Topix is the worlds largest community news website. Topix is a place for you to post your own news stories, as well as comment about stories you have seen on the topix site.
So how do you make this work for you to increase your readership and SEO? Thats easy... you should apply to become an editor! I applied and was accepted for my home town of Hopkinton Massachusetts. You can apply to become an editor for your home town or the area in which you do the most Real Estate business.
Here is the description of Topix on what an editor can do:
About editing on Topix
"Topix Editors are an elite group of users that post interesting and relevant articles to share with their communities. Editors receive special tools enabling them to find and promote stories on pages that are read by millions of users. Editors can even post their own original articles and photos".
You can click here for an application to become an editor at Topix.
To learn more about editing on Topix, visit the FAQ.
Once you are accepted you can then post stories about local Real Estate. Folks you would post the same information that you would normally send to Localism!
Each time you add a post to Topix, you have created an inbound link to your blog. The page rank of the Topix site is seven. The page rank of the Hopkinton Massachusetts news site is PR 3. I would suspect that the city page where you would be adding your posts would also have a PR of 3. This is powerful stuff!
Not only are you creating more inbound links to your blog but your are also placing information on a site that is growing it's readership tremendously. You are placing yourself in a position to be recognized as the local Real Estate expert! I am really excited about the possibilites of what can be done with this site.
Here is the link to what the Hopkinton Massachusetts Topix site looks like.
So take advantage of this great tool - it is well worth the effort!!!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The above information on the Hopkinton Massachusetts Topix news site was provided by Bill Gassett, the team leader for the #4
RE/MAX Team in Massachusetts in 2007. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Hopkinton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 22+ Years. Bill's office is conveniently located in the center of Hopkinton MA at 77 Main Street.
I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! I would welcome the opportunity to earn your business.
For Massachusetts and Hopkinton MA Real Estate and homes see Hopkinton MA Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.
I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.
SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.
Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 22 years.
Dan - you have a great sense of humor my friend :) The page rank of my website has increased and I am now on page one for Hopkinton MA as well as every other town in Metrowest MA that I cover. Not too shabby :) I am really excited about the Topix site and being able to add some local Real Estate knowledge.
BTW - Raveis has changed the language of their listing for Hopkinton - did you notice? It is the only town that was changed.
Bill, this is so intriguing. I've been wanting to write more for localism. Maybe this will give me a great focus. I applied,,, if I need to send refs, I'll submit your name :-) Thanks for sharing!
Mara - I would apply and start using this site as a mechanism to bring more traffic to your blog as well as improving your search engine positioning. The material that you would send to Localism is perfect for the topix site.
Julie - It is good to have you back my friend. I hope you are feeling better!
Sounds interesting...I will take a peek. I am going to have to consider giving up sleep so I can keep up with all this new internet "stuff" I am finding!
Nicole....Thanks for you comments on Topix. Let me know what you are up too :)
Robin - Best of luck with it! I hope topix brings yo some new contacts.
Lesley - This is a good one! Does not take much time at all. It will be just like adding to another group at Active Rain.
Great, more bad advice. You said an increase in readership and SEO. Could you explain how that page increases SEO for anybodys site. Increase in readership, maybe a couple a year. I would think the smart real estate agent would spend time developing their own web site instead of one on this site, which you don't own, and never will. Why wouldn't you have your own site? Why do you continue to make these people more money. Can't wait to hear about the SEO. Looks like you put a lot of time and effort into your work. Keep it up. This is better than no site at all I guess. Thanks for your time.
Paul - You obviously don't have an understanding of SEO. You are adding your own site(blog) to another site that has a lot of traffic. The site does not have "no follow" linkage. SO each post you are making is directly linked back to YOUR site. This is similiar to syndicating your site only better.
Btw - I put no effort at all into creating this site. All I did was add my own blog to the site. If you can't see the benefit then keep on doing what your doing. Anybody that knows anything about SEO, page rank, ect would know that having an inbound link from a site like this would be a benefit.
Hi Bill - another of your cool tips! Thanks for sharing this one!
Ann
Debbie that is great! Hopefully the topix site brigns you a few leads and some readers to your blog.
Bill, yet another good tip from you. I'll have to check this out for my area! ;-) Thanks!
Teri good luck with it. Topix is one of the better sites I have come across.
Bill, amazing how you come up with all of these interesting places. I may need to hire someone to do all this fun socializing and SEO while I actually sell houses. We are getting in deeper and deeper, my friend.
Thank you for sharing this and I will certainly look into it.
Thanks Gena. The topix site was coming up for searches under my town. I checked it out and it looks like it has real potential. Hope it works for you :)
Very interesting. All the posts from my town are from the local paper, head lines mostly. Think I might take a hint from Bill and see where the site ranks for my town.
Debbie it is the same thing in my home town. The value in this is that if there are people reading it YOU become the recognized local expert. The other benefit is that it brings traffic to your blog and the best I can tell it does not have "no follow" protocal for the information you are adding.
Thank you for the information. Will definately look into it. Regards, C.
Bill, once again, you have given me a site to master for the week! You are my hero!
Tina in Virginia
Thanks! I'm glad Marti highlighted you!
C Tan - Your welcome. Hope you like it.
Tina - The topix site looks like it has real promise. Good luck with it.
Eleanor - Your welcome...good luck adding your mortgage information.
Hi Bill,
I like Topix but I haven't used it in a while. So far the leads from that avenue haven't been the best for me. My two cents.
Hi Tracy - I would suspect you would need to keep the content fresh on Topix in order for it to have any value. I would give it another try.
Thanks Bill. I had never heard of Topix before. You have shed the light into the cave I have been living in!
Michelle - Your welcome. The Topix site has potential. It is really simple to add your material :)
Bikll - Thanks for the awesome idea - I'm on it!
Garreth - Good luck with using Topix as a site to increase your business.
Bill, thanks for sharing another great site, that I will check out. You are a wealth of information and appreciate you sharing with us here.
Missy your welcome. I am having a lot of fun with the Topix site. It is very easy to post your material. Having another good link never hurts either :)
Cool tips. Thanks again!
Bill, thank you for your great advice! I just filled out the application and am anxiously awaiting their e-mail confirming my log-in.
I have followed a lot of your great advice. I sincerely appreciate your guidance!
Bill,
I find more useful stuff on Active Rain than anywhere else! Thanks for a useful post!
Mike in Tucson
Nyles - Your welcome - good luck with Topix.
Mirela - Good luck with Topix. I am sure you will add some valueable information for the area you cover.
Mike - You are right...Active Rain in a fountain of knowledge.
Thanks, Bill. I'm not using either of those (firefox or IR), but that gave me another idea to try... if I don't make any progress , can I contact you? I often have confusion about the obvious!
Mara of course you can :)
Bill - You are the master. Thanks for the great resources you continue to provide.
Bill, thanks much for this tool tip on topix today. I'm thoroughly enjoying the creative opportunities we have now on the Internet, including my own Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate blog.
Tom You are welcome my friend. I am enjoying having another place on the internet to post some local material.
Chuck - Good luck with it and much success with your new blog.
Bill just checked out the Topix site...really interesting. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Mike the Topix News site is an excellent way to increase your web presence.
Thanks Bill - Topix looks interesting. Have take a closer look. Have you been able to convert any leads from this that you know about? Just a little concerned about mixing in real estate branding with other news stories we have no control over though.
Hi Judy - I can tell you that via the mybloglog tracking service there are people visiting my blog because of the posts in Topix. I have only been using the site for a few months. I have gotten a lot of business from my blog but can not say that it came because of Topix. It will certainly help you from an SEO standpoint though.
Bill - thanks for the idea and all of your help on this - looks like you are doing a great job as Topix editor for Hopkinton MA. I am definitely going to apply for it - now that I found the elusive link, thanks to you. :)
Virginia - Your welcome:) You will love Topix and the Google juice it brings!!
I have heard of Topix. It looks like a good news site with diverse information.
Thanks very much for sharing this with us! It looks like a great opportunity.
Julie - Topix is one of my favorite sites. I love it!
Susan I would strongly encourage you to apply to be an editor for Topix.
wow, thanks for the info!!!!!
Sonja - Your welcome - Topix is one of the best sites I have found.
Thanks for the great idea - I just sent in my request for Sherwood Oregon!
Amber
Jason - This is one of the best sites out there! Good luck with getting accepted:)
Bill
Sounds good to me, more inbound likes are really good stuff.
Richard
Rich this is one of my favorite sites that I have found...good luck with your application.
Hi Bill,
I've already signed up to be an editor. Thank you for all these good links!!
Yvette - Good luck with it. Topix is my favorite site!
Thanks for the info. I tried to become an editor for my area, but its all booked up. Can you still post on Topix if you're not an editor??
Winter Baserva Realtor - Hey what is your name any way:) How do you know it is booked up? There can be more than one editor.
Bill, thanks again for emailing me the link to your post. I checked out the different zip codes here in Middle TN and found it interesting that there are people editing but you don't really know who they are. On the Hopkinton page you seem to stand out because you have your picture there. I am I wrong, or doesn't that give you more credibility?
Thank you again. People like you here at AR are really helping me get on track. I am a very slow starter but I NEVER finish last. LOL
Connie - I think it always makes sense to have your picture. People like to know who they are connecting with. Make sure you apply to be an editor. You can add your blog posts that are news worthy to the site!
Good luck:)
Hey Bill.
I just signed up with Topix. Can't wait to start "reporting". Had trouble uploading a local photo, but other than that, piece of cake. Thanks for the info.
Hi Bill- I've taken your advice and asked to be an editor for my hometown...since only roboblogger is listed as an editor, hopefully I'll be approved;-) Thanks for the tip(s)!!
I just signed up. Thanks Bill. I just hope I can figure out how to keep up with it all.
Jen - That's fantastic! Good luck with Topix...it is awesome for exposure!
Matt - Sorry I missed your comment before. I am sure you will get approved.
Bill - I just got approved to be an editor for one of the areas we concentrate on. Now I have to figure out how to add our posts there??? I am using Firefox so I might have to switch to IE... I tried uploading a couple of photos and it's kicking me all over the place. Back to learning more about it. ~Rita P.S. I wonder if you can apply to more than just one city?
Rita - Congrats. Yes you can apply to be an editor for more than one town. I am covering six at the moment. Let me know if I can help you out.
Bill - I just signed up to be an editor for the community where I want to market most and there was robocop so no one is currently the editor. Can you post in other areas besides just the one you signed up to edit - once I am accepted?
Cathy - you can apply to be an editor in more than one town if you like. I am an editor in six towns.
Thanks Bill - Is there a lot you have to do - or does it mostly just you the ability to post items. I don't want to take on more than what I can really handle realistically.
Cathy it is really easy. It is muck like yourstreet. You are posting a link and a few snippets of your blog and that is it.
Bill- I was doing a search for something a couple weeks ago, and everything on the subject had a Topix article on google. At that point I was curious of what Topix was, and checked it out. So it looks like I am earning my techi points one at a time...what do you have next I'm ready LOL :)
Kathy Topix is one of the better sites on the net for achieving authority. I would highly recommend signing up to be an editor for your area.
Thanks for the info on Topix. I had not really looked at it before. I liked it enough I signed up to be an editor. :)
Thank you, signing up now! :)
Eileen & Sam - Topix is one fo the best sites on the internet for exposure. Hope you both enjoy the site!
I looked at, or should I say tried to look at, Topix to see how I might leverage their site. I went to your town, then real estate. It seemed like the page was dominated by paid advertising and the blog posts were tucked into the lower right hand corner and not very visible.
Then I tried checking out a few posts, and wierd ... got first line plus big comment box. Seems like they're simply pulling in feeds from the newspapers and after I link there it is way too cumbersome to come back and comment, so when would anyone see my comments?
As soon as I finish this comment, I'm heading right over to Topix to check out my town of Hilton Head. This is a great idea!
Tina were you on Topix.com or Topix.net...there is a difference. All the news on Topix.com should be in the left collumn. There is not much advertising on the page. Topix.net is a feed from Topix.com and does have more advertising. Go to the Hopkinton page on Topix.com and you will see what I mean. The site is more useful for posting than it is for commenting. There are some great SEO features to using the site.
Diane - Sign up to be an editor...you will love it.
Wow Bill, what an awesome resource. Thank you so much for sharing this info. I just applied to be the editor in Missoula. Will keep you posted if it's approved. Thanks again!
Hi Bill! I just joined Topix and hope to become an editor--recommended by Virginia Hepp too! Thanks for your post and I think your feature looks great on Topix too. I'd love to know what kind of business you're generating in 2009 with this site.
Have a great week...
Debe - I have found Topix to be one of the best sites to join in your local area. Good luck being an editor!