By Benn Rosales on February 2, 2010
It’s all about brand ownership
There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding by the National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.) of the age in which we’re living. For over 100 years now, the N.A.R. has been perceived as a closed society, private, and secretive, and over the past year has launched a campaign to change those things by rolling into the social media era. On the surface, it would appear that transparency and open dialogue rules the day, but in actuality, it’s still in flux when it comes to membership versus the concept of brand ownership.
Search, Blogs, companies within the real estate industry, and social…
Posted in New Media
By Benn Rosales on January 6, 2010
No IDX Required says it all.
RealShout has launched its plug and play Real Estate Search Wordpress plugin that actually says it quite clearly, “no idx required!” And although RealShout, a division of Go Smart Solutions did its best to get the word out via press releases and a few choice emails and blog comments, it got very little real press.
Remember that MLS punking?
The plugin itself is one of a few new Wordpress plugins that capitalize on Google’s Real Estate Search as of late that signals a potential shift away from costly MLS dues, and forced relationships with Associations that some agents…
Posted in New Media, News | Tagged google real estate search, Real Estate, realshout, wordpress plugin
By Benn Rosales on January 5, 2010
… this according to everyone who really wants more from Google. As Google Launched it’s Nexus One, stock and reaction remained steady losing 0.44 on the day to close at $623.99 in comparison to Apples whopping 3.4 percent increase on December 24, 2009 just based on sheer speculation of their Tablet, but why the difference in treatment?
My guess is that Google is serious, and wants to be taken seriously as a contender in the mobile arena and will take less glam and a little more steady stride. I say this because that’s just Google’s style with just about everything,…
Posted in News, Tech | Tagged droid, nexus one, nexus specs, product launch
By Benn Rosales on January 4, 2010
Zillow, Trulia and Cyberhomes hands down get the AG Change award on how we search and visualize real estate over the last decade, and Apple’s iPhone wins point blank in the smart phone race. But who cares? Even the iPhone looks and feels boring again after its reign as king, and everyone has maps and search… lethargy?
Not Google, as it intends on making this the decade that its branded phone (unveiled, January 5) crushes the iPhone, and I suspect that it will. Innovation from Apple has been weak over the past several years in comparison to its promises to revolutionize how…
Posted in Tech | Tagged apple, nexus one, Real Estate, Zillow
By Benn Rosales on December 31, 2009
As Lani and I prepare for tonight’s events, I was reflecting not only on how far we at AG have come in our short two years, but also how far many of you, our faithful readers have come. It’s truly been a wonderful journey and a pleasure to have every single one of you in our lives and to watch many of you grow in not only your careers but your lives.
We’ve truly been blessed and wish all of those same blessings to you and yours as we embark on this new year, our year, our decade- the best…
Posted in Opinions | Tagged new year's
By Benn Rosales on December 31, 2009
…Your source expects it
As blogging becomes more and more mainstream, bloggers seem offended to be treated with such equalization. Recently, the TSA subpoenaed several bloggers over a leaked directive to increase security after the failed attack on a U.S. bound Airliner. It’s been reported that after several hours with travel blogger Steve Frischling, he gave up his laptop thus revealing his source.
The problem with this isn’t a demand for a source, this activity happens every day to even the most high profile journalist, and some end up in jail on contempt charges until they either give up their source or some…
Posted in News, Opinions | Tagged journalism, sources, whistle blower
By Benn Rosales on December 31, 2009
Way back in June 2008, it was reported that Google had begun it’s online version of loan comparison shopping in the U.K. with very little word on when or if it would make a play in the U.S. and in October 2009, it finally launched in the States. Although this is not bleeding edge news, the news is that it’s made it’s way to Texas and was dead on accurate in discovering our location and presenting rates. Any search regarding mortgages will bring up a sponsored result with comparative rates allowing would be refis and buyers to compete and shop rates taking aim…
Posted in Mortgage | Tagged google mortgage, zillow mortgage
By Benn Rosales on December 30, 2009
Thanks for that retweet, Dick
[Warning: Dicks and the faint of heart may find the following offensive] We all love a great retweet, especially by Dick- you know, that guy/gal who strives to influence you using social media? Their reasoning really doesn’t matter, but it makes Dick feel so good to share loads of information with you they’ve pilfered from the internet- no, not information they’ve created, compiled, and presented on their own, but instead, your work, your efforts, and your product. That’s really nice of Dick to share the love, but what has Dick really done that contributes anything? Nothing…
Posted in New Media | Tagged blogging, online content
By Benn Rosales on December 30, 2009
I’m just not that complicated, Darling
You’re chasing new technology, gadgets, and widgets in the hopes of capturing the almighty buyer and seller, and if you’re lucky you might capture one that says ‘right now!’ Am I right? Of course I am. We’re constantly looking for new content to write, the right copy to place and the perfect listings to promote, all in the hopes of transacting as many transactions as possible from our online people machines- wow, that’s a lot when I put it that way; way more than I thought when hypothesizing this article for your review.
As agents, we’re…
Posted in Marketing, Real Estate | Tagged Business, Marketing
By Benn Rosales on December 22, 2009
Be not afraid
A lot has been made of Google’s play into the real estate space that you heard about first here on AG. A few folks balked at our assertions that the U.S. Real Estate space was a major target for the likes of Google when we asked the simple question of whether it was a real threat or an opportunity for agents.
In our opinion, the changes you’re seeing are opportunities for agents to gain market share for their listings as well as themselves, but first, one must recognize how to take advantage of them.
Google has no intention of brokering…
Posted in Marketing
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