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Face book " Where the party is "

By
Real Estate Agent with Northwood Realty Services

Sooner or later we are faced with the Face Book dilemma.....yeah I know it's  " where the party is ".  We have become bombarded with reworded comments of....I'm tired, I'm sick, I'm bored and  games games and more games.We smile as we discover  every hidden personality quirks our face book friends have.  Alas ..it's fun...and the explosion of Facebook has hit everyone ...old and young alike.

What a FREE OPPORTUNITY to increase your sphere of influence and make a  huge difference as an agent in the market place. There are tutorials, videos, webinars, camps,...you name it ...the information hot line is a blazing.... ...many of these gifted trainers and speakers are from our camp ground on Active Rain.  They selflessly share their expertise, to seekers who thirst for the how to's.....Applause to these giving mentors.

..Facebook has become a real part of our life....but.....are we ready for the  ritualistic involvement of gaming that  could turns into an addiction?

 Has Facebook become the  future platform for gaming. Why not?

                                                           It's big business generating  millions of dollars.

  Does it work for us as professionals?  The  conversation among  agents seem divided.

  Maybe there are a few questions to ask ourselves before we venture into  the  game land arena.

  • Is game playing a tricky move and could hurt my  business?
  • If l refuse a request  from a Farmville fan, will it cause hurt feelings and therefore hinder the rapport between " "FRIENDS "? Alas..refuse one request ..accept another?
  • Could this game playing be a bad business move or just an enduring moment spent between friends?
  • Is this game playing  a positive or negative role within my family, among my friends and in the workplace?
  • What am I telling " my friends and my fans " how I spend my time?
  • Could this be an addition I need not enter into?
  • Does this make me less professional?

                              Think maybe these aren't important questions to ponder.?.......

                              Here are some  staggering statistics to really think about.

 

                                444,000,000 people have searched Face book games on Google.

 

                     Farmville - Number 1 most played game has 72 million active users monthly                    

                     Mafia  Wars- Number 2 most played game 27 million active users monthly.

                     Happy Aquarius...27 million ( fastest growing )Pet society 21 million.

                     Texas  Holdem Poker 20 million

                                              and the list goes on and on...........

                             Has this and will this take us to the edge of now..where?

                                                              or

Do these games leverage our value as professionals that offer service to our consumers, even if it is helping them farm on farmville?

 

Comments(13)

Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

I love Facebook, and how it can keep me in the minds of friends and acquaintances.  As for the games, I turn them off (thank God for that ability!).  I really don't think people are miffed if you don't get them a pig for their farm or a set of concrete boots for their mob! 

Mar 19, 2010 11:40 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

I guess it is OK to play some of these games although I don't have the time. Now if there was only a game that real estate folks played that showed how sharp they were...

Mar 19, 2010 11:41 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have not registered on Facebook . This is an interesting post.

Mar 19, 2010 11:42 PM
Home Design
Alpharetta, GA
Home Design and Real Estate

Great post June!  I do not play any games on facebook, but many of my friends do!

Mar 19, 2010 11:45 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

June, I'm on Facebook, but haven't learned all the ins and outs of it. I do NOT participate in all those games. I just don't have the time. I've chosen to ignore the requests and if I lose some business, so be it. I'll be happy to have a discussion with any of them about it.

Mar 19, 2010 11:47 PM
William True
True Sarasota Real Estate - Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Real Estate

Facebook seems to be much more social than business. One searching for real estate probably wouldn't start at Facebook.

Mar 19, 2010 11:49 PM
Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

I have closed several deals from keeping up with my "friends" posts on FaceBook. I don't fill their pages with my listigns but whenever I see someone say "I am thinking of moving or looking for a change" I simply comment what I do and would love to help them. If they repsond great if not I leave them alone. Games are what they are, games. As long as you don't get to the point where working your farm outweighs showing houses you are probably fine.

Mar 20, 2010 12:01 AM
Craig Richardson
National Realty - McLean, VA

June, Facebook has been a good tool for me as well.  I set up a separate "Fan Page" so I can distinquish between personal and potential client friends.  Works great thus far.

Mar 20, 2010 12:14 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

FaceBook is fun personally, and a good business tool if used personally.

I don't play the games, just don't have the time. In fact you can hide the app, without hiding your friends and that is what I have chosen to do.

 

Mar 20, 2010 12:14 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

Lord, I've barely got us a page up. I don't hav ANY time for games.

Mar 20, 2010 03:34 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

HAHAHA! June, I am not a farmer or mafia member but I have really enjoyed Facebook for meeting people with similar interests and connecting with folks from my past. I am in the process of creating a fan page for my business because my personal profile is a lot more about fun! I hope you are doing well ;-)

Mar 20, 2010 10:40 AM
Douglas Harland
Century21 J.C. Jones American Dream - Grants Pass, OR
Southern Oregon

Hi June, I like FaceBook, but I do not like the games. I would love to hide them, but do not know how?

Mar 29, 2010 08:36 PM
Nyssa Smith
Keller Williams Advantage Realty - State College, PA
REALTOR, State College Area Real Estate

Nice blog post June!  I love it!  Great questions to ponder!  Personally, I don't play any of the games.  I don't want to get sucked in with my time.  But as you know, I am active on facebook.  I don't think it has hurt any of my business by not playing the games.

Jul 05, 2010 02:39 AM