Business

Frankie Lee – Restoring Reputations

Published

4 years ago

October 25, 2020

The internet has often been called an information superhighway. Through its networks, all sorts of data, ideas, and media are shared, replicated, and transferred in real time to billions of users around the world. By utilizing these capabilities, the internet has allowed us to communicate, transact, and interact with anyone around the world at any given time.

Aside from the speed and ease of internet activity, it is also able to amplify information by exposing it to a worldwide audience. When information becomes present on the internet, it more often than not becomes a part of public domain. Compounding this, the internet can disseminate knowledge at a breakneck pace never before seen in human history. When information becomes ‘viral’ on the internet, its spread becomes almost impossible to contain. Depending on the content, it can become even more like a virus, in that it becomes very virulent, dealing severe and long-lasting damage to those involved.

With widespread anonymity and little regulation, the roads of the information superhighway can often serve less as its utopian vision of free information and intercourse and more of a savage, lawless wasteland akin to ‘Mad Max.’ For anyone who engages in the internet, external threats can come in the form of hackers, scammers, and malicious groups or individuals that create and spread misinformation, either to achieve a specific goal or simply for the joy of spreading chaos. Threats can also come from within, with mistakes made even in the distant past being brought back to life, taken out of context, and amplified beyond a reasonable extent. Those in the spotlight, like companies, celebrities, and even smaller individuals, are all exposed to such dangers on a regular basis.

This explains the growing popularity of online reputation management (ORM) firms, which serve to clean, cultivate, and maintain their clients’ online reputations. In contrast to more traditional forms of PR, ORM has the added challenge of having to cope with the pace and the power of the internet. ORM firms have to react to threats before they spread and multiply on the World Wide Web, where they can quickly reach uncontrollable levels.

Established by former professional boxing trainer Frankie Lee, Content Removal distinguishes itself from the pack of similar firms by specializing in more advanced stages of ORM. The company specializes in its namesake, being able to remove potentially-damaging content from the largest social media websites, search engines, and review hosting sites. Google, Facebook, Bing, Instagram, and Twitter are just a few of the sites the company is able to purge of unwanted content. Beyond its specialty, Content Removal also provides content monitoring, brand protection, and reputation management services to serve as proactive measures of maintaining their clients’ reputations. Due to its quality of service and affordable rates, Content Removal has been the go-to ORM firm for big name brands like SWEAT and Saski, as well as celebrities like Australian of the Year nominee Brinkley Davies.

Content Removal’s success has always been rooted in its core values and motivation of giving people the right to control their own online reputations. Founder Frankie Lee cites one moment early in the company’s history, helping Dutch police take down a server hosting illicit pornography of thousands of people without their consent, as one of the company’s shining moments. Frankie hopes to further expand Content Removal so that he may help more people and increase his positive impact on the world.

Toward this goal, Frankie also developed Removed.ai, which aims to help aggrieved content creators, from large companies to individuals, take down instances of copyright misuse and piracy. Frankie also hosts The Frankie Lee Podcast, his personal avenue for helping others on their road to personal, professional, and entrepreneurial development. Frankie hopes that his podcast will give others the same winning mindset that drove him to the heights of success.

You can also learn more about Frankie Lee, his podcast, and his companies through his Instagram at @Frankielee, or by visiting his website.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

2 weeks ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.