Mercury evolution to XSites Network complete

We're flipping the switch today (if it were only that simple!) and transitioning the Mercury Network over to our XSites Network system. This is going to mean some very positive changes.

As the name implies, the new network is centered on XSites owners. Each Appraiser XSite website "plugs in" to the XSites Network backend, but shows the world your company, your brand identity. Clients will find you and order online directly from your site – not from a catch-all "directory" site that overlaps and maybe even overshadows your business identity.

Also, now that we have many thousands of Agent XSites, Inspector XSites, and Mortgage XSites users, we'll be tying together the entire XSites family over time. You'll be able to interact with other non-appraiser XSite owners, prospect for new business, and share XSites content across the industry. It's an exciting time.

Some of the improvements you'll see:

	The junk and test accounts will be removed and the quality of the directory listings will be improved by listing only real XSites users.
	There won't be a way to trick the system to boost your ranking. Listings in each county will be sorted on a seniority basis rather than on the basis of volume. Those appraisers who signed up for XSites from us earliest will be at the top.
	To eliminate the issue of appraisers listing themselves in every county in the U.S., we'll be restricting geographic coverage to one free state per XSite. (Plus, "Elite" users get an additional state automatically.) More states can be purchased for $99 each.

While the "migration" to the new network is occurring right now, the geographical restrictions will be phased in over time.

The XSites Network is part of a long line of our ever-improving Internet solutions – from Project 2000 in 1997, to eDomina, to Mercury, and now to the XSites Network. Mercury and our marketing of it to the lender community "primed the pump" for online appraisal ordering, by creating a stronger presence for appraisers nationwide. And its revolutionary workflow engine with its "plugins" enabled national and local clients to go straight to you without management company fees being taken from you. Nearly 20,000,000 appraisals a year are handled by the network's servers, and that number will only grow now. Without Mercury as the forerunner, it would have been impossible for XSites to have succeeded so rapidly as well.

We'll send XSites owners and Mercury Network users specific transition instructions soon. Don't worry – it's nothing difficult.