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Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) - Slaps One of its Own
By Ryan Ward | October 19, 2008
This issue isn’t new to many REALTORS across the country, but, there is a certainly has become increasingly important as the internet continues to be the marketing venue of choice for now and the foreseeable future for REALTORS and most other businesses. From the perspective of real estate professionals everywhere, the standard bearer of this argument should be a 2002 article written by “Mr. Internet” in the National Association of REALTORS. In the article, Mr. Internet advises that good domain names mightinclude the term “mls”. Read the article here. Hopefully, NAR won’t decide in its infinite wisdom to remove this article because it may become very important in future arguments to help many real estate professionals in their fight.
Enter Marc Rasmussen, a long time leading Sarasotoa real estate agent. Marc purchased a domain, thesarasotamls.com, back in 2003 which at the time would have been right in line with what our National Association of REALTORS recommended that we do as real estate agents looking for an advantages in what was quickly becoming increasingly competitive . Morgan Carey has written a comprehensive article about the issue here.
A recent change to the National Association of REALTORS code of ethics in Article 12 has created major problems for agents like Marc across the country. Basically, this change allows local MLS boards to determine at their own discretion whether or not “mls” is allowed or not allowed to be used by agents. Keep in mind that “mls” is not trademarked by any local board or the national board for that matter. It’s trademarked by Major League Soccer (MLS). So, what’s the issue?
Well, the Sarasota Association of REALTORS (SAR) decided, with the change to Article 12, that thesarasotamls.com would not be allowed to be used by an individual real estate professional. I’m going to shorten the story here because the details may get a little boring for some, but, the effects of this ruling and others like it across the country are having dire consequences for real estate professionals.
The internet doesn’t work the same way as a flyer or print advertisement works to obtain business. It takes years to reap the rewards. Long hours, tedious marketing and countless dollars along with incoming links that point to your website that increase your rankings in search engines to obtain the desired results of business from the internet.
Taking away a domain from a real estate agent amounts to highway robbery at best by the Sarasota Association of REALTORS, and for Marc, potentially starting over with his business.
Since our very own National Association of REALTORS, the supposed industry standard of trade information for us as real estate professionals is the very place that we use as a guide for information such as this, was the place that recommends many of the practices we employ, I think the NAR should bear some responsibility in the consequences of the actions taken by the Sarasota Association of REALTORS (SAR).
Marc is not the only real estate professional around the country that has been harmed by Article 12. Countless other professionals around the country also took the advice of the National Association of REALTORS and purchased domain names with “mls”.
For now, there is not a lot that we can do, but, momentum is groing. One thing that we as leading internet real estate professionals can do to sjupport Marc, is to help him with his new domain, luxurysarasotarealestate.com, by linking to him to help keep his website ranking and to also help where our National Association of REALTORS has failed him. Join me and others by sending Marc some links to his new website with the anchor text “Sarasota real estate” or “Sarasota homes” and others pointing to his new domain - www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com like I did earlier in this post.
Around the web on this issue:
- Charles Richey in Las Vegas - Don’t Cross the SAR
- Cal Carter on the Gulf Coast - Have you Heard of The Hokie Pokie
- Eric Blackwell on Bloodhound - The Real Cybersquat and here
- Glen Roberts on Inman - ‘MLS’ name dispute lands in court
- Jennifer Karlen - What does MLS Mean?
- Judy Orr - Sarasota MLS Attacks One of its Own and here
- Ryan Gile, Trademark Attorney - Sarasota REALTOR Files Federal Lawsuit To Keep MLS Domain Name
Have you written about this too? If so, please reply in the comments…
Category: Marketing, News and Opinion |
Hello and welcome to my Atlanta real estate blog. My name is Ryan Ward and I run The Ryan Ward Group at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. Stay informed with information on neighborhoods, market statistics, homes and editorials on local, regional and national news that affects all of us here in Atlanta and elsewhere. I enjoy life and writing so don't be surprised if you read something thsat isn't directly related to real estate. We all need a break sometimes. If you have any questions about what you read or would like additional information, please fill in the form below or give me a call at 404.630.3187.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
So, REALTORs can’t use the term MLS - but any non-member can (since MLS is trademarked by Major League Soccer)?
How is that supposed to protect the term MLS, or the consumer?!?!
All it does is feed consumers straight into the shark tank so that instead of them ending up with a qualified real estate person, they end up at a non-REALTORs site.
Completely absurd.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Very well written Ryan! As always your writing is concise and to the point. Thanks for supporting your fellow REALTORS!
October 19th, 2008 at 10:01 am
[...] Sarasota Association of REALTORS slaps one of its own Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Sarasota Florida Real Estate Better Florida Investment Going ForwardMortgage loans, MLS numbers and RealtorsMLSThree Local REALTOR(R) Associations Provide Clarus(TM) MarketMetrics(TM) an… [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Jennifer….umm…not sure, but, I’m not the one who should be answering this. I think those are some good questions for the NAR.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
[...] details of what happened next are HERE. Then several people from around the web chimed in as well Here. and Here. and Here. and Here. and Here. (getting the idea, right? You are such a laughingstock [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I have not yet blogged about it, but will instead promote this post on facebook real estate groups.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Thank you Mike. I’m still an absolute beginner with the use of Facebook. I’m learning, but, the going is slow.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Send us a link Mike!
October 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
[...] http://www.ryanwardrealestate.com/WordPress/sarasota-association-of-realtors-sar-slaps-one-of-its-ow… Right now we are all in danger of losing what we own. Actually, it would be like that was realtor.com setting the standards. Realtor.com has been making news regarding what is and what isn’t allowed when it comes to using real estate related domains, business names as well as user names on forums. The safest thing you can do in life is never to pick any word that has been branded before. What happened with Marc is that his work can no longer continue on that domain, which is like building an office and being told that you cannot use it. Anyways, this is <a href=http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/>Luxury Sarasota Real Estate</a>. Great looking website! [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
The above trackback is from searchfeature.com
http://searchfeature.com/blog/daily-this-and-that/
My main facebook group is here!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30437445913&ref=ts
October 20th, 2008 at 12:14 am
[...] Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) - Slaps One of its Own [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 12:14 am
[...] Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) - Slaps One of its Own [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 1:33 am
I wrote an activerain post related to this on Friday. I’ll update with some of these new posts as well. I hope the Sarasota Association of Realtors is taking notice that this information is finding its way quickly to the top of the search engines.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/745537/Real-estate-is-about-service-and-sweat-not-SEO
October 20th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Thank you Ryan.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
[...] Ryan Ward - Sarasota Association Slaps one of Their Own [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
We need to educate all of our associations on the use of the internet for agents. Most of us know more than anyone on the MLS board about the internet. We need to talk with them about how important the internet is to us. The term MLS should be available to all who pay their association fees to belong to the MLS.
NAR needs to be careful in these down times as well. We need to make sure they make the right choices for us. There are some rumors floating around about big internet R.E. players trying to get in on a piece of the action.
October 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Ya this doesn’t seem American in any way just take a guys ability to make a living because someone who doesnt even have a right to the name but is just the “association” decided thats what they want to do.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
[...] Ryan Ward - Sarasota Association Slaps one of Their Own [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 4:56 am
Quite simply unbelievable. I hope people like Marc overcome some of these unfair impositions.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:07 am
[...] Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) - Slaps One of its Own [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 9:09 am
A legal fund for Marc is on my blog. Come help him!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I’ve got another SAR resource for your list Ryan: http://activerain.com/blogsview/744440/TheSarasotaMLScom-Is-History-Maybe-Youre-Next There’s almost 100 comments so far on it. This issue has taken the online real estate world by storm.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
[...] Sarasota Association of REALTORS (SAR) Slaps One of its Own [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
[...] Attacks Its Own Member Sarasota REALTOR Files Federal Lawsuit To Keep MLS Domain Name The SAR Pokie Sarasota Association of REALTORS slaps one of its own Sarasota Association of REALTORS needs reputation management The Sarasota MLS Don’t cross the [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
If you haen’t yet, please sphinn this story to help get the word out:
http://sphinn.com/story/80435
October 21st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I just googled “sarasota association of realtors” and the negative blogs about them are climbing. It will really be quite a victory if we fill the entire page of results with their negative press.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:08 am
This whole situation is such a shame. I read last night that the Sarasota Board of REALTORS had taken possession of TheSarasotaMLS.com domain and was not redirecting it to their websites. What a crime!!
Jim
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 am
I sphunn this story last night. If anyone one is going to submit it anywhere else please let us know. Digg, StumbleUpon, etc. I will keep an eye out and report back as well. Good luck Marc!
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 am
Marc, I’m so sorry about this. I love your site and I know a whole lot of work has gone into it. I hope all turns out well.
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 am
Very well written your writing is always concise and right to the point,i like your writing.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Its hard for me to believe that NAR, or any board for that matter has the legal right to shake anyone from domain. What would be their motivation for doing so? It couldn’t be that they fear competition for their sites?
October 24th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Excellent post Ryan, I am linking to Marc’s new domain from my website and blog.
October 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
[...] Sarasota Association of REALTORS slaps one of its own [...]
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
What’s the latest on this issue? I checked today and Marc’s old domain name is now pointing at the SAR site. For a while his old domain was redirected to Marc’s new domain but I assume they finally wrangled it from him. This is robbery. I’m going to post a link to MArc’s new site from my site right now.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota/sarasota-association-of-realtors-says-august-2008-sees-continuation-of-summer-sales-slowdown/show/