Louis's Blog

HomeGain Launches AgentView!

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:16:36 -0500

This evening we launched AgentView, a new product that features real estate agents exclusively in an advertising free environment.

Consumers can view agent blogs, agent listings and profiles as well as use HomeGain's original instant homevaluation tool (pre Zillow circa 1999-2000) and our Home Sale Maximizer tool.

As the consumer explores these features, a real estate professional is prominently featured to assist in answering questions about the home buying or selling process.

Blog Training is also provided to AgentView subscribers by Joseph Ferrara of Sellsius.

For more information on Agent View click here to read about it on the HomeGain blog.

Or go to HomeGain.com and click on "see how it works" under "AgentView"

Or for product information visit here.

FrogPond.com Launches

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:18:54 -0500

FrogPond.com launched today offering "unique "Communications Solutions" enabling corporations, associations and small businesses nationwide to effectively reach customers, employees and members with ahead of the curve industry information."

They offer free re-printable articles from nationally recognized industry leaders and experts.

The site is the brain child of Susie Hale, wife of Bob Hale of the innovative Houston MLS.

Susie and Bob caught me after a panel I was on at Inman Connect and mistaking me for someone important asked me to do an interview.

Here is my interview with Susie.

Best of luck to Ms. Hale and FrogPond.com

Who Covers Real Estate Better - The National Media or Bloggers?

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:05:49 -0500

Was wondering - who does a better job of reporting on the state of real estate -the National Media, made up journalists who are under financial pressure to produce stories that will drive readership and advertising revenue or the unpaid blogging community?

What is the future of paid content?

http://activerain.com/blogsview/644451/Agent-View-by-HomeGain

Agent View by HomeGain Is Coming!

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:35:06 -0500

Early next week HomeGain will be releasing Agent View, a unique product that provides a complete marketing solution combining featured listings, agent profiles, personal blogs, blog training, lead management and homevaluation tools and email.

Instead of advertising on Homevaluation sites or featuring your listings on another, or setting up you own blog, or licensing local content from yet another vendor , HomeGain puts it all together for you and also provides blog training and lead conversion tools for a low price starting at $29.

We have been working for a year on this product and while there are more features to come we are excited to launch Agent View Tuesday evening.

Why Do People Buy Homes? Have We Forgotten......

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:07:54 -0500

On the HomeGain blog John Badalamenti reminds us why people really buy homes.

In John's blog post "The Reason Most People Buy Homes: Has It Been Forgotten" he points out the difference between buying a home to live in and buying a home for investment.

What is most interesting about John's post is his reminder that while everyone knows real estate is local, our perceptions of real estate are to a large part formed by national media.

John's blog post isn't just a Now is the best time to buy a home plea, but gives some good food for thought on the current market and reminds people that all real estate is local.

HomeGain's "Ask the Experts" Program Now Available for listening

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:47:55 -0500

Earlier this week HomeGain hosted an "Ask the Experts" program featuring:

Joseph Ferrara of the Sellsius blog

Brian Brady of World Wide Credit Corporation

Jay Thompson a.k.a. the Phoenix Real Estate Guy of Thompson Realty

Mitch Ribak of Suntree Realty

Nearly 300 people registered for the event.

Listen here if you missed the live event.

http://blog.homegain.com/listen-ask-the-experts-real-estate-forum

Max in Paris in Anticipation of New HomeGain Product Launch

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:19:46 -0500

Max, the HomeGain Gorilla has headed to Paris in anticipation of the launch of a new HomeGain product.

What is now a tradition at HomeGain, Max, on the advice of his personal veterinarian Dr. Wolliz, hits the road whenever HomeGain launches a new feature or product.

Recently Max has been to Phoenix and Rwanada.

Max is now in Paris on the eve of the launch of a new HomeGain product.

Click here to follow Max

Mitch Ribak, 100MPH Marketing and HomeGain on Real Estate Radio USA

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:40:47 -0500

On a RealEstateRADIOUSA interview yesterday, Mitch Ribak gives his interesting take on what he does to run a successful real estate brokerage.

Mitch explains how his firm Tropical Real Estate of Suntree Florida acquires and converts leads-ALL done via the internet. Mitch's firm is enjoying tremendous success even THIS year in this lousy market.

Mitch's firm is on pace to sell over 250 homes this year.

Listen to Mitch as he talks about his 100mph Marketing software solution and his Number one lead source, HomeGain's Buyerlink.

Mitch also gives his views on what it takes to be a Realtor vs a business person.

He favors buyers vs sellers. (90% of his business is from buyers and 100% from HomeGain's buyerlink)

Mitch says:

"HomeGain does a better job than he does trying to manage key words on Google and Yahoo! and it cost half the price!

"Anyone using Google or Yahoo and not HomeGain is foolish!"

Listen HERE to Mitch on Real Estate Radio USA

An Invite To HomeGain's "Ask the Experts" Panel

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:33:40 -0500

On Tuesday HomeGain will introduce yet another innovation on the HomeGain Blog (coming on the heels of our Inman Innovator Award nomination).

We will be launching the "Ask the Experts" program, a live forum where Realtors can call in and ask the experts their real estate and mortgage related questions.

We have a panel of four experts assembled from our cast of HomeGain Agents and Guest Bloggers.

More than 200 Realtors have already signed up for the event.

This event, like the HomeGain Blog and HomeGain Radio is a great way of spreading the word that HomeGain is the place to get quality information advice, products and services to help Realtors become successful.

On the Ask the Experts Panel:

Joseph Ferrara of Sellsius Real Estate Blog - "Blogging"
Brian Brady of World Wide Credit Corp - "Mortgage Advice"
Mitch Ribak of Tropical Realty of Suntree - "Lead Capture and Conversion"
Jay Thompson of Thompson's Realty - "Online Presence"

Please Join Us!

Click here for the invite

Diversify Your Lead Sources

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:46:28 -0500

SEO expert Eric Blackwell posted recently on the HomeGain blog on the virtues of diversifying your lead sources.

Many realtors end up relying on one or two lead sources. Eric points out that in his office those that have many different lead sources are doing the best.

It may sound like common sense, but many agents refused to do referrals or to "pay for leads" expecting that their google positioning from their blog will get them all the business they desire.

Search engine placement for certain key words certainly doesn't pick up all the potential customers as not every customer reads blogs.

There are people looking for realtors and homes in the paid search sections of Yahoo, google and MSN, there are consumers going directly to Yahoo Real estate, HomeGain and other sites. In short, there are consumers doing searches that your SEO placement on Google doesn't pick up.

Read what Eric has to say about the topic in Diversification and A Well Rounded Approach

More Regional Updates and One From Westphalia!

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:29:37 -0500

Over on the HomeGain blog we have been providing regional updates. The latest two regional installments are from Columbus Georgia and Westphalia.

The Columbus Georgia update was provided by Wayne Long, HomeGain member and HomeGain blogger and the Westphalia update is the result of a phone interview I conducted with Dr. Pangloss.

Both are worth a look.

Lead Generation, Conversion and Closure

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:19:40 -0500

The topic of this post really sums up what a Realtor does.

I recently wrote about Realtors' obsession with the first part lead generation/ marketing and complained that we do not spend enough time discussing conversion and the finer elements of being a successful realtor.

On the HomeGain Blog Brian Kincade discusses Lead Generation Conversion and Closure. Its worth a look.

The HomeGain blog has a category best practices which covers marketing as well as other useful tips.

These best practice articles have been written by a stellar team of HomeGain's guest bloggers and HomeGain customers.

HomeGain Blog Nominated for Inman Innovator Award

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:42:38 -0500

The award went deservedly to the Agent Genius Blog.

The HomeGain Blog was started late in 2007. Here are some of the most read blog posts to give you a sense of the type of writing that we carry -industry insights, and tips on how to make realtors more successful and no blog wars!

Here are some of the most read blog posts on the HomeGain Blog:

HomeGain Cries Flattery! on Zillow

Understanding Lead Capture and Conversion

10 Real Estate Predictions

Use HomeGain or Blog

The Failed Promise of Real Estate 2.0

The Case Against Blogging

Urban Myths About Blogging

Use Homegain to Blog

All About Max -The HomeGain Gorilla

Take a spin through the HomeGain blog. There are plenty of posts as timely as when they were written.

Brian Brady Boosts Baby Boomers

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:51:50 -0500

One thing I like about Brian is he is not afraid to change or speak his mind.

After years of preaching the use of social networks, twitter, facebook and the like, generally the preserve of the prepubescent and Gen Y crowd, Brian is now advising the faithful to court the baby boomers.

Why? They've got the money!

To me this means reaching the baby boomers whom certainly are on the Internet, but perhaps not spending as much time on Facebook and Twitter but more time on "traditional" Internet venues where boomers hang out like Google, Yahoo! Real Estate, Zillow, HomeGain etc.

It may also mean reexamining other traditional marketing venues, like print.

Brian has contributed a follow up blog post on the Baby Boomers well worth reading over at the HomeGain Blog.

Here is the intro:

Baby Boomers Were Not Created Equally

I pissed a whole lotta folks off on Bloodhound Blog. I told everyone that the parents were a better demographic than the kids and the RE.net cried heresy ! Apparently, Web 2.0 agents have adopted the mantra of the very demographic I suggest they target;

Never trust anyone over 30.

Click HERE to read more!

Too Much Marketing?

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:15:09 -0500

Having just returned from Inman Connect and read my normal dose of blogs this evening, it seems the topic of marketing predominates.

What about other skills realtors have and need to develop?

Are these skills being subordinated to the craft of being a realtor?

This issue is raised over at the HomeGain blog.

Your thoughts are welcome on Real Estate Marketing? Basta! Enough!

Real Estate Market Updates and George Babbitt 100 Years Later

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:04:38 -0500

Over at the HomeGain blog, we have been accepting regional updates from Realtors across the country.

These updates give the state of the market in each region. The realtors discuss days on the market, home prices, the impact of foreclosures and REO properties on their markets and other market indicators.

So far we have received updates from cities and towns in California, Oregon, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Massachusettes, Hawaii, Florida and Ohio.

For you English majors we also have an update on the Zenith Real Estate market. Zenith is the fictional town that George Babbitt, Realtor, hailed from in the novel "Babbitt" first published in 1922.

In an exclusive interview George Babbitt gives the state of the Zenith Real Estate market in 2008.

HomeGain's Customer is the Real Estate Professional

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:00:59 -0500

When working with a marketing company its probably important to ask - Who is your primary customer?

It could be that the company that you send your profile to or provide content to makes the bulk of their money from advertisers.

That means satisfying their advertisers is their bread and butter. Sure they love your content as it draws visitors to their site and helps with their SEO, but do they value realtors other than as sources of content for them?

HomeGain's mission is the success of realtors.

We aggregate hundreds of traffic and lead partners and spend millions of dollars a year to send traffic and leads directly to realtors.

If we ask you for content, its on YOUR page with no other third party advertisers.

If we send leads or traffic to you, we send it ONLY to you (unless you are participating in our agent evaluator/compare realtors program).

For more on how HomeGain works exclusively for realtors see:

The Success of Realtors, Not Buzz is our goal

How Does a Third Party Vendor Partner with Realtors?

HomeGain on the HomeGain blog

This is a distinction that is lost on many realtors as they claim that homegain is competition. HomeGain does not sell real estate. We are an internet marketing company.

We do what many individual realtors can not do on their own, namely aggregate hundreds of partners to drive visits and leads to your web sites, organize a market place for consumers to compare realtors as well as provide valued added services like blogging instruction or offering free landing pages.

In many respects HomeGain is like Costco, we use our bulk marketing power (SEM, SEO, HomeGain name recognition and partner network) for the benefit of our members - NOT for the benefit of third party advertisers.

HomeGain makes money when Realtors are successful, not advertisers.

An Alternative to Zillow: HomeGain

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:24:27 -0500

Many realtors complain that consumers often insist that their home is worth a certain amount. Their reason for this belief? They are armed with a ZESTIMATE from Zillow, so it must be so.

You can show them all the comparable sales you want, but as Mark Twain says "people will believe any thing they see in writing"

So they stand by their Zestimate.

In this case its best to show them that automated valuations are a dime a dozen.

You can show them HomeGain's valuation of their home.

Try it here.

HomeGain invented the original instant home valuation tool back at the turn of the century -click here to learn more.

HomeGain, however provides a range instead of an exact estimate, as we believe that instant home valuations are inherently suspect and don't cover "unzillowables".

HomeGain believes that only an appraiser can properly value your home and a realtor can properly asses the value that they think THEY can get for you home if they act as listing agent.

Showing other instant homevaluations to consumers helps to disarm of the authority of their "Zestimate".

Show them a HomeGain estimate but don't stop at HomeGain

you can also show them home valuation tools from:

realestateabc

eppraisal

Cyberhomes

Housefront

Realtor.com

Coldwell banker

And THEN you can explain comps, your experience and what you think you'll be able to sell their home for them.

Your Home Ain't Worth What You Think It Is!

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:53:55 -0500

In a market of declining property values agents across the country are encountering listing appointments with trepidation. Clients it appear seem to hold it against the agent when they give an honest appraisal on what they think they can tell their homes for.

Linda Davis writes about the difficulty in relaying the message to customers regarding the potential (lower) sale value of their homes in "Delivering the Bad News" http://blog.homegain.com/delivering-bad-news-real-estate-agent

Another blog post by HomeGain Blogging Network member Paul Blackburn called "Your House is NOT Special" argues to let the potential customer know that their house is not worth as much as they think it is before you ever meet them by posting as such in his blog!

http://www.homegain.com/realestate-blog/il-dekalb/paulblackburn-5413690/why-your-home-is-not-special?post_id=1714

HomeGain Opens Blogging School

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:07:20 -0500

HomeGain is proud to announce the opening of the HomeGain Blogging School http://blog.homegain.com/homegain-opens-virtual-blog-school

The HomeGain blogging school, now in its second month is in full swing. Professor Joseph Ferrara has given a half dozen lessons so far to bloggers on the HomeGain Blogging Network

Please Contribute to the 101 Reasons to Use A Real Estate Agent

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:08:13 -0500

We are looking for examples to as many of the 101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent.

The more examples that we have, the better the document will be as a reference to respond to

articles like USA Today's Recent "Five Reasons NOT to use a Real Estate Agent" and other FSBO arguments.

Please visit 101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent and leave your comments.

http://blog.homegain.com/101-reasons-to-use-a-real-estate-agent-realtor

HomeGain will publish the revised list as part of our third annual Agent Appreciation Month in August.

HomeGain and Web 2.0

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:37:16 -0500

Pat Kitano of transparentre.com recently blogged about HomeGain and Web 2.0 on the HomeGain Blog.

The post is called "HomeGain Evolves with Web 2.0" http://blog.homegain.com/HomeGain-Evolves-with-Web-2-0-Patrick-Kitano

In the blog post, Pat notes how HomeGain is making homegain.com more accessible to its visitors.

Here are a few more tools that we have that are good for consumer AND help connect consumers to realtors:

The Home Sale Maximizer tool

http://www.homesalemaximizer.com

HomeGain's Instant Home Valuation Tool

http://www.homegain.com/home-values The original PRE Zillow HVAL tool

HomeGain Agent Blogs

http://www.homegain.com/realestate-blog

And

The HomeGain Blog

http://blog.homegain.com

Five Reasons NOT to Use a Real estate agent

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:56:17 -0500

I stumbled across this article when see how well our 101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent blog post did on google

http://blog.homegain.com/101-reasons-to-use-a-real-estate-agent-realtor

Here is USA Today's point of view!

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/real-estate/2008/05/22/5-reasons-you-dont-need-an-agent.html?msg=1

Thankfully the article takes comments and I posted the 101 reasons to use an agent as a rejoinder.

http://blog.homegain.com/101-reasons-to-use-a-real-estate-agent-realtor

101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:02:51 -0500

In these days of FSBO pronouncements "anyone can do it" HomeGain is re presenting its "101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent." HomeGain will feature the revised document as part of our Third Annual Agent Appreciation Month, later this year.

Feel free to add to the list or to add specific examples to the value you add to a real estate transaction

http://blog.homegain.com/101-reasons-to-use-a-real-estate-agent-realtor

What Good Realtors Bring to The Table

Louis Cammarosano (HomeGain) — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:45:11 -0500

Here is a great blog by Mike Farmer, HomeGain Guest blogger as he explains one of the values that realtors bring to real estate transactions. Mike's blog post, Holding Real Estate Deals Together is a great reminder of the valuable service realtors provide to their clients. http://blog.homegain.com/Holding-Real-Estate-Deals-Together-Earning-Our-Keep-Mike-Farmer