Real Estate Agent Marketing 2.0

goo-Email-Calendar-Doc-gled

2009-10-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

why real estate agent should choose google for their business ?

1. Email, no other online free email can beat Gmail.

a. 25GB storage, and free

b. Label : it is better than folder, more like Tag. so you can have multi-Tag/label, easy to manage your email

c. mobile access : GPhone is the best, iPhone supports Gmail well

d. integrate well with google calendar, and google doc.

2. Calendar, well designed, convenient to use.

3. Google Doc. agent needs share a good number of documentation with clients. Google doc is good way to do that. you also can label the doc. for easy manage.

Home's market value

2007-03-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Free:
www.HouseValues.com
www.OurHomesPrice.com
www.HomeGain.com
www.Domania.com
www.priceahomeonline.com

For $40.00:
www.ushomevalue.com

List only......

2007-03-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

:: Neighborhoods and Real Estate Blog ::
www.brownstoner.com
www.curbed.com
www.homeonthenorthshore.com
www.lakecountyblog.com
www.luxuryrealtygroup.com

:: Nice Map Search::
www.findahome.com
www.shackprices.com
www.mynewplace.com

:: Real-estate data ::
www.intelius.com
www.propertyshark.com
www.neighborhoodscout.com
www.neighboroo.com
www.mightymap.com

:: Leads Services ::
www.leadqual.com
www.realtorexposure.com

:: Agent Marketing ::
www.transparentre.com
www.BobBruss.com

:: Real Estate News & Info. ::
www.inman.com
www.rismedia.com
www.retrends.com

WebAward in Real Estate by Web Marketing Association

2007-03-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

2006 :: www.coldwellbanker.com
2005 :: www.coldwellbankerpreviews.com
2004 :: www.RealEstateJournal.com
2003 :: www.corcoran.com
2002 :: www.RealEstateJournal
2001 :: www.corcoran.com
2000 :: www.HomeAdvisor.com

source: realestate.webaward.org

[ Local + Real Estate + Map ] 2.0

2007-03-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

www.avenews.com
atlas.freshlogicstudios.com
www.backpage.com
base.google.com :: Map
www.craigslist.org
www.citycita.org
www.citycribs.com
www.cityfeeds.com :: Local
www.daylo.com :: Local
www.edgeio.com
www.feedmap.net :: Map
www.free411.com :: Local
www.geoiptool.com :: Map
www.ibegin.com :: Local
www.insiderpages.com
www.judysbook.com :: Local : Seattle
www.lopico.com :: Local
maps.ask.com/maps :: Map
www.map24.com :: Map
www.mapbuilder.net :: Map
www.maporama.com :: Map
www.measuremap.com :: Map
www.meetup.com :: Map
web.mightymap.com :: Local
www.neighboroo.com :: Local
www.oodle.com
www.platial.com :: Map
www.plazes.com :: Map
www.rbloc.com :: Local
www.trulia.com
www.where.com :: Local
www.zillow.com :: Seattle
www.zipingo.com :: Local : Seattle
www.zixxo.com :: Local

Web 2.0 Startups in Seattle

2007-03-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

www.43things.com
www.brightcove.com
www.farecast.com
www.fantasymoguls.com
www.ilike.com
www.imagekind.com
www.jott.com
www.judysbook.com
www.mpire.com
www.smilebox.com
www.singlefeed.com
www.wetpaint.com
www.webaroo.com
www.wishpot.com

---------------------------
in stealth-mode
---------------------------
www.apollomobilemedia.com
www.avvo.com
www.clayvalet.com
www.dipiti.com
www.fatDoor.com
www.hypertextsolutions.net
www.livemocha.com
www.ripl.com
www.team46.com

Startups to watch by Business 2.0

2007-03-16T00:29:00.000-07:00

It's getting crowded on the Web 2.0 frontier, but there are still some startups that truly stand out. Business 2.0 Magazine identifies the ones most likely to strike gold in 2007.

1. www.stumbleupon.com
Launched in 2002 by three 20-somethings in a Calgary, Alberta, apartment, StumbleUpon now has 2 million registered users drawn by its knack for finding websites that match their interests and those of others with similar tastes as they "stumble" around the Net.
Business model: Advertising, subscriptions

2. www.slide.com
Slide has developed customizable and easily assembled slide shows of photos that can be embedded in a blog or a MySpace page, sent out in an RSS feed, and streamed to a desktop as a screensaver.
Business model: Advertising, subscription

3. www.bebo.com
Bebo has built a social network, more than 30 million members strong, that keeps users' pages private but still allows them to share things like video and drawings made on an online whiteboard.
Business model: Advertising

4. www.meebo.com
Meebo lets users manage multiple instant-messaging services from one site. Meebo's killer app is a widget that places an IM window on your blog or webpage.
Business model: Advertising

5.http://www.wikia.com/
Wikia operates a hosting service for ad-supported community sites that use the same software and collaborative content model that made Wikipedia a Web phenomenon.
Business model: Advertising

6.http://www.joost.com/
Forget the three-minute video blog. The 30-minute, broadcast-quality Web 2.0 TV show is coming in all its full-screen glory. And if serial disrupters Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom have their way, neither television nor the Internet will be the same.
Business model: Advertising

7. www.dabble.com
Dabble has designed a tool for organizing videos into playlists of favorites. Users share them across the network, so, say, food lovers can dabble in one another's video collections.
Business model: Advertising

8. http://www.metacafe.com/
Metacafe's service ranks uploaded videos by popularity and feedback from a community of 17 million monthly visitors - and pays the creators for the success of their work. The auteurs get $100 after 20,000 viewings and $5 for every 1,000 subsequent views. Since September, Metacafe has paid a total of $250,000 to 200 contributors.
Business model: Advertising

9. www.revision3.com
Revision 3 is a production studio for geek-oriented online shows. Started by Digg founder Kevin Rose and its CEO, Jay Adelson, Revision3 sells sponsorships to companies like Go Daddy, Microsoft, and Sony for as much as $10,000 per episode.
Business model: Advertising

10. http://www.blip.tv/
Blip.tv has built a platform for syndicating serialized online shows such as Starring Amanda Congdon and TreeHugger TV. Blip provides producers with software, ads, and distribution to websites and blogs. A deal is already signed with Web TV service Akimbo, which lets producers send their videos to TV sets.
Business model: Licensing, advertising

11.www.fon.com
FON... see the potential for a worldwide Wi-Fi network in the home broadband connections already in place. All that was needed was a service to tie them together.
Business model: Subscription, router sales

12. www.loopt.com
Loopt offers around-the-clock friend tracking. Cell-phone customers are using Loopt to let their buddies see their locations. It's already a hit with some 100,000 Boost Mobile subscribers who want to know not just what their posse is up to but where it's at.
Business model: Advertising, subscription

13.http://www.getmobio.com/
Mobio offers mobile-phone mashups and widgets that figure out where you are and serve up on-the-go services like movie listings. Other widgets will book a cab or a seat at a restaurant.
Business model: Advertising

14.www.tinypictures.us
It's Flickr on the fly. Tiny's Radar service lets you snap photos with cell phones and send them to friends, who can both access and comment on the shots. Radar will be a built-in application on some devices made by Danger, creator of T-Mobile's Sidekick.
Business model: Sales of downloadable client, advertising

15.www.soonr.com
Access your home or office PC from your mobile phone. SoonR allows you to use your phone to pull up and search data on your desktop - everything from Word docs to Photoshop files.
Business model: Subscriptions

16. www.turn.com
Led by former AltaVista CEO Jim Barnett, Turn.com is offering online advertisers something many have craved for years: precise, automated ad targeting combined with a system that requires them to pay only for specific desired results.
Business model: Advertising

17. www.adify.com
Adify is an online marketplace for highly targeted ads. Businesses can sell ad space directly to advertisers; advertisers can target specific market niches while Adify handles the back-office work.
Business model: Advertising

18. www.admob.com
AdMob offers a place to buy ads for delivery to cell phones. That market is set to explode, and AdMob - which says it has sent out nearly a billion ads in less than a year - is poised to become its middleman of choice.
Business model: Advertising

19.www.spotrunner.com
SpotRunner is a one-stop online shop for low-cost 30-second TV ads. Local businesses can browse a library of premade spots and personalize them for airing in their local markets.
Business model: Advertising

20.www.vitrue.com
ViTrue's platform lets corporate customers solicit, edit, and upload user-generated videos that promote their products. With companies like General Motors tapping the YouTube generation to virally market their wares, ViTrue is in a sweet spot.
Business model: Advertising

21.www.successfactors.com
Even the corporate world is catching on to the promise of Web 2.0 technologies. After all, why can't enterprise apps be as easy to use as the latest Google mashup? They can. And when they actually work, watch out. SuccessFactors, a profitable five-year-old startup in San Mateo, Calif., takes in an estimated $100 million in annual revenue by selling a suite of simple Web-based tools that automate important but previously paper-driven management chores - performance reviews, succession planning, and compensation.
Business model: Subscriptions

22.www.janrain.com
JanRain has developed a single sign-on service for multiple passwords that lets people hop freely from site to site. Business demand for JanRain's services is expected to grow as Web 2.0 entertainment and social-networking sites proliferate.
Business model: Advertising, subscriptions

23. www.logoworks.com
Logoworks automates the design of logos, business cards, and stationery. Proprietary software helps Logoworks streamline the process and charge less than old-line competitors.
Business model: Fee-for-service

24.www.reardencommerce.com
Rearden Commerce sells a Web-based "virtual personal assistant" application that smoothly integrates hotel and flight reservations, meetings, and other events into your daily agenda. Some 150 companies and 500,000 employees use Rearden's software.
Business model: Subscriptions

25.www.simulscribe.com
Finally, an effective way to convert voice-mail into scannable text. SimulScribe transcribes voice-mail messages and shoots them to your mobile device as text or e-mail messages. Targeting corporate customers, SimulScribe will integrate the service into company voicemail systems.
Business model: Subscriptions

measurable

2007-03-06T00:38:00.001-08:00

Regardless some negative online comments of HouseValues services these days, HouseValues as a company reached near $100M revenue in 5-6 yrs is remarkable, at least in the past. One reason in my view is that HouseValues's service is relatively measurable for agent on their marketing dollar. Agent knows how many leads coming per month for x amount of dollar. Even the lead do not become a client, then you know it is bad spending on the marketing dollar, agent probably should cancel it. My take on this is that the sense of measurable on HouseValues services is a positive element in agent's decision to sign up.

It is hard to measure on the marketing dollar. It is hard, does not mean you do not try to measure it. In factor, agent does try to measure on their marketing, but just not in systematic way for most agents.

How can I help you ?

2007-03-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

My Service:
1. Evaluation : Whether Web 2.0 is suitable or productive for your marketing needs. In some case, you may not need Web 2.0 for now. It is free consultation.
2. Planning : Develop a plan of Web 2.0 conjunction with your marketing plan in place or in the foreseeable future.
3. Implementation : Deliver web 2.0 solution based on your web 2.0 plan.

My Customer:
Real Estate Agent :: Small Real Estate Broker :: Real estate office under large broker

My Experience:
1. 8 yrs experience in real estate web application
2. Experienced in broker MLS data management system (over 40 MLSs)
3. Broker website (over 20 sites)
4. Agent personal website development
5. Online lead generation

days before the net

2007-03-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

Per "Glenng" at SeattlePI Blog Post
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/venture/archives/110781.asp

"Here is an interesting statistic - in the days before the Net an agent had to make about 100 calls in order to get one lead. Out of 10 people that an agent works with face to face only 1 (one) completes a transaction."

who defines the "Neighborhood" ?

2007-03-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

The neighborhood map shown here is from official Bellevue City website. My question is who defines the neighborhood.

Trulia has Chicago neighborhood heat map of home price with neighborhood map. Again, who defines Chicago neighborhood ?

btw, Trulia’s heat_map is not truly heat map. Real true heat map is one like at GeoIQ

How big the market ?

2007-03-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

Per Trulia.com's about us page (http://www.trulia.com/about/)
Here's the story: real estate professionals and organizations currently spend around $11 billion every year on their marketing.

If they can provide their source information, it would be great. I read somewhere it is about $21 billion, not $11B.

Web 2.0 :: definition :: in general sense

2007-03-02T12:11:00.000-08:00

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0...

The last, compact definition of Web 2.0, according to Tim O'Reilly is this one:

"Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform. Chief among those rules is this: Build applications that harness network effects to get better the more people use them."

Value of HouseValues

2007-03-02T05:50:00.001-08:00

I start watching HouseValue about 6 months after they started the company...at that time I along with my other co-workers/managers all laughed at them...until I learned from owner of a very good brokerage in northwest area that how agent spend their time and resource. I stopped laugh... that was sometime around 2003. I joined HouseValues in Feb. of 2005, till early this year. I learned great deal of value of HouseValues.

Value of HouseValues to agent is NOT limited to leads agent received.

Value of HouseValues to real estate industry is not limited just online lead service company. HouseValues offers value of package to agent in a way agent's broker can not.

I had hard time to explain to people about HouseValues business model. One explain I had is: HouseValues like fishing company, go over deep sea.. catch the fish, then sell. It is what people can understand... but not really accurate. HouseValues did lots thing right in its business.

Probably, HouseValues agent have better explanation than I do.

If you are an agent, I would like to hear from you on your view of HouseValues or other online lead service companies, specially you have/had their services. Thanks.

Web 2.0: burden or relief

2007-03-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

Recently I have a close relatives want me take over their business since they are planning retirement. I told then that same business they can make good money does not mean that I would do same. Different approach, different belief, different lifestyle, different background and different experience/skill make the difference of making or losing money.

Same as to Web 2.0, Web 2.0 may not be good for every agent. Yes..it has potential to grow your business, at same time..it could be burden that takes much of your time and resource away. "So what I should do ?" you may ask.

Step 1: take 8 - 20 hrs try out
Step 2: then ask yourself : do I have fun doing that ?
Step 3: if # 2 is yes... wait for 8-12 months to see if that help your business..assume you know how to measure.

Everyone agree that Web 2.0 in general online space is THE direction for the future...lots people outside real estate are trying hard to figure out how to make money. I am still trying to understand the fundamentals of Web 2.0. If you work with me, I would not have all answer for you....does not mean it is NOT worth :)

First thing in the morning

2007-03-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

During spring of 2000 after we just launched a website for a major broker, we received almost daily check list from the broker owner who also is one of "25 Most Influential Individuals In Real Estate In The Nation". The check list contained a list of listing with incorrect or questionable information on his broker website we developed and hosted. His list also included listings are on his competitor's site but not his site. He kept doing this check list for almost 3 months. I was told that was first thing he did in morning before heading to the office since listing data/photo was updated during mid-night. I never had a chance to confirm this story with him, and wish I will have the chance one day.

That has profound impact on me as how I designed and developed listing data management system, website and listing email delivery coming years. What I learn over the time is that accuracy of listing information AND time which the listing be searchable online is the KEY in this business.

Blanche Evans of RealtyTimes has an great article on Listings Wars Heats Up Again. She ended her article with question "What will happen in the oughts?". we may have some sense what direction will be, but lots thing just not happen in 'oughts way', not in this business, not in other part of our life. In simple mathematic term, we will not have solution...equations are same just our boundary conditions are changing and moving.

Regardless who has listing on web, HomeGain, zillow or small regional broker. If they can not meet the seller/buyer's expectation of accuracy and 'time', sooner or later...people will find out about, and never return back.

I wish each website has listing search tells the visitor how fast they bring listing from MLS to their website and accuracy level of listing information.

In my view, other wars may well be short live, accuracy & time is the final measure.

Wendy in Seattle

2007-03-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

In May of 2001, I did an analysis to see how many agent has own personal website. At that time, it was less than 10%. In fall of 2003, I did the analysis again...it was around 20%. later I architected and developed agent personal website system. However, back in my mind I always was wondering how effective the agent site is. My sense is that half of agent really want to have it. other half is more like passive measure...because other agents have it. Personal website becomes extended business card for the agent.

One question I never have good answer is that how effect the listing search within agent website ? If you are agent reading this please give your comments.

I like Wendy's approach, less focus on personal website...more focus on her strength. She did not even use personal website vendor like AdvancedAccess, AgentImage etc. Instead she is using Site Kreator..look its price...

Real Estate Agent in MySpace.com

2007-03-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

03/02/07
I did search in MySpace to see how many agent are there....
Search Text and Number of search results
real estate agent : 111,000 (about)
real estate agent in wa : 1,430 (about)
real estate agent in seattle : 848
real estate agent in bellevue : 215

I will keep surveying these numbers for a while to see how it changes over time...

if you are agent who in MySpace...would you please share with me that how effective the MySpace is ? Currently I'm conducting a survey of r.e agent online marketing. Another interesting note: last week, one unmarred agent told me that she got few business via online dating services. so what's your space ?

after few clicks in MySpace, I found agent Wendy Leung

Video :: Property

2007-03-01T23:04:00.001-08:00

Seattle remodeled and updated home for sale, real estate
by scottpricehomes.com

Added to YouTube: 07/13/06
03/06/07: 402 View

BuyDansHouse.com - Home for Sale

Added to YouTube: 05/25/06
03/06/07: 2,133 View, 2 comments, 1 Favorited, 0 honors, 4 Links

Real Estate Homes for Sale Lakeland, FL $875,000 [by REHSTVupload]

Added to YouTube: 06/13/06
03/06/07: 796 View, 1 Favorited, 1 Links

Real Estate Homes for Sale West New York, NJ 07093 [by REHSTVupload]

Added to YouTube: 01/27/07
03/06/07: 131 View, 1 Links

Agent Blog

2007-03-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

::Seattle::
Beau Betts John L. Scott
Ben Kakimoto, et al John L. Scott & Windermere
Marlow Harris CB Bain
Wendy Leung John L. Scott

::Other::
Bubbleinfo.com
Real Estate Blogs
Real Blogging

Tips :: Seller

2007-03-01T22:10:00.000-08:00

Added To YouTube: 08/18/06
03/06/07: 1,511 view, 5 comments, 13 Favorited, 0 honors and 5 Links

Video :: Team

2007-03-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

Real Estate Agents Las Vegas NV 89074 Goad Team

Added to YouTube: 10/16/06
03/06/07 : 617 view, 5 links

Real Estate Agents Port Hueneme CA 93041- Diane Schliep [by REHSTVupload]

Added to YouTube : 07/06/06
03/06/07: 1,701 view, 2 comments, 1 Favorited, 5 Links

Video :: RealtyTimes

2007-03-01T21:33:00.001-08:00

Barbara A. Brown, Atkinson, NH, Realtor

Added to YouTube: 12/20/06.
03/06/07 : 39 view

Sandy Day St. Petersburg Florida Realtor-Realty Times TV

Added to YouTube: 10/16/06.
03/06/07 : 129 view

Video :: East Cost

2007-03-01T21:31:00.001-08:00

Real Estate Agents Atlanta GA Yolanda Phillips [by ESHTVupload]

Added to YouTube: 12/26/06
03/06/07: 87 view, 1 Favorited

Video :: West Cost

2007-03-01T20:56:00.001-08:00

Real Estate Agents Yountville CA 94599 - Cyndi Gates [by RESHTVupload]

Added to YouTube: 09/12/06
03/06/07: 902 views, 2 Favorited, 3 Links

Real Estate Agents Carson Valley NV Aaron Nelson [by RESHTVupload]

Added to YouTube: 08/18/06
03/06/07: 136 views