Many of you have probably noted that there is legal chatter around the consumption of internet bandwidth, and how the large telco companies have, in some instances, played gate keeper, offering more network juice to some operators/outlets at the expense of others. Seemingly, the main issues that they have with network over-consumption is with P2P (Peer-Peer) networks, especially when file-sharing and downloading is the main priority.

This effects WellcomeMat, and the future of real estate video more generally, as there is a chance that federal bodies will enable the large telecoms to “direct traffic” in a way that allows them to be more healthy ($$$). NAR has taken it’s official stand, and we very much appreciate it:

“Similarly, the National Association of Realtors told the FCC that youtube.com, Wellcome Mat and zipvo.com have become indispensable for the remote display of real estate for potential buyers. “Uncertainty over network providers’ authorization to degrade specific technologies of their choosing may chill innovation in video distribution technologies to the detriment of businesses and consumers alike,” the NAR concluded, and asked the Commission to enforce ISP fairness on a “case by case” basis.”

Of course, as karma dictates, this news arrives in the same morning that WellcomeMat shows a video on “how to get kicked out of a NAR event.” All in good fun of course, and for the record, the NAR officials that sent us through the doors in Vegas were nothing but considerate and respectful. We quickly understood why two astronauts, whom hadn’t paid for booth space, deserved an ousting.

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posted by Christian Sterner

Long time WellcomeMat member, aerial video jockey, and Alaskan real estate agent Ray Wood has done a pretty amazing job with his new blog, Full-MotionVideoTours.net, which thoroughly documents the nitty gritty details of real estate video.

It’s rare to find a real estate video blog that is objective because most of them (including this one) are real estate video companies, helpless against the passion of their sites/companies/products. Go to Ray Wood’s blog, and you’ll find a well-done, objective source of information about real estate video. Great job Ray! Now, if you’d just crop that darn profile photo of yours on WellcomeMat…

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posted by Christian Sterner

Joel Burslem put out a post the other day about a common opinion within the industry that 2.0 tools will have little, if any effect on the real estate industry:

“There’s a belief that the principles of real estate marketing 201 (social media, blogging, video, social networking, micro-blogging, etc.) are never going to supplant traditional marketing.”

Jonathan Dalton identifies this Wizard of Oz shoe tapping, please take me back to a more comfortable time mentality in his post, “The Fallacy of ‘Going Back to the Basics’ .” Back to basics? Back to huh? Let’s do this instead: let’s pretend the internet didn’t ever happen. This is definitely the way to go: bare with me. Let’s also pretend that the junk mail that we get-you know..the mail that you get and immediately realize how wasteful this country really is-holds more weight in the eyes of our customers then when they do a Google search for hyper local information and find a knowledgeable, local expert (blog/video), whom happens to be a real estate professional.

These back to basics (huh?) and off-line/dig your head into the sand notions immediately serve as the catalyst to The Question. I am referring to The Question that crosses every single real estate technologist’s mind from time to time (don’t lie…I know you have thought this too): what in the hell am I doing in this industry? Trust me, it’s only a fleeting moment before I remember why I am here, working on WellcomeMat during every waking moment of each day; but, holy ?!?&#!!?

Please note that, even though I would immediately re-allocate all off-line marketing dollars to the web, I am not suggesting that anyone else do the same. All I am saying is test the waters, mark a percentage of off-line money to online marketing initiatives and see what happens. There are a lot of off-line marketing methods that work, have worked, and will continue to work. I get that.

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posted by Christian Sterner

Y! Live is now…well…LIVE! Here is one of those times where I wish we had taken in a massive amounts of funding so that we could execute our entire product road map in 30 days. Live open houses have been on Team WellcomeMat’s mind for a long time. We’re ok-I guess-with Yahoo! beating us to the creation of a forum where these events can take place, and wonder who is going to be the first real estate professional to use this new application.

Just the other day, Doug Heddings was talking about how he had 150 people show up to one of his open house events. With his marketing prowess in mind, I don’t doubt for one second that this is an honest count. I do wonder how many more “attendees” he would have had with Y! Live in action. Poor guy was just one week too early! If anyone tries this, please be sure to invite WellcomeMat! feedback [at] wellcomemat [dot] com

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posted by Phil Thomas Di Giulio

Video took center stage at this year’s Real Estate Connect conference in New York City. During the first day, a fascinating conversation took place on a panel moderated by Jeff Turner, President of Real Estate Shows. The panel was titled,”Beyond the Written Word: Videoblogging and Podcasting“. The following text is pulled from the description of the panel:

A few minutes into this video and you’ll quickly realize that the word ‘easy’ was replaced (and positioned) with words like ‘difficult and time consuming’. Fortunately, Doug Heddings of True Gotham dropped some sanity back into the discussion with comments like:

“There is probably a larger percentage of people…that could [video blog] than in my opinion couldn’t.”

“I don’t understand any of what was just said [about video technology], and I am successfully video blogging…not only because I have a good camera man, and a good editor, but I have WellcomeMat.”

I thought Jeff did a excellent job moderating the panel and each panelist helped round out the subject while providing their own unique experience with the medium. We’ll sum up our thoughts in another post. In the meantime, watch the video (or pick out the parts of interest - yeah chaptering!) and then tell us what you think. Should agents video blog? Is it the time and cost you spend creating video that makes zero sense OR the opportunity lost by not seizing on the opportunity?

Continued

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Comebacks seem to be just about everywhere you look these days. Take for instance the Giants 17-14 Super bowl surprise upset over the New England Patriots or Senator Barack Obama’s 20+ points surge in the Democratic race for President. These events have inspired us to make a comeback of our own. WellcomeMat.com? No need for comeback there, the site’s doing just fine. However this here blog has been in serious disrepair (like a foreclosed home - doh!) for some time now. So while New York (and New Jersey) celebrate a Super Bowl Victory, so to does the WellcomeMat. We lift our arms up into the air and thank God for giving us the strength to make this happen, thank mom for all the support and adoration, reference Disney World once or twice and then turn to you. Yes you, the fans. We could not have done it without you. Yes indeed, the blog is back. The blog is back.

The infamous ‘Trudy’ Bachraty has posted this video of rabid WellcomeMat fans gathering in the streets. Enjoy and thanks Trudy!

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