The plug-in offers three distinct value propositions for publishers:

1. Free – no cost to download, install, and/or use the plug-in
2. Revenue – a new source of revenue from advertising embedded in answers.  Ad impression, click tracking, and payment collection is handled by RealtyBaron
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – When a blog sources a question, the blog earns a “clean” link back to the blog from all web sites publishing that question.  Plus, there is potentially thousands of new pages of free, relevant content for search engines to index on the blog’s site.

We’re making a development copy of the plug-in available today to get some early feedback:

Download RealAnswers WP Plug-in 1.0

Update: Download from WordPress Plug-in Directory

Let us know what you think!

These spots are not paid advertising.  The three available spots are awarded to agents based on their AgentRank™. In other words, it’s free advertising for REALTORS who are able to climb into a top spot on AgentRank.com.  If you haven’t already signed up for a FREE RealtyBaron account yet, do it now.  Good luck!

Earlier this morning, I approved a ListingHedge™ for 3605 HAMMERKOP DRIVE in NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV making it the world’s first risk-free listing ever. OK, not entirely true since a ListingHedge™ is purchased and settled with BaronBucks during the beta period, but still a monumental moment. Here’s the breakdown:

If home sells….

+ $5,423 Est. Commission Side
- $2,000 Expenses
- $458 Cost of Hedge
= $2,965 Net Earning

If listing expires…

+ $0 Est. Commission Side
- $2,000 Expenses
- $458 Cost of Hedge
+ $5,500 Hedge Payout
= $3,042 Net Earnings

During the beta period, a ListingHedge™ is purchased and settled with BaronBucks™. Any broker or agent with a RealtyBaron.com account is automatically credited with $5,000 BaronBucks™ that can be used to purchase a ListingHedge™ for each listing the broker or agent is marketing.

After the beta period ends and the service officially launches, a ListingHedge™ will be purchased and settled with real money. BaronBucks™ accumulated by agents during the beta period will be converted to equity shares in (pre-IPO?) RealtyBaron, Inc.

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Log in or sign up at http://www.realtybaron.com/agent
2. Complete your AgentRank™
3. Upload your current listings
4. Hedge your current listings

Question, comments, or concerns? Add a reply below and I’ll respond.

More importantly, however, agents can “tweet” their own AgentRank™ activity to their “tweeple” by providing their Twitter account credentials.

Twitter is only the beginning. I plan to add other notable social arenas as time permits. If you’d like to request a specific platform, please let me know.

#1 – Like I said above, a referral fee is your least concern. Therefore, all three bids—opening, reserve, and stop—remain at 0%. Basically, the first agent who meets the minimum required AgentRank™ gets your parents’ business.

#2 – But submitting a bid in this scenario is easier said than done. The minimum AgentRank™ in this case is 10—the highest ranking available—which means unless an agent has an impeccable sales history and glowing client reviews, he or she will be unable to bid for your referral.

Any questions?

#1 – The auction opens bidding at 0%, but the “Reserve Bid” ensures a bid of 20% is received before the client’s contact information is revealed to a buyer’s agent. If the auction ends with a bid less than 20%, your identity and that of your client remains hidden from any potential buyer’s agent.

#2 – Assuming the “Reserve Bid” is satisfied, the “Stop Bid” ensures bidding doesn’t exceed your idea of “fair value”. When bidding reaches the “Stop Bid” amount, the referral auction immediately closes and the referral is awarded to the highest bidder.

#3 – The “Minimum AgentRank™” guarantees bidding is available only to agents who have a proven history of closing sales and pleasing clients. In the scenario above, only agents with a ranking of 8 or above are allowed to bid for your client referral.

Any questions?

1. Agents/Brokers can leverage our ZIP code notification system to instantly alert agents of an available referral and don’t need to seek out individuals on the Web/mailing lists.
2. Agents/Brokers can leverage AgentRank(TM) to ensure they are handing the referral off to an agent/broker with a proven track record.
3. Agents/Brokers can maximize their potential referral fee by leveraging the auction platform.
4. Agents/Brokers can utilize our feedback system to rate brokers/agents who both offer and accept referrals. Similar to eBay, a feedback system can be nice leverage to keep both parties of a referral transaction honest.

As a Realtor®, you likely already swap referrals both on-line and off. However, when referring your client to an agent whom you’ve never met, two questions remain:

1. Is the agent qualified to handle the referral?
2. Will the agent pay my referral fee if a deal is done?

A ReferralAuction™ uses the AgentRank™ algorithm to ensure a referral is awarded to an agent who has a proven track record to make a sale.

Both the referral source and recipient have the opportunity to review the performance of each to discourage deceitful behavior.