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An End of 2010 Look at Top USA Real Estate Websites

Ed Kohler — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:55:52 +0000

Looking back at 2010, it looks like we’ve seen a pretty consistent performance from national real estate websites, with top national brand sites slipping, while aggregators continue to grow. Among brands, here is a sample of five from Compete:

According to Compete.com, RE/MAX, Century 21, and Coldwell Banker each have ~20% fewer visitors, year over year. Keller Williams and Weichert, while considerably smaller, did grow in 2010. In fact, if the rates of loss and growth continue in 2011, Weichert may pass Century 21 and Coldwell Banker by this time next year.

Weichert and Keller Williams didn’t pick up as much traffic and the three biggest brands lost, so where did that traffic go? If I replace Keller Williams and Weichert in the above chart with Trulia and Zillow, it becomes obvious:

Zillow and Trulia were already bigger than the biggest real estate industry brands at the start of the year. Year over year, they managed to grow by 6% and 33% respectively.

How are Zillow and Trulia able to grow while the big brands are not? As I see it, the best thing that ever happened to Zillow and Trulia was gaining access to listings from the big brands. Once that was done, the playing field of listing content was leveled, which turned the competition to other variables. Those include:

Who has the best site architecture, so reaps SEO benefits?
Who is best at online PR, to drive traffic and increase search engine rankings?
Who merchandises properties the best?
Who makes listings easiest to share among a prospect’s friends & family?
Who is creating the highest quality and quantity of traffic beyond listings?

#5 is particularly critical. If every site has all the listings, and two sites create huge volumes of compelling content beyond what’s available for active listings, it’s pretty clear who’s going to win. Among the sites mentioned above, only Trulia and Zillow have both technology in place, and systems to generate, compelling real estate content beyond the specs associated with active listings.

We at WhereToLive.com understand this challenge, so have built a variety of content management systems into our broker and franchise platforms. They include enhanced listing capabilities, agent blogs, blogs for every community in a client’s market, company blogs, community & neighborhood wikis. With the right tools, systems, and training, it really is possible to compete with the largest websites in real estate.

Thoughts from Inman Connect: Ed Kohler on Broker IPTV

Ed Kohler — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:22:58 +0000

I had a chance to spend a few minutes talking real estate trends with the fine folks from Broker IPTV during Inman Connect in San Francisco. If you have 4 minutes, check it out or click here for a transcript.

Century 21 Real Estate is on Twitter

Ed Kohler — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:50 +0000

This week, we surveyed the Twitterscape for Twitter using Century 21 affiliated professionals, including agents, brokers, and employees at the head office.

If you are missing from this list, please add yourself using the comments form below.

Alan Stamm Realtor® – @RealEstateLV
Alecia Stolz – @aleciastolz
Alfred Brown,Realtor – @houstonrealtor
Allen L. Grover – @AllenGrover
Amanda Audsley – @a_audsley
amy clagett – @aclagett
Andy Bencosme – @AndyBencosme
Andy Kalinowski – @1andyk
Angela Meano – @Ameano4sure
Ann Messick – @AnnMessick
Ann… – @trubrituk
annerubin – @annerubin
annettereynolds – @annettereynolds
Anthony Love – @mrlove357
Ariana Zariah – @ArianaZariah
Arlene M. Skinner – @arleneskinner
Barb Bamber – @1CalgaryRealtor
Barbara Stern – @SweetVaBreeze
Bernie Weinbender – @Bweinbender
Beth Goff – @BethGCentury21
Beth Herrick – @LetsGoShopping
Bill Hubbard – @hubbaw
Bill Inman – @C21Inman
Bill Williams – @BillWilliamsC21
Binh Nguyen – @datsunbullet
Blanca Contreras – @blancacontreras
Bob Blaha Century 21 – @BobBlaha
Bob Sheddy – @BobSheddy
Brandi Fulgham-Leyva – @brealtor
BrandiNelson – @BrandiNelson
Brandon Ball – @c21brandon
Brian Rushton – @BrianRushton
C 21 Properties Plus – @Century21CHS
C21 Central Oregon – @C21CentralOR
C21 Harvey Bonham – @c21harveybonham
C21 Property People – @PropertyPeeps
C21 Ryan Realty – @C21RyanRealty
C21 Van Der Wende – @NJCentury21VDW
C21 Wentworth Falls – @wentworthfalls
C21 Wimco Realty – @C21Wimco
CAGIR Immobilier – @cagirimmobilier
Cain Cooke – @CainCooke
Cam Foster – @Condoman
CamarilloHomes – @CamarilloHomes
Candy Barnes – @candybarnes
Carla Browne – @carlabrowne
Carla Jones – @csbjones
Carol Olsen – @upstateproperty
Carolina Garcia – @CarolinaC21
Century 21 – @C21
Century 21 – @C21realestate
century 21 – @century21homes
Century 21 – @C21Producers
Century 21 – @erissa
century 21 – @century21bronx
Century 21 – @akladis
Century 21 – Roswell – @DavidDuer
Century 21 Adobe – @Century21Adobe
Century 21 Advantage – @C21Advantage
CENTURY 21 Alliance – @CENTURY21Realty
Century 21 Australia – @C21Australia
Century 21 Beggins – @c21beggins
Century 21 Bessette – @Cent21Bessette
Century 21 Birchwood – @c21fcbr
CENTURY 21 Bowman – @c21bowman
CENTURY 21 Brasil – @c21brasil
Century 21 Bridge RE – @NHProperty
CENTURY 21 Bundaberg – @century21bundy
CENTURY 21 Canada – @CENTURY21Canada
Century 21 Capital – @C21Capital
CENTURY 21 Capstone – @c21capstone
Century 21 Careers – @work4century21
Century 21 Colonial – @C21Colonial
Century 21 Colonial – @C21Berkeley
Century 21 Conexus – @conexusrealty
Century 21 Community – @c21community
CENTURY 21 Da-Ly – @century21daly
Century 21 Forney – @Century21Forney
Century 21 Gateway – @C21Gateway
Century 21 Geo Boyes – @cent21nga
Century 21 Gosford – @C21Gosford
CENTURY 21 House Me – @c21houseme
Century 21 Hunt – @C21Hunt
CENTURY 21 JudgeFite – @Century21judge
Century 21 Landmark – @C21LM
Century 21 LoisLauer – @Century21MoVal
Century 21 M.B. – @Century21MB
Century 21 Mt.Home – @lynzee1
Century 21 New Hzn – @C21NewHorizon
Century 21 NY Metro – @C21NYMetro
Century 21 Prestige – @Century21Home
Century 21 Scheetz – @c21scheetz
CENTURY 21 Signature – @C21SRE
CENTURY 21 Singapore – @CENTURY21_SG
Century 21 TammyA – @c21tammya
Century 21 Team One – @C21TeamOne
Century 21 TRG – @century21trg
Century 21 UK – @Century21UK
Century 21 Yarrow – @Century21Yarrow
CENTURY 21® Sweyer – @Century21Sweyer
Century 21M M Assco. – @c21mm
Century21 – @MattGentile
Century21 Qatar – @Century21Qatar
Century21 Superstars – @c21superstars
Century21 Thomas – @Century21Thomas
Century21Superstars – @OCREupdate
Chana Dolbey – @ChanaRealty
CharlineWright – @CharlineWright
Charlyn Lewis – @CharGirl
Cherub @ Century 21 – @cherubmadden
Cheryl Needhammer – @cherylbruce
Cheryl Tittle – @cheryltittle
Chris Brothers – @chrisbrothers
CHRISTINE KELLER – @C21KELLER
Christine Lopez – @solutiongirl
Cindy Oliver – @AlwaysATexasGal
Cindy Pollard – @innisfilrealtor
Clark Hill – @clarksellshomes
Claudia Trainum – @ClaudiaTrainum
Clint Hill, Realtor – @clinthill
Cory Annett – @CoryAnnett
Craig B. Rushton – @craigrushton
creekwoutpaddle – @creekwoutpaddle
Dale Chorley – @DaleC21Peregian
Dale Clift – @wants2birdie1
Dale Corbett – @c21corbett
Dallas Jaculak – @winnipeg_homes
Dan Gass/Century21 – @DanGass
Dana D’Ambrosio – @DanaC21
Dana Wood – @SquamishRentals
Danielle Ives – @DanniMac
DarcyCreaturo – @DarcyCreaturo
Darin Hayne – @darinicole
DarleneTy – @DarleneTy
Dave Creaturo – @Charleston007
David Cahill – @david_cahill
David Crick – @davidcrick21
David Fann – @DavidFann
David L. Moyer – @davidlmoyer
David Peck – @dbpeck4
David Romero – @romeroonre
Dawn Bricker – @dawnbricker
dfanale – @dfanale
Dirk Schroeder – @dirkschroeder
Don Cottam – @doncottam
Don Lawby – @donlawby
Donna Bruno – @c21northstar
Donna Smith – @armymomtimes3
Donna Smith – @century21shreve
dothanhomesearc – @dothanhomesearc
Douglas Isham – @DougIsham
DuaneHopper – @DuaneHopper
Emily Silverness – @emilysilverness
Enock Milius – @Enockmilius
Erica Gudat at C21 – @EricasIndyHomes
ERNIE ARRIZZA – @Erniearrizza
Gary Chambers – @DrumhellerHomes
GaryZalepa – @GaryZalepa
George Bamber – @1612
Gerald Kelly – @GeraldKelly
Gerry Davidson – @Century21Talk
Gilda Benton – @GJBDESIGNS1
Gisele W – @giselerw
Glenn Ashby – @AgentGlenn
Graham Bavington – @GrahamBavington
Graham Guthrie, CRS – @graham_guthrie
Greer 談 Swiston – @greerswiston
Gregory Pike – @gregorypike
Greig Metcalfe – @GreigsHamilton
Gus Delgado – @GusDelgado
happy2cook – @happy2cook
Harjindar Kaur – @Century21spore
Hawaii Real Estate – @KirstenKCarlson
Heather Campbell – @heathergolf
Heather Elias – @hthrflynn
Henry Ramirez – @henryramirez
Home Sweet Home Team – @HSHT
Ian Anderson – @ianfromdean
IAN SANCHEZ – @IANSANCHEZREO
Jacqui Douglas, c21 – @c21lincoln
Jagmohan Bhandari – @onevision1world
Jamie Dann – @jamieinbarrie
Jan Brennan – @c21mmrelo
Jan Keirstead – @JanKeirstead
JanEvett – @JanEvett
Janice MacMillan – @JaniceMacMillan
Jared Van Cleave – @JVanCleave_C21
Jason Hershey – @PlumCrazyRE
JasonNeumann – @JasonNeumann
Jay Bru – @jaybru
Jeff Gingerich – @JeffGingerich
Jeff Stoffel – @StoffelJeff
Jeff Thompson – @MrCentury21
Jemal Walker – @JemalWalker
Jennifer Baugher – @JenReidBaugher
Jennifer Strefling – @realtor_jen
Jeremy Lee – @jlee244
Jim Crotwell – @JCrotwell
Jim Jackson – @JimJacksonC21
Jimmy Patronis – @jpatronis
joditussing – @joditussing
Joe Manausa – @HousingReporter
joelives – @joelives
John Alesi – @JohnAlesi
John Humpal – @c21Humpal
John Ropp – @century21broker
johnfrey – @johnfrey
Johnny Costa – @johnnyazores
Jon Sagrillo – @JonSagrillo
Josh Allen – @JoshAllenC21
Joy Rogers – @joyarogers
Joyce Brimmer – @JoyceBrimmer
Joyce Moore – @CaRealtorMommy
Judy Beal – @judybealrealtor
Julie Vesuwalla – @JulieVesuwalla
Julie Yonan – @jyonan
Kalum Johnson – @KalumStreet
KaMei =) – @2KaMei
Karen Hood – @KarenHood
karen westpy – @activerealtor
Kari Calder – @karicalder
Kathleen Hathaway – @KathleenHathawa
KathleenKelly – @HickoryNCHomes
Kathy Kewley – @KathyKewley
Kathy Rasmussens – @greenrealtors
Katie Book – @katiebook
Katie Patronis – @kpatronis
Keith Wright Oregon – @KeithAWright
Kelly Hopper – @KellyHopper
KellyLantz – @KellyLantz
Ken – @Realtor702
Ken Devoe – @kendevoe
Ken Rakestraw – @rakeitin2001
Kimberly – @Centxrealtor
kimsettler – @kimsettler
LaPrairie – @laprairie
Laura Fazzolare – @onlinerealtor
Laurie Williams – @wlms
Leona Streifel – @leonac21
Leslie Auton – @leslieauton
Leslie DelMonaco – @ldelmonaco
Letting_Agents – @Lettings_Agent
Linda Rademacher – @LindaRademacher
Linda Wise – @lwisec21
Lisa Klein Rossow – @LisaRossow
Lisa Lozano – @LearnWithLisa
Loida Claudio – @c21teamvision
LolaMcIntyre/REALTOR – @LolaMcIntyre
Lorenzo Milanez – @lorenzomilanez
LouMuscarella – @LouMuscarella
Lucille Bailey – @lvbailey9
Lukasz W. – @LW1980
Maerian Birchfield – @Maerian1
Magali V Campenhout – @Mgke22
Margaret S Tucker – @MargaretTucker
Marina Trading Post – @Century21CR
Marivic Domingo – @MarivicDomingo
Mark Anthony Ruiz – @MarkAnthonyRuiz
Mark Nakhla – @marknakhla
marychildress – @marychildress
menglishc21 – @menglishc21
menglishc21 – @menglishc21
Merilyn McCart – @merilynmccart
Michael Ojeda – @Michael_Ojeda
Michael Stoffel – @mikestoffel
Michele Robinette – @MovingToBoerne
Mick and Julie Perez – @AVHOMES
midorimiller – @midorimiller
MikeKellyJr – @MikeKellyJr
Mimi Izzo – @mimiizzo
Monique Hailer – @mdwaterfront
Nick Seevers – @Nickseevers
Nicole Saunders – @NicoleSaunders
NKyJobs – @NKyJobs
Pablo Lopez – @pablo_re_sales
Pam Jeffery – @Pamjeffery
Pam Lester C21 – @C21PamLester
Pam Turner – @pamturner
Pat Williams – @cletch
Patricia Cooper – @patcooper
Patrick Galesloot – @pgalesloot
Patrick Johnson – @PJhomes
Patty Bender – @PattyBender
Paul Baron – @paulbaronc21
Paul Indrigo – @loftsellers
Paulette Upshall – @pupshall
pcinmotion – @pcinmotion
peburns – @peburns
Penny Blackwell – @RealtorToCall
Pete George – @PeteGeorge3
Peter A Wilson – @pwrealtor
Peter Ianos – @pianos182
Phil Parisi CRS, GRI – @PParisi
Philip Rosen – @PhilRosen
Phong Lam – @PhongDucLam
PlainviewHomes – @PlainviewHomes
Premium Properties – @C21Celebration
Ranny Welton – @RannyWelton
Ray Dietrich – @Murrieta_Agent
Real Estate Agent – @_Karen_Lou
Rebecca Collett – @rebeccacollett
renee baccaro – @goaskrenee
Renee Gunter – @ReneeGunter
Richard Alber – @RichardAlber
Rick Butler – @rickbutler
Rob Van Der Wende – @c21rob
Robert McIntyre – @CalgaryRealtor1
Robert Scroggs – @RobertScroggs
Roger A Johnson – @rogerajohnson
Rupert Shih – @rupertshih
Ryan.Peters – @FuzHM
Sally Cheeseman – @relocatehawaii
Sandra Easton – @GPRealEstate
Sandy Eimers – @chattiyogi
Sandy Harper Realtor – @SandySellsHomes
Sandy Lee Galvan – @sandygalvan
scbeachteam – @scbeachteam
Scott Stribling – @ScottStrib
Shabana Raja – @Century21Seller
Shane Gleeson – @ShaneGleeson
Sharon Schultz – @readysetsold
Sheena Curran – @smsc6994
Sheri Hunt – @Sheri_Hunt
Sheri Hunt – @SheriHunt_C21
Simon de Wit – @Simon_de_wit
Stacey Harron – @StaceyHarron
Stephan Rill – @stephanrill
Stephanie Andrew – @Stephani_Andrew
steve colby – @pollysbuddy
Steve Medved – @trueguru
Steven Anicas – @KanakaRealtor
Steven L Shockley – @SlShockley
Stuart Lewis – @StuartMLewis
Sun Peaks – @kylemcgauchie
Susan Deacon – @susandeacon
Susan Harden – @SusanHardenC21
Susan Hilton – @SusanHilton
SusieC – @SusieC
Suzanne Cunningham – @C21Suzanne
Suzanne Helmke – @suzanneC21
Suzanne Riley – @SuzRiley
Sven De Vuyst – @svendevuyst
TallahasseeCENTURY21 – @TallyC21
Tammy Keding – @Tammyc21
Tammy Vajgrt – @TammyVajgrt
Terry L Bursky – @Terry4114C21
Terry Melles – @terrymelles
Tiffany Hampton – @tiffany04072
Tim James – @TimJames21
Tim Kotzman – @TimKotzman
Tim S. Rabedeau – @C21_SUNBELT
Tim Tallmadge – @Cntury21
Toronto Real Estate – @Realtor_Lady
tracey anderson – @c21tracey
tracideanC21REALTOR – @tracidean
Valerie Zelinski – @realtorval
vancouver property – @vancityproperty
Vancouver Realtor – @KelsieStruch
Wendy Hay – @WendyHay
WhitneyLeonard – @WhitneyLeonard
Wilf Mandel – @wilfmandel
Wolf Braun – @talktowolf

And don’t forget to add us, @wheretolive, on Twitter.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate is on Twitter

Ed Kohler — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:46:48 +0000

Do any Coldwell Banker agents or brokers use Twitter? Yes and Yes. To find out how many and whom, we surveyed the Twitterscape in search for Coldwell Banker affiliated Twitter users and identified the following users from around the world.

We hope you find this list useful for networking with fellow Coldwell Banker agents and brokers.

If you’re affiliated with Coldwell Banker, use Twitter, but are not on this list (or know someone who is), please add yourself in the comments below.

And don’t forget to add us, @wheretolive, on Twitter.