The REBARCAMP event at Zillow was packed with information and people generously willing to share their expertise.  There was a great panel of blogging experts: Brad Coy, from San Francisco, Rhonda Porter, The MortgagePorter and Marlow Harris, CBBain.  They shared when, where, how often, and where to obtain content to blog to generate business.  All three generate the majority of their business online- through blogging.

They provide valuable information, answer questions and establish trust relationships before people are ready to buy and/ or sell.  When the time is right, they are the professionals of choice.  That was a wonderful example of Web 2.0 at its best.

The employees and management team from Zillow were so helpful.  They provided excellent support, answered questions, presented tech information and were genuinely glad to host the event.  REBARCAMP and BloodHoundBlog had several sponsors for the events.  That was great to see in this economy.  I was surprised that more agents and brokers did not attend- we have approximately 10,000 agents in the greater Seattle area.  So, I asked several people, "Why didn't you attend?"  Many brokers hadn't heard about the event.  Many agents didn't know about it and didn't realize how valuable this type of information is.  Some are just doing business the old fashioned way: cold calling, mailing, etc.  With 87% of consumers online, they are missing some business.

I discussed this conundrum with Seattle King County Association of Realtor's Director of Business Development, Claudia Crowell.  We decided that we should act.  We will host a panel of experts who are using Web 2.0 successfully.  It is a familiar venue.  The content may help agents and brokers shift their paradigms about the next generation of real estate.  What do you think?