June 2013

Hotel Industry is Trying to Put the “Horse Back in the Barn”
Hotel Industry is Trying to Put the “Horse Back in the Barn”

Main category, MLS Insights, Our Company

Hotel Industry is Trying to Put the “Horse Back in the Barn”

The concept of Listing Syndication is just as prevalent in marketing hotel rooms as it is with real estate inventory today. There are many syndication sites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotwire and hundreds more. In theory, these sites were set up, in theory to HELP hotels, especially with last minute inventory to maximize their ability to sell room nights. Sound familiar? The Theory failed. What actually happened though was that these sites have disintermediated consumers from corporate hotel sites like Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and others. It changed the way consumers shop and eroded hotel price points. Moreover, it eroded the ability for hotels [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:24:32-07:00June 27th, 2013|Main category, MLS Insights, Our Company|1 Comment

New View of Broker Social Media Strategy

One of the key shifts in online marketing that has occurred over the past 5 years is the evolution of social media marketing. What is astounding is how far removed most broker websites are from executing baseline social media strategies effectively. Brokers have largely ignored developing a social media strategy. Only a few have a social media director. Agents are aimlessly running wild on social media in ways that diffuse the impact of a common voice. Social Media calls to action are poorly represented on listing detail pages of broker websites Social Media is poorly leveraged on agent profile pages [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:32-07:00June 26th, 2013|Broker Technology Research, Main category, Marketing|0 Comments

Imprev Roars with Mobile Marketing for Agents

Imprev has long been a behind the scenes type of company. Historically they partner with Giant franchises, Giant Brokers ,or Giant technology companies to deliver fully integrated and smart marketing solutions that agents access through their back office intranet. Imprev's solution includes a full suite of print marketing like flyers and postcards; and a full digital marketing suite which includes digital flyers, online campaigns, listing presentations, virtual property tours, and lots of other features. Recently, they have been in the industry eye for the release of their new system (developed with help from 1000WattConsulting) and plunging headlong into mobile. Today, Imprev gives agents [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:32-07:00June 25th, 2013|Broker Technology Research, Main category, Marketing|1 Comment

A new tenor to integrated solutions for brokerage

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago visiting a broker when I encountered the Trulia team in the airport heading over to Market Leader. During the entire flight home my head spun with ideas about how these two companies would blend their talents to serve consumers and the real estate community better. We have clients who leverage these companies to their fullest, and others who don't. It has never been the providence of a consultant to champion one strategy over another. Helping others execute the strategy that is right for their business to maximize their opportunity is our charge. [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:32-07:00June 25th, 2013|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing|0 Comments

Former MLS Executives Open Keller-Williams Franchise in Montreal
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Former MLS Executives Open Keller-Williams Franchise in Montreal

Main category, Press Releases

Former MLS Executives Open Keller-Williams Franchise in Montreal

MONTRÉAL, Qc – June 24, 2013 Congratulations to Anne St. Dennis and Michel Beauséjour for moving from their executive positions in the MLS world to open their own Keller-Williams franchise! They have co-founded a Keller Williams francise in downtown Montreal under the name of KW Urbain. It’s an aggressive move for North America’s largest real estate franchise, a calculated move that took roughly three years as the Austin-based corporate head office familiarized itself with the language laws and Quebec brokerage act. “We saw the immense potential of opening a real estate franchise in Quebec that is completely broker-centric, learning [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:24:32-07:00June 24th, 2013|Main category, Press Releases|3 Comments

The War That Few Are Watching

There is a War being waged between the leading portals today. They are fighting with all of their might to be leaders in consumer website traffic. Today, Zillow is in the lead with Realtor.com on their heals and Trulia not far behind. Homes.com is pacing with the pack too, and perhaps showed just how strong they are by climbing the rankings at a remarkable pace in 2012. In an announcement released yesterday, Move proclaimed victory at retaining their relationship with MSN.com, the portal operated by Microsoft. I tried to get information about the battle, but limited facts were made available. [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:33-07:00June 19th, 2013|Main category, Marketing, Strategic Planning|4 Comments

More MLSs launch FIND search from MOVE

Move spread the news this morning that MRED (Chicago) MLS PIN (Boston and most of Mass) and SFAR (San Francisco) have all entered into agreements to offer the FIND product. If you are not familiar with FIND, it is a product that was the early candidate for the National Association of REALTOR's Property Library. It ties all of the active listing data on Realtor.com to a suite of extensive property attributes ranging from demographic data to flood maps to airplane fly over zones and noise. The Find products sits at the top of the page when the agent is logged [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:33-07:00June 17th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|0 Comments

It’s a Kid’s World – Are you ready?
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It’s a Kid’s World – Are you ready?

Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing, Strategic Planning

It’s a Kid’s World – Are you ready?

I just watched a fascinating documentary called Consuming Kids highlighting how advertisers are tapping into the ever-growing purchasing power of children under the age of 12. According to the film, children directly control $40 Billion in spending and indirectly influence over $700 billion in spending. The documentary goes on to talk about how brands are trying to create relationships with kids as soon as they can to create life long relationships. They are trying to create young “super” consumers that will be committed to purchasing their products throughout their lifetime. In my days at Fisher-Price, we never thought about the [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:24:34-07:00June 12th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing, Strategic Planning|0 Comments

Challenge for Positive Change
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Challenge for Positive Change

Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights

Challenge for Positive Change

I have been reflecting on what I observed at NAR’s Mid-year conference and I have to tell you that I am more than a bit disheartened. While there is more optimism than there was even a few months ago about the health of the market, there is more dysfunction than ever in “organized” real estate. Concern #1 – The Large Broker/MLS Conflict Since I’ve been involved in real estate I have observed tensions between large brokers and MLSs at least in some markets. The negativity and disillusionment shown between these two groups, particularly at the MLS Policy meeting, was epic. [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:24:34-07:00June 12th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|12 Comments

Company Culture – Critical in Choosing a MLS Partner

In almost every RFP (Request for Proposal) process I facilitate I get asked the question, which MLS vendor and system is the best? In every instance I say, it depends, there isn’t a single right system for everyone. Unlike the waitress who tells you everything is good on the menu, I really am not trying to avoid the question. I will openly discuss what we see as pros and cons of each system, but the truth is, the vendor that is right for one customer is not going to be right for another. There are many things to consider in [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:24:35-07:00June 10th, 2013|Main category, MLS Insights, Our Services|0 Comments

Share This Listing
Share This Listing

Main category, Marketing, Technology Evaluation

Share This Listing

WAV Group has gained the support of The Realty Alliance and The Leading Real Estate Companies of the world to revisit our Broker Website Effectiveness study performed in 2008. A lot has changed over the past 5 years, but much has remained the same. Our report will be published at the end of the month in advance of the Inman conference in San Francisco. As the MLS Issues and Policy Committee continues to debate a rule structure for Social Media, Here is an early insight that may forward the shape of what the rule is trying to solve for. Social [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:35-07:00June 10th, 2013|Main category, Marketing, Technology Evaluation|0 Comments