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Do Real Baby Boomers Blog?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Active Adults Realty

Do Baby Boomers Blog today? At the REBAR Camp in Philadelphia last week, one of the presentations by Darrin Friedman, Branch Vice President, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in DC, talked about Gen X and Gen Y home buyers. There are about 120 Million of them compared to the 78 Million Baby Boomers and Realtors who want to work with them need to learn how to communicate online. Social networking is the primary way Gen X and Gen Y will find like-minded individuals with whom to do business.

How many Baby Boomers use Social Networking sites?

I have noticed Boomers on Facebook communicating with family and friends. I have reconnected with old friends from high school on Facebook for example and it's been fun catching up with the lives of people I grew up with. LinkedIn has been the way I have found colleagues from my past career in the personal computer industry. Many of that group would qualify as Baby Boomers, but most were techies after all. I'm curious if we can find out the average age of the Active Rain bloggers? Some pictures may not be recent and other bloggers use Avatars - no way to tell age! At REBAR Camp, I was pleasantly surprised at the age diversity. Not all real estate bloggers are in their 30s!

But back to he question at hand, do Real Baby Boomers Blog? (Remember when we learned that Real Men do Eat Quiche?) Will they find their next real estate agent on Active Rain or Twitter? Will they start by friending us or becoming a fan on Facebook? While searching online for a home, will they also be reading our blogs, following agents on Twitter and actively seeking our help as they prepare for retirement? Will they choose a listing agent by finding one online that actively promotes their area using social media?

Most of my Baby Boomer Buyer Clients have found me online. Are they the exception? I'd like to get comments from the Baby Boomers out there. Is all this blogging a help to you?

 

Comments(5)

John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

Kathy, I was almost a "baby-boomer," but missed out by a few months--won't say on which side : ) I posted my first blog less than a year ago and now have a severe case of "blogging fever."  I use blogging to help promote my website and to help me both share and learn. For me it's been a great experience, and I discovered that "old dogs" can learn a few new tricks.

Jun 01, 2009 08:58 AM
Kathy Sperl-Bell
Active Adults Realty - Lewes, DE

John, Love the analogy you "old dog" you!

Jun 01, 2009 09:05 AM
An Marshall
Berkshire Hathaway - St. Augustine - Saint Augustine, FL
Your St Augustine Real Estate Consultant

I am baby boomer and new to blogging.  I see that it has advantages, altho I have no results yet.  I recognize that technology is where it is all heading and I don't want to miss out since I am in real estate for the long haul.

I think a very interesting subject; would love to hear results.

Jun 01, 2009 09:31 AM
Kathy Sperl-Bell
Active Adults Realty - Lewes, DE

An, I'm still working on getting better responses. Not sure if that means there are fewer baby boomers paying attention yet?

Jun 01, 2009 12:49 PM
Kathy Sperl-Bell
Active Adults Realty - Lewes, DE

Here's a reponse I received via email from one of my clients -

No, I do not blog.  Mainly because it can become a real time thief but also because those sites are some of the favorite areas for hackers to go.  I just read an article in National Geographic about  hackers from China.  There are literally  tens of thousands of them and American sites are their favorite areas to go.  Most attacks are to prove that they can  but there are also several malicious attacks.  It's easy for them to trace you to your isp.  Hopefully, your virus protection program will catch them but I don't even want to bother with it. 

I wonder how many of our clients feel this way?

Jun 02, 2009 12:16 AM