Sarasota Association of Realtors: Where does one start?
Author: Jay T. - The EditorPosted on October 27, 2008
Filed Under NAR - General
Search the Sarasota MLS.
I’m sure anyone who reads this tiny slice of the real estate blogiverse is already well aware of the situation with the Sarasota Association of Realtors taking away control of a domain name from one of their own members, Marc Rasmussen.
The purpose of this post isn’t to tell the story all over again, that’s been done dozens of times. (If you want the details, the post I wrote on the Sarasota Association of Realtors has links to 44 other posts on the subject). The story has been told, and in my opinion, what the SAR is doing is deplorable. Despicable. A travesty.
The actual purpose of this post is simple. It’s to throw a little link love to Marc’s site. One tiny step to help him rebuild his web presence that the Sarasota Association of Realtors is trying to rip right out from under him.
And, well, let’s be honest. I also want yet another post to rank on Google for the search “Sarasota Association of Realtors“. At this moment in time, if you google that term, 7 of the first 10 results and 13 of the top 20 results are about this railroading.
There’s room for one more… You see SAR, the words in the domain name are but a tiny piece of the puzzle as to what makes a site rank where it does. Search your very associations name, and watch what happens. While you are searching, you may want to search “reputation management” and do a little reading on that subject.
Fight the fight Marc. I know it’s expensive (you can donate to Marc’s legal defense fund here). That you are standing up for what is right and not letting someone stomp all over your for their own selfish gain speaks volumes to your character. I would think anyone looking for real estate in Sarasota would be well served by Marc Rasmussen.
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4 Responses to “Sarasota Association of Realtors: Where does one start?”
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Not being in the RE industry, this is a new issue for me but I quickly read your earlier posting on the issue which leads to a question:
Where does FAR and NAR stand on this now? If they, like SAR, had no objection in 2003 but SAR is taking on legal action today, do the state and national realtor associations agree with the local? If not, how does the local respond? If so, perhaps it goes to show how the NAR’s new social media manager has a lot to do to brand equity.
I see a first page Google result for “Sarasota MLS” has a site that has nothing to do with Sarasota OR the MLS. In fact, the DOMAIN is very obscure.
Great point, Jay. Their “unfair advantage’ claim is stupid. It takes work.
I really am curious - what do the members think about this use of their money?
@Jim Duncan - I am a member of SAR and Marc’s website and mine are actually competitors. We are also friends. I’ve written several blog posts supporting his case. I pose the same question about money on my blog. I think it is wrong for the SAR use its members dues to go after Marc or any other members domain. I am sure they have racked up tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees on this case.