Mike's Corner - Web 2.0 For Real Estate Professionals
This blog is now in archive format. It has been moved to NewRulesNewTools.Com
Feb 1, 2009
Creative in Canda - 72HourOpenHouse.Com
Kye Grace, a Realtor in Vancouver BC had a challenge on his hands. It's a challenge keeping plenty of people awake at night - great listing, no traffic. With a little help from a friend Kye came up with the idea to hold an open house. It wasn't your average open house though. Kye created a concept, built a marketing campaign, generated some serious buzz, grabbed his sleeping bag and provisions and parked himself in his listing for 72 hours straight, ready to show to whomever came by, at any time during that period.
I had the opportunity to speak with Kye a couple of days ago. We talked about the results of his efforts and much more. Although Kye has only been an agent for a couple of years, he has some great insight and a good approach to building his business model. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
I am honored that Dustin Luther of 4Realz has asked me to be a regular voice on his weekly Round Table discussion. There have been 3 thus far and they have been great discussions involving some of the brightest minds in the RE.net.
Tonight's discussion has to do with web site analytic tools. If you're an agent or broker that has an interest in the traffic your blog, podcast or web site is generating, you should log on or call in and get involved. It should prove to be a very informative session.
Some of you may not be aware of the Carnival of Real Estate Podcast. Each week, the Carnival host has the opportunity to do a follow up podcast interview. It's a great way to gain insight to the selection process and more.
Last week's host is Jim Cronin of the Real Estate Tomato. I stepped in as this week's CoRE host to find out more about Jim's unique theme and the thinking behind his selection criteria. Check it out!
The Carnival of Real Estate host podcast has been updated with an interview conducted by Drew Meyers of Zillow with Justin Smith of Christian Real Estate Network Blog.
Mike has been involved with real estate technology and marketing solutions since 1995. As the president of a regional Internet service provider based in Houston Texas, he was instrumental in the early "wiring" of a large number of real estate professionals providing just about every aspect of Internet based services from connectivity to web development, programming, hosting and more. He oversaw the development of a number of pioneering technologies including some of the first searchable listing databases, web marketing and advertising strategies. After the acquisition of the ISP In 1999 he served as CEO of one of the first real estate application service providers. The company developed a system that allowed brokers and agents to manage almost all transaction aspects from listing to close within a secure web browser front/back office platform. In 2006 he recognized that new distribution and mobile technologies would offer new ways of exposing real estate content using new syndication tools via RSS and podcasting.
Mike is an active speaker, blogger and participant in the real estate social media space.