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.

This is also a great opportunity to say thank you to other and way more influential bloggers for noticing my story. Greg Swann, Marlow Harris, Jay Thompson, Pat Kitano, SEO Emperor, Wayne Harriman – thank you everyone for your support and advise.

So lets get to it…

Why did I take the posts down?

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?

Yes. Homeferret. Or rather Homefarret.com launched a few days ago:

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.

Smart Fox Homes, a New Jersey based FSBO website was launched today. In the spirit of FSBO rhetorics it promises customers to save on real estate commissions by selling your home on your own. Currently it offers three types of listings with a prices that range from free (two months) to $59.95 (six months).

Timothy O’Connell, Director of Business System Development of Smart Fox Homes was quoted in a press release:

Due to the downturn in the real estate market, many people simply cannot afford to pay a real estate commission and break even, let alone make a profit

It is not that hard to predict that Smart Fox Homes are going to be faced with other well established FSBO websites. The website lacks any tools that may help sellers to determine the value of their homes.

Hopefully as with many other FSBO websites, Smart Fox Homes will also become a good source of future listings to the real estate professionals.

It appears as the good folks at Inman News have decided to redesign their website. The redesign is not only about feel and look of the website. Their new logo now says: “Inman News- The first word in real estate” as opposed to the former slogan “Inman News- Where the real estate and technology connect”:

I personally am fine with either slogan, but I do like the new design. If you have not subscribed to the latest from Inman News you might be missing out on a lot of real estate news.

I am not sure what do they mean by “beta” though. The Inman News has been around ate least from the mid 90′s. Unless of course they are referring to the new design as a beta, or testing stage.

The Inman News is one of my favorite real estate websites. Do you read Inman News?