Why is it "not ok to directly copy the material on another site" unless it is copyrighted?  Is this some law or Realtor rule or merely your personal opinion?  After all, non-copyrighted material is in the public domain and therefore available to all for free use as they see fit.

Dan Bales wrote:

"Why is it "not ok to directly copy the material on another site" unless it is copyrighted?  Is this some law or Realtor rule or merely your personal opinion?  After all, non-copyrighted material is in the public domain and therefore available to all for free use as they see fit."

Keep in mind that I didn't go to law school, Dan, but I wouldn't try it at all.  First, most good sites are copyrighted. Second, even if they are, I would think that there would be a way that an agent whose material you ripped off would have some recourse against the "ripper."

Third and most importantly, if one has to resort to merely copying another's ideas, I would worry that the person doing the copying lacked the creativity it takes to get to the top of his/her market.

As an aside, I do know of one of my CyberStars(r) who has successfully sued 2 or 3 agents for violating her copyright.

Once again: use site research for ideas, not material!

It's a great day here on the lake in Reston...hope it's a great day wherever you are!

Dan, you might want to take a look at this to answer your question.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement  There is much published on the Internet about copyright and the infringement thereof.  It is a very serious business with serious consequences.  And for those who think they can get away with stealing/borrowing (whatever you choose to call it) content from the creator who spent a great deal of time and energy giving birth to the material, with CopyScape and other options for finding offending content it is difficult to remain in the shadows.

Why not instead tap into your creativity and come up with something that truly reflects you.  That's what relationships on the Internet are all about anyway. 

Website content is protected by copyright the minute it is written. The  only difference in material that is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and material that is not are the damages awarded are satutory on a registered site. 

So to answer the question above, NO, it's not a Realtor law.  It's a Federal law protecting the intellectual property of every citizen in the U.S.

The message is, look but don't copy.  Use your own brain! 

Great set of tips and advice, Allen - bookmarked again for further review and thought. Are there things you feel are most advantageous, given you can't, and probably shouldn't try to, implement everything?

And thanks, KK, for your comment. 

Jeff

Hey Allen,

Great information for agents looking to "spruce up" their websites. I look at many on a daily basis and alot of them need help!

Scott

Thank you for posting this information, I am sure alot of people here will find it useful,

Very useful information and I am taking a look at the examples you mentioned.  I think I have listen to your presentation om Recyber on -line convention.

Allen,

Thanks for the additonal tips, and I will try to view those sites within the week.

Allen's advise is sound. Look at these websites and let them guide you on a plan to create or improve your website. There is a lot of content out there. www.sizzlinstudios.com (my website designer) has tons of stuff that you can get to "enhance your content". Looking for a redo of your current site? they do a smashing job, andn their sites are well rated among the search engines.

Not just with websites, but also with blog entries - don't copy!  We had an episode...just a few days ago where someone copied someone else's post VERBATIM!  Ridiculous if you ask me...

I would not have any respect for someone who just steals someone elses work.

Allen, thanks for sharing so freely.  Great tips.  I've bookmarked for future implementation.

As for the copyright comment.  Apart from all the valid comments above regarding legalities, a search engine looks for original content.  If you copy someone else's content, EVEN IF IT WERE LEGAL TO DO SO, you would be hurting your own chances of ranking high on the search results.  Bad idea all around.  Use your own voice and let people know the real you.  That will go a long way in creating those coveted relationships we're always striving for.

As always, Allan has wonderful content and fresh ideas for Realtors to use.  Enjoyed the article and will save it for sure in my favorites section.  A big thanks to you!

Wynne Achatz wrote: 

"Allen's advise is sound. Look at these websites and let them guide you on a plan to create or improve your website. There is a lot of content out there. www.sizzlinstudios.com (my website designer) has tons of stuff that you can get to "enhance your content". Looking for a redo of your current site? they do a smashing job, andn their sites are well rated among the search engines."

I would echo this comment from one of my original CyberStars(r), one to whom I owe a lot for the success of the CyberStars(r).

Sizzling Studios has, for years, done an excellent job of designing sites for REALTORS(R).  Sandy Teller, head of the firm, understands not only Web site effectiveness but also real estate.  I have always recommended her company to agents looking for a good site.

Wynne's site, by the way, is an excellent example of a content rich site oriented to the consumers, a real money-maker!

It's a beautiful day here on the lake in Reston...hope it's a great day wherever you are, too! 

Allen - Thanks for the post - much to research here.  I have already visited Geri Sonkin's dedicated Seller page - excellent way to communicate with Sellers and keep it documented!

Allen,

Thanks for the post. This is yet another very valuable list of suggestions for boosting traffic and generating business. Thanks for sharing! I've got more work to do!

Hi all. Kristal is right, as soon as something is written and posted online, its copyrighted. Whether you register it or not is a different story. That affects how you are awarded damages (if any) if someone uses your intellectual property. My attorney always said.. print out the material you like, read it and then write it using your own words ans your own style.

Its like those Realtor sites by any given company. The company owns the rights to the material, all the agents buy the website and they are all the same. Boooooring!!

Allen, I will need to expore those links to see exactly what each offers. thanks for the tips and congrats on yet another feature post! welcome back to the rain..

ps. plagerism sucks... be yourself or dont be at all.

Stealing someone's material is the "temporary" easy way out. It will hurt in the long run. It may take you longer to be creative and add your own material, bu hey, you may just ad something people are realing going to love. Base your content on your experience.

Stealing someone's material is the "temporary" easy way out. It will hurt in the long run. It may take you longer to be creative and add your own material, bu hey, you may just ad something people are realing going to love. Base your content on your experience.

Why do people have such a hard time understanding this concept.  It's taught all the way through school, and it's posted over and over on this site and others.  Agghh!!!  I do have one question though Allen.  If you do copy and paste an article, but you give the person credit and post a link to the source, is that legal?

Dave is right, stealing content will get you in trouble in the long run!

Thanks for putting out part II.  I really like the idea of having your buyer and seller presentations on your website.  That way, when they call you, they're ready to sign!

I also checked out the sellers page, and it's an awesome way to keep the lines of communication open with your sellers (even in the middle of the night), and it's a great "paper trail".

Hi, I didn't see anything about citing a source.

You can't copy verbatim the whole piece but you can excerpt a small amount if you cite the source in your article. make sure to indent the except. I forget the exact amount but I wouldn't do more than a half page or so. To do more you would need permission.

You can also reprint the article in its entirity if you get written permission first. Usually, if you are not making a direct profit from it you can ask to reprint it with permission courtesy of and then list the source without paying a fee. It gives them credit and places their name in one more place. Maybe give them a link on the page.  And there is always offering to pay for reprint rights.

If all else fails, then yes you should write from scratch, but citing a source when used correctly can be the answer you are looking for.

I used to be a managing editor of a magazine so I had to deal with this kind of stuff a lot.

Copyright----

Aside from the legal reasons, a person should not feel right about using the work of someone else for profit.  That is what my moral code tells me.

Thank you for the links.  You have many good ideas.

Some of the postings seem to imply that I may have been advocating that it was all right to use material from another website.  What I wanted to know and apparently failed to clearly ask was for clarification as to why (legally or otherwise) it was not ok. Your responding statements in this regard have been most helpful and for that I thank you.

Dan

I found the part about not having to be in front of your clients to give a presentation interesting. I have done 4-5 traditional listing presentations in my 4 years in the business. All of my other clients have established a connection with me via email, website and phone conversations.

Allen, this post is great.  I never thought of the downloadable flyers or posting the listing presentation online!  I am definitely going to try that out and will have to check out Cyberstars.net  Getting leads off the web is the way to go because most people go to the internet for pretty much everything.   

Great post and fabulous insights offered here! 

Patricia Beck wrote:

"Allen, this post is great.  I never thought of the downloadable flyers or posting the listing presentation online!  I am definitely going to try that out and will have to check out Cyberstars.net  Getting leads off the web is the way to go because most people go to the internet for pretty much everything.

It's a given, Patricia, that the first place the consumer goes for information is to the Web.  Look at us: that's where we go, right?

The thing that amazes me as I give my seminars around the country is that, given this fact, so very few agents have a good Web site.  Many more have a site now than just two years ago, but most of the sites do not meet the needs of the consumer.  Many are company or franchise sites, many have only one photo of a listing, most have no information on neighborhoods or areas, etc., etc.

To me, the basis of successful marketing of any product is figuring out the needs of the consumer, then meeting those needs.  Today's consumer needs/wants information first and foremost.  To ignore the fact that a strong, consumer-oriented Web site should be the basis of one's marketing efforts is indeed foolish.

It is not a stretch to say that the agent who gives the consumer the most information that meets his or her needs is the agent who captures the market.  Savvy agents like my CyberStars(r) have realized this for years! 

It's a great day here on the lake in Reston...hope it's a great day in Colorado Springs, Patricia!

Good content variety in this list. I'm especially interested in the online presentations and seller pages. Looking forward to your breakout session at Family Reunion.

Allen, I just took a closer look at a few of the other Cyberstars websites and I am impressed with the many tweaks and upgrades that have recently been made.  Very Nice!

Allen.... some very good information here. You should include a link to your first post about this, #1. Just my opinion.... this way people can link back to it instead of searching for.

Again, good job.

Allen- Putting my listing presentation on my website is on my current to do list. Unfortunately, it is right under find new provider.  So I am glad that Sizzlin Studios was so well reviewed. I will have to check them out. Anyone else you suggest looking into? 

I just created a new group relating to these issues...will you please post this topic in http://activerain.com/groups/webdesign101 also?

This is fantastic information! Another great post Allen. Please, keep it coming.

Thanks Allan!  I've been on your mailing list for years.  Why haven't we bumped into each other in Northern Virginia yet???  Thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the nice comment, Tamara.  I hope that we can get together here in N.VA. at some point.  I noticed your Web site a while back and am impressed.

If you're going to be out in Reston at any point, let me know and we'll "do lunch"!

It's a great day here on the lake in Reston...hope it's a great day there in Alexandria, too!