AgentRank is attempting to rank real estate agents based on professional experience, home sales, endorsement from former clients and other variables.
The founders of the AgentRank are very clear that rankings can not be manipulated and if you want to rank well in their system all you need to do is to sell homes and keep your clients happy. One of the factors that will affect agent’s rankings is based on whether or not the agent publishes a blog. Hopefully it will encourage agents using the system to start their own blog.
Out of curiosity I used the system to search for the real estate agents in my area. I found 7 agents, whose rank varied from 8 to 1. I presuming that 10 is the most an agent can be ranked at.
While I did not find any familiar faces, few things about AgentRank system jumped at me. While claiming to rank real estate agents based on endorsements from former clients, there is no mechanism for that if you would like to endorse an agent you worked with in the past. Since some of the agents do have endorsements at AgentRank, it leaves me to think that these endorsements are completely under control of individual agents.
While one agent on the list is in the real estate for 230 years- a clear advantage as far as rankings are concerned based on professional experience.
To provide unbiased ranking can be a difficult task. I learning that from my attempt of ranking real estate blogs. So I am sure AgentRank is working hard to improve their website and it’s features.
At the end of the day you have nothing to loose when you decide to join AgentRank. The membership is free and you will get some extra exposure and a link to your blog. You can also follow AgentRank Blog for further news and developments. Feel free to come back and share your experience with AgentRank.
Many of you know that I have been involved in a project 100 Top Real Estate Blogs. Again, 100- figuratively speaking. If you visited the listed lately you probably know that there are more than100 blogs on the list.
If you blog about real estate and related issues, feel free to submit your blog. I know that this list was criticized quiet a bit for using unreliable statistics. While we attempt to rank your blog, it is not the ranking that matters. It is an extra exposure your blog will get. By submitting your blog, you get a link and we ask nothing in return.
To “make in” for the next update, all blogs must be submitted by 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) tomorrow (April 13).
Fizber announced today introduction of API (Application Programing Interface). Very smart use by Fizber I must add. If marketed properly this can explode in new widgets, just like the one you see to the right.
It would be interesting to see this development. At this early stage Fizber APIs will allow web masters to pull in the data about climate, schools, unemployment some other general neighborhood information.
Julia Foster, Fizber.com VP of marketing, in a low key press release was quoted say: “This new API access is going to be a useful tool for every agent and site that wants to offer something special in their real estate portfolio.”
I personally think many web masters should pay attention to this development. It also should be as warning sign to many of the local MLSs. Instead of fighting real estate agents over stupid trademark use, why don’t you guys pay attention and develop the API for your own members.
I can’t blame Realtors for being overprotective about their listings. You don’t want your inventory to be misrepresented. However, at the same time many real estate websites have their local Multiple Listing System integrated into their websites so when visitor searches for the property, he can browse through hundreds of listings without leaving the website. Of course this can result in a lead where you can work as a seller’s agent on a property that you did not list.
But what about offering an opportunity just to any webmaster to “advertise” for you for free? Going back to Wayne and Pat, below is an example of a listing served via Realird.com Listing Widget I was able to grab right from their blog:
Why would you consider RealBrid.com? Simple. Viral marketing. There are many bloggers like myself that are on the constant lookout for good content for their blog. This can create an exponential exposure for you listing.
Since publishing the infamous Cease and Desist notice, I was asked by fellow bloggers few questions that I cannot ignore. But before I start, I need to say this- the publicity may scare the “beast” away, but this sort of publicity is the last thing I am looking for. I just want to do the right thing. Nothing more, nothing less.
I wish it was simple. The cease and desist letter sent the chills down my spine. When the original post was getting so many comments I was hoping that some of the other influential bloggers would notice my article. But as Greg Swenn points out this blog is insignificant. There are barely 100 unique daily visitors to my blog. So when I received the lawyer’s letter I knew that I was facing the Goliath all alone. To put it simply, I was scared.
Why am I posting this now?
Since attempting to comply to the demands of the lawyers from WILLOUGHBY, STUART & BENING it not feel right. I basically was admitting that all their false accusations are true. I also felt like I had betrayed all who offered their feedback. Publishing the cease and desist letter was a way for standing up not only for myself but for all who commented on my post.
And finally an extra bonus if you wish: I still believe that idea for the website was good. Way short of brilliant, but good enough to run with it. The execution of the idea was absolutely terrible.
EPerks.com claim to be a part of what we know as Web 2.0 marketing. As such, Web 2.0 is a form of marketing where engagement with those who like you as well as those who criticize you is of great importance. But so is reevaluating your product and improving it.
Many companies of this “Web 2.0 pound” started off by offering free membership to their potential clients and customers knowing that their product is so darn good that 99% of the free members will pay money to continue to use their products. EPerks has chosen a different path, launching their website they charged real estate agents $100+ dollars per month, without a proven record for their product’s effectiveness. I am not saying it was wrong way to launch a website. But if you do so, not listening to the criticism is like shooting yourself in the foot.
I would suggest to go back to the drawing board. Consider all criticism and come back a winner. Of course you can continue the way you go about your business. Continue to send cease and desist notices and even sue small guys like my self. Will any one remember your name a year from now?
Have you seen it yet? Here is the link. I think it’s great that real estate companies are finally realizing the potential of such websites like YouTube for the growth of their own business. I do find the videos a little cheesy. Here is one for you. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Does your company have a channel on YouTube? What are you waiting for?
Homeferret.com officially launched ten days ago on Saturday, March 1, 2008 with over 5,400 page views. Visitors came from 7 different countries and 35 different states. Providing customers and realtors with the most comprehensive inventory of new homes and communities available in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, the new site is being hailed by industry professionals everywhere as a long overdue and welcome solution to a consistent and chronic problem: a dearth of internet access to new homes on the market.
Website looks good and all. Great attempt to utilize videos as well. But, judging from the press release I think the marketing team can use some advise and/or help. PrWeb allows you to utilize links back to your website in the press release. If you pay close attention to the press release, there is no link back to Homeferret.com inside of the copy. With that they are missing on many potential links from the websites and blogs who will publish the entire press release. But that is a subject for another post, so stay tuned and subscribe to my blog.
May 1, 2008
AgentRank is attempting to rank real estate agents based on professional experience, home sales, endorsement from former clients and other variables.
While one agent on the list is in the real estate for 230 years- a clear advantage as far as rankings are concerned based on professional experience.
Posted in Real Estate, Real Estate Websites, Reviews 
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