Archive for December, 2007
Zillow Announces Smart Search
Zillow is at it again. They’ve introduced new capabilities for their search, and you can read about it at their media room. Here’s an excerpt from that Smart Search news release:
” ‘Smart Search sets a new standard for online real estate search and solves one of the biggest challenges on the Internet today by taking an enormous amount of data and displaying it in a way that is easy to digest and meaningful to each of our users,’ said David Beitel, chief technology officer at Zillow.”
Some of the new capabilities have to do with providing additional real estate market information, map searches and easily accessible community information on the home search pages. It seems to me that this could have ripple effects throughout the industry.
Will Third-Party IDX MLS Vendors Start Responding?
I think that third-party IDX MLS vendors should be seriously considering expanding their offerings, too. Wolfnet has a great map search. And, Birdview incorporates mapping and community information. It seems to me that the third-party vendors should be planning to offer capabilities that rival some of those offered by sites like Zillow to keep their customers competitive.
How Will Agents Respond?
As there is more information available online, agents will need to consider ways to keep pace with their own websites. Depending on your budget, you have a number of alternatives:
- Take advantage of paid services, some of which have been discussed on this blog before, including real estate market condition information from Altos Research, or school information from GreatSchools.net.
- Create interactive maps to give your visitors an overview of a neighborhood.
- Provide links on your community pages to free online resources.
There are lots of sites that provide free information. It’s not as effective as having the information integrated into your site, but if your budget doesn’t allow for that, consider some of the freebies.
For example, The RealEstateJournal has information on schools and communities. You’d have to open those sites in a new window, but at least with the Journal, it isn’t as easy for your visitors to find other agents.
The best way to take advantage of the online sites is to provide a link to a specific page rather than expect your visitors to flail around on a second site to find what they need. For example, if I had a page on my site about Peachtree City, GA, I’d provide the following links:
Learn more about Peachtree City, or research local schools. Those two links go directly to the pages your visitors want to see. It’s a simple process to do the search yourself, then copy the URL in your browser’s Address Bar once you find the page you want.
And, the RealEstateJournal is just one of many sites that provide community information. The resources are out there.
Stay competitive and start including a broader range of information on your website!
Whimsical Wednesday: I Love Giggle Fits
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I love giggle fits. I’ve had them myself - from childhood. You know, it’s one of those times when you start laughing, and even if it’s inappropriate, you just can’t stop.
I remember one time my mother had to remove me from church because something my sister said got me started.
Another time, I was training people on how to use a computer application, and one student did something so ridiculous, I had to hold myself together, fix her problem, then excuse myself so that I could leave the room and get the giggles out of my system.
I also love the shows on TV that show outtakes. Actors can get into giggle fits that I usually find much funnier than the shows ever were. And, it’s fun to watch news anchors when they’re out of control. I think it’s because they’re usually so serious, and because when it’s a live newscast, they really want to stop laughing.
But, one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of someone causing a entire crowd of people to suffer from a group giggle fit was on YouTube. It’s a video of a gentleman at a comedy club. No, not the comedian, but someone from the audience who was on stage for one of the comedian’s sketches.
You can see it in it’s original form on YouTube, and I’ve embedded it below. You have to wait for it, but if you’re in a real hurry, advance the video to the 1:30 minute mark.
Maybe you can start your own giggle fit - laughter is good for you!
Support for Our Troops and Their Families
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We Can Make A Difference!
It’s important all year ’round, but especially important during the Holiday season. Listening to the radio yesterday, I heard about an organization that assists the families of our military called Operation Homefront. As stated on their website,
“Operation Homefront is one of a select few charities privileged to operate under a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) presented by the Department of Defense. Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, to the families they leave behind, and to wounded warriors when they return home. A nonprofit 501(c)3 founded after September 11, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,000 volunteers in 31 chapters nationwide. Since its inception, Operation Homefront has provided critical assistance to more than 45,000 military families in need.”
I can only imagine the hardship caused to families when so many soliders, some of whom had not planned on extended service, are posted overseas for multiple tours or are wounded. Operation Homefront gives us a chance to donate time and money to help those most in need.
And, How’s This for a Bit of Christmas Magic?
Today, I received an email from a gentleman I don’t even know, but here’s an excerpt from it (emphasis added):
I came across your recent blog post mentioning America Supports You, so I thought I’d drop you an e-mail making you aware of some misinformation regarding mail to our troops.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of cards, letters and care packages addressed to “A Recovering American Soldier” (or a variant thereof), are returned to senders. For a variety of reasons-documented on USPS.com, Snopes.com, MSNBC.com article, and on Walter Reed’s Web site-a 2001 Defense Department policy forbids the delivery of generically addressed mail to service members.
Instead, the DOD encourages people to send mail to one of two homefront groups associated with the America Supports You program (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/wounded_letters.html):
Soldiers’ Angels
1792 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104Or, for those in the metropolitan Washington, D.C.-area:
We Support You During Your Recovery!
C/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419Both Soldiers’ Angels and the Red Cross will collect, screen and deliver the well-wishes of those who want to brighten the day of a wounded service member who is recovering away from home this holiday season.
Thanks for your time, and happy holidays!
Jonathan Rick
Director of New Media
Susan Davis International
www.SusanDavis.com
Thanks, Jon, for taking the time to pass this information along. You can read more about the restrictions on mail to the military at MSNBC.
It DOES Make A DIFFERENCE!
Here’s an excerpt from one of the responses from a soldier who received postcards and a gift box from Let’s Say Thanks:
As I was leaving an un-eventful Valentine’s Day today, one of the mail clerks yelled “Adams!! You have a package!!” A package, I thought to myself. I’m not expecting anything. What could this be? I took the box into my office and closed the door. As I opened the box, a flood of joy came over me as I looked over the cards from you and the young ones, one of my co-workers walked in to see tears rolling down my eyes. I had never received a gift with this much love, packed into one little place from someone that I’ve never known.
As I thought about what the cards talked about with soldiers giving their lives and privileges up to ensure the freedom of Americans, it was nice to know that someone out there does not take it for granted. I don’t know who you are, but you are truly a gift from God. The gift that gives me the drive to serve my country proudly. As you pray that the Lord keeps the soldiers here safe and brings us home, I pray to the Lord that people like you do not die off from this world. Your contributions are nowhere near inadequate. Please never forget what this means to a soldier. Thank you for your love and thoughts.
A Holiday Greeting
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This is my last post before the holiday break. I’ll be back on the 26th.
Don’t forget our troops this holiday season!
There’s still time to send an email at America Supports You!!
The Quote Above is From The Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1989 by HH the Dalai Lama
