Once We’re All Feeding Each Other…Then What?
For several months, I’ve been working on a new listing product for Realtors. An important component is listing distribution. RealtyBaron already syndicates listings to Vast and allows agents to publish to Craigslist. But our listing product launching in early 2008 will require syndication to each and every listing destination site that accepts bulk feeds. And while RealtyBaron was early early-ish to the distribution game, we’re certainly not alone.
Listing distribution has become ridiculously easy. In just a few hours, I added feeds for CityCribs, Citylist, CLR Search, Oodle, Propbot, Propsmart, Trulia, Zillow, and Google Base. Once the feed format is known, it takes less than a few minutes to start churning out an XML file to feed a destination site.
All of which has me thinking about a future where listings seamlessly flow around the web. Can any one destination site gain a competitive advantage and win the listings race once real estate listings are ubiquitous? Probably not, me thinks. Instead, big destination sites will likely continue squeezing more search, more filtering, more analysis, and more data (sales data, demographics, etc.) into the same 1024 by 768 pixel space in an attempt to make sense of it all. Additionally, make room for more banner advertising to pay for the development of aforementioned features. Which brings me to…
Many Realtors continue to fear losing control of their listings. However, I can imagine an ironic outcome in which losing control of listings produces an explosion of information which eventually overwhelms and/or confuses the consumer. As a result, buyers and sellers who once went to Realtors for access to information increasingly use Realtors to slog through and interrupt the overly abundant data.
Copyright 2007 Baron Briefs
Tags: citycribs, citylist, clrsearch, craigslist, googlebase, oodle, plugmylisting, point2, postlets, propbot, realestate, realtor, realtors, realtybaron, trulia, vast, vflyer, zillow
December 27th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I believe that as more and more sites that syndicate listings appear, eventually the smaller syndicated sites will dissipate, as the bigger names (Trulia, Zillow) get all the consumer hits. This is why we at PlugMyListing.comare always trying to find not only all the different syndication sites, but the best ones. We work with agents, find out what they need and want, and give it to them. Customer service has always been important with brick and mortar shops, but with the advance of online business, people are realizing that the same level of customer service is needed in the online marketplace.
Give the agents what they want for a fair price, let the listing websites figure out how to be the best, then syndicate to them.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Nice post. I like you blog and will add it to my RSS feed. What do you think about vFlyer and other services that manage the syndicating? By the way I referenced you by name in today’s FOREM post, but I meant to reference Jim.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hi, Andrew. I think vFlyer and others provide a tremendous value for agents. Honestly, I don’t have first-hand experience with their tools but read very good reviews of each.
RealtyBaron’s listing syndication will be somewhat basic compared to the others and isn’t intended to compete. In fact, I can imagine approaching the others with a partnership offer to gain access to their premium features.
Yes, saw your comment on FOREM and must admit I was confused. Glad to learn it wasn’t in reference to RealtyBaron’s homepage
Thanks for stopping by. Take care.