Words: Ashley Rigg
Published: 2nd October 2008
The world’s most powerful property people – Top 100
Google has a problem. When it introduced
TrustRank, it transferred vast amounts of commercial power to the media. And power corrupts.
Brian got lucky. He provided powerful British journalists with relevant and interesting press releases and they linked to him. That was part of the deal. Or at least it was before the practice was stamped out by the journalists’ corporate masters.
Today we publish our list of the top 100 most powerful people in global property. It’s not a list of the richest or most materially successful. There’s no room, for example, for the self-proclaimed
world’s happiest man. The people in this are powerful because they work for (or in many cases, helped to create) the most authoritative real estate websites in the world.
The journalists and bloggers in our top 100 list have the ability to transform your online rankings or at least give them a significant boost, especially those towards the top of the list. Can you provide them with an interesting story relevant to their audience? Even journalism’s finest have
slow news days. A year ago the relationship was simple: you provide interesting content and they provide coverage and a link to your website. Today, this relationship is breaking down.
The best journalists often wear condoms
It took them a while but the big media groups are moving to protect their own interests. Linking is the currency of the web and some of the world’s best journalists have been instructed to refrain from this
mucky activity or when they do, they are asked to wear a link condom (
nofollow). PR is a hugely valuable activity in itself but if one of your main objectives is also to secure links, look carefully through the list below and prioritise and provide exclusives for those that practice unprotected linking.
Google must act
This trend is a classic
“tragedy of the commons”. Google relies on the activity of bloggers and journalists to judge which websites to rank highly. If they act selfishly and only link to themselves and within their corporate link cartels everyone, including Google, loses. You end up getting
irrelevant search results like this. This is not sustainable for Google and they will act if they haven’t already.
Tim O’Reilly recommends making some of your links external to future-proof your website. He may be wrong. As individuals we may all be better off being selfish. More on this next week.
The top 100 most powerful property people
This list was compiled by searching Google’s top 100 results using terms like “real estate blog” and “property news”. In this respect it is biased towards English-language sites. We also searched the blog rolls of some of the biggest blogs in the UK, US and to a lesser extent the rest of the world to add to the list. It took us several weeks to compile a list of over two hundreds sites. We then used the
SEOMoz Trifecta tool to rank the importance and notoriety of the sites most relevant web page (we link to the page we ranked). Please let us know which sites we’ve missed by making a comment below. Some excellent but relatively new sites, like
Estate Agent Today (Rosalind Renshaw) and
Property Portal Watch (Simon Baker), narrowly missed the cut because of the age of their sites, but expect them to feature next time.
Please, don’t bombard these people with spam. Look at their articles and provide them with interesting and relevant content to make their lives easier. You’ll benefit in the long run, especially if they’re practicing unprotected linking!
Rank
|
Trifecta Score
|
Name
|
Market
|
Bloggers/journalists
|
Link with follow
|
| 1 |
83 |
Business Week - Hot Property |
US
|
Prashant Gopal, Chris Palmeri
|
No
|
2=
|
79
|
AME Real Estate |
Middle East |
Jeff Florian & Others
|
No |
2=
|
79
|
Yahoo Real Estate |
US
|
Aggregation service |
Yes, to aggregated news sources
|
| 4 |
78
|
MSN Real Estate
|
US
|
Marilyn Lewis
|
Yes
|
| 5= |
77
|
Globrix Blog
|
UK
|
Poppy Dinsey
|
No
|
5=
|
77
|
Active Rain Real Estate Network
|
US
|
Mulitple
|
Yes, to contributors
|
5=
|
77
|
Curbed
|
US
|
Ben Leventhal & Others
|
Yes
|
| 8= |
75
|
NAR News
|
US
|
Mary Trupo
|
No
|
8=
|
75
|
HomeGain
|
US
|
Jessica Gopalakrishnan and many others
|
Yes
|
| 8= |
75
|
CNN Money - Real Estate
|
US
|
Stephen Gandel and Amanda Gengler
|
No
|
| 11= |
71
|
Primelocation.com - News
|
UK
|
Unknown
|
No
|
| 11= |
71
|
LA Land - LA Times Blog
|
US
|
Peter Viles
|
Yes
|
| 13 |
70
|
Realty Times
|
US
|
Tara Derby, Joe Gumm & many others
|
No
|
| 14= |
69
|
BBC - Pestons Picks
|
UK
|
Robert Peston
|
Yes
|
| 14= |
69
|
Daily News Real Estate
|
New York & US National
|
Jason Shefftel
|
No
|
| 16= |
68
|
Real Estate Deals - Crains New York Business
|
New York
|
Matthew Sollars & Others
|
No
|
| 16= |
68
|
The Real Deal
|
US - New York & Florida
|
Stuart Elliot & Team
|
No
|
| 18 |
67
|
Inman
|
USA & International
|
Brad Inman, Joel Burslem & others
|
Yes
|
| 19= |
66
|
Nubricks
|
Overseas
|
Chintan Mahida & Adam Samuel
|
Yes
|
19=
|
66
|
Jesus Encinar
|
Spain |
Jesus Encinar
|
Yes
|
| 21= |
65
|
Independent - House & Home
|
UK & Overseas
|
Ben Naylor + Others
|
Yes
|
| 21= |
65
|
Patrick.net
|
US
|
Patrick
|
Yes
|
| 23 |
64 |
Trulia Blog
|
US
|
Rudy Bachraty & Team
|
No
|
| 24 |
63
|
Channel 4 Homes
|
UK & Overseas
|
Lucy Searle & Others
|
Yes
|
| 25= |
62
|
News Day
|
US
|
Various
|
No
|
| 25= |
62
|
Zillow Blog
|
US
|
Diane Tuman
|
Yes
|
| 25= |
62
|
Global Property Guide
|
International
|
Prince Christian Cruz
|
Yes
|
| 25= |
62
|
FT - Property
|
International Property Business News - UK Focus
|
Daniel Thomas
|
No
|
29=
|
61
|
Totally Property - Blog
|
Overseas
|
Bob Sheth
|
No
|
29=
|
61
|
Italy Mag
|
Italy
|
Carla Passino
|
Yes
|
29=
|
61
|
Immobilien Portale
|
Germany
|
Hannes Mehr
|
Yes
|
29=
|
61
|
New York Real Estate
|
New York & US National
|
Various
|
No
|
29=
|
61
|
Redfin Blog
|
US
|
Glen Kelman |
Yes
|
| 34 |
60
|
Easier.com
|
International
|
Various
|
No
|
| 35 |
59
|
Future of Real Estate Marketing
|
US & International
|
Joel Burslem
|
Yes
|
| 36= |
58
|
World of Property - News
|
Overseas
|
Paul Beasley
|
Yes
|
| 36= |
58
|
TimesOnline - Property
|
UK & Overseas
|
Peter Conradi, Emma Wells, Kasia Maciejowska, Judith Heywood
|
Yes
|
| 38= |
57
|
Money Week - Property News
|
UK, US, Europe
|
Merryn Somerset Webb
|
Yes
|
38=
|
57
|
Overseas Property Mall
|
Overseas
|
Tony Campbell
|
Yes
|
| 40= |
56
|
Spanish Property Insight - Buff
|
Spain
|
Mark Stucklin
|
Yes
|
| 40= |
56
|
Telegraph.co.uk - Property
|
UK & Overseas
|
Cheryl Markosky, Zoe Dare Hall, Don Rosendale, Peter Swain
|
Yes
|
| 40= |
56
|
Phoenix Real Estate Guy
|
Phoenix - USA
|
Jay
|
Yes
|
| 43= |
55
|
Daily Pundit - San Francisco Real Estate Blog
|
San Franscisco
|
Jeff Brooks
|
Yes |
| 43= |
55
|
Real Estate Tomato
|
US
|
Jim
|
Yes
|
| 43= |
55
|
New York Times Blog (Walk Through) |
USA
|
Joyce Cohen
|
Yes
|
| 46= |
54
|
Property Wire
|
International
|
Ray Clancy & Team
|
Yes but only to news authors
|
| 46= |
54
|
Real Blogging
|
US
|
Mel Aclaro
|
Yes
|
| 46= |
54
|
Property Grunt
|
New York
|
Unknown
|
Yes
|
46=
|
54
|
Real Blogging
|
US
|
Mel Aclaro
|
Yes
|
| 50= |
54
|
Real Estate Blog Lab
|
US
|
Dave Smith
|
Yes
|
| 50= |
53
|
Think Spain News
|
Spain
|
Manresa
|
No
|
| 50= |
53
|
Geek Estate Blog
|
International - Real Estate Technology
|
Michael Price & Others
|
Yes
|
| 53= |
53
|
Homes Worldwide - News
|
Overseas
|
Sarah Seamarks
|
Yes
|
| 53= |
52
|
Property Showrooms Blog
|
Overseas
|
Carry Johnson
|
No
|
| 53= |
52 |
Saint Paul Real Estate Blog
|
Minnesota
|
Teresa Boardman
|
Yes
|
| 56= |
52
|
Homes & Property - Evening Standard
|
UK & Overseas
|
David Spittles, Faye Greenslade & Others
|
No
|
| 56= |
50
|
South Pacific Real Estate Blog
|
South Pacific
|
Unknown
|
No
|
58
|
50
|
Go Wealthy
|
Dubai
|
Unknown
|
No
|
59=
|
49
|
International Herald Tribune - Raising the Roof
|
Overseas
|
Kevin Brass
|
Yes
|
59=
|
48
|
The Move Channel - News
|
UK & Overseas
|
Catherine Deshayes
|
Yes
|
61=
|
48
|
Rod Thomas Blog
|
UK & Overseas
|
Rod Thomas
|
Yes
|
61=
|
46
|
Business2.com.au
|
Australia
|
Peter Ricci (Sir Les Flatulance)
|
Yes
|
61=
|
46
|
Zoomf Blog
|
UK
|
Mike Carter
|
Yes
|
64=
|
46
|
Amber Lamb
|
Overseas
|
Unknown
|
Yes
|
| 64= |
45
|
Austin Real Estate Blog
|
Texas, USA
|
Lisa & Kimborough Gray
|
Yes |
| 66 |
45
|
Estate Angels - News
|
UK & Overseas
|
Various
|
No
|
| 67= |
44
|
Sun Sentinel
|
South Florida
|
Paul Owers |
No
|
| 67= |
43
|
Bloodhound Blog
|
US - Marketing & Technology Focus |
Various
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
Seattle PI - Real Estate
|
Seattle
|
Number of local realtors including Christopher Braxtan
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
Renthusiast
|
UK & International
|
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
Winging It - FindaProperty Blog
|
UK & Overseas
|
Mark O'Flynn, Jocelyn Beattie, Gareth Davies
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
BBC News - Your Home
|
UK
|
Kevin Peachey |
No |
67=
|
43 |
Topix
|
USA
|
Aggregation
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
Montreal Real Estate Blog
|
Canada
|
Deyanira Bautista
|
Yes
|
67=
|
43
|
Guardian - Money (Property)
|
UK & Overseas
|
Miles Brignal & Graham Norwood & Others
|
No
|
67=
|
43
|
Real Estate Shows |
US
|
Sarah Cooper |
No
|
| 77 |
42
|
OverseasCafé - Blog
|
Ireland & Overseas
|
Various
|
Yes
|
| 78= |
41
|
Estate Agency News
|
UK
|
Tony Durkin
|
No
|
78=
|
40
|
Homes Overseas News
|
Overseas
|
Marc Da Silva
|
No
|
78=
|
40
|
The Emirates Network - News
|
UAE |
Medilyn Manibo + others
|
No |
81=
|
40
|
Sacramento Real Estate Blog
|
Sacramento
|
John Lockwood
|
Yes
|
| 81= |
39 |
Find a Property - News
|
UK & Overseas
|
Unknown
|
No
|
| 81= |
39
|
Nestoria Blog
|
UK
|
Ed
|
Yes
|
| 81= |
39
|
AMLA Spain News
|
Spain
|
Various
|
Yes
|
| 85= |
39
|
OPP |
Overseas
|
Ben Dahlstrom |
No
|
| 85= |
37
|
Sunday Morning Talk
|
Florida
|
Caesar Parisi
|
Yes
|
| 85= |
37
|
Globaledge
|
Overseas
|
Ashley Rigg |
Yes
|
| 88 |
36
|
Arming Your Farming
|
US
|
Brandon Cornett
|
No
|
89=
|
35 |
Propertyfinder Blogs
|
UK
|
Unknown
|
No
|
89=
|
35 |
Mallorca Luxury Estate Blog
|
Mallorca
|
Adam
|
No
|
| 91= |
34
|
The Real Estate Blog
|
Overseas
|
David Cowgill
|
Yes
|
| 91= |
34
|
Domain.com.au
|
Australia
|
Michael McNamara
|
No
|
93=
|
33
|
Europe Real Estate
|
Europe
|
Various
|
No
|
93=
|
33
|
Let's Talk Real Estate
|
US
|
Audie Chamberlain co-ordinates
|
Yes
|
93=
|
33
|
Wall Street Journal - Real Estate
|
US
|
Liam Denning
|
No
|
93=
|
33
|
The Rat & Mouse
|
London
|
Ben Brandt
|
Yes
|
93=
|
33
|
Property Owl
|
UK
|
Richard Cooper & team
|
Yes
|
93=
|
33
|
Edmonton Real Estate blog
|
Alberta
|
Sara MacLennan and Sheldon Johnston
|
Yes
|
99=
|
32
|
Hot Property - News
|
UK & Overseas
|
Unknown
|
No
|
99=
|
32
|
Luxury Real Estate blog
|
International
|
John Brian Losh
|
Yes
|
User Comments
its really informative...........
propertytalks,
http://www.propertytalks.in
Hi Ashley,
I checked out the Prime Location blog just to see for myself whether they impose the no follow rule and sure enough there it was.
I found a number of stories referencing Knight Frank News and Research and in every article there was the no follow link to Knight Frank.
It appears to me companies that do this are breaking the old Sergey Brin motto, 'Don't be evil'.
It seems fair if they are quoting well respected research, authors should stand by the courage of their convictions and decide for themselves whether a link without the no follow has been earned and is deserved.
I wonder if Matt Cutts will address this issue when he realises bigger companies are using it to their advantage and not passing the full credit on - it was meant to reduce spam, i'm not sure how it figures in this equation.
Gareth McConnell,
Knight Frank
Hi,
Just to correct your listing. Our news blog will accept articles with a do follow link for contributors.
Thanks
Neil Ebsworth,
Amla Spain
Congratulations on this list. Thought you would be UK focused but you've captured the US field well. The two I'd add would be Sellsius and TransparentRE both at the forefront of the US RE.net.
Claudia Gonella,
revealrealestate.com
Hi Josh,
As I wrote above the list was compiled by searching Google’s top 100 results using terms like “real estate blog” and “property news”. In this respect it is biased towards English-language sites. We also searched the blog rolls of some of the biggest blogs in the UK, US and to a lesser extent the rest of the world to add to the list. It took us several weeks to compile a list of over two hundreds sites. We then used the SEOMoz Trifecta tool to rank the importance and notoriety of the sites most relevant web page (we link to the page we ranked).
I did include BiggerPockets as I really like your site. I've also sent you an email.
Please let me know which sites you think I've missed.
Thanks
Ashley
Ashley Rigg,
Globaledge
I think this is a great list of well known RE blogs/bloggers. Congrats to the top 100
Candace Robinson,
www.PhoenixHousingBlog.com
Nice list! I agree that many of the blogs mentioned are truly influential real estate websites. It's a shame that "link love" is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Hopefully, the major players will continue giving credit when deserved.
Jayson,
New Homes Section
I'm curious about the means by which the sites on the list were chosen. As others have already said, there are many sites/blogs that are probably much more "powerful" in the space, but seem to be absent.
Can you provide us with your selection process?
Joshua Dorkin,
BiggerPockets.com
I'm a regular reader of a number of these blogs. I must admit I was a bit surprised that AgentGenius.com didn't make it in.
Congratulations to all the Top 100 & well done to anyone else who contributes to improving the real estate industry.
Greg Vincent
http://www.RealEstateIndustryNewsletter.com.au
Greg Vincent,
Websites 4 Real Estate Pty Ltd
I was a little disappointed not to find http://www.myleavenworth.com on the list, but was truly shocked that www.raincityguide.com didn't make the cut. I think it is one of the most influential real estate blogs in the U.S. - and I say that as even though I am featured blogger on #67 the Seattle PI blog.
Leavenworth Real Estate- Geordie Romer,
www.myleavenworth.com