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Inman Connect Take Away: The Social Media Explosion! You Gotta Be One of Their Peeps If You Want to Be Their Agent

If you are a regular reader of Mortgage Advisor, you know I actually WON my ticket to Inman Connect from the Real Estate Tomato.

To Jim Cronin, and the Tomato Crew, thank you.

I say this even if Jim's blogging presentation at Inman was waaaaay over my head (Mike Mueller, you warned me! I was too damn headstong to believe you).

Luckily, Jim Cronin is good-looking enough that what he says does not need to be on my level. LOL

I got 3 glorious days away from the mortgage madness to hobnob in San Francisco with the elite "Who's Who" of the real estate, blogging, and technology world, not to mention the writers of Inman News.

As a blogger and real estate geek, who is challenged by technology on a daily basis, I played sponge last week instead of mortgage maker.

I soaked it all in and had a blast. It was intense. It was amazing. It was enlightening in a way that cannot be explained.

Besides getting hugged and shushed by Brad Andersohn as I crashed through the door of a workshop, here is what I took away from this amazing gathering of brilliant minds: Hang on tight because a revolution is happening out there in the real estate universe.

If information is a huge river, then what once slowly trickled has been unleashed as a wild raging torrent, thanks to social networking sites. Twitter and Facebook are re-shaping information streams. Forever.

Yes, you could drown if you don't pay attention to this one important thing:

We no longer control the information, the information controls us.

The FLOW has been reversed. The customers are controlling the flow of information via Twitter and social networking. They are making decisions using information from their friends, followers, and their online sphere of influence.

They are SHARING information and compiling information at breakneck speed. They will decide among themselves who will win and who will lose in this crazy game of real estate.

OLD SCHOOL: Future home buyers go to Google, put in some search words, somehow find your blog, which will point them to your website, then (maybe) they will try to find you on Facebook.

NEW AGE: Customers follow you on Twitter, and/or check you out on Facebook, then find your blog/website as a result. (the flow has been reversed)

Future home buyers will know more about YOU than they ever have before. What they know will determine who they choose as their agent.

It won't be because you call yourself an expert, because they don't care! It won't be because of your designations, or because of your picture plastered everywhere. It won't even be because Aunt Martha used you when she bought her house 5 years ago.

The age of a real estate agent thinking "ME, ME, ME...ITS ALL ABOUT ME" is all but dead. All that matters is what their other peeps think.

You need to be one of those peeps.

Future homebuyers do not need you to price homes, to find homes, or to research neighborhoods. They've already done that, and their world is exploding with new tools to help them (weakening the role of the listing agent, in my opinion).

They will soon go to a site that will reveal your statistics as an agent. They will take a virtual walk through the neighborhood. They will hold their phone up to the house and will be able to see complete public records, and MLS information.

What does this mean? The river no longer flows to the sea. It is rushing inland and will forever change the landscape of our industry.

Unless you are out there giving the consumer what they really want, education, engagement, and a true homebuying experience, you could soon be washed up on the side of the river.

And left out to dry.

Written By Janet Guilbault, Mortgage Banker/Broker Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area

Posted by Janet Guilbault California Mortgage Banker/Broker on 08/11/2009 10:53 AM

Comments (80)

Social Media Marketing in the Online Marketing Channel

inman connect, internet shopper, realtor success strategies, facebook, twitter, buyers, blogging

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80 Comments on Inman Connect Take Away: The Social Media Explosion! You Gotta Be One of Their Peeps If You Want to Be Their Agent

AUG

Congrats on the ticket. Sounds like you learned a whole bunch of great stuff. Thanks for giving us a nibble!

Melissa: I would need to write for weeks just to serve up an Inman Connect lunch. It was pretty amazing.

Definetely agree with that. At first I thought I would dip my toe in - however now I realize I must just dive right in. I got my twitter and FB up. getting blog set up (activerain, of course). Anyways, the internet is the invention of the press. It is a life changing event, and if we don't change our practices in 18 months most old school agents will not be relevant.

Paul, you are SO right. Last night I set up a Facebook for my husband's auto leasing company. He is still not a believer.

I too, had resisted thinking my blog was enough. I was wrong.

It is life changing...for our industry. That was really driven home at Inman. And all the Twitter workshops were jammed with people.

Even they were surprised. The biggest rooms had been reserved for web site makeovers, but the agents wanted to learn about Facebook and Twitter.

Oh, such an important post...hope everyone reads this! In a consumer centric model, the role of an agent has totally changed. Thanks for such a clear outline of this massive shift in expectation.

The problem with agents on twitter and FB and I say this as an agent on those, is that they constantly spam consumers. I just wrote a blog post about this very issue. Gen X, Y, and the Millenials are a totally different ball game than the boomers.

Personally, I think it is the way to go because it is how I prefer to work. If I want to know about a new toy for my kids, I hop on Amazon and read what others think. The days of offering crappy service and products for long periods of time are going by the wayside. That's a good thing.

Li: I could not have said it better than you. Our ROLE has been reversed. We are not creating the information and we no longer have exclusive rights to the information. We will never again be paid because we have the ability to unlock the information.

We will need to go beyond this and be A PART OF THE INFORMATION OURSELVES.

I haven't had very much luck explaining this to people. I was hoping my readers would get it. Thanks...

Melina: You bring up an important point. The SPAM factor.

Everyone who talked about social media advised against spamming with listings. That is considered to be a big turn off and is a great example of the misuse of social media.

That would be like greeting all of your friends by taking out a listing flyer and shoving it in their hand.

No, no, no.

Melina: Off to read your post, and okay to link here if you like.

Janet, I remember explaining to my manager with the onset of the web (waaaaay back in the dark ages), consumers have become more savvy. But many of my borrowers were system analysts to begin with! Now most anyone regardless of background or age knows how to search out information to some degree. And thanks to the web, it is freely available.

The old guys knew what people wanted when they named it the Information Highway. :) Kate

Kate: Well, I have been searching out stuff since about 1997 when I managed to figure out where I wanted to buy my second home. I found my real estate agent after going to Google and typing in "lakefront property California". That is still happening, of course, but now there are alternatives.

What has changed is the fact people can instantly access information from other people AND communicate with them! Instead of just getting an agent, they can get unbiased opinions from others.

This is far superior...especially to the savvy generation that has grown up connected this way.

These people are speeding on the highway, and they are passing up alot of slow pokes on the way.

This ability to socialize has turned into something even greater, like you said, the ability to compare notes with others. For most of us in Business it is a good thing to be included in the info. For the consumer, it is marvelous!

Consumer wins, I agree. Real estate industry....way far ahead of other industries, that's for sure, when it comes to social media. Just look how we are on ActiveRain...

If we engage and don't spam, we have an opportunity to reinvent what it means to be an agent, and win respect from a new generation, IMHO

Janet - WOW! Very compelling argument to either GET WITH OUT, or GET OUT OF THE WAY! I really like this article and will forward to my agents. Congrats on the ticket - sounds like it was worth every penny ;).

Janet - I agree with some of the conclusions in your article. My concern is that while engaging new media is great, we need to still use some of the "tried and true." Recent research by Pew Internet / American Life, for example, shows that the vast majority of adults still do 2 things online: search & check email. Is the group using social media sites such as twitter and facebook growing? You betcha! But Neison research still shows that 60% of Twitter users jump ship after 1 month. So, those who want to be in this business for years to come should learn all about twitter, but keep doing what's proven.

Jackie: I will agree with you that we should not abandon the tried and the true. Interesting statistic about Twitter.

I believe strongly that if you abandon the tried an true, you will leave many many older people out of the loop. Not everybody who can buy real estate grew up making decisions by staring into a screen.

Newsflash: lots of us grew up reading pld fashioned words on PAPER.

The whole real estate marketing thing is focused on younger people right now because the first time homebuyer found their best friend in FHA, and have no baggage from a previous real estate ownership experience.

It won't be like that forever. Babyboomer still have a whole lotta real estating to do.

Kim, No one in my office could believe I wanted to go to a conference all by myself and give up 3 days of work. (when I did my happy dance because I won that ticket)

Hey, mortgage madness isn't THAT much fun, and you are never by yourself thanks to the strong community we have here at AR.

Not to mention I didn't need to get on a plane because San Francisco is in my backyard.

Oh man, I am now KICKING MYSELF for allowing other "to do" items get in the way of my attendance!! Thanks for sharing.

Wendy: You know what's funny? In the mortgage business the model has always been not to charge much for the ticket to the conference, but try like hell to sell the mortgage brokers anything and everything. People keep asking me if I bought anything. LOL

They didn't try to sell anything at all. It was a great lesson in how we should win clients. GIVE the information, be the best at what you do, and make the whole experience fabulous.

Listening to all the movers and the shakers in our industry was worth so much more than any "to do" list. Almost like a once in a lifetime.

If you want to go next year, we'll go together. Boy, could we stir up some fun or what?????

I think the new flow of information makes the process much more efficient. If we provide consumers with relevant and useful info, then once they contact us the transaction moves much more quickly and smoothly. But in order to start this process in motion, we need to provide great content on multiple platforms.

John: I agree with you, consumers are thirsty for information....they can't seem to get enough at this point in time.

Maybe that will change, but for now, who would have thought we would need to be socially engaging online? I guess that might be far easier for some people than others. The art to being charming in person is stopping to listen to the other guy, and look at him.

I guess it is up to us to figure out what it takes to be charming online without knowing who is reading.

Quite prescient. Which confirms the value of my Internet strategy planned back in 1995 from which I have not strayed, just added a few on and off ramps from time to time.

I remember telling folks back then that the Internet would change the world. Most responded with "what's the Internet?" Or, "It's just a fad". They now know.

I am of the opinion though that only a small percentage of licensees will continue to embrace the speed of light exponential growth of social networks as a serious marketing opportunity.

Fine with me

Janet,

Congratulations firstly on the ticket and secondly on the featured post.

I was reading a post the other day regarding an agent who never met his client and the whole transaction for buying a property was done by phone, fax and email. So I am not at all surprised that in the future transactions will be conducted via the internet. If we do not embrace change then we are in danger of being left behind.

Sharon

Janet, I could feel the excitement of your conviction in your post. In my office, every agent is signing up to be Face Book friends, but no one blogs. Do I want my peeps to be mostly other agents?

All so correct.. all the more reason that agents HAVE to be constantly learning and tweaking their business model to offer value to clients, otherwise they won't have any clients. Great post!

Deborah: Nope, you want your peeps to be potential homebuyers who are attracted to your professional presence on the Internet. I think 6 degrees of separation just shrunk to 2 degrees. LOL

Why don't they blog in your office? Oh wait, I'm the only one who blogs in my office.

There are far fewer writers than there are people who can make small talk. Content presented in an engaging way is still not that easy to accomplish. I don't think that will change, offline or online.

Still, your office needs a blogger IMHO

Lenn, why do you think only a few agents will jump on the social media bandwagon? I was thinking just the opposite.....that it would soon be crowded with plenty of competition.

I hope you're right.

Sharon: I sat next to Mary Pope-Handy at a couple of workshops. She had just closed her first sale from Twitter. I'm inspired!

Personally, I think face to face transactions should be the RESULT of a social media connection, not a REPLACEMENT for that.

Is that old school?

Janet, I'd logged out when I saw your post. Guess what? I'm going to post your blog on my Facebook page. I think it's that good! :) Your insight about the reverse of the information flow is totally on target. Thanks. And by the way...are we connected yet on Facebook or Twitter? :)

Ryan, yeah, you're right, but sometimes needing to learn so much on a constant basis is really really tiring.

We are already bombarded in the mortgage business with new things to learn.

I am also concerned about the time fact to "socially engage" on the Internet. Thinking I will need to give up some ActiveRain time.

How do you do everything?

We who use the Internet to our pathway put in the stone one-by-one, blog-by-blog . . . but we are building the way for the next generation to connect and contact us. I am, therefore I blog. Do you think people can catch up with Lenn's great plan!! She built her path one stone at a time too. The thing is, once we get good pole position, hard to take that away.

Fine by me!

Well written. You get it!

Lola: Embarassed to say the reason I recently joined Facebook was to help my high school reunion committee find lost classmates. It had nothing to do with promoting myself or my business (although one committee member refinanced his house with me....!)

So I barely paid attention to my Facebook page, then go to Inman and almost fall out of my seat when I realize the potential for Facebook to help me succeed in my business!

Luckily, Mike Mueller has written lots of posts on this subject, which I will be reading tonight.

Right after we become friends on Facebook! Twitter next.

Carla, quite honestly, I don't think anyone can catch up with Lenn. Fine by me!

I keep wondering what the next generation is going to do now that we have invaded their turf at Facebook. Thank us for being out there ready to connect with them???? Or move on to the next big thing?

I remember when I told my kids I had a blog. They said "EWWWWWWW....., people your age don't even know what the word blog means"

MP: Oh, if I really did actually "get it", then I could be cool.

Always refreshing to read your posts Janet. Heard a big local real esate broker talk a few back about the shift from sales to education. So true. Love what you said about the flip-flop flow of information. As long as all roads lead to "Home", I'm going to try it all!

It can be like taking a sip from a fire hose... going to REbarCamps and Inman and some other events (like REtechSouth, too). There is a lot of great information and there are so many ways to implement it...

Mike: It is always refreshing to have a fellow lender comment on my post. We bloggers are already half of the way home, don't you think?

Lane: I missed REbar (darn!) heard it was great, and should have gone. I could get hooked on sipping from firehoses.

We have to realize there are NEW industries out there that solely rely on blogs, websites and social networking. There are people that soley blog as their primary job and they make a very good living from it - ever heard of the mommy blogging industry?

But remember people come to you when it's relevant and important for them - that may be a year from now so we have to stay out there, stay current and stay active - but don't be a social network schmuck and try to sell yourself at every corner - just be active and they'll know who you are and what you do.

Hi Janet -- I have found that the average buyer (I work with educated professionals (doctors, lawyers, high-level business execs) and I can tell you that most tell me they don't have a clue on what a home is worth. Most don't know that there are "variable title and escrow fees" and how to shop around, or even that they should, they don't know how to find good lenders, they don't know how to find the best inspectors, they don't know how to negotiate inspection contingencies, they don't know what functional design issues are, location issues, resale implications, and a kazillion other things, so an agent who can add value in this regard, will always be in demand as there is too much to know for the average consumer to make intelligent and informed decisions, no matter how much data and information is out there. Granted, they may traverse a different path, but the destination remains largely unchanged.

Janet Congratulations on the tickets to such an informative event. Yes technology continue to change the way we do business, and our interaction with consumers. Providing added value is key as consumers come armed with much of the basic information that was once guarded by the listing agent.

I find that clients and former clients are often friending me on Facebook.

AUG

Thanks Janet. I wish I was there too - maybe next year. I thought Facebook was more for kids and just family sharing vacation photos - but based on your post, I will look to beef up my page. Thanks for sharing your insights - and congrats for getting to your most excellent point level.

Janet - Thanks for sharing such an insightful post ! Stephanie and I went to Inman in NYC earlier this year and had a similar experience. It really is amazing. In regards to this post, it illustrates the importance of being ahead of the curve and being involved in social media ! Or being left out to dry !!!

Janet, thanks for the post, I too am getting my act together on this and believe it is the future, just look at newspaper real estate ad's and The Real Estate Book, etc they will be gone in a year. I have clients in their mid/late 20's and they look at a house on either my website or somewhere on the Internet and e-mail or text me to go see it. They have never looked at an add!

I agree with Lenn, look at ActiveRain for example I did this yesterday, go to your city and see how many agents have signed up and then never added a photo or posted once, I was surprised. It's the 80/20 rule.

Actually Jim's presentation (if my memory serves me correctly) was entitled "Wordpress Hacks for Real Estate" or something to that effect. I was hoping / thinking it had something to do with .php and .css but it was actually about something very basic to blogging.

Proper use of Alt and Title tags. Something that has been covered here before.

I'm glad you made it!

BTW: Does this mean we can call Jim a Hottie?

Photo Creit to Dale Chumbley who sat in my lap to take this picture

Malita: Social Shmuck...I love this phrase, so funny. To imagine a social shmuck, just think of the guy who calls you pretending to be interested in you but really wants to sell you an Amway product.

Oops, you just don't answer his calls.

Or the guy who attends your daughter's graduation party and starts passing out his business cards to people.

If you wouldn't do it in real life, you shouldn't do it online.

Great info here. I find my main problem is there are so many places to be --LinkedIn, FB, Active Rain, my blog... it takes up so much time, but it is worth the return.

Janet, thanks for sharing! I am so thankful to have started blogging a year ago - and finding out about FB and twitter before they were household words. We're definitely in a paradigm shift.

Sharon

Mike: Jim Cronin is definately a hottie.

And I completely admit the writing part of blogging is easy for me, but not the tech part.....thank goodness there are people like you Mike. Please remember how off the charts talented you are compared to the rest of us that muddle around with this stuff. And please continue to share on ActiveRain!

That is worth more to me than finally beating you in points (haha)

PS I lost Jim when he started talking about plug ins. God, am I hopeless or what?

The whole web 2.0 and social media revolution definitely has changed the game. Being accessible by phone isn't enough anymore that is for sure. I schedule showings with clients by text messages on occasion now, and get referred out to their friends through Facebook.

Websites got to be the in thing, then blogs and now the tide is moving again.

This is a huge change to have happening in just a very short amount of time.

Erica: That is what I would like to know....how much time would it take on a daily basis to do enough "engaging" to get business? I can't/wouldn't multi task mortgages with social media. It takes intense thinking on my part.

Yet we are supposed to communicate instantly. Wondering how that works?

Chris O: I don't think anything on the Internet is going to replace the role of a real estate agent. I agree with everything you said.

But I do think there will be a shift that will be very significant. I think BUYERS need agents far more than SELLERS need agents....

The whole model of having a seller pay for the whole thing via a % of the selling price and having the buyer pay nothing (at least directly) may crumble. It skews things.

Rick P: Go to Mike Mueller's blog, he has some great stuff about Facebook that will get you started.

Jennifer: I agree that we no longer get by just having information that they don't have. Because now they have it. We have to sell expertise and the experience of working with someone who feels like a friend...that is my take on it.

C & S: I am such a Californian that I am afraid I would freeze my fanny off in New York in January. But I would love to do Inman every 6 months. Seriously.

David: I think we are calling newspapers dead way too soon. Maybe I am wrong? You are right that only a few people read the real estate ads vs shopping online. I just think newspapers will morph into something different....and I don't mean fish wrappers.

Jacquie: I think you are right. Website is like our store. Blog is like our brochure. Social Media is like our bait.

Challenge is to put it all together and attract clients.

One of the most important things about SM is that you have to have a plan. Someone mentioned above that agents spam a lot - they do. That's because they don't know what else to do.

The key, in my opinion, on Twitter/FB is not in sending out messages about the fact that you are the best Realtor or you have the best listings or that you are an expert

The medium may be digital but the users are people.

The key is in building relationships with your Tweeps, finding out what THEY have to say and engage in a dialog with them about what is important to them. Remember Twitter is two-way - you can have individual conversations.

It''s no different than in the Real World. Most agents would not (i hope) constantly walk around town and start conversations with stranger by saying "Hey I've got new market data for your town" or "Mortgage Rates are up" or "I just sold a house down the street".

If you wouldn't do it in person, don't do it on Social Media. State who you are when you meet people. Put the fact that you a Realtor in your profile but don't make it the be all and end all of your SM existence. Here's what I have in my Twitter Profile -

"Musician, Realtor, Confidant, Sales Guru, Writer and Dog Friend who's spent 55 years trying to get the world to conform to me. Getting there!"

It's not about telling people I'm a great Realtor, it's about letting them get to know me.

Remember the old addage about "God gave us two ears and one mouth so we'd listen more than we'd talk". Same applies in SM, except you don't use your ears or your mouth (hmmmm.) The point is read what THEY say more than say things.

SM is a community - no different than a real world community except that it's virtual. Be a part of the community- show people who you are as a person AND that you are also a Realtor. When they know you, and they have a need - they will come to you.

Make a Plan
Find Tweeps in your geographic area and follow them
70% NON R/E, 30% R/E
Use Twitter to get people to know you and drive traffic to your blog. When they voluntarily click to you, they will read what you say. If you just pontificate on Twitter, it will likely be ignored.
Listen
Answer questions
Have an opinion
Make recommendations for your Tweeps to follow other Twits that you like
Give advice
Re-Tweet other people's interesting posts - they will LOVE you for it and they might Re-Tweet yours which is how you build your base.
Take an interest
Be a person.
Be funny (do not pass stupid jokes - just be witty and charming)
Make a plan
and oh -- - Make a plan

Janet,

Glad you could make it to Connect SF. Hopefully we'll see you in NYC in January!

-Jeff

Rick: I am speechless, that give all of us wonderful insight into how to socialize online. Thank you so much!!!

I am going to take this and run with it.

I don't pass on stupid jokes because half the time I don't get them.

Can you also teach us how to be witty and charming? Sometimes the mortgage business makes me bitchy and disagreeable. (it wears down PollyAnna's normally sunny disposition)

!!!!!!!

Luckily with Active Rain we can at least attempt to keep up with technology and what buyers and sellers want.

Hi Janet,

Lot's of great info on your post, a new paradigmfor the average agent out there. While I've made significant changes in my own business when it comes to technology, in truth I'd take 1 good old personal referral any day of the week over a dozen on-line leads...that's the plain and simple truth for me personally.

Btw, sorry I didn't see you Inman I was there too. Once again my head was spinning near the end with both rebar and Inman. I hear good things are also ahead for rebarsd.

Amazing information you have given us! I just went to the Houston AR Blogging seminar last year and things have changed since then!

Thank you!

Lynda: My one disappointment was that ActiveRain did not have a gathering at Inman. I had so hoped to go and meet everyone there, have a glass of wine, and share some hugs.

Or....if there was a meeting of Rainers, somehow I didn't get the message?

Anyway, I will not let that happen next year, even if I am the one who puts it together.

You know, I love referrals too, they are the best. But honestly, some people that come from reading your blogs already know you way better than someone who comes referred.

Weird, but that is why I wanted to get together at Inman with other Rainers. I already feel like I know them!

Pippa: it does change you, and inspire you. I loved Inman.

Janet- Thanks for being our "reporter on the scene". A good wake-up call- I really need to get ahead of the wave just to stay caught up these days! Did you take any photos? Would love to see who was there....

Darin:

Fluff-o-meter

Shameless flirting with Jim Cronin 3.25

Using the word peeps 3.0

Dropping the name of someone who works for ActiveRain 1.0

Fluff-o-meter final rating 7.25

I am just now able to sit down and find out about everyone's take aways from last week. Yours is the first and I truly appreciate it! I'm glad you had fun. I will get there one day.

Jim was awesome. As a Tomato I was primed to see what he had to say. Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you.

I've had a Tomato site for almost 2 years now and have yet to meet Jim! Lucky you. I've met Jason though, and he's a handsome young buck. Active Rain has been a very valuable tool and source of knowledge for me, but I have to admit that with all of the other sites I have, and all of the things I do in the social media arena, I don't have as much time to devote to AR, but I do post things here every week. Social media has developed into a passion of mine, and I'm a huge fan of Twitter. I'm also developing several of Pat Kitano's Breaking News sites (all Twitter-fed) and they are terrific. There just aren't enough hours in the day but I love what I'm doing, and glad you were able to meet the 'big guys.' Great to find and read your post. I hope you will follow me on Twitter. I'm @SusieBlackmon ;-)

Most of my buyer leads that I have received via FB have told me they like the fact that I don't advertise all over my profile. I keep it social, like the site was intended to be. I do throw in a snippet or two about the market, but I change directions instantly . . . they seem to appreciate it. just food for thought

Janet, did you delete my comment?? By accident, or on purpose...THEN shamelessly steal the picture of the bunny I gave you??

Im telling Lenn on you!!

Here's another picture you can steal!

Also, please google this phrase under Images...exactly as I print it!

fluff-o-meter

Go to the 14th picture...and YOUR BLOG is there!!!!

Bucky

All these things are possible and many may very well come true. I still deal with a lot of buyers who know very little and depend on my expertise. The real danger for the Internet consumer is thinking they do know everything, when what they know is what everyone has told them online.

Just because I watch Star Trek doesn't mean I can fly a space ship.

I'm sure the information you got was good and I want to hear more of it, I just think the consumer still needs us.

AUG

Bucky you little fluff meister you. I did not delete any comment of yours but I totally stole your bunny picture.

You know I do not delete comments EVER.

I'm going to google fluff-o-meter, but who has the 13 spots ahead of me?

You know I have been trying to own the cotton long tail on those words.

Wow, things certainly are moving at breakneck speed ... and it's hard to know what pace you want to set for yourself. Thanks for sharing even thought the message is a little scary.

Thus the relevance of being on Twitter, Facebook, et al. If we are there, and are able to provide the info with ease, and are one of their "peeps", as you said, then it becomes much more likely that they will choose us as their agent...how many people would have multiple agents as friends (unless they're all realtors LOL)...

Wow, very well said and a great summary of what is happening in the industry. Agents need to adapt to the changing consumer, or you're right, they'll be left out to dry.

How come you didn't add a picture of Jim Cronin if he's such a studmeister? Congrats on your winning and glad it was a great experience.

AUG

Well, Again, I just love reading all this stuff and having it affirm that I need to treat SM just like the real world out there. But I would say more like 90% social and 10% RE would be even better. If they know I am a realtor and they need something, they might just let me know.

Thank you for sharing all that good information and opinions about what is truly going on out there. Most people in real estate including the so called "RE marketing gurus" are very behind with trends in technology and what is happening with the younger people and how they connect with realtors to find homes. I was just contacted by a marketing person starting up a what he called "earth shattering" ad campaign. The first thing he did was promise me a large glossy photo of myself in a supermarket magazine! Upon hearing that I ended our conversation.

AUG

I agree Janet. Technology is growing so rapidly that, sometimes, I am lost too

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