Boom Baby! Now I feel like I can sell anything!!!
Thanks @YoungBillyMays!!
Live video feed from stage at closing session at C.A.R meetings in San Jose.
I kid…..I kid…….
; )
MRMLS y MetroList dicen, "Yo quiero eNeighborhoods' Mercado!"
eNeighborhoods announced “Mercado” -“the Marketplace for California real estate.”
Mercado seems to be eNeighborhoods attempt to rejigger MLSAlliance as more of a marketing platform than a multiple MLS search interface. Good strategy if they can get large MLS providers to pony up for the service, otherwise they will be shouldered with selling individual subscriptions to agents directly.
MLSAlliance has been around forever but it looks like it has been left out of the discussion in the mist of the ongoing California politics over data sharing solutions like CARETS and the efforts of C.A.R. to build a statewide MLS system. MLSAlliance was (is?) a great system and its unfortunate it has never gained momentum as a serious option to the statewide data sharing platform.
Makes me think of what might have been. Imagine if C.A.R. did their homework and choose eNeighborhoods as their vendor for implementing a state wide MLS data sharing system (not an MLS), a MLSAlliance on steriods type of solution if you will. MLSAlliance already had the largest MLS providers on the platform and strong adoption, and a team of well respected MLS professionals.
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
I just can’t wait to see Andy at his first Tuesday broker meeting in Irvine. What do you say Andy, I’ll buy the bagels if you bring the fruit plate?!
Full Press Release is below:
———————————————–
New real estate marketing platform for California real estate professionals is launched
Mercado combines best of cross-MLS search and Web-based marketing applications
BOCA RATON, Fla. October 8, 2009 – Two of California’s largest MLS providers have partnered with eNeighborhoods as charter participants in a new marketing platform for California real estate professionals called Mercado – the Marketplace for California real estate.
Pomona-based Multi Regional MLS and Sacramento-based Metrolist Services have joined eNeighborhoods, a leading compiler of neighborhood information and marketing systems, and a division of Dominion Enterprises, to launch the new system to a combined 50,000 MLS participants and subscribers in Northern and Southern California.
Mercado is a Web-based marketing system that builds on the foundation of MLSAlliance, a search platform that joins multiple California MLS databases and provides real estate professionals with a single gateway to listing data across the state. Mercado provides access to the combined MLS Alliance database that represents 15 MLS organizations with more than 128,000 users and 4.5 million active and off-market listings.
Mercado adds Web-based marketing tools to the existing search platform which includes CMA, BuyerTour, and Design Center, a direct marketing application. Mercado Neighborhood Reports and IDX tools also are available.
“Mercado is an integrated solution that makes it easy for real estate professionals to log on once and leverage the power of multiple California MLS systems,” said Andy Woolley, eNeighborhoods vice president and general manager. “In addition to cross-MLS search, the Mercado marketing tools leverage MLS data for use in CMAs, BuyerTours, direct marketing and more. California real estate professionals and their MLS providers have made major investments in technology infrastructure. Our goal is to help them leverage those strengths by providing unfettered access to MLS data and the marketing tools real estate professionals use every day to service their clients.”
Mercado will be launched to other MLSs participating in the California MLSAlliance throughout October, and subsequently made available to real estate professionals throughout California.
“This has been the most successful release of any product at MRMLS. Adoption and usage has exceeded our expectations,” said Art Carter, chief executive officer of Multi Regional MLS.
“We are always looking to add value for MetroList subscribers and their clients,” said Tom Beede, president and CEO of MetroList. “A platform like Mercado that combines data services and marketing tools helps our subscribers leverage our MLS technology more effectively, which also helps their clients in Northern California and throughout the state.”
About eNeighborhoods
eNeighborhoods, a division of Dominion Enterprises, is the nation’s premier compiler of real estate related home and neighborhood information, providing the real estate and marketing services industries with a comprehensive set of marketing and analytical tools. In 2002, eNeighborhoods became a partner in the National Association of REALTORS REALTOR Benefits Program. The company provides MLS data sharing and marketing tools to top MLS organizations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company maintains strategic alliances with major real estate franchisers, including CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA, EXIT Realty, GMAC, Keller Williams, Prudential, Realty Executives and RE/MAX International as well as many of the major independent brokerages. eNeighborhoods is the proud founding sponsor of NARs Good Neighbor Awards which educates, encourages and rewards outstanding community service by real estate professionals throughout the country. For more information on the company, visit www.eneighborhoods.com.
About Dominion Enterprises
Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.DominionEnterprises.com.
Contact:
Rick Sherwood
561-981-9743
rsherwood at eNeighborhoods dot com
Is Brad Inman's Vook working with Apple and their new tablet PC?
Okay, it might be a stretch but let me connect the dots for you….
Brad Inman is the founder of Inman News, HomeGain, Turn Here, and more recently Vook. If you don’t know what Vook is, visit their website here.
So I was reading this post over at “The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs”, the post was titled:
Tablet Part Two: The true significance of the Tablet. Here’s an excerpt:
“The eventual goal is to have publishers create hybridized content that draws from audio, video, interactive graphics in books, magazines and newspapers, where paper layouts would be static. And with release dates for Microsoft’s Courier set to be quite far away and Kindle stuck with relatively static e-ink, it appears that Apple is moving towards a pole position in distribution of this next-generation print content. First, it’ll get its feet wet with more basic repurposing of the stuff found on dead trees today.
Italics mine on the “hybridized content.” Because that’s the key thing here. And that’s what Brian is getting at when he talks about “redefining” newspapers and other dead-tree products.”
Yes, I know that Dan Lyons (or Brian Lam for that matter) is not Steve Jobs. But doesn’t this sound like exactly what Brad is trying to do with Vook?
Brad was a keynote speaker at the recent CMLS. During the question and answer session he talked a lot about Apple. I asked him about Vook and Apple’s rumored Tablet and wondered if this wasn’t the perfect device for Vooks. All he would say is that he is always trying to “stay ahead of technology”.
Still not convinced?
So then I remember a Tweet I saw from Joel Berslem awhile back…
Joel is on Brad’s team at Vook.
Hmmmmmmmm……
Listingbook lets go senior staff members.
Listingbook just defies logic. It’s a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, hidden in the center of a maze.
These guys have been both on fire and on ice.
Now I hear that Listingbook has recently let go some of its senior staff including well respected industry veteran Ira Luntz.
Let’s take a look at Listingbook’s site performance.
Okay, so agent’s love them, they had multiple mentions in the New York Times, they continue to sign MLS accounts, and their site traffic is taking off like a rocket ship. What’s next?
LAYOFFS, of course!!
Layoffs Listingbook? Really? REALLY?
Unfortunately this isn’t the first time I heard about a company owner making really bad decisions and well intentioned/performing employees taking it up the a** as a result.
UPDATE (12:27PM 10/2/2009)
Inman News reports “Management changes at Listingbook LLC“. Read the story and decide if we got the story wrong or not.
Is RealtyTrac losing steam?
Reports are that last week RealtyTrac laid off up to 30 employees. Ouch! That’s a far cry from a year ago when the company was featured in Time Magazine. In that article it was reported they had revenues of 40 Million in 2007.
Doing a bit of research we find what might be the problem. Looks like they have been on a steady decline in visitors since April.
RealtyTrac is a subscription business. Less visits to the top of their funnel will make a big difference.
The Best CMLS Ever!
“Do we know how to throw a party or what?” Shelley Specchio told the audience on Friday afternoon.
Well, the reviews are in and everyone agrees this was one of the best, if not THE BEST, CMLS ever. Early reports were that this CMLS was going to be something special and Shelley, CEO of Northern Nevada Regional MLS (NNRMLS) and her team didn’t disappoint. With the support of Merri Jo Cowen CMLS 2009 set a new bar that is going to be hard to beat.
Here are some of the highlights….
Brad Inman gave the keynote. He had just launched his latest enterprise, Vook.com, in New York the day before. He spoke about innovation. Despite his busy schedule he gave a memorable presentation that many speakers referenced later. Brad chided the industry for supporting legacy “people”/systems/thinking and not being more innovative and to push to “create a vibrant marketplace”, and how innovation is “young person’s sport” and encouraged MLS providers to recruit as many young people to board positions. Some comments were a bit controversial but resonated for the rest of the conference.
Each presentation was given a TV Show theme. This added a bit of fun for both the presenters/panelists and the audience.
The content. There was furious note taking during all the sessions.
The voting keypads. Very cool interative tech for this kind of conference.
The Fannie Mae girls ladies. Interesting perspective.
Two words. Bud Fogel. Hilarious!
Jeopardy and Family Feud. (You knew I was going to say that!)
Opal- If you don’t know, then don’t ask.
Sports Center with Brian Larson and Kevin McQueen. This was scheduled as a two hour open forum on topics selected by CMLS attendees earlier in the conference. To me this was a high-risk program that could really have really gone bad. But CMLS attendees made the 2 hours fly by. Brian Larson did his normal fantastic job as he and Kevin kept things going giving great insight and audience participation.
CMLS Crossfire-Marilyn Wilson from The WAV Group, as classy and elegant as ever, played a perfect “straight man” to Larry Lomito as the CMLS crowd howled with laughter!
Speaking of The WAV Group, Victor Lund on Friday night dancing with his daughter was too precious and brought a smile to everyone’s face.
Speaking of Friday night, one word. Jam Sandwich!
Ice cream at the end of the last session on Friday. Nice touch!
I’m sure I’m leaving many things out so fill the comments with your favorites moments of CMLS 2009!
Best booth at CMLS 2009 is "green"!
I got to give a shout out to Instanet. They clearly had the best booth setup. Great job Martin!
In keeping with their electronic forms and transaction management solutions they went all green by giving away trees to plant. Clever and fun!
