Point 2 Technologies (providers of Point 2 Agent web sites) announced today the launch of the Point 2 NLS (National Listing Service).
It's no secret I'm a big Point 2 Agent fan. This company is often on the bleeding edge of technology. Their web sites, blogging platform, prospecting/CRM tools and "Handshake Listings" are second to none, in my humble opinion.
The "NLS" is a service that allows real estate agents to display their properties across the Point 2 network (now over 104,000 strong). Yep, here you have it folks, another tool in the Internet advertising arsenal. Now you don't need a Point 2 web site to utilize Point2's most excellent listing display venues.
For the full story,including links to press and news service releases, please click here.
That's outstanding Lisa! It truly is a wonderful product. Just keep working on your site. Ours is a lead generating machine.
This new "NLS" could be huge. If nothing else, non-P2 members should look into it. It's a great venue for advertising your listings. And you can't beat the price
It really is a good operation, I agree Jay. This will be interesting to watch! I got my 'free' site with them and it was before AR; so it was my first glimpse at how my SEO rating could increase. I'm impressed.
That would make this the first blog on NLS then, wouldn't it Terri? :)
With Passion!
I like Point2 also, even though I'm still working on my site... I have seen my traffic improve immensely in recent weeks.
Thank you ! I will be looking into changing my website in the next couple of months and will definitely include Point2 in my research.
Ines
Hey Everyone!
Point 2 Agents...If you're looking for a business planning, CRM and sales forecasting software you should check out Symplifi by Topaz Software (http://www.topazsoftware.com/). Symplifi is a business planning, goal setting/tracking and CRM software all in one. You enter the amount of income you want to earn in 2007 and Symplifi tells you how many leads, clients and closings you need to achieve it. Every time you log in you can see how close you are to your goals, what your conversion rates are and your sales forecast...very motivating! Even more exciting is that Topaz has partnered with Point 2 to offer all of their agents incredible discounts on this innovative software.
Happy 2007!!
Gigi
Thanks Jay for the info. I have been sent an email from P2 about this launch and I'm still a bit confused. How do you see this working? Any concerns about the mls in your local and others? What is the goal of P2 in doing this? what do they gain?
Thanks Harper Team. My "other blog" seemed to be having some problems earlier. That may be why you got the 404. I just tried it and it seems to be working fine now.
If anyone is interested in getting a free Point 2 web site, there is more info here.
I have a Point2 web site and have used the Handshaking facility to enable my visitors to see listings from other Point2 agents who participate in handshaking or sharing. I wonder if the new Point2NLS will only post listings from members who have handshake agreements or will all Point2 listings be available.
If MLS's want to play in this game they will have to stop the attitude of "it's my ball....if you want to play I make up the rules". The comsumer, and we are also consumers, wants value for money.
Jay & Francy,
Thanks for the post. By now you know that there are two posts on this subject. I read the first an signed up. I'll take advantage of every any any good opportunity.
Hi All;
Does the POINT2 free site have availble the new NLS feature???
Im trying out Point2 with their free site right now. Since my MLS wants $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to put an IDX feed on my site, this would give me the oppourtunity to have atleast a few listings.
Thanks
Dave
HELP for a new Point 2 member. I am trying to set up my email on the free Point 2. I want to give it a test run before deciding to upgrade. I am very confused about the default domain. Do you have to purchase that in order to set up an email associated with your Point 2 website? I have spend way longer than you would believe trying to figure this out. I do not want to use my domain name from my other website. Any help would be appreciated.
Diana
www.rhinebeck-ny-realtor.com
http://diana.corcoranpoint2agent.com
Can the NLS be used by us who only have the FREE p2agent sites? I get emails for the nls, but cannot log in to see whatever the graph shows.
Remember, I am computer illiterate! I'm really slow with the whole internet thing.
Hi Dawn,
It's my understanding that any licensed real estate professional can post their listings to the NLS.
Here is a link to their site where you can read about it:
http://point2nls.com/
Enjoy!
The NLS is a powerful system ! It was just launched and already I have received contact from two new prospects who found me through it.
Make sure you load all of your listings onto your Point2 site as soon as possible after listing them. I can see this is going to be a great marketing tool for us.
Jo
Diana,
The email is only a forwarder on the free site .
If you want the email feature with a new address and forwarder that is the paid membership.
I used the free site for about 4 months as an extra web site just to see how it would do. Once I upgraded I relized that I nolonger needed top producer. My email is now integraded right into my website. anyway I canceled my other site at imagepro and my T/P and saved money. now the leads roll in.
New Group : point 2 NLS
I have been a Pt2 subscriber for quite some time and have never gotten any leads from it all.
what am I doing wrong?
Faye - difficult to say without seeing your site. Leave the URL (or email it to me) and I'll be glad to take a look.
Jay
Does Point2Agent.com offer yourdomain.com/MLS#? www.imoria.com does! How many pages does your website have indexed on google with point2?
I have just started on the Point2agent site and trying to learn how it all works. It's nice to hear so many positive comments.
Point 2 works for me. Still a good company, still a good product.
You do need to work your site though, with ANY provider. It's all about unique, relevant content.
I'm involved with Point2 as well. I love their site and use their platform for my website. I would, however, like to see a better blog platform; I like the AR platform much better.
Agreed. Have you tried the Outside Blog feature with AR? Wonder what would be the ramifications of taking my existing blog domain name (from my P2 blog), switching it to an AR outside blog, and framing that into my P2 website?
I guess what I'd lose is the automated listing & events posting function.
It looks really interesting....I wonder if the new agents in my office that don't have listings would get any benefit from it though?
With certain keywords I am one the number one Google spots and on other search engines using this system. I just wish the client management was a better system.
I'm with you there, Laura. Have you commented about this on the P2A Message Boards? It's the best way to be heard by the powers that be. If they get enough comments on the topic of the client management system perhaps they'll move it a little higher on the development list...see you there!
I'm enjoying my point to agent web site.. It is getting more attention than my old top producer website ever had.
I was not aware of this.. Thanks for the post
Sounds like this post is over a year old! I just started with P2A and af free website a couple of months ago and the benefits far outweigh any negatives with P2A websites.
"Sounds like this post is over a year old!"
Actually, I wrote this post TWO years ago. To the day!
Love my P2A websites. I have one for the office and a personal one. Started with the free sites and am getting ready to upgrade to premium sites. I'm not a "techie" and even I could set them up with basic info. Will get a little more creative with the premium sites.
Well... all good things got to come to an end... and so with P2 : (
"Well... all good things got to come to an end... and so with P2 : ("
Huh. Last I checked my Point2 site was running and performing quite well. Care to qualify what you mean by Point2 coming to an end Lonn?
I'm sure he's referring to the demise of the "FREE" standard site, which some time in March becomes $9.95/month w/out the 6 mo free period.
Still, we had to know that would come eventually, especially given the current economy.
It remains a good product and a good source of leads for me.
Hopefully this means they can put their time, energy and funds into further developing a few of the features that could use a little more attention to qualify as "bleeding edge", such as the contact mgmt system, drips, and e-mail. I'd like to see some new music on the virtual tours as well.
BTW Tour Factory presented at our office this week. I think P2's syndication is pretty solid, but TF is sending their tours to U-Tube as well. It would be neat to see that added.
Beth - I assume that's what Lonn was referring to, but I hate to assume anything....
Personally, I'm glad P2 is losing the free sites (though you can still try for free for 3 months). There are so many abandoned free sites out there, and let's be honest. If an agent can't afford to spend $9.95/month for a web site, they are in the wrong business.... Despite that, I'm sure the whining will be extensive.
LOL!!! No doubt there (I think I can hear it from here), and I'm in agreement with you on the free thing.
I too love point 2.
Praise resounds across this blog.
Jay, Beth:
Yes, what I referred to when saying all "good things got to come to an end" was the Free Sites at P2A.
I don't care if they ended it. Yes they gave warning.
My issue is that they were rude in the language they put up on the pages of those agents who chose not to upgrade. It was a slap in the face to those agents, IMHO.
I was not whining. I was sharing an intentionally critical viewpoint that Point 2 had been rude to those Realtors who chose not to upgrade their free site to a paid site.
I had already heeded the warning and moved my site - so this issue of their rudeness did not affect me.
However, I felt (and still feel) it was a sad day for Sauk Klein and company when they would be so rude to the very agents who might yet want to buy something.
KIND OF LIKE KICKING THEM WHEN THEY WERE DOWN....
I guess that's ok with you if they want to promise FREE SITES to (y)our colleagues, and then pull the rug out from under them.
Did they have to say any more than this?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FREE TRIAL - WHICH HAS NOW ENDED.
SITE OWNERS MAY <LOGIN HERE> TO RE-ACTIVATE THE ACCOUNT IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR SERVICES AND FEATURES.
Wow, Lonn, I can't speak for Jay, but you evidently took from my comments something that wasn't even there, so I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't put words in my mouth.
The only reason your name even entered into it was your comment about things coming to an end, and my evidently accurate assumption that you were referring to the free sites. This simply wasn't about you.
As it happens, I agree that they could have handled things a little differently, and seem to remember being told that the standard site was free 'forever'. However, forever is a pretty long time, and I was brought up understanding the wisdom of TANSTAAFL: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.
Everything has to be paid for at some point in time by somebody.
People tend to value and take better care of the things they pay for.
No one is really served by having a bunch of abandoned sites littering up the web. I did have a free standard site that I was using to experiment in niche marketing, but what I learned from it is that I don't have time to maintain 2 sites.
The web is an important business tool for Realtors®, and they do offer different price points for different pocket books. Serious practitioners have a choice about what to invest in based on their needs.
I am a paying customer who would prefer they concentrated their talents, energies and resources on maintaining and improving the product rather than carrying 'free' sites. I think that a 90 day free trial is reasonable and sufficient. It sure beats the 30 day trial offered by most vendors.
Many companies offer free or subsidized product while they are building their business and their value proposition. It seems that phase is over for Point2 and they have proven to me, at least, that their product is worth paying for. They can continue to prove it by keeping the product relevant, not so much by giving it away.
Simply my opinion.
Wow Beth : )
I promise... No comments were taken and no words were put in your mouth : )
I simply addressed you and Jay in a single comment because you had both commented my earlier post by seeming to be in favor of this development. As I said, I don't care if they change their business model. That's not the point. You both seem to feel that P2 has done what any business needs to do in an evolving market. Jay suggested "whining will be extensive". To you both, I posed a comment and a question:
I felt (and still feel) it was a sad day for Sauk Klein and company when they would be so rude to the very agents who might yet want to buy something.
KIND OF LIKE KICKING THEM WHEN THEY WERE DOWN....
I guess that's ok with you if they want to promise FREE SITES to (y)our colleagues, and then pull the rug out from under them.
BUT - Did they have to say any more than this?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FREE TRIAL - WHICH HAS NOW ENDED.
SITE OWNERS MAY <LOGIN HERE> TO RE-ACTIVATE THE ACCOUNT IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR SERVICES AND FEATURES.
This is all very encouraging as I am considering getting Point2 and I am wondering why I haven't already done so. No time like the right time.
Jay,
Are you still using point2agent since it has gotten rid of the free website? If so, are you noticing that it is better or worse than before in terms of traffic you are getting.
My Point2 site is www.NorthShoreBuyer.com in Massachusetts. I think that Point2 is still emerging in our area. I would like to see more agents using Point2 here in MA. I had previously used a local website service when I was with RE/MAX - IMAX. It had an excellent MLS VOW component but was not as 'sexy; as Point2. Point2's Virtual Tours are particularly fabulous. They do a really good job making photos 'pop'
I have been looking for a new website and wondered if P2A is still a viable deal or not. If it is which do you recommend of th emodels they have ot choose from.
Hi Charles,
I have a P2A Professional level site (since May of '05). I like the flexibility of the product, the ease of making changes, and the way it performs (easy to optimize, performs well in appearing on searches-though as with any site, you have to put some work into it, both with content and understanding keywords, tags, etc).
Most of my business comes from my website, either directly or indirectly from the syndication and from having a strong presence on the web.
They also provide a good help database and live training opportunities.
Jump in, it's a good product. Let us know how it goes.
Just started with them, good to get this input.