The Sarasota Misguided Loser Squad
You may notice that I added a ‘SARjacking’ Badge to my sidebar. This is to support a movement – one that all Real Estate professionals on the web need to be aware of. Please read about the Sarasota MLS board and how they have stolen a successful domain from one of their members.
The outcome will NOT be what the Sarasota MLS board hopes it will be though. The Sarasota board of realtors couldn’t compete in search so they resorted to thievery. Well, they need to learn some things about the Internet. So, I’m taking part in their virtual lesson.
You can read the details by clicking the SARjacking badge in the sidebar.
The Sarasota MLS board headed by this beauty (Helen Sosso – SAR President) is a truly sad bunch for they had no idea how their actions would backfire. They are even so loony as to say that ANYONE owning a domain with “mls” or emphasizes it in any way is infringing on their trademark. (This is not true, as the Misguided Loser Squad of Sarasota will learn.)
I see a huge movement against them coming – not in just the sheer number of newly registered domains but in a “scorched earth” seo and reputation campaign that will move forward. Welcome to school, Helen Sosso of Prudential Palms Realty.
The mentioned MLS board has stolen a domain because they couldn’t compete. But it’s not just the Domains – it’s the TIME, ENERGY and MONEY SPENT to promote the site that has also been hijacked. This is a sad moment, but the future is great though for they will be exposed and bruised – hopefully keeping other boards (even here in Denver) from attempting a similar theft.
I do think that their entire board has reason to wish they didn’t head down this road. They may be wondering what hides in their past that could be pushed for their names, the names of their companies as well as their stated desire to rank for “Sarasota MLS”.
Do you want to help Marc fight The Sarasota MLS Board?
Then
I would personally like to see the Sarasota MLS boards website disappear from the Google search result leaving only their victims on top for not just the term Sarasota MLS but every possible real estate term.
Hmmm, I think I may have some iPhones to award pretty soon.
Helen Sosso said:
“I want to use my year as president to encourage our members to be more cooperative, and more professional in our dealings with one another. We all have the same inventory of properties to sell, and it’s more important than ever in the current market that we all work together and maintain our professionalism.”
Helen Sosso – The Sarasota Association of Realtors 2008 President
Excuse me!? Your board tried to annihilate one of your member’s business for personal gain! The time and expense your victim has to endure with your harassment is not easily forgiven.
Get your SARjacking Badge here!
Want to learn more about this? Just Google Sarasota Association of REALTORS.
So, Realtors, if you rely on your website to help feed your family you may want to learn about this and spread it around a bit – YOU may be a victim if this trend continues.
I love it. Thank you brother!!
You got it.
k
Hey Knox,
Nice post! I would love to include this post as well as your cool pic in my ActiveRain article of the same topic. Pretty please with sugar on top!
Joe Lane
“Dirty Helen” of Sarasota is probably realizing she is NOT Clint Eastwood, lol.
That’s a good one Knox.
Knox:
Great Pic ! I sent Helen an email letting her know how I feel about her associations behavior.
I noticed today that I could easily register the domains “SarasotaMLS4U.com” and “Go2SarasotaMLS.com” and “YourSarasotaMLS.com”
You would think that between the SAR and ICANN they would not be allowing such a trademarked phrase to be registered. Oh wait…… they’ll let me register the domain and build up a lot of business and good will, THEN they will decide to protect their so-called trademark.
I love it, I just love it. By the time you guys are done with Helen Sosso of Prudential Palms Realty, and Sarasota MLS board they are not going to have much of a reputation left.
Keep the pressure on, People those on the managment board for the Sarasota Board of REALTORS need to learn to get out a work for things, rather than try to take them by theft.
Great Post
Love the image!!!!
@Joe, have at it! – and I added your article above.
@Tony, I added your article to the list as well.
That’s just too funny!!! Love it!
Wow! Too Funny and I wonder if we have a conflict of interest here?? Would this have ever happened if Marc was an agent with the brokerage Helen Sosso owns?
It appears her brokerage also markets to Luxury Sarasota Real Estate.
Continuing this past the ethics hearing to the next level and the tactic used is suspicious to say the least IMO.
Paul – SAR just redirected that domain to themselves. Your comment is exact.
Amen Brother, Amen
You’ve got some made stills, Knox!!!!
What’s happening to the leads SAR is getting from Marc’s site????
I’m sure they’re getting forwarded to Marc… right?
@Jaz
Babe, I’m getting you your own blog
Hey Knox,
I just posted in my blog amd thought your readers might be interested – http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota/marc-rasmussen-vs-sarasota-association-of-realtors-over-thesarasotamlscom/show/
Nothing earth shattering but I read a few inconsistencies across the web. More importantly, I wanted to thank everyone for all of the support. I’ve said it before but I really am proud to be associated with a great group of people.
Did the MLS at least offer you monetary compensation for the domain or did they just yell “Article 12 ethics violation!” and steal it from under you?
They just stole it from him.
Yup, they just took the site. Really a huge miscarriage of justice IMO. And completely wrong way of going about treating the persons that are your peers in the real estate industry.
Interestingly enough though: if you google Sarasota MLS – you can see the many PAGES of results that show the opinions of persons across the country on the decision.