Property listing xml feeds are a means of publishing frequently updated data in a standard format. This allows other websites to automatically import your listings without having to manually enter each individual listing. It also allows you to control which details are displayed on other sites. In the case of real estate listing xml feeds this may include beds, baths, sq footage, photos, pricing and availability.
You can use a variety of programs to create and export your listing xml feeds. The most popular is IDX. This is a software package that connects to an MLS server and displays listings from the database. It is commonly used with real estate websites, but can be used to import other types of ads as well.
To create your XML feed you need to have a server that can host the xml files, this could be a dedicated hosting account or your web servers document root directory. You will need to create a feeds> folder on your server and place the listing xml files in this folder.
You will need to validate the XML files before uploading them to your Google feeds. Ensure that you have the correct language code for each listing element in your feed. Using the two letter ISO 639 language codes will work best.
Ensure that you have the right amount of photos for each listing. You should try to provide at least 8 photos per listing, this will help with SEO and increase the chances of ad conversions. You should also include a floor plan if you have this available. You can also add additional features to your XML feed like study, BBQ, dishwasher, veranda, alfresco area etc. These are not required to meet REAXML standards but do help the displaying of your listing and provide a greater level of detail to buyers.