RunAway GetAway Alliance Member Information
RSS feed address: http://www.enfeedia.com/runawaygetaway/members.xml

Several RAGA members asked me about the linking system. For example, which members sites link to their own site. And why does the link block link to RAGA destination pages rather than member sites (the answer to this question is that links in link block link to both member sites and Destination pages). Here's clarification of all that, together with a link to a page that provides a summary of all RAGA member linking.

First, keep in mind that members are organized into three groups: A, B and C. Second, note that the link block includes two sets of links: the first set (titled "Sampling of Member Sites") links to member sites, the second set (titled "Sampling of Travel Info") links to RAGA destination pages.

Links are designed to avoid direct reciprocal links, as Google does not place too much value on reciprocal link exchanges. Instead, each member is "one removed" from each other. So, each member site in group A, for example, links to all member sites in Group B. None of the member sites in Group B link back to member sites in Group A; instead, member sites in Group B link to member sites in Group C. And finally, member sites in Group C link back to member sites in Group A. With this arrangement, each member receives an inbound link from one third of the member sites.

There's a similar setup for links to Destination pages, except the rotation is different, again to avoid reciprocal links. Member sites in Group A link to Destination pages for members in Group C. And so on.

Click here to view a table that shows all this linking for each member. The left column shows what groups contain which members. The next column shows, for links to member sites, what group each member site links to . The right column shows, for links to Destination pages, what group each member site links to.

WIth this table, you can navigate to each member site that links to your site. First find out what group you are in by finding your location in the left column; the top cluster of members are in Group A, the middle cluster in Group B, and the bottom in Group C. Then find your group identifier in the middle column. All members with that identifier in their row link to your site. For example, Monterey Bay is in Group B. In the middle column, Group B is shown to the right of all members in Group A; those are the member sites linking to the Monterey Bay site.

(By the way, that revision code in your link block indicates what group you are in. For example, the code [Cr8a] indicates Group C. r8 indicates major revision 8, and the trailing letter further indicates a minor revision.)

To: All members of the RunAway GetAway Alliance
Subj: update your Link Block

The last update of the link block was almost a year ago. Some membership changes are reflected in the new code. Also, some other changes were made: The RSS logo was deleted (so loading your website is not dependent on accessing that image from RunAway GetAway) and the "subscribe" link was deleted. As you are all members of the Vacation Rentals In The News with the news enhancements I announced in my email on November 1, there is now a link to that site, located under the Alliance link block.

Please replace your existing code with the new code as soon as possible. As a reminder, if you did your last update correctly, you can locate your old link block by the comment lines at the top and the bottom of the link block code.

♦ Please replace all the existing link block code on your site, including those comment lines, with the new code, including the new comment lines.
♦ Please do not make any changes to the code; if you believe something has to be changed, contact me first. Font size is selected to roughly match the size of the majority of the font elsewhere on your page.
♦ Please include that crytpic revision code new the end of the code -- some of you have been deleting it -- it looks something like this: [Ar8a]. I need that to track revisions.

A few of you do not currently have the link block posted, as we discussed on the phone. Please post the new one near the bottom of the home page. The link block inherits the text and link color, background color and font style of your page, so place the code in a spot on your home page where you get the desired colors and font style for readibility.

Here's how to get your link block code: Go to www.runawaygetaway.com/EasyWay-Code.html and click on your location -- be careful to select the right location. The next page presents the terms of service, unchanged. Click the button at the bottom of the page to see your link block code. Everything on that page needs to be copied and pasted onto your home page.

As always, if any questions, email me or call me at 530-249-4401.

Ken


PS -- Many of you are already receiving referrals directly from your destination page. Email with the title beginning "Inquiry (via RAGA ..." indicates the email was sent from your RAGA destination page.

PPS -- Be sure to check out your posting on Vacation Rentals In The News and make sure your posting is current. Many of the postings are obsolete and need to be updated. Keep in mind that a "special" does not need to be a pricing or discount deal, it can be a special event happening in your area that is of interest to the vacationer, or unexpected availability of a special home, etc. I emailed every member their unique password. You will find instructions below for how to post on VRN, under "How to post your item on the Vacation Rentals In The News feed". It's easy and fast; one member reported: It was easy...and it took a whole 5 minutes because I hadn't done it before. Now that I know the steps, it should take me 2 minutes. (from Annette A.)

Individual unique passwords for posting news on the Vacation Rentals In The News (VRN) website have been emailed to all members of the RunAway GetAway Alliance. If you did not see that email, please let me know ASAP so I can update your email address, if that's the problem, and communicate your password to you.

I recommend you review the posting for you on VRN to determine if it needs to be updated, and to do so as soon as practical -- especially for those cases where I posted a "coming soon" (or equivalent) place-saver item for you or where I copied a special from your website. Instructions for logging in and posting your item are provided with the password email as well as on this feed -- see previously posted item.

Some members have already begun posting without calling for help :-) a testimony to the process not being difficult. As always, if you need help, you can contact me by phone or email.

Keep in mind when you post your item as "new", it will go to the top of the list.

Much progress, and a few things you should do:

1) All RunAway GetAway destination pages are now updated per my Nov 1 email. Each destination page includes an email form for site visitors to contact you directly from your destination page. If you provided me an email address to be used for this, I used it; otherwise I used the same email address I use to routinely correspond with you. Please verify your email form is working correctly by going to your destination page and sending yourself an inquiry, then look for that incoming email in your in-basket. Members report they are already seeing inquiries, so don't waste this feature!

While viewing your new destination page, notice that your Vacation Rentals In The News (VRN) announcement is included in your listing. Also, go the RAGA home page and click the gold star by your listing in the member list near the top of the page; you will view your item on VRN. Both of these are automatically updated when you update your item at Vacation Rentals In The News.


2) All members now have an item posted on VRN. If you provided me a news item to post, I used it. If not, I looked for a 'special' on your site to post. And failing that, I posted a "coming soon" or equivalent message. By the way, some member announcements are now obsolete and need to be updated!

I will send you your password in an email; please update your item as needed. For instructions on how to do that, read the item that's two below what you are reading now, titled "How to post your item on the Vacation Rentals In The News feed".


3) If you encounter what appears to be errors, please tell me about them: ken@runawaygetaway.com


4) Next, I will be preparing the updated link blocks for your websites and ask that you perform the usual replacement of the old link block with the new one.

Check it out, on the home page of the RunAway GetAway Alliance ... about half way down, you can't miss it. It'll get you packing your bags. :-)

To log in, click the "shootOnSite" link that appears near the bottom of the VRN home page under the news feed (or near the top of the VRN NewsPage that opens when you click the red-and-green "E" icon).

On the page that opens, enter and submit your password that I assign to you. (Ignore the "reporter" PIN entry). On the next page, select either "Edit Item..." (to simply modify your existing item) or select "Re-Post Item..." (to enter a new item).

Once you have made your selection, you will be asked to select your item (well, you have only one in the VRN application, so selection is pretty easy), then a form will be presented to you to edit your existing data or to enter new data.

On the form, the first three fields (Title, Link, and Description) are required. The fields below those are optional. Check out the additional features, like including an image with your posting and adding text links within your description. Keep in mind that the VRN home page shows only a lead-in to your overall description (as a teaser), so it's to your benefit to make that lead-in catchy and include any text links in that lead-in for search engines to index. Once you have filled out the form, click the button at the bottom of the page to submit your information. In about 10 seconds, you will see your posting, as will the rest of the world.

Is it difficult? Here's what one member said: It was easy...and it took a whole 5 minutes because I hadn't done it before. Now that I know the steps, it should take me 2 minutes. (from Annette A.)

Since the email to the membership on November 1, the following progress has been made. I have focused on those destination pages for RAGA members replying with answers to the three questions , with a few exceptions: Breckenridge, Cambria, Hilton Head, Kauai, Kohala Coast, Moab, Monterey Bay, Pagosa Springs, San Diego, Sedona, and Telluride.

Check out your Destination pages to check what I've done, and to test the email contact form. Send an inquiry using the form and verify you receive the email, as this is how visitors to your Destination page may choose to contact you.

Also, note that the posting on your Vacation Rentals In The News spot appears on your Destination page also.

I will continue with this process for remaining members -- it's time consuming, but I will get it done. Updating of link blocks will probably now take place in January. If you have not replied to my questions in that Nov 1 email, please do so asap.

Click to access members-only item.