LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Online advertising 'overwhelming' for Realtors

Re: 'Classified Ad Listing Tool Pumps Real Estate' (April 7)

Dear Editor:

I read the article on postlets with interest. It's obvious that everyone is trying to capitalize on the fact that real estate consumers are now online. The problem is that no one seems to notice that this is overwhelming to the Realtors!

Realtors can't keep up with their e-mail and Web site, let alone the myriad sites where they now need to advertise. However, the market has gotten so fragmented that they absolutely have to if they are to reach consumers where they prefer to do their search. It could be Google Base, Point2Homes.com, Yahoo! Classifieds, Trulia, Oodle, Propsmart or others.

Postlets is now asking Realtors to enter their data yet in one more place. That's more work. The majority just don't have time nor the inclination to do these things.

The solution is for Realtors to do nothing and still get their listings on all these sites. They should also be able to choose where their listings show up or don't show up – i.e., control over their data. They own this valuable information.

When a Realtor lists a home on their Point2 Agent Web site, their site also automatically places the listing on all the sites discussed above. And more sites are being added to the roster of marketplaces that we syndicate our Point2Homes.com data to, as we speak.

We strongly believe that this is the way to support Realtor efforts. Intelligent automation to make their day more effective and efficient, so they can concentrate on harvesting leads and closing sales rather than figuring out what the next hot site is and how they can get their listing on it.

Roger Noujeim
Point2Homes