Walking with Dinosaurs !

     Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the travelling road show "Walking with Dinosaurs".  I have to admit that I was thoroughly entertained.  Robotics have come a long way. The eyes of the younger children in the crowd grew wide with amazement as life size replica's rolled onto the arena floor. The roar of T-Rex paralyzed young and old alike.

     Driving home we discussed the era and how the dinosaurs were wiped out in an instant. The cataclysmic event of a gigantic meteor hitting the earth in the area of the gulf of Mexico created an after effect that ended life at it was know on the planet.

     It happens. Many articles have been written using the dinosaur analogy. I have read many. They cast aspersions on those that still do business with napkins, scraps of paper and land lines. They scoff at those that still do business the same way today that it was done 20, 30 and 40 years ago. They miss the mark. They miss the important point. They overlook the obvious.

When the environment changes... 

Dinosaurs Die

     Now, to be sure, some things remain the same. Homes are staged, prepared for market and listed. Often, the agent will hold a broker's open. They use this to invite agents in to preview the home for their clients. In many markets, this tour takes place right after the Tuesday morning sales meeting.

     Agents get in their caravan and drive around visiting these open houses. They then return to the office and pull out their roll-a-dex and proceed to call a few clients. They focus on those that may have a desire to see the home.

On a good day, the agent might speak with two or three clients.

and that my friend...is walking with dinosaurs.

     The environment has changed. The telephone is a wonderful way of connecting with you current and past clients. Have you noticed.........it is not just a landline anymore. The telephone can be used to connect with your entire client base, with the flick of your finger.

     Say hello to Twitter

     This is a new tool available to anyone. It does not have to be used to share your every act. It does not have to be used to share your every idle thought. It is a way that you can let your entire client base know about that open house. It is a way you can share the information with everyone. It is just possible that your three, four, five or more calls never reached the right target. With twitter, you can reach them all. 

Say hello to Facebook

     This is a new tool available to anyone. It does not have to be used to share you high school pictures. It does not have to be used to share notes to friends. It is a way that you can let your entire "friend" list know about that open house, one of your listings or any of a myriad of things. It is a way that you can share information with everyone on your list. Again, it is just possible that your phone calls did not reach the right target. With Facebook, you can reach them all.

     What else can you do with these new toys? You can create the appearance that you too can communicate with today's buying and selling community. Using them moves you from the old environment that is doomed to the new world where business is still being transacted.

              Interest rates going down or going up? We all know they are in flux. You can share the information quickly and become the expert within in your sphere of influence with a tweet or a post.

                There is always something new in our world of real estate. You can pick one item and share it quickly with a tweet or a post and solidify your position as an expert within your sphere of influence.

                  You have invested time and effort into your career. You have knowledge. Share it. There is a reason that you are paid a reasonable commission for your efforts. Don't keep that a secret. Take the time to share information with your sphere. You will be the expert they seek. It only takes a tweet or a post.

                  p.s. -  small tip...don't be a pest (modern term is spammer). Only share once or twice a week. Don't post just to post. Don't tweet just to be seen. Quality is valued much more than quantity. With patience and perseverance, you will walk away from the dinosaurs and survive the current climate change.