Advertising, Syndication, Social Media, Blogging, the Economy and more…

I would argue this is an opportunity for a real estate brand with any significant market share — build a network of blog-backed agent+office+regional sites that mix great real estate search with local content.

The economy of scale in publishing vanishes online and as such, I see no strategic need for brokers to participate in recreating this legacy dependancy.

From Joel @ futureofrealestatemarketing.com — Zillow goes to the Presses

I suggested that they look beyond banners and classifieds and build out a whole platform to support real estate agents and brokers taking their marketing messages to the web; a listing syndication engine, a blogging solution, an advertising platform, a video hosting tool.

A piece well worth reading if you care about the current economic “situation”:

Sensible reform cannot avoid causing significant pain, which is worth enduring to gain extra safety and more exemplary conduct. And only when there is strong public revulsion, such as exists today, can legislators minimize the influence of powerful special interests enough to bring about needed revisions in law.

source:
How We Can Restore Confidence
By Charles T. Munger
Washington Post
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The share of adult internet users who have a profile on an online social network site has more than quadrupled in the past four years — from 8% in 2005 to 35% now, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project’s December 2008 tracking survey.

source: Pew Internet: Adults and Social Network Websites

What does this mean for Real Estate?

If you dig into the study a bit (download), it’s clear the vast majority of folks are there to connect with people they already know. This should bode well for agents who are used to receving 80%+ of their business from people they already have a relationship with.

In our blog-backed website business, I often get questions related to how blogging and social networking should work together (these are business blogs who’s purpose is to build a relationships with folks who will either do business direct or refer business to you).

I’ve struggled a bit with a cogent analogy — usually something along the lines: “Blogging is more for people you don’t know, whereas social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is for reconnecting with people you do know…”.

Dustin (of Rain City Guide and 4realz) has a great post today on the difference. The money quote:

If you don’t mind dealing with internet leads, then by all means focus on building out a website like Rain City Guide that will drive relevant traffic.

However, if you want your real friends to start sending you clients, then you better start interacting with them in a “real” way. Maybe that means throwing ridiculously cool parties, joining the local PTA, coaching a little league team, or sharing inside jokes and other gibberish on Twitter. Either way, your real friends expect you to be a real person.

Read the whole thing.

A few months ago we launched Windermere Branded Office Web Sites. The blog-driven, you-manage-it approach has been very well received and we’ve been flooded with requests to offer an agent version.

We’ll, I’m happy to announce Windermere Branded, Agent Web Sites. Learn more on the product site or see the full announcement.

It’s your 700billion at stake, so speak up! I wrote my Congressman and both Senators today, and hope you’ll do the same (regardless of where you stand).

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Sorry for the cross-post with the listingnumber blog, but I’m so excited about this I had to write about it twice.

The headline might bit strong based on such preliminary numbers even though the preliminary numbers show that craigslist is 87 times more effective in generating visits to a real estate listing and infinitely more cost effective.

See the full article for the full scoop and requisite qualifications.

We just sent this note out announcing our newest product. This has been six months in the making. Follow the links to learn more.

Dear Windermere Owners and Managers,

I’m happy to announce, hot off the keyboard, rahmn(dot)com’s newest product…

Blog-Driven, Windermere Office Web Sites

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My father, Tim Rahmn passed away July 1st, 2007. Following are the comments I made at the memorial held in his honor in Skagway, Alaska. - michael rahmn

There is a quote I ran across about a month ago that resonated with me - I think is appropriate here:

“Many people say that what we are all seeking is a meaning for life… I think that what we are really seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our innermost being and reality, so that we can actually feel the rapture of being alive…” -Joseph Campbell

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