I am sick and tired of responding to this comment and many like this mindset in threads and groups on a weekly basis, so Im putting it in a blog post later today so I can just share the link when needed. The typical comment Companies like Zillow, Realtor and Trulia should not be allowed to use our Listings to profit and make us pay for leads. If a Realtor has a listing, all leads generated from that Listing should go to that Listing Agent who worked hard to get that business through our own marketing funds, or personal time used at Open Houses or personal relationships. First , you arent paying Zillow, Realtor and Trulia for leads..(many get free leads by the way and phone calls based on reputation and reviews/recommendations at no charge!) They are simply and advertising portals in front of millions of consumers that you can CHOOSE to pay for leads, like a lead gen company .. If you dont want your listings there remove them..the reason for millions of monthly consumers.. Because they built a better , more user friendly, NEUTRAL platform to search for homes that gave and still give a better consumer experience on the desktop and mobile ! Period. What I dont understand is why most agents are angry with the large portals but be ok with standard IDX ! ..with IDX your listings are on your competitors website right up the street from you and they look just like its their listings, branded in their site, of which they get calls on, they get the client, show the property and sell it and you dont get anything from that buyer or the lead..... why is that OK ? Secondly, Google uses your data for business and profit too..they sell advertising based on your data and search habits...without your data.. Google doesnt exist. Mad at them!? Facebook uses your data for business and profitability (or not) for their entire business model.. If no one posts, likes or shares... No Facebook.. They too sell advertising based on your data..and make money.. You too can choose to not participate so they dont make money from your data and share it with you. Are you upset with them ? Portals are simply an amazing advertising platform has done a better job connecting with our consumer. Think about this.. Years ago, (pre Zillow, Trulia and Realtor ) what would it have cost us to be in front of millions of potential home buying customers on a monthly basis and have nationwide /worldwide coverage ?! Seriously.. What would have been that cost? Im not going to sit here and debate they are perfect companies or that Im a fanboy. We might not like some features of zestimates or they way they rotate ads or how stuff is displayed or even what they charge! All Im saying here is stop thinking like and angry Realtor for a second and think like a business. These are consumer opportunities that operate in some cases like other web companies based on your data and an advertising model.. You dont have to participate.. You could lead gen on your own, do your own SEO, be your own social media guru, send your postcards and knock on doors.. They all work! All I know is as one in the business for 24 years, I would want to be where the consumer is. I would also be with any advertising platform that gave me a listing advantage, (thats right, a Listing Advantage! I Teach this strategy in my training and coaching platform.) and I would continue to market myself anywhere I can get a good ROI on my Marketing Dollar. So many people focus on buyer leads here which is the main source for portals but when you can learn the value of Portals beyond buyers and could go take dozens of listings with the right approach.. That my friends is where the Gold is ! Just my humble opinion.. And only an opinion ! :-)
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:59:37 +0000
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