works as a WordPress plugin, and it pulls ALL of your local MLS info to YOUR site, and it looks to Google as all that data is on your site, but you don't have to host it. Also, the content integrates seamlessly (according to their explanation) to your site, vs. an IDX page. (We don't have any great 3rd party IDX solutions here in our market, so any on-site IDX looks just like everybody elses...
It is brand new, in Beta, mostly available in CA, FL and large markets.

Link?

>and it looks to Google as all that data is on your site, but you don't have to host it.

If you are not hosting the content, then either the Urls point offsite, or there's a redirect to the offsite content.

Either way, as far as google is concerned the content is hosted elsewhere.

ListingPress

I am not a programmer, but I have a decent BS radar, and the developers explanation of how the MLS content gets "pushed" down to your domain seemed to be legit -- I will have to listen to the podcast again...

This kind of thing is what NAR and Indiana Realtors Association are in an uproar about...this is called "Scraping" I believe and some MLS boards are saying it's "illegal."

Amazing huh?

Will it work on Wordpress.com or just one hosted on your own server?

Guys, we tested this over at BAP as we have a module where some of our members use our service to develop their blogs in WordPress instead of our blogging system.

It is full of security issues and will give you lots of problems in it's current stage of development. I would not use it at all right now, perhaps it will get better as they further develop it.

>this is called "Scraping" I believe

Not quite. Their blurb tells how they do it. They use RETS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RETS) which is an API specifically made available by the MLS to allow you to retrieve listing info from them.

Scraping would be when you pull the content off the web pages without the knowledge or help of the MLS. Here they, (the MLS) are actively facilitating the transfer.

By providing a RETS API and allowing you to use it, the MLS has imo given you permission to retrieve the data and store it locally.

The open question is whether you are allowed to use it in this fashion and pass the info off as your own without attribution. Whether this is OK to do, depends on the T&Cs of the MLS.

If a user looking at the standard MLS content info linked to on your site, thinks that the content is part of your site and content, then I see no difference whether you host the content locally or link to the MLS.

The difference will be in the way that search engines evaluate your content and the amount of traffic that you have. In fact the MLS might be happy that you take the traffic hit instead of them.

I'd say that any MLS that sells the angle that your site can will benefit from using their data on your site has implicitly said this would be OK. But, check the T&Cs, carefully.


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Don-COH: thanks for the link. I did do a search and you'd think I would at least have tried the obvious. Somehow that one slipped through.

Thanks bposcout, for that explanation...this stuff gets kind of confusing.

BPOScout- I did forget to mention that important factor -- ListingPress can only work if your individual MLS approves it -- looks like they are going after the GIANT fishes right now -- So Cal, South Florida, etc... If you are in a small market, it may be a while.
BRS - From the sounds of things, I would probably agree with the "wait and see" approach, but after all the kinks and bugs get worked out, it may be an interesting option.

Here's what one of my MLS services (NNEREN - The Northern New England Real Estate Network) has to say about the concept of "Scraping" and one of the scams that seems to be an outgrowth of it:

This isn't really a quote from me; but I wanted to present it EXACTLY as it came across my desk.

ListingPress (Listing Press Plugin) IDX Search Site Website Update.

Here's the Inside Scoop on ListingPress.

#1. The "Listing Press Plugin" is simply a Wordpress Plugin (a special application) which allows you to display IDX Homes for Sale data in your Wordpress Blog/Website.

#2. The data is NOT scraped but rather can only be obtained through a contract between you/your broker and the MLS Board and the IDX Provider.

Please Note: This is exactly the same as every other IDX or Real Estate Website Technology company that creates home search sites for agents.

#3. The Listing Press Plugin is very cool for 2 reasons.

A. Most IDX Companies that charge fees from $250-$1,000 for set up provide you the data for your website in what is called an "i-frame". This means that Google never sees it and so you never get any SEO credit.

The ListingPress Plugin integrates it into your website fully so Google will index the listings which Should give you a really good SEO boost and increase your rankings - assuming your site is already optimized somewhat.

Now, other IDX companies can and do this too but generally charge between $2,000 and $5,000 to create this kind of website.

You can get the Listing Press Wordpress Plugin for FREE, and get the data feed for around $499 and $49/month. They are still in beta mode and this was going to be the price last time I checked. It is an Open-Source application, which means you can even change it if you want.

Benefit B. The Listing Press wordpress plugin allows you to create whatever Graphic design you want (within the rules of your MLS Board.)

Why is this important? Well, if you buy an IDX solution ALL the companies have a 1 size fits all approach.

If you want bigger photos and text and a more simple layout for older visitors - forget it.

If you want a different Registration Form for a higher lead capture rate - forget it.

If you want facebook-type social networking features for younger buyers - forget it.

If you want a special design that reflects your target market (mountains, farms, big city condos) - well (most of the time) forget it.

I have looked really closely at all the top IDX companies, did the initial graphic user interface for one of the most successful, and checked out 89 companies/developers in total...so I know what I'm talking about. And, I could NEVER get them to make changes to what I felt were poor lead capture designs.

Anyway, I got an early release of the Listing Press Wordpress Plugin, and hired some guys out of India for a ridiculously low rate to design a new home search website called PAHouseQuest.com for a buddy of mine.

We don't even have live data yet (just test data) but I think you will be really impressed already when you take a look at it.

(And, we haven't even built in a lot of the lead capture, social networking, and SEO functions.)

Anyway, I'm having a great time playing with this...and basically once I get it done can Duplicate whatever I have for you and/or tell you who to hire to design your site if you want.

I've told the company they should give a big discount off the set-up fee just to get Listing Press and the plugin used on as many sites as quickly as possible. (just PM or email me and I'll give you a status update on this.

Oh, and they have data for 56 different MLSs...and are adding more.

I think this is just really great for people who couldn't afford a IDX real estate website and/or who are tech savvy bloggers who would like to have IDX home search listings in their blogs and websites.

P.S. I have a great idea about using this on WordpressMU too.