Great post and food for thought.

Howard, I being the BIC in my office, encourage my agents to blog here on Relib ... that way I have it all under control :-) ... Sarah Phelps is the greatest example of how to blog while making your broker happy :-)

NAR has  a full plate and are very busy with lawsuits about MLS and antitrust..

""It is rumored that the NAR wants total control over its members blogging. They are setting up a website (I believe it will be free at first but just think about how much they want to renew your realtor dot com account this year) and will mandate that all Realtors (R) must blog on that site so that anything you might want to say will meet their standards of conduct.""

This dog above will not hunt, I do believe NAR may be on the endanger species list in the very near future.

Vanceste! You are up late!

I meant Vancester...

Lonn,

Don't you think that they way you handle your blog post (ie Are You Purple Yet?,  Can you Make The Right Call?, Why do Some Blogs Look More Like Message Boards?) are a contributing factor to NAR's concerns??  There are pages of your blogs where you have caused controversy and the moderators had to Shut Down your post!  

Don't you wonder why there are so many people on this blog that have controversial feelings toward you?  Do you think that it is a big coincidence?  Or are all these people from all different parts of the country starting a conspiracy against you?  Or maybe is it just that your actions (what you post) cause the problem?

Lonn, it is time to re-evaluate yourself.

My Bloodhound post:

http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=2053

I think NAR will be provide the cover for brokers to "control" their agents.  It will be dressed up as a compliance issue but with the sole intention of "controlling" marketing communications (and hoarding customer leads)

I looked at the Realtor dot com blog. It lacks inter-action. Someone posts an opinion and does not allow anyone to agree or disagree. I think Realtor dot com does not know what a blog is. But, then that's the same way they run the NAR. They post and we are suppose to salute. Well, that's not fair. They do some great things with my money. Just ask them.

this may be slightly off topic ... but maybe not ... I just spent couple minutes browsing through the discussions on Zillow ... and couldn't believe my eyes ... it's not just about what agents are blogging about ... but what about what our clients are blogging about? And ... back to Howard's topic ... I can't even believe how many agents are out there (not just on Zillow) giving advice to other agents' clients!!! ... it's ok to engage in the discussion ... but actually giving specific advice to people while they are in an agency relationship with their agents? ... if nothing else ... where's the Ethics in that?

Howard great blog, and as I read it and the commentary I was struck of the need to maintain professionalism in all that we do as Realtors.  Blogs are a great way to learn from very talented Realtors how to grow business, how to react in certain market conditions, as well as marketing ideas for ourselves and our listings.  I would hate to see a big brother approach taken with industry blogs.

Tony

For those of you who have been involved with the internet for some time, you should know now that the internet has always had a bit of the wild west flavor. If you attempt to regulate the internet, individuals just assume a new ID, or use a 3rd party site as an intermediary to conceal the originating site URL. The only way you can truly control the internet is if you own the server and put your version of spyware on it. NAR is not going to do that.

So the real answer in my opinion is to self police. If a blogger is violating the ethics policy then as a community we have the choice to ignore the blog and not respond to the flame while asking the person to desist, report the violation and allow our chosen professional organization to solve the problem or if you have the technology you can track an individual URL to a specific computer and talk to the owner.  

Let’s police ourselves. It will not always be easy as the community grows; we owe it to ourselves to keep our industry healthy.

Control over the real estate blogosphere?  

I'm still waiting for the punchline . . .

Control over the real estate blogosphere?  

""I'm still waiting for the punchline . . ."its at the end of this post"

Control over the real estate blogosphere?

NAR  is no day at the beach and they also need to clean up there major ethics Violations,before they try to control a blog..

Here is there blog for the world to see 44,700 pages worth. http://tinyurl.com/36mzhf

Nice huh!

I say let the people choose what blog, what topic they want to read, they will ultimately choose which blog they want and the topic they will read here is a blog thread that I found on the Internet, I want to share with all of you..http://tinyurl.com/2tsbqh

As a home buyer or home seller reading that blog thread I wonder what is going in there head when they read this beauty on the "Internet" gee I wonder what NAR is thinking.. hmmm , I bet they are turning BLUE over it..

In my opinion threads like that need to be 100% deleted  NOT individual postings that is choosing sides!!!

We are shooting ourselves in the foot by responding to this thread in the first place, and having that thread out there it serves no purpose at all other to embarrass ourselves and Point 2 along with it, in which I am guilty of myself by my response we are better then that.  

So Carey you are still waiting for the punchline are you?

"Do The Right Thing"

"Stay neutral in your comments/postings"

Protect the integrity of Point 2 and when things start to get carried away Delete the entire topic so we can get back to the business of real estate..it is up to Point 2 to police the blog they are the owners and may be held accountable for some actions...

The members can not police themselves, we do not have the tools to do so and we need a fair and balance solution anyway.

We have another blog we can shall I say, to Vent on that is NOT seen on the world wide stage..

Vance Remele

just my opinion..

Michaela, I would stay off of Zillow. I did post a few times there and it is impossible to get past the group of "I HATE REAL ESTATE AGENTS" and a total waste of time. I have a few listings posted there and refuse to go back and update them. And, yes there are agents there who are advising home buyers and sellers on "How to" as if they were talking to a family member behind closed doors. It is an eye opener!

Vance and Howard, I don't think Carey should delete or alter the dialog. I don't believe that we can even "police" the actions of others in the business. Only because I don't trust the institutions we are forced to pay membership dues to for regulating the violations. I suggest we just ignore the individual - even when they call us out by name.

BTW: did you see P2A now offers "free" coaching?

I think I might sign up.

Hmmm... if the owner of a blog site can cut off a thread and demand there be no further comments then why can't the owner simply ban anyone who has a history of stirring up trouble to begin with?  Doesn't each boil down to 'control'?

Gregory Bain said:

Vance and Howard, I don't think Carey should delete or alter the dialog. I don't believe that we can even "police" the actions of others in the business.

I agree in part of what you are saying, lets face it ok, we are talking about one individual antagonistical ways of getting a response to puff up an already mile high inflated ego

And no matter what you say or do it will never stop it is being done deliberately!!! and I guarantee you it will have plenty to say when this post is notice, ask me if I really care, I am fed up with it as many are already..

So yes just ignore it and it will go away, wishful thinking on your part Gregory.

I do believe Point 2 needs to address this problem asap in private as it is and has been running off are good members, the majority rules here look at uproar it has caused more then once already, when is a enough is enough?

Blogging is a privilege Not a right..

Lets call it constructive Blog management

Vance I have a Plan in place.

[Mike sez: the internet has always had a bit of the wild west flavor.]

I LOVE that in an Internet!  LOL

This is a good post and very thought provoking.

If we can't make the voice we use to sing to the masses a harmonious, encouraging one . . .

we probably have no biz advising others on the most important decisions they will make in their lives . . .

Gregory Bain said

BTW: did you see P2A now offers "free" coaching?

I think I might sign up.

----- ----  ---------------

You already have.sign up. its the Blog!! ha ha

Gergory, I hardly ever go on Zillow ... but one of my clients wanted me to go and look at the value of his home on Zillow so I did. And since I was already there, I uploaded a bunch of listings that I have to see if I get any traffic to my website. I'd say almost any traffic's good, even if it comes from Zillow :-).

We tried the zillow thing a few weeks ago on the recommendation of someone here on Relib.  I even placed a few ads (they are very inexpensive) but we got nothing from them.  We got very few hits on the listings too so I'm not continuing with them.

Most of the zestimates are so far off base in our market that they really just cause us more work than anything.  Sellers and buyers see the zestimates and want to debate 'value'.  It takes quite a bit longer to correct a misconception than to simply present the facts to begin with.

Zillow used to really bug me because of the inaccuracies but now when a customer brings them up I use it as an opportunity to increase their awareness of 'our value' to them.  Slowly but surely I am learning ways to turn lemons into lemonade.

Great post, Howard. To hell with NAR, when are we going to play golf?

Tim, exactly! Zillow provides us all the justication we need for local expertise.

And, yes, the wild west aspect of the internet is what I like about it. Trying to control it like, like....well....it is like trying to kiss your own lips.

"Great post, Howard. To hell with NAR, when are we going to play golf?"

HOLY TOLEDO! :)

HHI huh nice place to do turkey week.

Well gotta run and Gobble up some wisdom ha ha ha

Thanks Howard

Great Post, great subject and I have always said I was a Cowgirl anyway!

Remember to always obey TX law...don't shoot the buffalo from the second story of your hotel room.

Oh, Howard, about your smiling picture, I'll bet that the previous one was picked out by "experts" However,  this is the person I would want to work with

I'm a Cape Cod Cowgirl.  Yep, that's me!  

Nice post Howard, as usual.  You handsome devil, you.

Vance said "Holy Toledo" regarding Mike's comment.  LOL

I gasped and started ducking as I was CERTAIN that lightning was going to strike me just for reading it! ROFL

This industry is in major transition!

ha ha your gonna love this one!!!

Ok I have to set you  guys up first

Kinda long but you tell me.its..worth it

THERE IS NO BUBBLE ,,,ITS ALL THE MEDIA FAULT.. its a conspiracy

You fool if you don't know you have an adjustable loan..

I am more professional then you are Hummm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cZx5t63yws

Tim and Susan Said , This industry is in major (transition!)  would you both mind if I added the word                      (SHOCK)

"There is no mortgage crises and I challenge you to prove it!!"

Sounds very reasonable to me

Well lets try this and see if it qualifies as a mortgage crises

http://ml-implode.com/

Did I hear something about a box of cereal? no games just a box of..

http://tinyurl.com/2rp4ad

Denial of reality will only serve to make us look silly and incompetent.  

SSSHHHHH don't tell and I won't tell.  I don't see Shelly's picture on here yet, so think we am safe!  Blog away!

Jana

My broker knows. I told her. :)

jana:

The BIC see's all and know's all!!  (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!)  : )

So Lonn, when and why are you going to work form the cable company selling websites or hosting or seo placement?

I was called in by my broker not long after I started blogging. She had printed in front of her a recent blog I posted on AR. All she had to say was the big wheels had googled my name and it came up with blogs on AR. As well my propfle and listings. let it be said she had no idea of what blog was much less setting up this web page on p2a. Let it be said if i had to wait for my office to give me the ok and watch what I was doing I would starve. if you are in an office with an older broker you know what I am up against.

Sharon, welcome to my hell. First they tell you to market yourself and then they tell you can't market yourself. You're not an employee, but you're not a "free" agent. Anyway, the "broker" is responsible for everything you do or don't do. They are not there to help you. They are there to make money. You're web site is in violation of the NJAR and four of the local boards. When the board needs money, they will come out and fine you. Some where in the small print of the agent broker agreement you signed, it probably says something to the effect that you are also responsible for any fines imposed on you and your broker because of any violation of the "rules". But, that's just the way it is here in New Jersey. Good Luck with your career. I'm not sure 'you' know what you're up against.

Try to keep a sense of humor over it. It is all pretty funny when you don't think about it.

My broker doesn't know what he is doing.

Aw Mikey. Is he one of those old objectivists?

Neither does the Cable Guy!

Blogging to promote, share and learn is healthy and American!