How to Add IDX to A Website?
To add IDX to your website you first need to know what type of IDX you want to use. There are two ways through which you can add IDX to your website. You can do that with framing and with RETS. An IDX website with framing requires a simple copy and paste of some HTML code while an IDX website with a RETS feed is more detailed but has several advantages in the long term.
What is IDX?
IDX is short for Internet Data Exchange. It refers to a number of technologies to connect an agent’s website to an MLS and display listings.
How Does IDX Work In 2021?
With IDX, you can create a data connection between your website and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), import listings, and display them on your website. Because the listings are updated every few hours, your audience will always have access to the most up-to-date information and will be able to contact you for more information about the properties that are now available.
Portal sites like Zillow and Trulia don’t use IDX. Rather, they use other information sources and even brokerage syndication. This is the reason why listings on syndication sites are not as comprehensive and up-to-date as IDX data.
Furthermore, although portal sites typically attempt to provide leads to agents who sponsor specific listings, IDX allows you to get leads from all of the listings on your website.
How Does Adding IDX to A Website With Framing and RETS Work?
How Does Adding IDX to A Website With Framing Work?:
IDX framing is among the most basic IDX technologies. Framing allows you to have a site up in minutes for a low upfront cost.
While framing may save you money during your site setup, it can cost you leads and sales. Google and other search engines do not recognize frames when indexing the web. This will burn your SEO, and it can cause your site to cascade down the rankings.
Our recommendation is to think of framing as a short-term solution and to look at other IDX technologies to drive your business growth.
How Does Adding IDX to A Website With RETS Work?
A RETS feed is a more advanced IDX. Its setup is more involved, but it can pay for itself in new leads.
A RETS feed generates Organic listings, which can vastly increase the amount of SEO content you have on your site. Rather than harming your SEO, a RETS feed can actually improve it, helping your site to climb the ranking and your business to reach new heights.
Guidelines For Using IDX
Over the years, there have been a variety of laws and regulations relating to IDX, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has had a significant effect on several of these policies.
In order to use IDX on your real estate website, you must first contact your MLS to learn their specific regulations. Misusing IDX data might get you in trouble with your MLS in numerous ways. See some of the rule-breaks for IDX data below:
- displaying properties not approved by the listing broker or the MLS
- Changing IDX listing information (such as property size and features) to appeal to your target market
- Posting a seller’s listing when the seller has stated to their agent that they do not want their house listed in IDX is considered a violation of IDX rules
- Providing information about an IDX listing to third parties not participating in the exchange is also a violation of IDX rules
- If you don’t keep the IDX listings on your website up-to-date, you’re in violation of the rules.
How to Add a RETS Feed to Your Website?
To add a RETS feed to your website, you need to obtain RETS login credentials from your MLS, download a RETS client, access the server and map fields, run an initial import of listings, and set cron jobs to run updates.
Obtain RETS login credentials from MLS
Contact your MLS and ask about acquiring a RETS feed. We have more details in our blog post How Can I Get a RETS Feed?
Download RETS client or vendor software
You will need some sort of software interface to navigate the RETS server. Your vendor should provide this if you are working with one. If not, check out RESO’s tools page for a list of available clients.
Obtain RETS login credentials from MLS
Contact your MLS and ask about acquiring a RETS feed. We have more details in our blog post How Can I Get a RETS Feed?
Download RETS client or vendor software
You will need some sort of software interface to navigate the RETS server. Your vendor should provide this if you are working with one. If not, check out RESO’s tools page for a list of available clients.
Access the RETS server
Enter the login credentials issued by the MLS to access the RETS server.
Browse fields and map to fields on your website
You should go one by one through the most import fields on the RETS server and map them to the corresponding field on your website. Because of its technical nature, this step is usually completed by your RETS vendor.
Set queries
Add queries for the fields and content you need.
Run initial import
Import your first batch of properties. This could take several hours, depending on your server settings.
Navigate to your website property manager
Once the import is complete, you should see the new listings in your property or listings manager.
Check the newly imported listings
Verify that there are no missing listings and that the fields have mapped correctly.
Add the auto-sync commands in cron jobs
In your RETS client, you may now set the con jobs to auto-sync your listings.
Close client
You may now close the RETS client and navigate back to your website.
Choose a location for property search
Depending on your site and vendor, you should use short code or another editing tool to select where your property search will display.
Last Several Words
Now you are ready to start attracting leads and selling homes. Not clear on how to add IDX to a website? Drop a comment below or give us a call. Or for more, check out What is the difference between IDX and RETS? and What Is the Difference Between a WordPress Theme and a WordPress Template?
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