Real Estate Blog - So? Does Technology Really Save us Time? What about about Social Networking? or???

Home : Blogs : **Mesa, Arizona Real Estate** Teri Ellis, Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, ePRO : Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate

So? Does Technology Really Save us Time? What about about Social Networking? or???

Are we really "saving time" with all of our "ic" or "instant communication" via Twitter, Facebook and other social networking options? How about our mobile phones, faxes, or???

I've been giving a lot of thought lately as I've been trying to wean myself from spending literally HOURS each day on the computer with social networking and/or blogging. Granted, in my opinion, it's a "good thing" to become acquainted with other Realtors, to learn all of the amazing technology inventions, and get "in the know" with what's happening in real estate.

I know it benefits me in many ways to blog and keep myself "out in front" of the public eye; however when reflecting upon where my buyers/sellers are coming from - I don't think any have arrived via my social networking.

Some buyers/sellers HAVE come through as a direct result of my blogging on Active Rain, however, and I feel being "present" on this worthwhile platform is well worth any time I can devote to posting and commenting.

I do think, in MY case, being as active on the myriad social networks might not be what I want to continue to do. Of course tweeting and posting on Facebook is entertaining and a good way to "connect" with those NOT on Active Rain and may be of some value, but I plan to be more reasonable in time spent on any of these networks. My profile is evident on many, and for whatever that is worth, that's one more place I can plant my business card.

It seems that everyday - though I probably already have a presence in 20-30 social networking venues, I a reading books m invited or learn about joining join yet another group or "fan."

How are all of my friends on the Rain handling this GROWING phenomena?

With real estate and "life," it seems as if I need WANT to find time to read more books, play more golf, and spend time with my husband. AND, of course, spend a reasonable time blogging and sharing here on Active Rain!!! I'm just sayin.....

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, ServingMesaArizona, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; Phoenix and Mesa Real Estate Blog; Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

Posted by **Mesa, Arizona Real Estate** Teri Ellis, Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, ePRO on 06/20/2009 12:36 AM

Comments (47)

Social Networking and Blogging -Time Savers? in the Technology and Tools Channel

blogging on active rain, social networking, teriellis

Originally posted at: Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate: So? Does Technology Really Save us Time? What about about Social Networking? or???

Post is included in group: Technology
Post is included in group: Social Networks
Post is included in group: REALTOR LIFE
Post is included in group: Arizona Homes
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor

47 Comments on So? Does Technology Really Save us Time? What about about Social Networking? or???

JUN

Teri,

Golf? It's hard to remember what that is. LOL

Mike in Tucson

Teri

I am trying like crazy lately to curb myself; some how it is not working. I keep coming back to the computer.

Teri, maybe I should start golfing, so I won't spend so much time social networking...As you can tell I am responding to this bog at 12:12 am...LOL

Hi Teri! My gorgeous Facebook Friend ;) I know what you mean. It can be consuming. It doesn't have to be if you have a strategy! Social media and social networking allows you to leverage the power of the World Wide Web to grow your business. We are so fortunate that the ActiveRain team crafts the strategy for us all here, but not so much with Facebook and Twitter (and so on...) where we have to make it on our own. I would suggest you streamline, not stop your social media presence ... and yes! There is time for life! I have so much fun with my daughters and we enjoy beautiful Naples together and I am very active in social networking, get my work done and have time left to work on my own network of Positive Mommies (my passion).

Love that smile...here to help!

Hi Teri! Interesting post. I was just teaching at a technology conference today and found that so many people are getting just plain 'tired' of constantly responding to 'silly comments' on various social networks. On the other hand, we're getting leads from them so, what do we do? I'm exhausted from spending so much time trying to catch up on my social networks but, love it just the same! Like you, I'm torn and just don't know WHAT to do! One thing is for sure--I WON'T give up Active Rain!! It's far too 'fun' for me and there is just a wealth of knowledge here that I can't stop seeking.

Have a wonderful weekend--and try to enjoy a round of golf this weekend, dear!

I suppose it's a choice as to which channels work best for each individual agent.

Some excel through technological social networking, while others do very well using traditional social networking. At the same time, some agents do both.

Then I suppose there are those that do neither who are Category 5 Loooooooooooosers..............

I believe in moderation so I limit my Internet time. Sometimes I don't post for a week or so. Sometimes I like to stay unplugged because it can be a brain drain/time waster.I like being disciplined and staying organized... versus spending countless unproductive hours online per day. FWIW one of my favorites sites is AR. It offers a wealthy of knowledge. Even then I limit myself to a certain amount of time per week at AR :)

Teri-- agree with you . We spend a lot of time with technology mediums -- but there is a limit to how time much one can do on so many networks and such - having some balance in one's life is important . Go enjoy golf and find a good summer book to read. Take care.

Teri, I think we are caught up in a world that is driven by the latest and greatest technology. We just have to have the latest gizmo or techno fad. But then, this is what makes the virtual world go round...

Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN

Teri,

It is a fine balance between action for the sake of it and action that generates real results. Some of us can be happy for a long time being busy but if it does not convert to selling that next property and earning a commission, it soon catches up with us.

This applies to any other profession.

Find the right tools, deploy them, measure the ROI, review and redeploy.....then create. .....

....Quality time with friends, family, good music, a bottle of red and a good book.......!

Don

Hi Teri,

interesting posting. You are right there are so many ways to communicate with new high tech gadegts, twitter, facebook, etc.

yes it can be very time consuming, but at the end i think you do save time. Nowadays, you can target your market so much easier and faster.

But yes there is no substituton for a nice dinner party, network and have a good time meeting people face to face.

Teri...

Have you tried giving up sleep? That has helped me a lot!

I a not sure any of this saves time and that is not why I do it. it saves money and seems to be more effective than other forms of communication or marketing.

ActiveRain pays... no question about it. It pays in earned commissions and lessons learned, not to mention friendships made and money NOT spent on marketing. But we each have to know our own limits. If/when I have down time I try to visit some of the social media sites for about a minute each, but they are not my priority.

What...you don't wanna work 14 hour days?

Terri, I so agree with you. If we're not careful, we'll overextend ourselves with all the SN around. I gain so much from Active Rain but have pretty much given up all the rest. I think the key is setting limits and keeping the main thing the main thing. I think you've figured that out. Good luck to you.

I have not received any business by making comments on ActiveRain. I have learned a lot by reading the well done blogs. We get business every day from our blogs. Localisms work for us.

I am active on Twitter and Facebook but do not rely on those networks for business.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/roykelley

We have recently completed our evaluation of the time spent to the income generated on all the networks and came to a similar evaluation that we need to selectively decide on where we will devote our time.

Hi Teri,

My social networking consists of going to facebook and keeping in touch with old friends I grew up with. I rarely go to the meetings they hold unless they are close by. I did go to all of the AR gatherings but nothing beyond that. I really don't feel tweeting does anything for me in all honesty but I am a member...it's hard to keep up with them all...I do get a few comments on other places I join but some of them....I can't even remember how my passwords to log in:)

Teri if you have received business from Active Rain then social networking has been a part of it. Afterall Active Rain is the largest REAL ESTATE social network there is.

Teri, this a common concern.

I have to pick and choose. Lately the last month I have been so slammed that I haven't been much of anywhere.

I don't feel obligated to respond on social networks if I don't have time.

Blogging here and on my outside blog brings me businesss so I think of them differently.

I set a timer. I give myself so many minutes for ar, etc. I did that after doing a time study and realizing how I was spending my time. There is a timer on my iphone.

Teri--I have had to limit my commenting and reading blogs and focus on writing and focusing on my own material lately...mostly localism as that is what is bringing business. I do miss the interaction with the other agents but know that I only have so much time in the day and certain things must be done.

Nice to see others are feeling the same time crunch. :)

Yes, technology saves time, time you use to do even more task that rob you of sleep. FYI, I just noticed Active rain passed 150,000 members. Woo-Hoo!

HI Teri, Good post. Thanks for sharing.

Best - Sash

HI Teri, Good post. Thanks for sharing.

Best - Sash

I pop around a few social networks when I have time, but it's not consistent. The one constant thing that I do which, like you, Teri, pays off, is posting a blog on Active Rain every morning. We all need time off. I take off 2 hours most evenings, an hour during the day and half hour before dinner to jump on the Elliptical. The rest of the time I'm either sleeping or working.

I don't prepare meals, shop for groceries, do laundry nor clean my house. And I still don't have enough hours in the day . . .

Hi Teri! How are John, Gina and all those boyz? :)

If I am in here or any SN site I am also either waiting for paperwork or writing for deadline when I MUST be at my PC. :)

This box (computer) works for me and the prospect of being a slave to it is one I find pretty scary . . .

TO THE LAKE!

Teri - I hear ya! Time is not being built anymore like land..... Or is it the other way around... lol

Yes, time is a concern and blogging is certainly taking up a lot of it for me as well but it sure is fun huh? And if it brings business to you well that's a no brainer right?

Seems everyday there is a new hot button to join something new. I have to pick and choose at this point or I would have to hire someone to do it for me and I'm having too much fun doing it myself....

Just sayin....... good post.....

Teri: Thanks for the post. I'm not so sure. I think it's often a distraction and takes us away from the more traditional forms of marketing we should be doing. I know people are online alot more these days but nothing takes away from spreading our word in person! At least that's what has worked best for me. Take care.

Richard cracked me up, and Elizabeth is on track, with having others do stuff, but mainly, you have to get familiar and find what works for you. Heavy involvement vs selective involvement. I am so glad you did this post - Elizabeth's comment provoked a brainstorm for me. See how great you are - ideas popping all over now!! :)

Teri...

So? Does Technology Really Save us Time? What about about Social Networking? or???

To the first part of the question, my answer is no, it doesn't. It's just time spent differently. To the second part of the question, no that doesn't either.

How much time do we spend, or want to spend? When I contemplate this question I think about...

1. Communities are conversations and conversations are markets. The times have changed and if the conversation is taking place on line I need to decide if I want (or need) to be in that conversation.

2. If it's about being found, being visible, being a presence online in my areas of expertise then I gauge my online efforts like this... If I strip all the nonsense away and go to the extreme base level, I am trying to get my content and conversation into the Google Index as many times as I possibly can with links back to me. So, when I am trying to figure out if I am spending 'quality' time, I ask myself this question. "Is what I am doing right now accomplishing that?" Will it get indexed and did I leave a trail back to me?

I'm so glad you brought this conversation up. We need to ask ourselves this one everyday. Yet we can't decide not to do something just because it's new and/or dominated by an overwhelming population of idiots.

Regardless if it's at the office, the mall, or online... it's the people we meet, talk to, work with, and develop relationships with that matter and define us... ;-)

thanks... Rene'

Hi Terri....from the other side of the valley! I'm with you on this one. And I too think Richard has a good plan, no sleep! Seriously, between running the firm, working with agents and my own clients it's a real balancing act to keep all the balls bouncing. I have scheduled time to fit a few social media ...very selective. I have no idea how people are so involved in so many...oh wait....yes I don they don't have a real job!

Hi Teri -- I think a small % of agents will benefit from this, but the overwhelming, if you truly analyzed the ROI (time is money), then one has to analyze the myriad of ways (farming, keeping in touch with past clients, organic search engine placement through stellar content on a website, local event sponsorship, etc.) and determine what works best. If one were to do an independent study, I think you would find the majority of agents are not on the plus size of the ROI, if you were to compare ALL the options out there for investment vs. ROI.

Hi Teri....Does this mean you won't be tweeting me any more:O(

I agree Blogging in the Rain is more fruitful, it just takes longer to put together a Good post with Graphics than a tweet, unless of course you're like Todd, and recording your Posts and having yiou wife edit them , and have several posts ahead to post in the Rain :O))

Cheers, thanks for sharing!

EVERYONE, I LOVE your comments and your ideas and your thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to share. Since we're all so involved with all of this techno stuff, this was a geat "food for thought" conversation! ;-)

I think that getting involved to a point is fine and worthwhile. With that said, I too think this can be over done!

Everything in moderation

Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh real estate

JUN

Teri - I've been absent from AR for a while, it's been good - I had to stop letting the "machine" control me... I'm much more balanced now and I spend a lot less time in the online world.

JUN

Teri - You really have to be selective in where you want to spend your social media time, and how much time to spend. I don't feel it saves you time, but allows you to spend your time differently marketing yourself. I do feel that this, as well as video, are how we are going to capture more and more business in the future. We'll just have to wait and see if that holds true.

JUN

A big part of me longs for the days of old-fashioned answering machines, no cell phones, no computers, no self-checkouts...

I think most of the technology that was meant to simplify our lives has basically over-complicated it and driven the "human" factor out of our world. We send a text or an email instead of picking up the phone for instance or actually (gasp) meeting in person. All of those nuances and important things with face to face interaction get lost.

I'm joyously moving backwards. My first step has been to turn off my cell phone more often. I've also started mostly paying for things with cold hard cash - what a concept! Baby steps...

Thanks for the post.

-Stacey Champion

JUN

Teri,

I am a firm believer in balance to all things.....and our balance in life is individualized and unique. We need to set boundaries and keep all things in perspective. Do what works for you and find your personal place of balance....always be true first and foremost to yourself.

I agree, we can't be everywhere online and still manage to be in front of the customers, it is really almost impossible to do both. But, you can pick your battles and your networking sites and work those, work the ones that are helping build your business, not the ones that are just killing time. (And yes, two weeks from last night and she finds out next Sunday at about 11:50am.)

Todd Clark - www.LivingBeaverton.com

Terri - I have some simple rules about blogging and social networking. Here is my approach:

Pick your 4 top social networking sites.
Block out time for each of the 4 networks.
Spend 1 hour in the morning blogging and commenting.
Spend 15 minutes updating Facebook and LinkedIn at noon.
Spend less than 5 minutes updating 40 social networking sites using Ping.fm.
Spend 30 minutes focusing on updating profiles, posts, etc. on one of the 40 social netwroking site. It rotates so I hit them heavily about 1x per month.
Spend 5 minutes on Twitter sending out news you can use links.
Spend 5 minutes on Q&A on Zillow, Trulia, or other forums.

I limit myself to 2 hours per day. If it doesn't get done, then so be it. It will wait to the next day.

JUN

Teri, I missed this when you posted it (on our son's 24th birthday) but I like you have come to the same conclusion. I TOTALLY didn't get in to Twitter; I did try. I know that the majority of my business comes from my website and referrals so that is where I have spent the time that I have to spend. Now AR has helped me with my website so that gives me a perfect excuse to stick with it.

JUL

Hi Teri,
I reached that same conclusion some time ago. I just don't have enough hours in the day (and night) to keep up with all those sites.

AUG

I agree Teri. Most of the sites I see are complete waste of time anyway. Who cares if your friend just woke up from a nap? I like to know what you are doing, but not everything you are doing ever.

Brian, lol...that's for sure....;-)

This blog does not allow anonymous comments