Real Estate Listing Syndication Comparison for Technology Vendors and Brokerages
By Drew Meyers | May 16, 2008
I’m not sure how many people saw the news that Google Spreadsheets can now be edited by anyone, but the concept of a a wiki-style spreadsheet caught my attention. You now no longer have to “invite” people in order to have them contribute and edit a Google Spreadsheet.
With listing syndication hot on people’s minds of late and syndication announcements common, I thought there would be value in having a place where listing syndication is transparent in terms of which brokerages and vendors are sending listings to which portals. Being the geek that I am, I decided to take it upon myself to create a wiki-style spreadsheet using Google Docs and see if those in the industry find the document valuable.
I separated the document into three sheets — one for marketing/syndication vendors such as Postlets and Vflyer, one for website vendors like z57 and Point2, and one for real estate brokerages.
I’ve started the spreadsheet by adding some of the vendors and brokers participating in Zillow’s Listings Feed program, but feel free to add to this spreadsheet with any additional information you have about vendors and brokerages syndicating listings, or portals receiving them. If there are other pieces of data that you think should be tracked, feel free to add columns or sheets to the document.
You can also embed this spreadsheet into your blog if you want to.
You can access the Google spreadsheet here - http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p2Nnc-uXpiCPfWm_CVGs_EQ&hl=en
Popularity: 1% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Listings Syndication | Leave a Comment »
5 SEO tips for business blogging
By David Gibbons | May 16, 2008
Here’s some more great advice by the SEO-guru’s at SEOmoz. If you are considering adding a blog to your website, watch this short video to avoid making some common SEO mistakes. Note: the audio on this video is not so good but it gets better.
SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday-Blogging for Higher Rankings from Scott Willoughby on Vimeo.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillowblog.com
Topics: Blogging, SEO, Marketing | Leave a Comment »
Point2 & RealtyTrac Enter Marketing Partnership
By Drew Meyers | May 15, 2008
I thought the fact that Point2 and RealtyTrac announced a marketing partnership today might be of interest to some of you.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Company News & Analysis | 1 Comment »
Coldwell Banker Adds Listings to Dash.Net GPS System
By Michael Price | May 14, 2008
Coldwell Banker announced at an O’Reilly conference today that it is teaming up with Dash to add their listings as a home search feed for Dash Express GPS navigation device owners.
Dash touts itself as “the first two-way, Internet-connected GPS navigation system”. Dash also provides an API that provides a way for users to customize their device based on their own driving needs. There are some pretty cool YouTube videos on the Dash blog that demonstrate some of the 3rd party apps that are available. Check out the video below that shows how to sync your calendar and contacts with the GPS. Be sure to close your eyes and listen to the guy in the video. I think he sounds just like Father Guido Sarducci! 
Popularity: 1% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.mlbroadcast.com
Topics: Mobile Devices, Company News & Analysis, Gadgets | 4 Comments »
Google Maps Adds Real Estate Search
By Drew Meyers | May 14, 2008
As of today, Google Maps now has an integrated real estate search. You can head on over to Future of Real Estate Marketing for commentary from Joel.
More coverage:
- PC World - Google Now Does Real Estate Searches in Maps: We’re Not Impressed
- lifehacker - Google Now Maps Real Estate Listings
- Screenwerk - Google Adds RE Search Option to Maps
- News blog - Google adds real estate listings to Maps
Popularity: 1% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Google, Company News & Analysis | 1 Comment »
The “Miranda Rights” of Real Estate
By Eric Bryant | May 12, 2008
We are all familiar with the Miranda Rights (some of us more than others) that are given to a suspect when they are arrested, right?? here is the FULL version below (not the stripped down version you see on TV)…
You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand?
Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?
You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand?
If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand?
If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you understand?
Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without an attorney present?
Here is my version of “The Real Estate Miranda Rights”…just change a few words and Viola! A career is born!
You have the right to ignore the Internet Consumer and refuse to answer questions, after all Starbucks is hiring. Do you understand?
Anything you do say may be used to tap into the hearts and minds of over 91% of all Real Estate Buyers and Sellers. Do you understand?
You have the right to consult a little page called GOOGLE before speaking to the Website Vendor and to have that information present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand?
If you cannot afford a Website/CRM/or Integrated Web 2.0 Marketing Plan, one will be appointed for you, for a small fee, before any progress is actually made in your career, if you wish. Do you understand?
If you decide to enter the 21st Century of Real Estate now without a Deep rooted passion for success present you will still have the right to stop Practicing Real Estate at any time until you retrieve the other half of your brain and get Online!. Do you understand?
Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to take your career to the place it belongs without an excuse present?
5 years from now over 65% of you (Real Estate Agents) will no longer be effective. Your career will be far less than you had hoped, and you will look back and wonder why? Why didn’t I just stop fighting the inevitable and learn how to survive on the Internet? What was I thinking????
Agents, Stop-Listen-Learn-Prosper!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.asktherealestatecoach.com
Topics: Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, Yahoo!, Communication, IDX, Google, Identity Management, Websites, SEO, Blogging, Keyword Advertising, Lead Acquisition, Marketing | 1 Comment »
Real Estate Video Hosting - Viral Websites
By Brad Andersohn | May 11, 2008
With all the video hosting sites available on the Internet today, and many of them for FREE, which one is the best site to be hosting your “Real Estate Videos?” That’s simple. Youtube right? Why not Google or Yahoo? I have been looking into many of the video hosting sites on the web these past few months. There are some fantastic hosting services available from an array of vendors that each offer something very unique.
Is one any better than the other? Which service should you be using to promote your business, inventory, marketing experience and advertising? Is there just one? Should you be posting on them all? You decide, I have pulled you in this far, so look at these links and then decide to get on the Real Estate Video wagon. Look what kind of stuff is showing up when you search any of these sites for “Real Estate.” In fact, look what the New York Times is doing with Real Estate Video.
Service and Reasons To Consider
- Youtube - The Worlds Library of Video
- Google Video - The Worlds Leading Search Engine Company (hmmm..)
- Yahoo Video - Do You Yahoo? Your readers and visitors do
- Vimeo - People Connecting through Video
- DropShots - The Next Generation of Photo and Video Sharing
- PhotoBucket - 66 Million People Manage their Media
- Veoh - Millions of Videos, Veoh finds what you like.
- VidiLife - Experience the Difference with Real Estate Video
- MySpace - The Largest Social Network - 300,000,000 profiles
- Spike TV Video - Real Estate Video on Spike TV?
Here’s a few more to investigate:
- Viddler - Make Comments On Video with Video or Text
- WellcomeMat - Allows you to create chapters in Video
- Mixpo - Online Editing and Publishing - Allows Links in Video
Do You Still Need a Bit More Push or Pull?
This is a good measuring gauge for you to see where you are with Real Estate Video in YOUR business. You might want to seriously start incorporating Video into your business plan asap. Look at others and learn. I am confident in saying that there are more viewers that would prefer watching a video of anything you have to say or do, rather than reading about it.
Now is really the time to start running in the race while everyone else around you is still putting on their shoes. The Pioneers have taken the arrows, the followers are now leaving the building, and the laggards may never catch up as the Internet Real Estate Video takes over the world.
It’s going to take a winning combination of text, links, and video in your RE 2.0 marketing plan if you want to stay in the Online Race with technology and be successful in your Real Estate business. Video is definitely killing the newsletter farm. Now, you can even send video embedded in email. Flip Video Cameras, Webcams, Cell phone cameras and video, come on, you see where it’s going right? Viral Video Marketing is what sells right now… So Sell!!
If you still have doubts about Real Estate Video or Podcasting, take a look at The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly! created by Jeff Turner from Real Estate Shows.
I think I’ll start a “BlogBuster Video” on the web that charges no late fees! LOL!~
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.activerain.com
Topics: Google, Yahoo!, Video, Blogging, Websites, Marketing | 15 Comments »
Facebook…….I get it….finally!
By Matthew Kelly | May 9, 2008
I’ll be honest about Facebook.
When I initially set up my profile several months ago I didn’t find it useful, interesting, or fun. I promoted it as another web site our Loan Officers needed to have in order to increase their ability to connect with someone.
I didn’t know as many people on Facebook as I did on Linkedin. I couldn’t figure out how to customize my profile so that it was fun, interesting, relevant, or something that someone would come back to again.
A few weeks ago I decided to go back and poke around. I was intrigued with the variety of applications I saw on peoples pages. Applications for literally everything, links to blogs, pictures, lots of things that I found very interesting. The individual profile pages of people that I know had matured quite a bit and were very interesting.
In short, I think I’ve become a bit of a Facebook junkie……so much so that my boss might have to occasionally remind me that I do have another job.
Here’s what I like about Facebook:
It gives me an easy way to keep people informed about what is going on in the mortgage business with out it being to technical or boring.
I can personalize it to the point that people know “me”. In the mortgage business we sell a somewhat homogenous product, rates, fees, and term. Facebook gives me a chance to let people know me a little more personally.
It gives me a chance to connect with other people and refer them in a more viral fashion. For example, a very close friend of mine added me as a friend. I, in turn, introduced her to my group of friends.
It gives me a clean slate to promote things that other people do that I find interesting. I like to promote some podcasts that we create. Also, the ability to bookmark a home for sale listing from har.com to my Facebook account helps me promote things that are important to my friends.
I love the events feature. It gives me a quick way to find networking or charity events, or activities for my kids. Also it lets people around me know where I might be on any given day..
I am really fascinated by the “causes” feature. I don’t get to do enough charity work but enjoy doing it if I am invited.
The Facebook application for the blackberry is simply amazing. If I can’t run something on my blackberry, I quickly loose interest. The application downloaded quickly, was easy to use, and feature rich.
Also, I learned a great new term which is “Friend me up!”
The bottom line is that Facebook allows me to quickly and easily stay connected to many people and expand my sphere of universe at the same time. Unlike other sitse which I consider to be “static”, Facebook is a living, breathing thing that changes as I do.
As chaotic as our lives can be, Facebook seems to be very good at letting people learn what we do, who we are, what we find important and what is going on in our lives.
My Facebook page is still a work in progress, but feel free to “friend me up”!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.rmcv.com
Topics: Google, Blogging | 4 Comments »
Tips to Using Video to Help Sell Properties
By Drew Meyers | May 7, 2008
Doug Heddings, who covers the Manhattan market at True Gotham, has built a great brand for himself with the help of video. However, he gets more than branding from his video efforts — he actually uses video to help move properties. Doug was a guest on Inman TV on Friday and gave some great tips for real estate agents looking to use video as a marketing tool. As one of the innovators in the video space among real estate professionals, I think his advice is worth listening to.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Video, Marketing | Leave a Comment »
How to Create Embeddable Spreadsheets for Your Blog
By Drew Meyers | May 7, 2008
If you ask me, one of the hardest pieces of blogging is consistently finding content ideas. One possible source of interesting content is pure data — essentially, anything in a spreadsheet is potential blog content.
Though Google Docs can also be used to embed a spreadsheet, the tool I’m going to demonstrate is EditGrid. Here is a step-by-step to turning a spreadsheet into an embeddable piece of content for your blog or website.
Step 1: Sign-up for an account.
Step 2: Create a new spreadsheet. First, login to your newly created account and navigate to your workspace by clicking the “My Workspace” tab in the upper right. Then click the “Create New” button highlighted below.
Step 3: Find the data you want to embed from an excel spreadsheet. I’m going to use the Zillow’s Q1 market report for the San Diego MSA as an example.
Step4: Copy all the desired data into your EditGrid worksheet(s). I chose to have 3 sheets within my document; one for the MSA overview data, one for neighborhoods, and one for zip codes. I included several columns of data in each sheet — Zindex, quarter over quarter change, year over year change, 5 year annualized change, and 10 year annualized change.
Step 5: Grab the embed code for your blog — navigate to the publish tab and then click widgets, then html table.
That will bring up a pop-up box that provides you the embed code for your website or blog.
You’re now ready to go — here is the final result embedded in a blog post:
In my mind, real estate market trends and analysis is the best use of embedded spreadsheets, but that’s not to say there aren’t other uses — any dataset is blog-able. Other examples of how EditGrid could be utilized include embedding details of all your prior sales transactions (prices, neighborhoods, addresses), MLS sales data, or even creating your own interactive mortgage calculator.
There you have it; a spreadsheet embedded in your blog in less than 5 minutes!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Blogging | 10 Comments »
Some Links for Geeks
By Drew Meyers | May 5, 2008
Here are a couple links worth checking out:
- The Trick To Adding Local Search To Your Website or Blog
- The Simple Way To Get Personal Emails From Your Blog’s Readers
Popularity: 2% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.zillow.com
Topics: Links for Geeks | Leave a Comment »
Yahoo: A “home” in a declining market
By Erion Shehaj | May 3, 2008
All along, I had a feeling this would happen.
Just like an unreasonable seller in a declining real estate market, Yahoo rebuffed the advances of a ready and willing buyer (Microsoft) numerous times. Reason? The offer presented by Mr Softee “shortchanged” Yahoo’s past stock value even though it came at a significant premium over current stock price. At first, the rejection was thought to be an attempt to get the buyer to sweeten the deal. But after Microsoft did just that this past weekend, it is now clear that this is just plain delusion on Yahoo’s part.
That bluff just blew up in their face. Bid is now withdrawn and Yahoo’s only viable suitor is gone.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Author's Website: http://www.signaturehouston.com
Topics: Yahoo! | Leave a Comment »
