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They just don't get it!

A few weeks ago another Realtor in the Birmingham MI real estate market referred to me derogatorily as a “blogger”, somehow implying that blogging is not something that a real estate agent does to sell homes. Oh, how wrong he is. And I am OK that he does not know better. Another victim of “Old School” thinking that traps many agents into using ineffective marketing tools. Great for me.

Yes, I write about real estate on miOaklandCounty.com and on ActiveRain. Is that a bad thing? I write about the local market, a bit about our business practices, and I closely track the newest trends from across the nation in real estate technology and marketing. I don’t care if the people who read my blog actually buy or sell a home from me, though that is certainly appreciated. When we go on a listing appointment I always tell the prospective client that they can interview us on-line at miOaklandCounty.com. Most of our “secrets” can be found here.

How does blogging impact our business?

It has given us great “Google Juice.” We listed a home on Poppleton Park in Birmingham on Monday this week. It is right on the park, which is a great selling feature. We put up a post about the house on Monday night on our ActiveRain blog, and a day later we were on page one of Google (more than once) for the term "Poppleton Park". Kind of cool. If a prospective buyer were to google Poppleton Park, there is no way they would miss our listing. Compare that to using the term Poppleton Park in the newspaper. Not so effective, right?

Google loves us for some big time key words like "Birmingham, MI real estate" and "Bloomfield Hills real estate". There are hundreds of agents and brokerages competing to be on page one of google for those extremely competitive terms.

This blog has introduced us to a wonderful network of agents across the US. We have an outstanding referral database.

We are frequently testing out the latest real estate technology products. That helps us to expand and improve our services.

After two years of engaging in this activity, I know it is not for everyone. It is hard work and it has taken more hours of effort than I could begin to count to get the results we have gotten.

Long story short, I hope some day that gentleman will see that blogging is something that Realtors do as part of their business activities. It keeps clients informed about the market. It helps prospects understand the process of buying and selling a home. And it gives those interested in the process a place to ask questions and get answers.

Posted by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky, SKBK Sotheby's - Metro Detroit on 05/25/2007 07:12 AM

Comments (66)

blogging, marketing, featured post

Originally posted at: Dmitry & Maureen: Moving Metro Detroit: They just don't get it!

66 Comments on They just don't get it!

MAY

2007

Well, in a way, its good for the bloggers that there are plenty of other agents who don't believe in blogging. At some level, it makes us unique and stand out to the consumer!

There are plenty of agents who do not believe in advertising, education, designations, customer service and going to work in the morning. Fortunately they are not on Active Rain either.

I have tried many times to recruit other agents onto Active Rain and they just roll there eyes. Waste of time they say..They don't get it

There were always people that thought the world was flat, TV wouldn't last, computers would go away and man would never walk on the moon. Would only a miserable failure think blogging doesn't work?

It's actually a mark of how powerful your blogging is, that this agent refers to you with that descriptor...jealousy often speaks first and loudest.

Maureen, I get the same remarks, all the time. Oh well, we are just ahead of the curve. I promise they will catch up and then regret not jumping in sooner. I always think of every situation like the old bell curve we learned in school.

We are on the left side and it is still rising. No way have blogs hit critical mass yet. ( the top )

Some will jump in on the down side of the bell curve. I wish I could draw on this but you get the picture.

If it wasn't for those 80% then what would we 20% do?

Not too many "bloggers" in my area. I hope they DO NOT blog. Let them call me a blogger. Let them call me an Internet company. They love to do that. They haven't the foggiest idea what I am doing and that's just fine with me.

As long as home buyers can find me, I'm happy.

If they don't blog, then they truly don't get it....the wonderful advice and suggestions, getting your public as well as associates to know you. You're right, they have not moved into the times but what a wonderful avenue we have found here for what we know WORKS! Great post.

I agree, not many agents blog where I am. They don't realize that this is the way real estate is headed. I'm glad we are the first to head in that direction. More business for us.

May we all be so lucky as to be the labeled "bloggers" in our market areas. It still amazes me that agents out there refuse to acknowledge that blogging works.

That`s funny! A Blogger! Old School Realtors are leaving the business in droves. Wish them luck and go on with your business....

Nice post. You are correct about blogging - it is work. But, to those in the know, it will pay dividends Maybe not today or tomorrow, but at some point. Perseverance is the key.

Hey,

I say the more people hear your name, the better off you are.

Amanda

As if the friendships and the new tech toys weren't reward enough for blogging, we get Google juice and clients to go with it!! Smile and say it with pride, "Why yes I AM a blogger! Thank you!" :oD

MF - that gentleman will never get it.....but that's better for you. We have to take advantage of those agent's ignorance and BLOG ON!

Just keep on Blogging, Or say I am a Internet Reporter for the world wide web.

Maureen: Blogging is not for everyone--or even for most. It takes reasonable comfort with one's writing skills, persistence and hard work. You do it well.

We're encountering the same thing down here ... the rolled eyes, the "I don't have time", the "oh-no- here-she-goes-again-look". I, for one, am glad I took Maureen McC's suggestion! I've noticed you've changed your position on listings on Localism. Works great doesn't it!!!!

There will always be the "Nay-Sayers" to be a negative force to something revolutionary. But we here on the network know they're wrong and it's o.k. because it's not for everyone. We love it and that's all that matters - right? Congrats on your new listing!

Maureen, Very nice post. In the 19 years that I have been in business I have seen one consistant truth. Most real estate agents are not only reluctant to change they often fight it.

MF ~ you are not just a mere blogger, but a Blogger Extradinaire! Making a commitment to blog and blog well is not easy to do. So many people will begrudge you because they have not taken the time or made the commitment. Sadly they can't just give credit where it is due...

Keep on bloggin' girl!

The agent you mention has bigger problems than technophobia or atrophied gray matter - derogatory remarks and personal attacks reveal the deeper lack of character and integrity.

That Realtors loss and your gain. The realty is that blogging and other web based technology is the sign of the times. Others who are not open to it will be left behind. You will win more listings, you will sell more homes and quicker because you have a good web presence. You will show up in Google searches, you will be marketable, you will make the $$. The "old school" way of thinking is an injustice to the Realtor and more so their clients. So keep up the good work because Realtors like you are the kind I would choose to sell my home.

That's funny that a Realtor would be so threatened by technology...that he would actually say something that so boldly declares his ignorance. Wow!

This is a great topic. I am going to feature it in my "Week in Review" for this week

Maureen - good to hear from you again. Hopefully your limited presence recently has been because of terrific business.

Great post - those that don't get it, won't. Suits me just fine. It is interesting how the subject comes up in conversation - you can readily tell you gets it adn those who do not.

Jeff

Let the guy keep living in his dream world.

Those of us that have made the technology investment in both time and money know it pays off and pays off very, very, well.

I still have Realtors in my association that call me and want to take me to lunch so I can tell them all I've learned about the Internet in the past 12 years. ;-)

I usually direct them to my webmaster first to get a website built. First question they ask is: "How much does it cost?" "Wow, that much? I can't spend that much (she usually charges less than they're currently spending on print ads in magazines, newspaper, etc.), isn't there some cheaper way?"

Maureen

Its curious that he even knows you're a blogger. he probably reads every word you write.

By the time he figures out how to blog, who know what today's blogging community will be doing! Fascinating to guess what technology will move to, beyond what exists today. Like the "google juice" term!

After the local Association website masters suggested it, I was asked to give a class on blogging to the other association members. EXCUUUSE ME? Why would I do that... and give my competition a chance to catch up to me in the search engine rankings? I respectfully declined.

You ALL get it. Of course. I know we all run in to this kind of attitude.

Keep on selling houses, you fine Bloggers of ActiveRain!

Great post! If they only knew how much discipline and focus it takes to blog well. I guarantee you can articulate and market better because of blogging.

Blogging is an essential part of a successful real estate business and as with every other piece of innovative technology (past, present and future included) it will weed out the "Old School" mentality agents making room for the 10 percenters.

Of course, we all can point to an instance where, as RE bloggers, we shake our heads at our cohorts inability to see the writing on the wall. Recently, I held a Blogging 101 seminar in our office. Out of 120 agents, we had 14 show up...not bad really.

The best comment to come out of the seminar was, "This is something that an agent without any business or too much time on their hands would do!" Of course, this came from a veteran agent whom I suspect was on hand merely to heckle.

Ah. Good times, good times.

Todd, why would you do that in your own office ? hey, what are you and Eric up too ?

Missy, I helped many of the agents in my office sign up for ActiveRain. The relo director has actually gotten 2 leads without ever blogging. Lucky her.

I might lead a blogging seminar in my own office. Might. The chances of anyone actually doing it is so low though. I know Kristal did one for WCR in Denver.

I'm just having fun with Todd, we're friends. I have encouraged lots of Agents in my office to sign up. Several did and one blogged once.

At this point I'm sorta in agreement with Maureen McCabe why try to get them to compete with you in SEO

Very important to stay as far up on the curve as possible. It's not always easy. But Shift Happens.

LOL!

Well, it was...interesting to say the least. Blogging is kind of like broker opens; it's either something you do as part of your business plan or you don't.

As for why, well, Missy, you know as well as anyone, that we can lead agents to nuggets of wisdom, but very rarely do they pick up the shovel and go for it themselves. Of the attendees, I fully expect 2 agents to actually give it a go. As you said, one might even blog!

Blogging has really increased my business and the amount of Realtors on our team from 1 to 7 in less than 2 months time!!! It makes me wonder though about Realtors that blog. I think NAR statistics report that there is over 2 million Realtors in America and only 37,000 have subscribed to active rain what is wrong with this picture? I was the first one to become a member in Rome Georgia and since that time 3 Realtors from my office have joined too! I love it!

I continue to be surprised by the limited number of invited agents that don't sign up on AR. Is AR a cult? Do I have to be a good writer? or I just don't have any time may be common reasons but it would be an interesting study to find out the average production of each AR agent vs the NAR stats.

Great idea, Doug. Why don't you post on it ? I love making rain.

It is funny, I wrote a blog very related to this one last night. I have another planned. It was interesting reading your blog. If you want to read the first one I wrote, the link is below.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/107008/Can-too-many-AR

At least he didn't call you a booger. He probably still doesn't trust anything he reads on the Internet.

I feel so blessed to have found AR in the early stages :-) - I constantly feel like I'm the first one on the moon laying claim to uncharted territory - "internet prime locations" - and we all know in real estate it's location, location, location - I believe we found the best location here to blog from :-)

Maureen,

You can laugh all the way to the bank with your blogging results, and how's the old-school co-worker in the office doing? Blogging can be a huge marketing tool, but it requires work. Lots of work, like you said. Nothing comes for free.

I guess there's no reason to educate the enemy. Keep up the good work and forget about the likes of that agent.

There are so many out there like that. It's so weird. I can't believe that they don't see that blogging is great. It not only helps with placements, it's great for clients.

Maureen, things are changing so fast...the old way of thinking not only blinds an individual's perspective but also limits future opportunities. With real estate being the leading Internet related search for business, it continues to amaze me that so many agents believe that blogging is just a passing phenomenon. This process has made me a far more informed educator & communicator. This result of my blogging efforts is definitely very good for my clients.

I am sure that people who blog are on a different frequency from the norm - whether that be in writing skills, perhaps tending towards introversion, more in touch with their creativity, etc. Since I am in this group, I think it is on the cutting edge side, as opposed to the status-quo, business-as-usual side of things.

Jealousy will always bring about attacks. You know you are doing a good job when people take cheap pot shots. The cutting edge is where to be. Sherry

Maureen, blogs today are where websites were twenty years ago. I remember back then that many agents thought I was crazy to have a website and waste my time and money on it. Don't worry about convincing the world - just keep on doing those things YOU know bring results.

i didn't get it at first. i had heard about blogs but didn't realyy know what they were, how they would work, or what you could do.

a frind and excellent realtor named jay lagace told me i should be looking at active rain, but i didn't listen at first.

then finally i paid attention.

your just ahead of the pack. that's a good thing.

MAY

2007

Blogging to me is a very effective tool. It has already paid off for me here on active rain. I wrote a pretty good post about being told I was wasting time blogging.

I am a relatively new rain maker and still a little unsure exactly how everything works. I would love some advice as to how to post listings so that they appear on the search engines other than through our mls locally, which is internet based through Supra. We have good exposure there, but I would like to place all my listings through active rain as well. Can anyone tell me, does this happen if I write a blog and post it to all the links , mentioning the listing as Maureen says? Thanks for info.

Christine Frazier 850-304-7773 Pensacola, Fl.

Hello Michigan! I was born and raised in Michigan and used to live in Clarkston. I miss Somerset!

Anyway, I think those that blog show a commitment to their business and a commitment to growth and development. I also get the "eye roll" from others in my office. Oh well. What they aren't willing to do is what sets us apart. It's been great for me and great for my business!

Keep up the good work!

Maureen, great post! It's amazing to me that "old school" agents trash-talk technology so much. I wonder what they'll be thinking in 5 years when technology has driven them out of business and the agents who have embraced it are doing 2 to 3 times as much business as the top-producers of today.

MAY

2007

Christine,

Look through my blog. I am using vflyers to post my listings on ActiveRain, and other places. Try out their service.

JUN

2007

Their loss - our gains. I feel the same about your post.

JUN

2007

I am new to activerain. I must say i am amazed at the support and knowledge I get from members. I can shoot out a questions and have 15 responses in 10 minutes.

I love this, and does ithelp with business, heck yes!!!

Many people say to me, I don't have time for that. I don't have time not to!!

Angie, I agree. I hear the same things and I don't have time NOT to do it either. Sorry for responding here, Maureen, couldn't resist. Is this what hijacking means ?

Missy, no, I think that is called participating in the conversation. I welcome your thoughts on my posts.

Thanks !

JUL

2007

Blog On Maureen....

The dinosaurs will catch up and if not they to will become extinct!

JUL

2007

I have read statistics that over 75% of consumers begin their real estate search on the Internet. Active rain gets a higher ranking than our individual websites because google takes into account the number of links as part of their prioritization.

Greg Z @ www.MortgageAdvisor.info

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