Real Estate web 2.0 - Network Relationships
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 11:35AM
Out of all the definitions Merriam gives for relations, this fits best for my purposes.
As I go along creating a personal network I look for mutual and reciprocal interests. Take the Bloodhound gang for instance, I have an interest in what they offer and they've expressed a mutual interest in me. Simple. Good connection. It creates a desire to form relationships -- the state of being mutually and reciprocally interested.
On the other hand, my recent experience with 4Realz.net was somewhat different. I joined a conversation and gave my impression of a controversial post that was the subject of a disagreement and was basically accused of being disingenuous. One person accused me of taking a postion that I hadn't taken. There was no interest that I could discern within this group to understand my position, although I'd orginally gone to the group with interest in them -- the interest wasn't reciprocated. Bad connection.
I suppose I could have gone about it in a political way and kowtowed my way in by saying what was acceptable, but the effort wouldn't be based on integrity, besides, obsequiousness is not my forte. It would be a weak connection and I don't want weak connections in my network. It would be like starting a romantic relationship based on a lie -- it wouldn't work.
So, relationships have to have integrity (The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness - from answers.com) to be an integral part of the personal network.
As an editorial aside, I'm beginning to see too many sites that mistake consensus of opinion for integrity. Along with reputation management, and more important than reputation management for me, there is integrity management.
One of the problems I had with Zillow was their stated acceptance and recognition of RE agent value, yet they were silent in the forums where agent-bashing was a favorite sport. I'm speaking in past tense because I don't go there anymore and don't know how it is now. It was a weak connection. Again, I could have kowtowed and made myself look like the "good" agent so they would like me, but it wouldn't have been based on integrity and the relationship would fail. I had an interest in Zillow as a marketing venue for my personal network but the interest didn't seem mutual and reciprocal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not proposing Zillow should censor its forum, but the failure to speak up and defend the RE industry out of what appears to be fear of "selling out to the man" and losing street cred tells me a lot of about their opinion of the RE industry.
Active Rain seems to have maintained its integrity although the relationship it has built with House Values remains an unanswered question. The only reason I stopped utilizing Active Rain was to start my own blog, and when I posted there it was like posting on a busy subway wall.
I have high hopes for Roost although they aren't established, and they never answered my email. I understand I'm in a small market and they have bigger fish to fry (roosters frying fish!), but in the beginning I commented on a blog asking about their plans to expand and my comment was answered with an affirmative YES with the invitation to correspond by email. I sent two with no reply. I'll forgive them, with the fish frying and all. But, they have a good concept that creates the possibility of true relationship, mutual and reciprocal interest.
My website provider, Point2, is an important connection in my personal network, and while you don't expect a personal touch with a website provider, in the beginning P2 did a good job of making users feel welcomed and there was mutual and reciprocal interest, yet now with the changes in management it appears a little distant and just-business-like. That's okay as long as they keep the site up, stay on the edge of change and have responsive customer service - that meets the defintion of a good connection. So far they have, but they better be careful, some sweet talking stranger might seduce me -- it's a personal touch world.
One connection that started out like mutual, reciprocal interest was Real Estate Webmasters, but then they got into link trouble with Google. I did a little research and was bothered by some of the reports -- then I got a response from the owner on one of my blogs that turned me off. I started getting that weak link vibe and decided they weren't needed in my personal network. One thing that bothers me is that the blogs are flat boring, no personality, no interesting articles, just blandness and no interaction. However, when I tried to remove my account, I couldn't get out. I've sent 5 emails with no response, I've requested in their forum to be removed; I even requested to be removed in a blog. I was told I could delete the blogs and there was no other assistance. I can't delete my information. Bad connection, bad connection.
There are others and it's fascinating as I go through this online journey creating connections, building a network. I've gained enough experience where I know what I'm looking for and it's much easier to recognize quickly so that I don't waste time like on REW. I think sites that have taken users for granted may be in for disappointment if they don't reciprocate interest-- too many new players will be coming along with different and alluring sites that are interesting and useful, saying "I'm interested in YOU big boy".
Reader Comments (2)
Mike,
Please let me assure you that our relationship with Housevalues will in no way compromise the integrity we have maintained to this point.
I can certainly see how it feels like a 'subway wall'. We are working on some projects that will focus the content more effectively, hopefully giving the authors better avenues to focus their content. We also have a project near completion that will give stellar contributors a much broader reach :)
The premise of your post is very sound. Choosing the relationships we want to engage online is just as important as those choices are off line. You wouldn't allow a poor performing title rep into your 'circle' in the real world so why would you chose to engage in online environments that don't create meaningful relationships and connections. Well said!
Bob,
I think your idea to isolate the better posts is a great idea. To some it looks like elitism, but at some point with as much traffic going through, you'll have to separate the wheat from the chaff.
In effect this will attract better writers and, as a result, improve your product.
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the reassurance of integrity.