- There is a lot more money to be made in getting potential leads through your site than in sending potential leads to competitors through ads.
- You will loose the trust of your readers if you try to game a system by asking them to click on a link.
🙂
Rain City Guide
Your Guide to the Seattle Real Estate Market
You’re joking, right Dustin??? 🙂
I have ad blocking on Safari and Firefox – so I don’t see the ads anyway. Sort of the Tivo effect on marketing/ads for web.
Dustin…how shameful. 😉
I totally agree for local real estate sites. Why clutter your page with ads which distract prospects from you and your services just to make a hundred dollars a month (more?) when one real estate commission is worth thousands of dollars.
You have a bully-pulpit here. Instead of having your readers click on a Redfin ad to purchase through that company and get a 2% rebate, why not have them click and go directly to your page which offers them 3% if they come directly to YOU? (If they’re not already working with an agent, of course!)
Great point Marlow!!!
I have an equally good idea! Why don’t I send them to you and/or one of the other contributors on the site to make sure that they get the best representation possible! 🙂
In reality, I’m playing a little game with Redfin… Assuming that I send them enough traffic today, then they’ve agreed to do some unique marketing on my house tomorrow.
All good stuff!
Great point Marlow!!!
I have an equally good idea! Why don’t I send them to you and/or one of the other contributors on the site to make sure that they get the best representation possible! 🙂
In reality, I’m playing a little game with Redfin… Assuming that I send them enough traffic today, then they’ve agreed to do some unique marketing on my house tomorrow.
All good stuff!
That’s funny. I’ve got a better one for you Dustin, have them click here and I’ll represent them. 🙂
Whoever made the rule that you can’t advertise on your blog should be tied to a post and whipped–immediately, if not sooner.
As long as an ad is not annoying, why should it be a problem. next they’ll want to pass a law that brokers can’t wear shirts with their company logo at their kids softball games.
Wait till you figure out how to make some bucks from advertising on your blog and you will do it and come up with some great rationalization why it’s ok. It ususally starts with “i’m only selling my own property”
re; trust—if you have genuine trust and you are upfront with your readers, why would they think you were betraying that trust by advertising.
Whoever made the rule that you can’t advertise on your blog should be tied to a post and whipped–immediately, if not sooner.
As long as an ad is not annoying, why should it be a problem. next they’ll want to pass a law that brokers can’t wear shirts with their company logo at their kids softball games.
Wait till you figure out how to make some bucks from advertising on your blog and you will do it and come up with some great rationalization why it’s ok. It ususally starts with “i’m only selling my own property”
re; trust—if you have genuine trust and you are upfront with your readers, why would they think you were betraying that trust by advertising.
3 cents,
I find it amusing how you turn every issue into a legal thing… As if my quote “reasons to avoid putting ads” meant that I was advocating the government start legistlating ads on blogs.
3 cents,
I find it amusing how you turn every issue into a legal thing… As if my quote “reasons to avoid putting ads” meant that I was advocating the government start legistlating ads on blogs.
Must be from hanging around too many lawyers,
or reading Russ’ posts 🙂
Wow I never expected real estate to be so violent. 🙂
Yeah… we’re kind of tough over here on RCG… A lot of real estate professionals can’t hang! 🙂
But I happen to know that 3 cents will keep coming back if we keep it interesting enough for him!
Yeah… we’re kind of tough over here on RCG… A lot of real estate professionals can’t hang! 🙂
But I happen to know that 3 cents will keep coming back if we keep it interesting enough for him!
Dustin –
What do you think about blogs that mention houses currently on the market? I’ve heard from a few of my agent friends that they are upset about a blog that mentioned their listing without checking with them first. This seems to border on the rediculous – There’s too many blogs to check with an agent every time you want to publish something and you would think that they would be happy at anything that drove more traffic to their site.
Dustin –
What do you think about blogs that mention houses currently on the market? I’ve heard from a few of my agent friends that they are upset about a blog that mentioned their listing without checking with them first. This seems to border on the rediculous – There’s too many blogs to check with an agent every time you want to publish something and you would think that they would be happy at anything that drove more traffic to their site.
David,
I’m with you… I’m currently paying Google to send traffic to my listing and would love it if others sent (free!!!) traffic my way! Marketing on the internet is all about quality traffic and a link from a blog is great traffic for any listing!
The only exception that comes to mind is not from a blog post, but rather when someone spams a directory like Craigslist with a ton of listings that belong to other agents. That has been known to really upset agents because it is often done in a way that borders on spam.
David,
I’m with you… I’m currently paying Google to send traffic to my listing and would love it if others sent (free!!!) traffic my way! Marketing on the internet is all about quality traffic and a link from a blog is great traffic for any listing!
The only exception that comes to mind is not from a blog post, but rather when someone spams a directory like Craigslist with a ton of listings that belong to other agents. That has been known to really upset agents because it is often done in a way that borders on spam.
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David,
How would mentioning someone else’s listing on a blog draw more traffic to the listing agent’s site? If I talked about my top 10 picks on market, which I would love to do each day or week, odds are someone would call me to see and buy them, not the listing agent.
Hence the rule broken appears legit, if you view it that way.
Ardell,
You should definitely check out the way that Alex Stenback does his Curb Appeal Enthusiasm each week (or at least he used to…). I would be happy to have you (or any other contributor) post the top five most promising open houses for the weekend!
If you were interested, I could definitely help automate the process a little. Some ideas, we could work with Robbie to automatically map out the selected listings and work with Trumba to easily import the picks into a calendar system!). I’m not the right person to pick the top five open houses each week, but I sure would help someone out who was interested!
Ardell,
You should definitely check out the way that Alex Stenback does his Curb Appeal Enthusiasm each week (or at least he used to…). I would be happy to have you (or any other contributor) post the top five most promising open houses for the weekend!
If you were interested, I could definitely help automate the process a little. Some ideas, we could work with Robbie to automatically map out the selected listings and work with Trumba to easily import the picks into a calendar system!). I’m not the right person to pick the top five open houses each week, but I sure would help someone out who was interested!
Dustin,
You mentioned that before, but unless you call the listing agents and “New Rule”, get WRITTEN permission…not allowed. We used to be able to just call them and ask if it was OK to note their listing somewhere. No more. The not allowed’s are growing day by day and the enforcement and crackdown is like Elliot Ness going after prohibition.
Generally the whole effort is aimed at the Redfin model. Soon no one will ever have an Open House so Redfin can’t tell people to see houses that way 🙂 and listing agents won’t show their listings unless the buyer signs a buyer agency agreement. I’m sure the agent world is going to block the strategy that you use the Open House or Listing Agent to get in the house and cut out the Buyer Agent fee in whole or in part.
Not saying I disagree with that. I think buyers should negotiate the same as sellers. Not “trick” someone into showing the house and then disclose their intention to use Redfin after the fact.
Dustin,
You mentioned that before, but unless you call the listing agents and “New Rule”, get WRITTEN permission…not allowed. We used to be able to just call them and ask if it was OK to note their listing somewhere. No more. The not allowed’s are growing day by day and the enforcement and crackdown is like Elliot Ness going after prohibition.
Generally the whole effort is aimed at the Redfin model. Soon no one will ever have an Open House so Redfin can’t tell people to see houses that way 🙂 and listing agents won’t show their listings unless the buyer signs a buyer agency agreement. I’m sure the agent world is going to block the strategy that you use the Open House or Listing Agent to get in the house and cut out the Buyer Agent fee in whole or in part.
Not saying I disagree with that. I think buyers should negotiate the same as sellers. Not “trick” someone into showing the house and then disclose their intention to use Redfin after the fact.
I’m in favor of at least adding one of two hot new listings to the blog. Let’s start with a couple of ours and yours. Let me know.
Directing traffic to a listing by any legal means is good for everyone–listing broker, buyer’s broker, buyer, seller & the industry. More sales, efficient sales + listing broker paid= THE WAY
As a listing broker why would I object if the buyer came by way of blog or broker via blog or ad on semi tractor trailer? I made half a commission pie, which is the staple of the MLS diet. That’s all an MLS is really doing anyway–directing traffic to your listing so you can share the pie with another broker.
If you accept the MLS philosophy that it’s better to share a broker fee with a buyer’s broker (1/2 a pie) why would you object to the broker seeing it on a blog?
Hey, if a buyer sees it & you get a whole pie from a direct sale, you’ll grow even fatter–but keep it to yourself because if your closed MLS hears about it they’ll be upset that you gained so much weight & demand you get back on their 1/2 pie diet. But what do I know, I’m 2 cents short of a nickel.
so now it’s settled–it’s officially ok to advertise real estate on your blog 🙂 Yippeee! Broker blogger Law
Directing traffic to a listing by any legal means is good for everyone–listing broker, buyer’s broker, buyer, seller & the industry. More sales, efficient sales + listing broker paid= THE WAY
As a listing broker why would I object if the buyer came by way of blog or broker via blog or ad on semi tractor trailer? I made half a commission pie, which is the staple of the MLS diet. That’s all an MLS is really doing anyway–directing traffic to your listing so you can share the pie with another broker.
If you accept the MLS philosophy that it’s better to share a broker fee with a buyer’s broker (1/2 a pie) why would you object to the broker seeing it on a blog?
Hey, if a buyer sees it & you get a whole pie from a direct sale, you’ll grow even fatter–but keep it to yourself because if your closed MLS hears about it they’ll be upset that you gained so much weight & demand you get back on their 1/2 pie diet. But what do I know, I’m 2 cents short of a nickel.
so now it’s settled–it’s officially ok to advertise real estate on your blog 🙂 Yippeee! Broker blogger Law
If I wasn’t an agent it would be ok to blog about my favorite listing of the week but as I am an agent it would be a violation of Rule 190?
So when is it advertising and when is it just real estate talk? I know we have at least one attorney from the NWMLS lurking on RCG — care to come in from the shadows and help clarify this?
1. So ask the listing broker’s permission and you should get a YES. What listing broker would say no?
2. Not so sure talking about or blogging about a listing is advertising.
Maybe Russ can split that legal hair.
Since the vast majority of blog advertising is done badly, I agree with Dustin. Don’t do it on your blog unless you’re 100% sure you’re doing it right. The cost to your credibility and reputation of doing it wrong far outweights the advantages.
osman
ha
no one can be 100% sure of anything. You learn by doing, you learn from your mistakes. That’s often the best education. If you want to advertise & are afraid of making a mistake take baby steps.
don’t do it unless you are 100% sure you’re doing it right—you crack me up osman 🙂