Special offer

Who do we contact?

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

This post was inspired by a company whose blog I visited earlier today. I won't include their name because I don't want to pick on them or embarrass them.

I always find it difficult to have a conversation with an entity, and I suspect I'm not the only one.

Even if your blog is registered as an entity, put something in your profile that tells people who to contact.

I understand that there might be a large team of people who can help the buying public, but if that's the case, why not list those names in your ActiveRain profile? After all, it's really not that unusual for names to be the ice breaker for someone calling your company to buy your products or services--the same name, a maiden name, a relative's name, a friend's name, etc.

If you have a lot of turnover at your company, just keep your ActiveRain profile updated by removing the names of those leaving and including the names of any new staff members.

Marketing research year after year indicates that people like to do business with other people, not companies, and not people acting like automatons or robots.

One of the best marketing methods is to simply provide names of people your prospects can talk to.

Comments (19)

Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Russel ~ That's a great point.  There seem to be more entities in the mix lately. When I'm replying to a post or comment I always dig around to find a name but you're right - it makes all sorts of sense to not make people dig and feature the people right out front.

Liz

Nov 24, 2009 11:49 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Hey Russel!  We agree with you and Liz.  We snoop around til we can find a name to comment to as well.  It just feels better that way.  We think as more things are becoming more automated in this world, the more people are looking for the personal touch. 

Nov 24, 2009 11:52 AM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Bonita Springs, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Hi Russell ~ I never understood that either. Why bother?

Nov 24, 2009 11:56 AM
Pat Fenn
Marketing Specialist for CJ Realty Group/Cindy Jones Broker - Springfield, VA

I've even gone to a company website in search of a name to personalize response and found none. There has to be a real person there somewhere.

Nov 24, 2009 12:11 PM
Ted Tyndall
Davidson Realty Inc. - Saint Augustine, FL
I will help You find the Home YOU want to Buy

Russel,

Great post. I don't answer or post unless I know who it is.

Nov 24, 2009 12:27 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

I agree Russel! I like to call people by name and I'd rather see a name rather than a company. The same applies to groups...I never know who I am actually responding to.

Nov 24, 2009 12:32 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Russell - I agree with everyone; it takes time to dig around for a name. I have done a few times as Ted, just don't replay and go on to someone else.

Nov 24, 2009 12:50 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Russell - Afterthought, I also like to see a picture of the person (not a pet, palm tree etc) with a name. That's just my opinion.

Nov 24, 2009 12:52 PM
Brian Brumpton
Keller Williams Boise - Boise, ID
Boise Idaho Real Estate

Russel,

An important point you've made.  I look at some of the profile names on AR and for the sake of SEO some have made it nearly impossible to identify them.  Names like "US home sales serving every single state, including but not limited to...."

It might get people to your profile but it's not going to make them want to call you, becasue afterall, what would they call you?

Nov 24, 2009 01:18 PM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Excellent point. It is hard to believe some people are not smart enough to put contact info or names in their post.

 

Nov 24, 2009 02:45 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Russel - I agree.  And a company I used to work with used to post photos of all of us with our names in their ads.  I got a few clients from people who called in and asked for me because they saw my photo and name and thought they'd like me.  That might not be a very sophisicated way to pick someone to do business with, but it is the way many people do it - everyone prefers feeling that they know and like the person they are dealing with.

Nov 24, 2009 02:45 PM
Troy Pappas
Safe House Property Inspections - Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach Home Inspector

Russel,

I was trying to contact another HI the other day. It took a few minutes of going through the website before I could find any contact information. I never did get his name from the site.

Nov 24, 2009 03:48 PM
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Russel,  I am another who agrees with you.  Even on comments, I research and try to find a name.  I always try to reply to the comments for my posts even without a name -- but I hesitate to leave comments on the posts where I can't find an individual name, even on their website.

 

By the way,  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I know Zoey must be anxiously waiting for some turkey.

Nov 24, 2009 03:53 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

A blog by no name is still a blog...but who wants to comment to a no name...not me.

Nov 24, 2009 10:21 PM
Kathryn Gorham
Green Key Realty - Emerald Isle, NC
Emerald Isle NC Crystal Coast

Russell - Yes, do personalize without it -- you have advertising - with it you have relationship building.

Nov 25, 2009 01:00 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Russel.....I agree....I hate it when I really want to respond to a comment, and there's no name, just a company....what's up with that??? 

Nov 25, 2009 08:26 AM
Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Hi Russel, I always try to respond to a person, and am really put off by having only a company name.  It seems kind of impersonal, and there is no accountability.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Nov 25, 2009 09:26 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Russel. Good post; you said what I have often thought. When I respond to comments, I always include the person's name...unless there isn't one.

Nov 28, 2009 02:58 AM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

Hey, Folks!

Sorry I'm late getting back to my post here. It's been a hectic and busy Thanksgiving.

Since I return comment for comment, wWhat I really dislike is having someone leave a comment and their name is "The Beatles Group." When I click on the link and go to their profile, I still don't find a name, so I'll do a search on "The Beatles Group" to see if there are other comments where they might have signed their name. That search brings up four other members of "The Beatles Group," which can really start making things confusing. No name associated with any of the four profiles, so I'll put off that comment until later, which I've found is absolutely the wrong thing to do.

I'm just surprised that there are still so many people who don't understand that business is all about personal relationships, and it's difficult to have a personal relationship with a company.

Dec 08, 2009 07:36 PM