Is RealEstateWebmasters Competing with it's own clients?

[DallasFamilyHomes]

Hey guys,
This is in no way defamatory or trying to trash REW. I love REW. This place is great and definitely a niche segment of business that I hold very dear to my heart: Real Estate + Internet Marketing and REW has given us all a home to participate and learn.

Here's my question with background information:

REW sells websites to clients in order to get those clients business. On top of that they sell internet marketing services to help this website with much needed search engine traffic. "Our search engine friendly platform"

REW now lets google crawl their own site where they are now listing properties available for sale.

EX: http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/...las-752525299/

REW's property pages are now ranking in search results where they refer that potential lead to yet another client who has purchased advertising on the site? Maybe the broker they had to partner with in order to get access to MLS listings (Texas Law)

EX:
http://www.google.com/search?q=7008+...d+Parker%2C+TX

To the question: Is this a conflict of interest to current REW website clients? Albeit I may not use the website product, but I have a conflict of interest in making real estate websites and I have referred many clients to the website product here at REW, because I believe it is superior to anything else on the market off the shelf.

I look forward to the real estate webmaster community and REW response and discussion.

[jessiesc]

That's interesting, I didn't know REW was being crawled for property listings.

I'd like to hear from REW directly about this as well.

Where do the leads go and why?

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

I had the same question. There are a few of us in the Dallas area that have been around here alot longer then he was and didnt even get the chance to be on there. I saw this the other day.

[jamesww]

I am a bit skeptical of this move and most likely would not have done it if I was the chief at REW. Of course it is likely a good move for short term profitability for REW. I feel that it could be a positive move if they distributed the leads round robin style to REW clients. Just my two cents though.

[jessiesc]

I am a bit skeptical of this move and most likely would not have done it if I was the chief at REW. Of course it is likely a good move for short term profitability for REW. I feel that it could be a positive move if they distributed the leads round robin style to REW clients. Just my two cents though.

I have to disagree with you on this.

IMO, REW should not be in competition with it's customers. This would not be a good move for short term profitability and has the potential to damage their long term profitability.

I also disagree with any round robin or other means of distributing leads.

AFAIK, REW is in the website and SEO business, not the lead generation business. I for one do not need to compete with my web hosting company for real estate business. I have plenty of competition and don't need more

Unless their business model is changing and they are becoming a lead generation or real estate business.

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

The problem is this really only affect me and richard soto right now. They are doing it in our area.

[DallasFamilyHomes]

The problem is this really only affect me and richard soto right now

and me

I'm sure there are a few others in the DFW area here also trolling around.

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

I was talking about Rew customer in general.

[DallasFamilyHomes]

What would richard soto say about this then?

What if REW opened these same sites for all mls providers?

Would they now just try and stomp their customers/new competitors?

[Michael Paul Eau Claire]

Is this just in Dallas or are there listings in other areas of the country too?