Would you blog for a competing brokerage? Then why for Trulia

I agree with you 100% on this one! Unless you like buying back leads there is no point.

Carolyn:
With so much information out about this topic - I am amazed that agents still aren't aware of the Trojan Horse as some have called it.

There are agents in my office that think these places are wonderful tools to market listings.  In fact they have brought them up in our marketing meetings and when I try to show my objections it seems to somehow go over their heads. Some just don't care because they figure their site doesn't rank well anyhow. It is a frustrating thing to deal with non tech savvy Realtors on this point.

And these sites capitalize on the clueless agents who even when educated on the issue choose to ignore it because it is easier.

I know, my brokerage does the whole featured listings with Trulia and they sell it as a great benefit to the sellers.  It's an uphill battle - but I figure at least those of us here should be totally aware of this (some of the newer people don't know all the history).  Maybe we can try to get this out to more to the greater re.net community as well.

Try to bring this up on Active Rain and there'll be many defenders of Trulia's merit.  I give up!

Great reminder, let's not give away quality content to a competitor.  I'll stick with REW and Activerain.

Your number 1 focus should be your site, but if you can gain exposure by blogging elsewhere, then why not. But there will come a point and time when you should cut the chord and stand on your own, and from what I have seen is that there are quite a few members who only network on this forum and hold top spots for all the necessary keywords.

If you have a team of people working for you, let them loose on other networks and increase your presence. But what your focus should always be is to build your own brand and expand your circle from there.