Are you running a "stealth" blog site?

My broker is aware of my blogging.  Have they ever looked at my blog? I don't know.

Hmmm....interesting question, BB.  If I were a broker, I would be very hesitant about what my agents were blogging about.  As an agent, I won't work for anyone who would dare to tell me that I can't blog.  Quite the conundrum...

No, I am not the broker. She knows what I am doing, don't know that she is reading what I am doing. I rather got the idea, and please correct me if I am wrong, that perhaps you are thinking we non brokers should not be blogging on our own?

I understand the first part of your post, and have just seen a mortgage person who sent a mass email on a short sale, with the listing number on the ad, but no indication he was a mortgage person and no indication who the broker is. I have seen many a website that breaks the code of ethics, many a print advertising. And brokers made their fair share, along with us lowly REALTORS.

I have the big bad Prudential police to worry about when I have any type of presence online or print advertising on top of everyone and everything else.

OK, just wanted to clarify I was not drinking and commenting, LOL. Just wanted to make that point...

And you really look wonderful in the photo, you must be a twice a day shave the beard type of guy?

Bryant, OK my friend that was way more of you then I ever wanted to see.  I hope I can go to sleep tonight :)

I would want my agents to blog and I would just subscribe to their feed.  But then again, I wouldn't let a "dipstick" hang their license with me.

So does this mean that blogging Bertha is a "non-human thingy?"

Bryant, I just commented on a web site yesterday asking if it were a real estate agent and letting them know that if they were, they were violating the Code of Ethics. Most brokers hardly even know what blogging is.

SHaron

I see it all the time here on AR. I try not to "throw stones" at other Realtors but tend to keep a close eye on my agents.

Not only can I not tell that they are a Realtor but I can't tell where they work and I can't figure out how to contact them.

OK, BB, I'm busy enough as it is and now you've got me going to check my compliance.  This will cost you!

Bryant - Re: disclosing "state" of licensure, I wonder how nitpicky that is? For example, on every page of a site- would I have to say "Call AGENT JONES, SMITH REALTY,  MD or FL or AZ etc?"  Or is once on page 1 ok?  I don't see brokers having the time to check all their agent's advertising, but they should.

I think so much of this goes without saying. If a Realtor is advertising whether in print, online, or whatever they need to make basic disclosures as required by law and the code of ethics.  I have a bunch of Realtors out there and many of them have Facebook and other profiles.  I'm not aware of any of them actually blogging, but personally I don't have much issue with them if they do. 

Most of the serious liability issues I've seen from being on the Realtor Grievance Committee and attending some FREC hearings don't have much to do with this.  They are for much more serious offenses like committing fraud or allowing buyers to have unfettered access to a lockbox key.  Things like that. 

I have had 2 of my Realtors that had AM radio shows in the past.  No big deal.  Didn't scare me a bit.

"So my question is, if you were a Broker would you let your agents blog and if you did, how would you monitor their activity?"

1) Yes, in fact I encourage them to blog.

2) RSS Feeds & Google Alerts automatically push to me so easy to monitor their blogs.

The only things I'm really watching for are 1) accuracy/facts 2) ethics (no promoting of other company listings without consent)

Also, as far as company info, I actually prefer they brand themselves and simply include company name in the footer or side bar of the blog. No other company contact information is required by us or the state.  They are always welcome to use company colors, logos, etc.. but no one does.

What is the big deal about the COE?  Most if not all states have laws about disclosing this.  I am a Realtor(R), and I resent the attitude that the Real Estate World revolves around the NAR.  As far as COE enforcement they are generally a toothless tiger.  State regulators are not as forgiving.  Remember, while all Realtors(R) hold state licenses, not all state license holders are Realtors(R).  It is far easier to file a complaint of an out of area licensee with their state licensing dept. than to make a complaint with an out of area board about one of their Realtor(R) members.  Until NAR fixes this the COE is meaningless where it is needed most.  Remember NAR has a blog on active rain and I have yet to see any of the writers participate in the comments discussion - the NAR just does not get social media so only in the event of a complaint by a person willing to come to the offending agent's board will the COE even be applied.  In any event this type of COE violation is usually pursued against the agent, not the broker who is usually one of the "good old boys (and girls)" anyway.  Anonymous calls to the state licensing board are a different story both agent and broker would most likely to face discipline.  That said all brokers should google their agents and also use searches like yoname to make sure agents are in compliance with state law.

BB - love the pic. But you raise a good point. There are lots of these sites out there, but certainly plenty of no-stealth sites that are probably plasing a broker at risk. My borker has seen my blogs and thinks they are terrific - fortunately. I suspect that is not the case for many.

So is TLW monitoring Bertha, and is that why we haven't seen her for some time?

Jeff

Hi BB - when I come upon some of those stealth sites, I wonder what the point is?  Do consumers really send in contact info if they can't tell who the site person is?  I sure wouldn't.  And it seems that no matter what the state laws are and no matter what the Code of Ethics says, there will always be people who work hard to skirt them....

Ann

Can broker's really stop an agent from blogging?  We are independent contractors and as long as I stay within the REALTOR and state licensure guidelines when I blog (e.g., identify myself, my firm, and the state I'm licensed in) what control can my broker have over me other than denying me access to the firm's logo?   If I were a broker, I'd certainly want to monitor the blogs that my agents have for liability reasons.  I haven't seen a stealth blog, can anyone give some examples?

When I was just an agent I started blogging. I don't think my blog was looked over by my broker. Now that I am a broker, I watch everything I do and my agent like a hawk!

I think it is on the Brokers mind as well as 1000's issues. I'm sure my broker is aware that I blog, but I don't think he has looked at it. If i was in his shoes I think I'd require knowledge of blogs and spot monitor

Chuck Mixon, Realtor

chucksellsmiami.com/blog.html