Comments on: The Times Online Dumps Propertyfinder.com in Favour of Globrix

By: Anon i'm afriad

Anon i'm afriad — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:09:03 +0000

Yes the survey is great – 75% of agents say they will leave Rightmove.

They ’say’ they ill but they won’t, and they can’t. It’s just a platform for them to moan at this (delivering in the main) monopoly. So yes they need an alternative and they love Globrix, who wouldn’t? However the guys over at Globrix just don’t get it! What? I hear you cry. They understand search etc but they simply do not understand the estate agency market. They are just not talking to any agents and have no reason to as they are free to agents. They will make their money from advertising. Yet the model is so weak as there are hardly any ad spots so no one is buying them! The advertising is an afterthought by the techies there, they thought ‘oh we better now make some money for Rupert’. This weakness is demonstrated by the fact they already have Google AdWords up there. So does my little brother’s Mcfly site.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:08:19 +0000

Another reason is undoubtedly the superior search technology deployed on Globrix – which happens to the same platform used by Times Online. Type in a natural language query such as:

2 bedroom with gym isle of dogs

The results are awesome. Quick, relevant and contextual. You can’t do this sort of search on Propertyfinder. By offering the capability to search listings with free form queries Globrix allows Times Online to present the user with a simple search box that uses very little space. This in itself has to be valuable.

Things are also moving Globrix’s way. See this survey on Estate Agent Today:
http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/feature/voting/rightmove_survey

By: Mike Carter

Mike Carter — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:50:08 +0000

There could be a simple reason for the Times “backing” Globrix –

PropertyFinder has a brand that is already built and is making significant revenue so why not bolster my new acquisition, Globrix?

I don’t think combining the two will create any additional value. Daily Mail seems to believe in the idea of a multi-brand strategy but I think Murdoch should take both products and extend reach and revenue as much as possible, especially during the down-turn. It’s well known that being in the print media grows brand, but it does not grow internet traffic. So simply put, Propertyfinder has brand and revenue so therefore doesn’t need ‘print help’ in that regard. Globrix, however, does not have revenue or traffic so it’s time to invest in my other property play by putting them into my ‘print’ machine.

Then I’ve won on both my bets. So says Murdoch. Perhaps.

By: Craven Marsh

Craven Marsh — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:32:49 +0000

One simple reason for the backing maybe based on the fact that Globrix already seems to be very close to Rightmove in terms of the number of listings – surely this over time will mean that in terms of traffic users will gradually recognise there are only really 2 sites worth looking at Rightmove and Globrix. Propertyfinder seems to have 1/3 or less of the listings in my area (Sussex).

By: Globrix Takes Aim at UK Property Listings | Real Estate Blog

Globrix Takes Aim at UK Property Listings | Real Estate Blog — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:19:50 +0000

[...] Presumably it will leverage its major media connections (like Frontdoor has) at some point too to help drive that awareness. In fact, that seems to be the case as Times Online recently dumped Propertyfinder in favor of Globrix. [...]

By: Alistair Helm

Alistair Helm — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:35:25 +0000

Simon

Hate to state the obvious, but could this be a case of money talks, even if the money is npy moving around the table. I am ware that many portals pay for syndication of content to media sites incurring a cost for the portal as exclusivity and traffic feed is recognised and valued accordingly?