Optimizing for your competitors company name

Lou - I was actually just thinking about this yesterday.  I already see some hits for other companies from my REW IDX, but thought I could try to capitilize on it more.  I am very interested to see others responses, but I don't see any problem with what you are suggesting.   How are thinking about incoporating it into your site??

I will PM you with the specifics

You might be okay with the MLS, but double check with the DOL. I would specifically recommend staying clear optimizing any title tags for your competitor's company name. Also, consider what your opinion would be if someone was optimizing for your company name? I wouldn't do it, but that is a personal choice.

Thanks Ryan.  I will check with my licensing authority.  Your feedback is helpful.

I commented in the forum too. There is a fine line to walk when mentioning your competitors’ company name in any publication.

Agreed . . . hopefully this post will flush out exactly where that line is.  Ryan please understand, I don't want to do anything unethical.  In fact I think this is idea more ethical than not.  Buyers calling on yard signs and winding up with an agent from the listing office will never be as well represented as if they had representation from another company. I am not trying to trick them into thinking that I am the competitor. Thanks for the comments, please stick around

Honestly, if you did it right, one would actually think that your competitors would THANK YOU for helping get their listings more exposure. Think about it - would they rather it was another agent (Fully authorized to display and sell their listing) or Realtor.com or some other firm that charges the agents (On both side) for the right to transact?

@Marin - How unprofessional of me, the source of the pie chart was the 2006 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reprinted with permission by Prudential Real Estate Affiliates. @Morgan.  DIdn't think of it like that but I agree totally.

Hey Lou, Blogs like this that are controversial would do great in a platform like DIGG.  Especially if you have a good amount of comments that vehemently argue points for each side.  Could be some great link bait.....  

Shoot me a PM too loudog! 

OK Jim, it is on its way!

Wish I had time to do some research, but I swear this was brought up on REW forums before and I believe the consensus was that it wasn't well accepted.  Of course, I believe that the original poster had this done to him and was extremely angry about it and wanted to know his rights.  I also believe that in this case the "offender" was using competitor names in their title tags, descriptions, etc.  Possibly some hidden text? I can't remember if it was actual agent names (I think it was) or company names.  Might have been both.  Of course, the company or agent would have to be savvy enough to catch this but I do wonder if someone got angry if they could do something about it.  

I've never seen that "Source of Buyer Leads" pie-chart before.   Do you know the chart source and any additional details (i.e. data source, date, etc).   Pretty cool stuff.  

Thanks for the feedback guys. @Judy if you come across those posts please let me know

I tried doing a search on the forums but nothing came up.  I don't know what search terms to use - the logical term I used brought up a non-related thread.