Why did Move acquire Listhub/Threewide?

From Threewide today.  Thanks for the additional Q&A guys.

Why did Move® acquire ListHub/Threewide?

Move® identified syndication as a core part in the future of helping brokerages with their online marketing strategy.  ListHub is the industry leading platform for real estate syndication and provider of market intelligence that quantify the results of online marketing.

Move® recently received NAR consent to syndicate listings in accordance with each data content provider’s permission and instructions, and syndication under the ListHub brand is as an excellent fit with our core competencies of data aggregation, relationship management and marketing solutions for the real estate industry

In an effort to continue to support the brokerage and agent community in their online efforts, Move, Inc. has acquired/merged with Threewide Corporation and will make ListHub an integral addition to the Move family of products.

Online real estate content is fragmented and often inaccurate.  The acquisition enables us to aggregate and connect this content, standardize the data and reporting from and for multiple sources, and improve the overall experience for consumers and brokers regardless of where they market their listings.

What is the vision for ListHub? Has it now changed?

Move® is in the process of welcoming ListHub into our network of real web sites, and will operate it as a wholly owned subsidiary and brand similar to the Top Producer® brand.

The vision for the ListHub product is to provide real estate brokers and agents with a consolidated ability to manage their critical online marketing  metrics across multiple websites.

How will this benefit my MLS organization?

ListHub has grown at a very rapid pace over the last few years, largely due to the support of our MLS partners.  Now that ListHub has access to a broader set of resources available through Move®, ListHub will be able to deliver more quickly on product and service enhancements that benefit the MLS directly, as well as enhancements for brokers and agents as a benefit of MLS membership.

Because REALTOR.com® listings will now be included within the ListHub reporting structure, brokers, agents, franchises and MLSs will have a more balanced and accurate view of listing performance and ROI across the internet (regardless of where a listing is displayed) through ListHub’s advanced intelligence reports.

Brokers, MLSs, and franchise customers will benefit from increased access to the online marketing efficiencies as a result of ListHub joining the Move® Network through access to additional campaign management, expanded customer care and technical support

Will ListHub be used as part of the RPR strategy?

No. There are no current plans for ListHub to be leveraged for RPR.

Does this mean that REALTOR.com® data will now appear in ListHub reports?

Yes.  One of the most exciting opportunities that results from Move, Inc.’s acquisition/merge with/of ListHub is that REALTOR.com® metrics will now be included in the ListHub reports, giving brokers and agents one single standardized report for side-by-side analysis of the results from all of their online exposure.

Participating brokers and agents will eventually have access to the highest level of performance reporting in the industry which they can leverage to secure business with prospective home sellers and/or better manage current relationships by demonstrating how effective their online investments are, know what product dials and channels they need to turn in order to secure more business, and better monetize the business they have today. Look for more details on this exciting capability in the coming months.

What affect will this have on my brokers?

Service to brokers will be seamless and unchanged.  Brokers will have the same point of contact for sales and technical support at ListHub.  Their current access to the ListHub dashboard will not change. The convenience of a single consolidated resource for reports across all major real estate listing Web sites (including REALTOR.com®) is one of the major initiatives that we are excited to work toward for the benefit of brokers.

Are you going to charge us for ListHub now?

No. ListHub will maintain its current model at this time.

Will the data be comingled with other Move, Inc. systems and used without my permission?

No. As always, listings syndicated by ListHub will only be used to populate sites as directed by the MLS or listing broker.

Can I re-direct consumer traffic back to the listing page on REALTOR.com®, or will this force me to change the consumer re-direction to REALTOR.com®?

There are no plans at this time to change any current redirects requested by ListHub MLS and broker customers.

Content providers remain in control of their listing data content.  They must give Move® permission to syndicate their listing content and provide us with instructions on which destinations are approved to display their listings. Content providers will instruct ListHub on traffic redirects, indicating where they want client leads via clicks to be sent – back to their own site or to the ListHub LDP network page, or both.

Do we need to amend our current agreement?

No.  Your agreement with Threewide Corporation will transfer automatically to Move, Inc.

What about ListExporter and ListSecure?

ListHub will continue to offer and support these two Threewide products.

Is the ListHub team the same?

Yes. Luke Glass will continue to manage ListHub and the entire team will remain the same. You will continue to work with your respective points of contact for sales, marketing support, and technical support.

Is there any relationship to the Find system opportunity?

Not at this time, but the respective teams at ListHub and Move will be working together so you will be receiving consolidated messaging and coordinated communication.

Will publishers that compete with REALTOR.com® be removed from the ListHub syndication network?

No, that wouldn’t be in our best interests, or the best interests of our customers, content providers, publishers or consumers.  In fact, now that ListHub is a member of the Move® Network, we are in a position to grow and expand the list of ListHub’s publishing partners, which would benefit both consumers and real estate professionals by expanding exposure of their listings.

To remove any of the current publishers would erode value from the platform as a viable syndication network for brokers, MLSs and consumers interested in having their listings broadcasted to a large audience of potential buyers.