Joe,

Great article, and great discussion. I agree with some of the threads, specifically Mark and Elizabeth. The 1.3 million real estate agents that are members of the National Associaton of Realtors (NAR) are just the agents who pay to be apart of the association. There are another approximately 1.3 million agents who are NOT associated with the NAR. The real estate agent 'bubble' has caused a ton of problems in the industry. Some agents in the past have been lazy and have gotten into the business for the 'easy money.' For better or for worse, those days are gone, and they will be gone for quite a while.

In terms of marketing, I have to agree with Mark. I don't expect to have a stranger run across my Biznik profile or personal website and call me to do business with me. Sure, it happens from time to time (we can all get lucky), but it is not a reliable source of new leads. For me, it is all about the relationships. So, when I have a relationship with somebody and they go to my website and read testimonials, or read about how I 'provide outstanding service,' it lends some more credibility. I quit trying to solicit business from strangers a long time ago when I realized that the vast majority of the biz came from people that I already knew. I think that is the key to real estate marketing, and the key to most business to consumer businesses. It's about building personal trust with your relationships and conveying that you know what you are doing on a professional level.

All in all, a great discussion!

-Dan