Another Online Community for Real Estate
Posted in California Real Estate Bloggers By Stefan Swanepoel, Tuesday, November 25, 2008.Last weekend, real estate agents and brokers got introduced to yet another social and business network to participate in when online real estate news service, Broker Agent Professional, launched Broker Agent Social (www.brokeragentsocial.com). Within the first 100 hours after launch they exploded to 2,000 members - adding a new member every few minutes.
Broker Agent Social enters an already crowded field dominated by players such as Inman Community, ActiveRain, RealTown, Zillow Community and RealSeekr.
It isn’t that there’s not room for one more as I actually suspect we will see another dozen or more develop over the next year as different online communities each strive to find their niche and target audience. According to Morgan Stanley, networking online has become the 2nd largest activity online after email.
Not all online communities are of course the same as My Space, Facebook, LinkedIn, Buzznet and Hi5 have already proven. In their case differentiation, at least in the beginning, may have started as a group of school friends, an international social network with a local flavor or an online community featuring a specific interest such as pop, punk or rock bands.
It will not be any different for real estate online communities. Each one is going to have to first its specific importance and usefulness to its members and secondly find a revenue model that they can sustain. Although initial indications were that marketers strongly supported online networks, most of the largest networks have yet to turn a profit and with a downturn in the economy advertising budgets are being reeled in.
That said I am still positive that online networks will play a significant role in shaping the future of the home buying transaction and I have dedicated a trend to them in my 2009 Swanepoel TRENDS Report (www.retrends.com) that is due for release on 2/2/09.
Time will tell who will be able to build a loyal and meaningful following that will cherish their online relationship enough to stay active members. Having a lot of members is important but it is the focus and specialization that instills the desire to for members to return on a frequent basis and it is quality of the content that encourages participation and loyalty – both key factors in long term survival.
What are your thoughts as to the online real estate communities? Too many? Too few? Providing value? Working effectively? Like to see something different?
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Submitted by OpenHouseDealer.com on November 25, 2008 - 11:52am.
I think that there are too many networking sites out there but on the same note everyone finds something useful for them self on all the sites. Just like you said "Within the first 100 hours after launch they exploded to 2,000 members - adding a new member every few minutes" Numbers speak for them selfs.
Good Luck!!!
David Yusupov
info@OpenHouseDealer.com
www.OpenHouseDealer.com
Submitted by Mark Owens on November 25, 2008 - 12:13pm.
Where is the the social networking site where 2000 eager sellers and buyers eagerly sign on in 100 hours.
Inman Community, ActiveRain, RealTown, Zillow Community and RealSeekr are all just digital water coolers...where tech vendors get to graze among the sheep.
Submitted by Steven Stearns on November 25, 2008 - 12:14pm.
Stefan, and all-
Too many? Too few? Providing value? Working effectively?
Likely all questions that members of the(se) communities will answer - in time.
Something different?
Yes-anyone who is marketing anything needs to redefine their client as someone who is looking for information-and someone they should listen to.
Steven Stearns
www.obeo.com
http://obeoman.blogspot.com
262-325-8687
Submitted by Steven Stearns on November 25, 2008 - 12:23pm.
....and let's not forget:
www.wannanetwork.com
...18,000 strong and my first online home!
Tony Sena, you ROCK!
Steven Stearns
www.obeo.com
http://obeoman.blogspot.com
262-325-8687
Submitted by Stefan Swanepoel on November 25, 2008 - 3:52pm.
Thanks for reminding me of Wannanetwork Steven. They had slipped my mind when I crafted the post.....and you're right, they will all be facing the questions, sooner or later.
Stefan
Submitted by Greg Robertson on November 26, 2008 - 4:57am.
We are currently in beta of a new web application called Dwellicious. It's a social bookmarking site for real estate. Our beta users are finding new ways of using the service to connect with buyers, sellers, and other agents. We've had several reviews from agents and brokers;
Agent Genius
http://agentgenius.com/?p=7493
The Seattle Specialist
http://www.theseattlespecialist.com/seattle-real-estate/dwellicious-new-...
WAV Group
http://waves.wavgroup.com/dwellicious-is-launched-by-industry-vetrens-da...
Mashable
http://mashable.com/2008/11/16/dwellicious/
If you would like a beta account just contact me.
Greg Robertson
dwellicious.com
greg@dwellicious.com
www.twitter.com/Dwellicious
Submitted by Ralph M on November 26, 2008 - 7:43am.
Can someone please tell me that when a person is about to list a property or hire a real estate professional, that they are concerned with how much a person blogs??????
I would personally like to thank many of these blog forums for allowing the weak and inexperienced real estate associates to find answers and shoot questions to the real estate associates, while UNDERCUTTING their own commissions and taking the listing(s) away from the experienced.
Blog forums are a waste to the consumer in real estate.
Why do they exist?
If an associate does not know an answer, why aren’t they asking management?
If a broker does not know an answer, Why are they a broker and/or can’t they ask a real estate attorney?
If you need another real estate associate coddling your hand to say, “It’s All right. You did the right thing”,,,,,you need another profession. Get out of the real estate industry.
These economic times in real estate, need to allow the weak real estate professionals to die off and move on to another industry… most blog forums like you mentioned above have ALLOWED the real estate industry to stay put (a 100 yrs in the past) while other non-real estate member companies have thrived.
So the Tony Senas and other owners of real estate blogs.
YOU DON’T ROCK!
www.aarsteam.com
www.nosellercost.com
Submitted by Ned Carey on November 26, 2008 - 9:46am.
Ralph,
You are right, comsumers don't care how much an agent blogs, but they might care very much about the subjects that the agent writes about.
I don't understand your criticism of blogs and forums (two different things by the way) aimed at agent to agent interaction. Are you saying the only place to learn is from your broker? Isn't that quite limiting?
There is certainly value to the reader to improve his selling abilities. There is value to the writer in positioning him or herself as an expert.
you wrote:
>most blog forums like you mentioned above have ALLOWED the real estate industry to stay put (a 100 yrs in the past). . .
Have you actually read some of the blogs. Many are critical of the NAR and push for change. Most are well ahead of the establishment in real estate and some will likely be the leaders of the future.
I find it ironic that you write about cutting of commisions as a bad thing and you link to a company that offers no commission to sellers.
Ned Carey
http://baltimorerealestateinvestingblog.com/
Submitted by Joe Cline on November 26, 2008 - 10:28am.
Hi Ralph,
We were all new agents at some time. Giving back to the profession that we love, while educating the public really only helps us. In the short term someone may get a listing that otherwise would be yours or mine, but there's a lot more to being an excellent broker than just knowing the answers. The old adage "People don't care what you know, until they know you care." is so true in my opinion.
Not all forums and blogs are all that useful, but certainly an educated public who understands what all we do, how hard the job is, and what to expect can only help us and our image as REALTORS.
As an aside, it's interesting that you are participating here and include links to your site, but don't see the value of forums and blogs.
I hope everyone is off to a great holiday! Have a happy turkey day folks!
Joe
Austin Real Estate Agents
Flintrock Falls TX Homes
Austin Round Rock Texas
Submitted by Ken Smith on December 8, 2008 - 8:39am.
Now that people have had a little time to play with Broker Agent Social does anyone have some feedback?
Ken Smith
Buffalo Grove Illinois Condos
Barrington Illinois Condos
Bartlett Illinois Condos