http://mashable.com/2012/01/24/alternatives-to-picnik/Mike is right, when it comes to MLSs, the convo always steers to "what we are protecting" rather than who we should be serving. MLS will be as innovative as the members who serve on their boards, and that bar is set too low, more than anything.
Coral - The ads reinforce the targeted messaging politicians are getting via email and capitol hill correspondences, making it a pretty good campaign if you get a chance to see the big picture. And you're right about the analogy/visuals, but if you look at the ad in context of the barrage of commercials one would see in a given hour surrounding it, it does stick out. It's different, with the hopes that the message comes across and some politician (or staff members) remembers the thousands of emails sitting in their inbox, and scrambles for talking points when Jerry Giovanello comes calling the next day. As for overall sophistication v. dumbed down, man, the convos surrounding this ad were crazy. For sure we can't make all 1m members happy, but we're trying to find common ground.
And I think you have to upgrade to a pay-subscription to access the web for Flash, right Tony?
I interviewed my clients and asked them what was important in a website.
Gerhard You were benefiting from the political efforts paid for by others in your non-REALTOR firm, and were not paying your own way for the space you occupy in the industry.
As far as the other benefots of membership, they are legion, from the Arbitration clause of the Code of Ethics which afford us a non-litigous due process to settle disputes, to the educational benefits afforded by our national meetings, state meetings and local associations, membership has privileges which you may or may not choose to participate in, but they are their nonetheless.
Finally the standards of care in our industry have been established by the REALTOR movement , starting with the concept of exclusive right to sell agreements - something that was non existant before the REALTOR movement - oh, and by the way, membership in the organization is not forced. You could choose to be a non-realotr, and your brokerage would merely have to pay an assesment equal to the annual dues. Then they could maintain their REALTOR status and you could brag that you were not e REALTOR and don't have to be bound by the Code of Ethics that are so important to the rest of us.
This is personal choice really. I break it down like this:
If you are a Mac user, you'll mostly likely love the iPad.
If you a PC user, you'll most likely love the iPad.
Why? because it's simple. Intuitive. And it's a machine people associate with innovation. Since we are what we eat, we are also what we use. I think using an iPad kind of brands you with the things Apple is often associated with. I think that's a good thing.
Only this is - make sure you can search you MLS on Safari. If you can't, you'll have to figure out how to get a different browser on it so you can view it.
You're so cool Nobu ;)
Jeff Turner wrote an interesting article about his year on Twitter and who he interacted with the most.
