An Open Invitation to The Irvine Company

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
Staying in the shadow has its benefit. The recent release pricing for Ivy was published in the media starting from the high 300's but the feedback from IHB clearly expressed the benchmark $338/sf was rediculously high and the stealth data mining allowed the price setter to set a strategy that captured 15 sales in 10 minutes.



It is smart for TIC not to engage in an IHB dialogue as plans and strategy often changes the last minute like Ivy pricing. In the book the Art of War wisdom the rule is never to disclose your game plan but keep an alert watch over the opponents' trail.



However, without getting into controversy TIC should take advantage of the opportunity here at IHB for press release as well as posting market research questions and especially in the arena of Asian 1.0 generation buyers that no other entities know more except here at IHB. Very few 1.0 generation Chinese participate in focus groups or surveys.



You know where to find me if you need to orchestrate a win win project to market to IHB members.
 
[quote author="bltserv" date=1247976300]

IR.

Your little website is hardly on their radar. Your making the mistake that you think they

care. Trust me. They dont in the least. Why should they ? Their business is already booked

and they cant lose it.</blockquote>


I don't understand why you would say such a thing? Everytime I visit Irvine and speak with a TIC representative from IAC apartments, RE Agents, and random people I meet walking thru Irvine neigborhoods, I am suprised that most of them have heard of IrvineHousingBlog and many of them have visited the site. Purely from a standpoint of SEO for people searching for Irvine homes and Irvine Housing, IHB will kill TIC in the search rankings. I definitley think that IR and Zovall has something special here where most of here are potential customers of TIC, and a good company listens to and embraces their customers, unless they are so arrogant by their greatness that they don't care. If I were IR and Zovall, I would definitely try to see if there is any interest from TIC to work with IHB to advertise through this channel.



I also don't understand why IR and Zovall would have to apologize if they were trying to monetize on this site, because personally I believe they have every right to. I never understood the critics putting them down for trying to launch Irvine Housing Brokers, and it seems that the same critics are the ones saying that inviting TIC representatives to IHB is a bad idea where I think it is an excellent idea that could potentially take IHB to the next level. Some of the greatest content on IHB were made between Sept 2007 to the first half of 2008. Sometimes great content is not valued and considered cheap when it is offered for free. Honestly, when I was a newbie to the site, I would have no problems paying a membership fee ($5 or $10 a month) to join IHB. I would encourage Zovall to thinking about starting a small membership fee for the newbies so that the content and the education on this site is exclusive, valued, and respected.



Another off topic I would like to mention:



Zovall, I am not sure how you did on the IHB T-Shirt sales thru the site, but I think an ebook written by Irvine Renter that touches on exclusive strategy and content regarding Irvine Housing would sell to the audience here. For example "12 steps to successfully acquiring preforeclosure properties in Irvine." An ebook with content that we cannot find anywhere else that relates to Irvine Real Estate. Zovall and Irvine Renter, don't let small people with small minds try stop you guys from accomplishing big things.
 
Panda



There is SOOOOO much more to running, and owning a succesful business over the long haul than a simple website that gets hits.

Thats the problem with many business models. Some people make the mistake that a website is the end all, be all. They look at the hit meter

and think that should relate to Dollars in the Bank. Well that lesson was learned by many of us over a decade ago. It does not work that way.



I dont begrudge IR for trying to turn what is a great site, that I enjoy, into a living. But the reality is. It takes more than the site

itself. Going up and trying to get a relationship with the Irvine company in the manner he is attempting only makes his chances that much less.



Look at a company like Internet Brands. They own scores of these type of websites. Thats the business they are in. Mostly dealing with the Auto

Industry. I personally would think along the lines of taking all of these "Real Estate" discussion websites/Blogs and getting them all under one umbrella.

There is a business idea that could have some merit.



Then maybe you would have a type of marketing tool that could command an income thats worth discussion. Sure IHB gets you to the top Google when you

look at "Irvine Real Estate". Now the magic is to turn that into cash. Otherwise its just Internet Vaporware.



Seriously. If IR wants to make some money. He needs to be involved within the Sales Transaction itself. Writing about it is not going to pay the bills

in this day and age.



I am not trying to be mean. Just playing devils advocate. Cracking a relationship with TIC would be a big coup for IR. This was not the way to go about it.
 
[quote author="bltserv" date=1248045810]





It takes more than the site itself. Going up and trying to get a relationship with the Irvine company in the manner he is attempting only makes his chances that much less.



Seriously. If IR wants to make some money. He needs to be involved within the Sales Transaction itself. Writing about it is not going to pay the bills in this day and age.



Cracking a relationship with TIC would be a big coup for IR. This was not the way to go about it.</blockquote>


I can't agree more on this issue. Mega companies operate differently than small firms, and you have to think like them if you want to deal with them. I truly think a carefuly created relationship with the Irvine Company will serve all parties well.
 
[quote author="bltserv" date=1248045810]Panda



There is SOOOOO much more to running, and owning a succesful business over the long haul than a simple website that gets hits.

Thats the problem with many business models. Some people make the mistake that a website is the end all, be all. They look at the hit meter

and think that should relate to Dollars in the Bank. Well that lesson was learned by many of us over a decade ago. It does not work that way.



Then maybe you would have a type of marketing tool that could command an income thats worth discussion. Sure IHB gets you to the top Google when you

look at "Irvine Real Estate". Now the magic is to turn that into cash. Otherwise its just Internet Vaporware.



Seriously. If IR wants to make some money. He needs to be involved within the Sales Transaction itself. Writing about it is not going to pay the bills

in this day and age. </blockquote>


Bltserv, You are right, there were tons of .com companies that went bust in the late 90s because there was no solid conversion plan to convert the traffic, but i do see potential of how IHB can become a well known brand in Orange County. I see couple of quick potential opportunities where IHB website can generate cash flow on top of the google adsense and IHB T-Shirt sales.



1) membership fees for new registered users

2) Irvine Renter's educational eBook sales

3) Charging Real estate agents to post up their ads here. Perhaps IHB can take cut on the agent's commission on all sales leads generated from this site,

4) Ad revenue from Irvine home builders, 5) Ad revenue from small businesses operating in OC who want to advertise here

5) Becoming an affiliate publisher with Commission Junction or Linkshare selling Orange County real estate related products.

6) IR and Zovall manufacturing their your own unique real estate products that we may buy.

7) Carefully foster a goodwill relationship with the Irvine Company (Extremely important for IHB. Don't try to fight the biggest fish in town, but figure out a way to partner with them).

8) By far, the greatest revenue opportuntity I see is the launch of Irvine Housing Brokers taking the brokerage commission from all the lead generation from this site.



If I was Jim Jennard, founder and CEO of Oakley and someone started an "I love Oakley Blog" where i can have immediate access to the voice of my customers I would definitely interested in accessing that marketing channel as long as the content on the blog does not damage my brand.
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1248050199]

If I was Jim Jennard, founder and CEO of Oakley and someone started an "I love Oakley Blog" where i can have immediate access to the voice of my customers I would definitely interested in accessing that marketing channel as long as the content on the blog does not damage my brand.</blockquote>


But this isn't exactly an "I Love TIC Blog." In fact much of the content directly challenges the value of their product. Your metaphor would be a little more appropriate if the Oakley CEO had an opportunity to partner with an "I think Oakley is way overpriced and when people start realizing that, their prices will fall in line with reality, Blog."



While many people, including myself, find this site incredibly informative, I highly doubt TIC is interested in acknowledging the opinions of all the bears. It just runs too contrary to the message they're trying to get out. A message they spend millions upon millions of dollars on each year.
 
The real issue is this, in my opinion:



The IC works very hard, they spend a lot of money, and the city looks beautiful. We all appreciate that, no doubt about it.



IC makes a lot of money renting retail locations and apartments, all across town. But in addition, there are people who are permanent residents, who own homes, neighbors. We drive by each other at least once a month, we are all neighbors to each other, and neighbors with the IC.



He who owns the land cares for the land. Homeowners, or the IC, we may own this and that, but we are actually stewards. This is the land that we pass to our children, this is the land we love.



It is not the trees that make Irvine safe. It is not the desks that make our students the best. It is the people. It is the understanding that neighbors will do anything to help and protect their neighbors. This is love.



We are not only an online community, we ARE a community. The ONLY people who have a vested interest in protecting and improving this great land are those who live here, those who buy here, those whose children go to school here.



When it comes right down to it, we are fortunate that Irvine has so many great things. It is not perfect, but I will tell you right now, I have traveled to many many places, and Irvine is the best hands down. Best place to live, learn, work, love, and just be with your family.



In conclusion, if you live in the nicest place ever and your neighbor likes to play with knives, well then I don't give a damn how nice it is, or how clean the streets are. I don't want to get into a chicken-egg discussion, but imho, the people make this city great. They are educated, nice, respectful, and all around good people. Sure there are bad apples but we pray that they know we love them.



We as neighbors always look out for each other, even if nothing is ever said.
 
IR



That is really very cool.



Those ads link right to TIC. Your site is being used by them via Google Ads and what are you getting ? A few cents a click ? Google is the big winner here. I bet TIC is spending some major bucks on Google Ads that link with anything related to the Key Words they selected.

Like "Irvine Housing". This may be a legitimate effort by them to place higher than you

on the Google Search Engine as well. You never know. They could have hired a consultant

to focus some effort on you after all ????
 
Yup, it seems that TIC's web marketing team is definitely spending some money for the #1 PPC spot for "Irvine Housing" and "Irvine Homes" keywords.
 
I do like how this is the first google image that comes up under Irvine Housing:



<img src="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/ihb-post-irvine-market-decline-chart.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="bltserv" date=1248157636]IR



That is really very cool.



Those ads link right to TIC. Your site is being used by them via Google Ads and what are you getting ? A few cents a click ? Google is the big winner here. I bet TIC is spending some major bucks on Google Ads that link with anything related to the Key Words they selected.

Like "Irvine Housing". This may be a legitimate effort by them to place higher than you

on the Google Search Engine as well. You never know. They could have hired a consultant

to focus some effort on you after all ????</blockquote>


I had to learn how to set up an Adwords Campaign when I wrote the book. For a time I paid for traffic to visit the book's website to generate sales.



Adwords gives you both the ability to select keywords <em>and target specific websites</em>. I targeted Mish's Blog and Calculated Risk because I had the highest click-through rates on those sites. Plus they were the demographic most likely to be interested in the subject.



I suspect they have intentionally targeted the IHB. Given how much traffic we get from potential Irvine buyers, it is a good place to target good traffic. I just wish Google let me set the price....
 
[quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1247962449][quote author="irvine123" date=1247959957]Let me try to wear Irvine Company's hat: what is the upside for me to openly join the discussions?



Coming to the open will put them in the position of answering consumer questions, and defending themselves. Why do that? </blockquote>


I have been reading many books on marketing lately, and I have read two recently on social media marketing (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Social-Media-Marketing-Hour-Day/dp/0470344024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936196&sr=1-1">Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permission-Marketing-Turning-Strangers-Customers/dp/0684856360/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936227&sr=1-3">Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Prize-Inside-Make-Purple/dp/1591841674/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936255&sr=1-13">Free Prize Inside: How to Make a Purple Cow</a>). I have been putting in my research time.



The upside for the Irvine Company is (1) the ability to directly assess the needs and wants of its customers, (2) they can correct misinformation, (3) they can add to the conversation and tell us some of the really cool things about Irvine that we don't even know, (4) they get powerful word-of-mouth marketing at no cost.



They would not be here to answer complaints to take service actions, they have their own website and phone numbers for that.



The biggest advantage to the Irvine Company is for their marketing. They can spend millions of dollars broadcasting their message to the world, and they can reach many people and influence their decisions. However, anyone interested in Irvine real estate is likely to do a Google Search for an Irvine related topic, and a thread from this forum or a post on the IHB is going to come up. Our SEO makes it so people find us here. Once they find us, they can cut through the advertising messages and get answers from real people living real lives in Irvine. <strong>A response from this board will carry 100 times the weight of the Irvine Company advertising message. That is why they need to be here. </strong>



IMO, the Irvine Company would get a tremendous return on its marketing time and effort by having people only communicating with us on this forum. They won't be able to control the message here, but they can help shape it by telling a compelling story that represents the truth of living in Irvine. This forum is one of the most powerful marketing voices because it is so real. All of us here believe in Irvine and what has been created as we choose to live here and live the dream. When the stories of marketing match the realities of the people living it, you have something very powerful. Participating here will help the Irvine Company make the most of it.



BTW, Zovall and I do not see this as a money making thing. We are not looking to partner with TIC or work out any financial arrangement. We want to promote this free community for all who wish to participate and make it be an authentic source of good information. We all benefit from that.</blockquote>


Sounds good on paper but after having to deal with Master developers (Going to thier meetings you want to shoot youself) for over 18 years and their way of doing things which is their way or the highway i do not ever want to have to deal with them again let alone hear their Propaganda. Sorry just my opinion.
 
[quote author="OCCOBRA" date=1248173951][quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1247962449][quote author="irvine123" date=1247959957]Let me try to wear Irvine Company's hat: what is the upside for me to openly join the discussions?



Coming to the open will put them in the position of answering consumer questions, and defending themselves. Why do that? </blockquote>


I have been reading many books on marketing lately, and I have read two recently on social media marketing (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Social-Media-Marketing-Hour-Day/dp/0470344024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936196&sr=1-1">Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permission-Marketing-Turning-Strangers-Customers/dp/0684856360/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936227&sr=1-3">Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Prize-Inside-Make-Purple/dp/1591841674/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247936255&sr=1-13">Free Prize Inside: How to Make a Purple Cow</a>). I have been putting in my research time.



The upside for the Irvine Company is (1) the ability to directly assess the needs and wants of its customers, (2) they can correct misinformation, (3) they can add to the conversation and tell us some of the really cool things about Irvine that we don't even know, (4) they get powerful word-of-mouth marketing at no cost.



They would not be here to answer complaints to take service actions, they have their own website and phone numbers for that.



The biggest advantage to the Irvine Company is for their marketing. They can spend millions of dollars broadcasting their message to the world, and they can reach many people and influence their decisions. However, anyone interested in Irvine real estate is likely to do a Google Search for an Irvine related topic, and a thread from this forum or a post on the IHB is going to come up. Our SEO makes it so people find us here. Once they find us, they can cut through the advertising messages and get answers from real people living real lives in Irvine. <strong>A response from this board will carry 100 times the weight of the Irvine Company advertising message. That is why they need to be here. </strong>



IMO, the Irvine Company would get a tremendous return on its marketing time and effort by having people only communicating with us on this forum. They won't be able to control the message here, but they can help shape it by telling a compelling story that represents the truth of living in Irvine. This forum is one of the most powerful marketing voices because it is so real. All of us here believe in Irvine and what has been created as we choose to live here and live the dream. When the stories of marketing match the realities of the people living it, you have something very powerful. Participating here will help the Irvine Company make the most of it.



BTW, Zovall and I do not see this as a money making thing. We are not looking to partner with TIC or work out any financial arrangement. We want to promote this free community for all who wish to participate and make it be an authentic source of good information. We all benefit from that.</blockquote>


Sounds good on paper but after having to deal with Master developers (Going to thier meetings you want to shoot youself) for over 18 years and their way of doing things which is their way or the highway i do not ever want to have to deal with them again let alone hear their Propaganda. Sorry just my opinion.</blockquote>


It looks like we share some similar work/life experiences....



I hope the Irvine Company comes here to participate in our discussion, but I have no interest in selling out to their corporate apparatus, attending their meetings, or answering to them. A broadcast/interruption advertiser would kill these forums for lack of understanding of social networks. These forums do well because nobody controls the message.
 
<blockquote>

I hope the Irvine Company comes here to participate in our discussion, but I have no interest in selling out to their corporate apparatus, attending their meetings, or answering to them. A broadcast/interruption advertiser would kill these forums for lack of understanding of social networks. These forums do well because nobody controls the message.

</blockquote>


How Ironic. They have come to participate. And Advertise. All without any communication

to IHB. They have used the power they have to splash their advertising right next to your logo. They do know how to use the Internet better than we think.

Their controlling the top banner advertising on this website proves that point.



I worked for the Phone company in Senior Management for a number of years in the 80`s

and early 90`s. The controls that are on Corporate Advertising involve scores of people

and the legal department OK`s everything before it goes to press. So this is not just a

coincidence. They have spent significant dollars on their Google campaign.
 
[quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1248156955]Has anyone else noticed all the Woodbury East banner ads that Google has been serving up on the main blog?</blockquote>


I've noticed them on Facebook as well.
 
Does anyone here visit/participate on the <a href="http://www.flyertalk.com/">FlyerTalk</a> forums? It is a huge community of frequent flyers and there are dedicated boards for most airline and hotel loyalty programs.



One of the boards is for <a href="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest-429/">Starwood</a>. Starwood is the company that owns the St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton, The W, etc brands. The Starwood forum on Flyertalk is THE place for Starwood fanatics. They have had a dedicated employee who has been posting there for years and it's been a great resource.



Some of the other boards (<a href="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-rapid-rewards-501/">Southwest</a>, <a href="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage-445/">American Airlines</a>) also regularly have employees posting there (although it seems like that is a personal choice, not necessarily a corporate initiative like it seems to be with Starwood).



There is definitely plenty of discussion on these boards when there are price changes or devaluation to the miles/points programs. But there is also all kinds of discussion on the hotels, planes, promos, airports, etc. It is a community of frequent fliers and it is incredible what some of the users there know (eerily similar to bk).



Our community has plenty of Irvine and Housing fanatics. Yeah, the pricing sucks right now but we discuss a lot more than just prices here. Many of us know that Cortile is the same as Sage and others could point out the subtle differences between Decada and Mericort. The Village or The Park? The parking situation at The District versus The Marketplace. The growth/expansion of The Spectrum. Stonegate, Orchard Hills, Laguna Crossing.. What tenants are coming to the Diamond Jamboree retail center? Stonetree and Stonetree Manor? Woodbury versus Disneyland.. Some people may think we are crazy but this what we talk about here..



Buying ad space is one thing. But having an actual presence in the community could go a long ways for the builders, IAC, TIC, etc. What has worked for some of these companies/communities might not necessarily work here. But something similar could be possible and is worth looking into. I've seen the value added to the Flyertalk community by having a StarwoodLurker. I imagine Starwood sees some value in it too given that they've had an offical rep on there for 10 years or so.
 
I think it's possible that The Irvine Company wants to be seen as a mythical organization, holding the keys to the promised land. Staying in the shadows a bit more than other companies may be part of their business plan.
 
[quote author="zovall" date=1248220628]Buying ad space is one thing. But having an actual presence in the community could go a long ways for the builders, IAC, TIC, etc. What has worked for some of these companies/communities might not necessarily work here. But something similar could be possible and is worth looking into. I've seen the value added to the Flyertalk community by having a StarwoodLurker. I imagine Starwood sees some value in it too given that they've had an offical rep on there for 10 years or so.</blockquote>


By contrast you could point to the theory of the former assistant to Niels Bohr; Dr. Heisenberg.



<img src="http://www.aip.org/history/heisenberg/images/wh.jpg" alt="" />



<blockquote>The Uncertainty Principle isn't "merely" philosophy: it predicts real properties. Electrons have been shown to jump at random from one energy state to another state which they could never reach except that their energy is momentarily uncertain. This "tunneling" makes possible the nuclear reactions that power the sun and many other processes. Physicists have put some of these processes to practical use in microelectronics. For example, delicate superconducting instruments that use electron tunneling to detect tiny magnetic fields are enormously helpful for safely scanning the human brain.</blockquote>


The <strong>Observer Effect </strong>refers to the the impact that act of observation will make on the phenomenon being observed. TIC can't openly participate without changing the environment. In this blog and forums set, there exists a near-ideal population to sample and observe, which retains its "randomness and uncertainty" as it stands. Why risk changing that? How would it be in their interest?



If you wish to discount the connection between Irvine and physics, I suggest paying closer attention to the street names in town.



- IrvineRealtor (dispensing professional real estate assistance, movie quotes, and quantum mechanics references here since 2008.)
 
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