The Clash. The Police. Journey. Talking Heads. Some of the most well-known bands in recent history also happen to have some of the most powerful names. Names that describe their music and articulate what separates them from everyone else. Just like those bands, the name of your real estate brand has a job to do. So, why are so many of us afraid to break traditional paradigms? Why is every brokerage Insert-Last-Name Realty? And why are so many logos a roofline? What if you liberated yourself from what everybody else is doing and made your own kind of music?
We recorded this podcast live after Marc spoke at the MLS Summit, an event hosted by Annie Ives of The MLS™/CLAW.
Marc Davison is the cofounder of 1000watt, an agency dedicated to helping real estate brokerages, tech vendors, mortgage and title companies, MLSs and associations build better brands through marketing and design. Prior to 1000watt, he served as the Vice President of OnBoard Informatics and founded Access Media. Marc’s resume also includes a long stint in the music business as a musician and manager, and he is the author of All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians.
Today, Marc shares the parallels between building a band and building a company, discussing how his background in music informs his work at 1000watt. He offers insight around the dynamics of the team at 1000watt, describing the unique voice of the company and how its name serves as a differentiator. Listen in for Marc’s challenge around breaking paradigms in branding your real estate organization and learn how your name, logo and messaging can work together (in harmony, of course) to articulate what’s important to you as a company.
What’s Discussed:
How Marc’s background music relates to his work at 1000watt
The parallels between building a band and building a company
How 1000watt’s unique voice differs from its team members
Marc’s take on real estate as an intoxicating, aspirational business
The significance of thinking of your company as a product
Marc’s insight on the charisma of the name W+R Studios
How names serve as vehicles to create differentiation
Why 1000watt chose to brand itself as an agency vs. consultancy
Marc’s challenge around real estate terminology (i.e.: Team, Realty)
The necessity of alignment among names, logos and messaging
Resources:
All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians by Marc Davison
‘An Uncommon Brokerage Vision’ in 1000watt
The Police - Bring on the night -LIVE PARIS -79.
Connect with Marc:
This episode was recorded live at the Clareity/Corelogic MLS Executive Workshop in Scottsdale. Art and Josh were good sports when I spotted them at the lobby bar at the Scottsdale Plaza. Also, full disclosure, I think I’ve had at least one drink.
So, what’s it going to take to get vendors to transition away from RETS to Web API?RESO is hoping that both a carrot (providing easy-to-use replication tools) and a stick (large MLSs putting a ‘death date’ on RETS feeds) will facilitate the move.
Art Carter is the Chair of the 2019 RESO Board of Directors and CEO of California Regional MLS. Josh Darnell is the Chief Architect at RESO and Founder and CEO of kurotek, a real estate tech consultancy. Both Art and Josh are committed to RESO’s mission around creating and promoting the adoption of standards to drive efficiency in the real estate industry.
Today, Art and Josh discuss the transition from RETS to Web API and discuss what RESO is doing to rectify the replication issue. Art gives us an update on the progress of RESO’s search for a new CEO, describing the combination of technical skill and evangelism the organization is looking for in a leader. Josh shares his take on independent systems like Trestle and Spark API and walks us through the RESO initiatives that address the separation of listing input. Listen in for insight into the ongoing evolution of real estate standards and learn how you can support RESO’s work to give agents access to the data they need.
What’s Discussed:
The progress of RESO’s search for a new CEO
What RESO is looking for in a leader for the organization
What the RESO Board is doing to rectify the replication issue
RESO’s understanding that standards will continue to evolve
RESO’s focus on giving agents access to the data they need
Josh’s take on independent systems like Trestle, Spark API
The intent behind RESO’s RCP010 and RCP019 initiatives
Why we will eventually rely on MLSs to handle compliance
The value of working together in an open-source model
Art’s insight on how proprietary systems impact innovation
Why vendors need to accept that RETS is going away
Who Josh would like to see at RESO’s Workgroup meetings
What it will take to get vendors to transition to Web API
Resources:
Mike Wurzer on Listing Bits EP035
Connect with Art & Josh:
Is it better to develop an all-in-one CRM? Or focus on relationship-management and work with other vendors to create a flexible package of best-in-class offerings? In the ever-evolving world of real estate tech, LionDesk is choosing integrations, leveraging partnerships with top third-party applications to create a CRM that plays well with others—and allows agents to maintain their independence.
David Anderson is the founder and President of LionDesk, a complete sales and marketing solution for real estate agents, broker and lenders. As one of the premiere CRMs, LionDesk makes it easy for sales professionals to connect, communicate and close more leads, and its open API platform integrates with hundreds of the best management tools, allowing professionals to run their entire business from a single system.
Today, David shares the challenge LionDesk faced in designing a CRM flexible enough to accommodate any workflow. He discusses the early days of the startup when he was ‘giving it away for free,’ focusing on individual agents and referral business and developing the subscription business model. David also speaks to Compass’ acquisition of Contactually and how it is impacting his business. Listen in for insight around how LionDesk integrates with other best-in-class real estate systems like Cloud CMA and ShowingTime and learn why agents prefer an independent, third-party system to an all-in-one, broker-led platform.
What’s Discussed:
How David’s experience building tools for travel translated to real estate
The challenge LionDesk faced in designing a flexible CRM for any workflow
David’s focus on individual agents and referral business in the early days
LionDesk’s recent deal to provide CRMLS members with a full account
How LionDesk integrates with best-in-class apps like ShowingTime + Cloud CMA
Why agents appreciate the freedom and independence of a third-party system
How Compass’ acquisition of Contactually is affecting David’s business
Why David believes an all-in-one brokerage CRM system is the wrong play
The LionDesk SaaS month-to-month subscription business model
Why David discourages new vendors from pursuing the freemium model
The challenge around determining a CRM’s number of active users
Resources:
Greg’s Blog on the LionDesk Partnership with CRMLS
‘Compass Acquires Contactually’ Press Release
‘Compass to Acquire Alain Pinel Realtors’ in Inman
Connect with David Anderson: