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DEATH BY TECHNOLOGY...What happened to my life?

By Susan Haughton

Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 0225085927

October 14, 2010 08:02 AM

woman juggling My mind is reeling. My head is pounding. My stomach is a little queasy. And I'm simply overwhelmed.

Text messages! (SMS OR MMS???) Voice mail - or wait, Google Voice? Email - or is that becoming too passe?

SmartPhones = QR Codes = Mobile Marketing = Mobile Landing Sites. Of course. Sigh. Oh, wait, I can do those on my (as-of-yet-to-be-purchased-and-developed) new WordPress site. Oops, first gotta source a local printer who can do small corrugaged signs for QR codes for each listed property. Sigh.

Note to self: don't forget to send clients and prospects link to my new branded iPhone app. Oh, yes, another note to self: buy iPhone.

Blogs. IDX. SEO. Long tail keywords. SEO boot camps. Tag clouds. ActiveRain! Like me! Follow me! Link with me! RSS feeds. Subscribe to my blog!

Aaarrggh! IT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH.

I just took off my headphones from listening to a great webinar on mobile marketing, my mind REELING with possibilities, my hand cramped from taking notes and adding to my ever-growing "to do" list.

I clicked on Outlook and read an email with the first line: Make the move to Cloud Printing with HubCast to print faster!!!

That simply pushed me over the edge. "Cloud printing?" Really? REALLY?

I don't even have the energy to google it.

businessman multitasking I remember when computers had their own climate controlled rooms. I remember copy machines that took up the length of a wall. Heck, I remember putting dry purple ink in mimeograph machines!

I remember when I thought the fax machine was pure magic (okay, still do, actually).

Now my phone is a friggin' computer that can do things I don't even know it can do. Things *I* cannot do.

Google, YouTube and iPhone apparently now run the world.

Did you know there is such a thing as Google Goggles (God, please let at least ONE person not know what this is because I don't want to be the LAST PERSON on earth to have heard of it. Allow me this one dignity).

It's exhausting! In my quest to learn more-better-faster, I am averaging a webinar a day...sometimes two. Oh, and that doesn't include the video courses and manuals.

Who has time for real estate???

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Candice A. Donofrio

Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ

928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

It's not technology that kills.

It's feeling the need to have it ALL.

The best technology is what you will use. ePRO 101.

The best tool in real estate was and is excellent customer service.

What a great post! Have a glass of wine and soak in the tub . . . then go sell a house. You'll feel better! ;)

PS. I worked in the schools and in a PR firm in the mid-late 70s. I remember mimeo and the original facsimile machines. We grumbled about them too. ;)

Oct 16, 2010 02:35 AM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Jane: You are not alone in that! LOL

Bob: Thanks so much for the kind comment.

Candice: You are so right about everything you said. Wine and a soaking tub...you just described one of my favorite pasttimes! LOL

Oct 16, 2010 02:44 AM

Anonymous

Liz

I have to laugh on the concern over the pace of learning all of the new technology. I also sell technology. It's very interesting to see what is accepted, and tossed out. I DO NOT, own a cell phone, at the moment, but I do get at least 100 emails per day. It seems that companies are convinced that in order to reach out and "touch" someone, that you must barrage them with daily email blasts concerning their latest newsletter, product release, training webinar, lunch & learn, or special. I have already told many vendors, if they do that, I will put them on my do work with this vendor list.

And I also belong to Linked in. It's amazing, because out of all of the home stagers around the country, very few of them feel it does anything for their business. It's one more thing to maintain. I don't want to flicker, twitter, or use an electronic face book, but I understand it does help my "google" searches. It certainly seems like alot of maintenance for that benefit.

I personally feel that all of this social networking in the end will diminish the human touch, and make those who use it anti-social. It's a crutch as far as I'm concerned. It's hilarious when you see the generation X & Yers trying to add as many connections in order to hit some kind of quota! Imagine if they actually "connected" with these people, instead of logging them into some directory.

As a former technology veteran for 10 years, I do not yearn for the latest gadget, because I know within 6 months some other company will just release a replacement. Remember the "Palm Pilots"? I remember when cell phones were larger than your analog phone. Here's my suggestion. Find out if you can use it, operate it, and need it? Right now it seems that the aggravation of operating these toys/tools is outweighing the benefit.

Oct 16, 2010 10:21 AM

#85

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Liz: I agree with your comment about social networking diminishing the human touch; I have said for a while it creates the illusion of socializing but is, in fact, the opposite of it. Thanks for the great comment!

Oct 16, 2010 01:56 PM

Don Wixom

RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID

"Looking out for your next move..."tm

Susan, you explained how I feel to a "T"! It's amazing how much technology is out there & how quickly it is moving! I can't keep up! Thanks for the smiles!

Oct 16, 2010 04:58 PM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Honestly, Susan, this technology "stuff" has added an element to real estate that I love. I've never enjoyed real estate more, and I suspect it's technology that makes the difference. But it does seem like we'll never catch up and know it all - we can't sit on our laurels for even a week, or we'll get left behind.

Oct 16, 2010 11:29 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Don: I'm so glad I am not alone in feeling the pressure! LOL

Margaret: It has added an element I really like, too, I just get frustrated I don't know it all -- and right now! LOL

Oct 17, 2010 03:14 AM

Barb Szabo, CRS

RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH

E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

After only 2 years of this I have cut way back and, miraculously, businesses is still good:) One of my goals during the down time that is coming,is to remove myself from some of the sites I subscribed to because I thought I had to be on all of them. Getting off the sites, will reduce the number of e-mails I get and hopefully my stress levels as well.

Oct 18, 2010 01:08 AM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Barb: I think you are on to something there...I really need to get my "technology" self organized...and make a plan for what I really need for the future instead of jumping around from thing to thing. It is exhausting! I need organization.

Oct 18, 2010 04:23 AM

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528

Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY

Real Estate Salesperson

Susan, before real estate, in my other life I was a computer programmer/consultant. I left because just keeping current was a full time job. Real Estate is fast doing the the same. Loved your post and your humor. You described how many of us feel to a T. BTW didn't know what google goggles was until you posted.

Oct 19, 2010 12:43 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Leah: LOL...I'm glad I'm not alone! Thanks so much for the comment.

Oct 20, 2010 03:30 AM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Susan - LMAO!!! Ok, you're not alone because I don't know what google goggles are either. But then again I don't know what a mimeograph is either. HUH????

Oct 20, 2010 05:38 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Donne: Thanks! Count your blessings you are young enough NOT to know! LOL I'm dating myself...but in my defense, I was working as a temp while in high school when I was first introduced to the mimeograph machine! LOL (It is what cave men used before the photocopier was invented).

Oct 20, 2010 05:49 PM

Sharon Paxson

Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA

Newport Beach Real Estate

Susan - great post and you are right. There are so many options every single day. I kind of pick and choose what I want to expand my knowledge in.

Oct 21, 2010 04:46 AM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Sharon: I need to learn to follow your example and limit the number of new toys!

Oct 21, 2010 05:00 AM

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD

A doctor who makes house calls.

I'm with you on this one. I have no idea what Google Goggles are! I pick some things that I run with and other things that I just can't attempt.

Oct 21, 2010 02:39 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Stacey-Ann: I think that's a very smart approach.

Oct 21, 2010 03:09 PM

Tamara Inzunza

Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA

Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

And to think, a few weeks ago I had an agent tell me, "What five minutes to send me the fax. I have to unplug my phone and plug in the fax machine." Huh? Didn't have email, oh wait, she did have it, just never checked it. Webinar??? What's that?! LOL!

Oct 23, 2010 02:45 PM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Tamara: LOL.."okay, I feel better now! One of my favorites is when I say to people, "don't worry about a cover page, it's efax, it comes to my email" and their reply is, "I don't know how to use that." ROFL

Oct 23, 2010 02:55 PM

Marchel Peterson

Results Realty - Spring, TX

Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Susan, It appears that I am a little late to the party! Oh my what a learning curve it is! My young adult children grew up with all this but for me it has been a TRUE learning process. I did start the curve back in 2000 but it is also an ongoing learning process. Just when we think we have something figured out there's something new to figure out!!!!!

Oct 25, 2010 01:05 PM