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In the "C" of social networking which fish are you after?

By
Home Stager with Home Star Staging

I had this thought the other day about social networking being a big pool or an ocean if you will, and what I'm after in it. woman fishing

Initially when I started blogging on Active Rain in early 2007 (did that even before Facebooking - in fact Facebook at the time was only for college kids, another "C" I'm not in or fish I'm after. But hey! here's my FB Business page in case we haven't connected there!)

I didn't think about the "C" I was fishing in and who I intended to catch. I just wrote from my heart, experience and struggle in the home staging industry on the only platform available at the time that included other fishies like me who loved real estate.

But we really need to ask ourselves, who is the fish I intend to catch in the "C" of social networking and how best to bait my line to catch my intended target?

I've indentified some fish in the "C" of social networking for you below.

  • Colleagues
  • Clients
  • Capital 
  • Casual Conversation
Here's my catch on the subject:

Colleagues -Initially that's who I was writing for and connecting to. I was hungry for information sharing with my staging com padres around the country and they did not disappoint. Home Stagers are some of the most giving, creative and talented folks I know not only with their craft but with their business sense and knowledge about anything. But I soon learned that I needed to focus my efforts on more than just commiserating with other home stagers. While I still do this type of social networking I've widened my net.

Clients - I quickly started to realize I needed to target clients who were searching for information on help with selling their homes and I'm not a Realtor. Staging was and still is a new concept for many Realtors and home sellers and education is crucial for building my business. So I started writing information laden blogs and articles that my prospective clients could find if they were searching for information on tips to help them sell their homes.  And by doing this, I not only created the expectation that I am an expert in my field but I was and still am getting calls and offers to do things real estate related that actually generate another source of income besides home staging!

Capital - As mentioned above, in my quest to start targeting clients for my home staging services in my local Dallas, TX home selling market, I inadvertently (but happily) attracted other "fish" who liked the bait if you will, and asked me to do other projects and also write for them. Some of the information and content I provided was a paid for service while others were pro-bono, however anything I've written or produced and that gets published is my intellectual capital and will indirectly pay me as well. Positioning yourself as an expert and go to person in your industry has very valuable returns.

Casual Conversation - while I do personally love connecting with family,friends and associates on Facebook (my personal page) I don't spend too much of my working hours time doing so online. I'm not into Bejeweled Blitz or Farmville but many people are.  As a business person one must ask themselves what is the best use of my time? But this is a big "C" that many people enjoy but in the "C" of social networking for business is this the best catch you should be after? 

While you may say that we are essentially after all 4 of these "Cs" at any given time, focusing where your efforts give you the best ROI is important to think about and quantify.  Time is money and for me I'd like a big catch if I'm taking the time to fish.

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Posted by

Home Staging Dallas - Karen Otto

Comments (41)

Jerry Morse
The Morse Company - Janesville, WI
BBA,GRI

I firmly believe Home Staging is a wonderful thing.  Our problem is that we are in a lower priced market that is really struggling right now and people do not have the money to hire a professional stager. 

Feb 28, 2011 09:00 AM
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

The more poles you have in the water (with the right bait), the better your chances of catching what you're after...

Feb 28, 2011 09:13 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Karen--nice post.  It's always great to keep the goal in mind when doing a project.  It certainly can be easy to be carried away on AR or Facebook and, as many have mentioned above, not get any work done. 

Feb 28, 2011 09:25 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Good point Dennis and Terri!

Hi Eve, that means so very much to know my blogs and articles have assisted you in some way. We all have to start somewhere and sharing the journey makes the trip a much more enjoyable adventure!

Marge my philosophy is that we never stop learning! I've only scraped the surface of all there is to know in the social network "C" here but I've learned to balance. Keep at it and eventually you'll find your voice! Thanks for commenting!

Hi Kim, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Time management is important in all aspects of our lives!

Hi Jerry many home stagers offer very cost effective consultations for about $100-$200 up to 2 hours. A lot can be accomplished in that time. It's really an investment in getting a home sold not a cost!

Love it Pat/Wayne! The more poles with the right bait the better the catch!

Feb 28, 2011 09:28 AM
Julea Joseph
Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL
Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Karen, GREAT post!

Feb 28, 2011 10:33 AM
Julea Joseph
Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL
Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Karen, GREAT post!

Feb 28, 2011 10:33 AM
Julea Joseph
Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL
Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Karen, GREAT post!

Feb 28, 2011 10:34 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

You're right Janet and it's a balance that's important!

Thank you, thank you thank you Julea!

Feb 28, 2011 11:20 AM
Pelin Guzel
Dallas Homes For Sale - Plano Real Estate - Dallas, TX

Great information about social networking which is important nowadays. It is always great to have a goal like connecting with new people effectively who moved to Dallas area recently for homes in Dallas, condos in Dallas, Homes for Sale in Plano will help the area realtors to have improve Clients variety tremendously. Goals make big changes in Real Estate business as well as related businesses.

Feb 28, 2011 11:36 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Karen, 

I like this post, as when I first started, I really just thought my only C was clients.  I do love the colleagues and just the over all Connections to past clients and friends.  (I've been amazed when folks who I am friends with say they have read my blog. )  My vendor series seems to be a big hit.  

A few surprises in the C department for me, and I am good with this.

All the best, Michelle

Feb 28, 2011 12:04 PM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Hi KK: As one of the fortunate Colleagues who benefited from your friendship in early 2007 (and currently), I glad your net found me! Thank you, my wonderful friend :o)

Feb 28, 2011 12:10 PM
Tracy Lee Parker
RE/MAX DFW Associates - Royse City, TX
Buy*Sell*Rent

Karen,

I love this! I could add a "C" Church! I get a lot of business from there!! 

Feb 28, 2011 01:25 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hi Karen, terrific view of the C's, and I paid attention to the casual conversation one too as that can be a big time waster at times.

Feb 28, 2011 03:25 PM
Tiffany Taylor
Platinum Funding Group, Inc.NMLS-243033 - Irvine, CA
Platinum Funding Group

Karen,

I love your post...mostly because it made me think about something I've never considered... I always write my blogs based on what I feel I know about and what I think about... But when you really consider who you are writing to it changes everything!

Feb 28, 2011 06:01 PM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Excellent post Karen! When I first started blogging it was all staging related. I have been having way too much fun recently blogging about everything but it is time to refocus my attentions and start blogging in the "C". Thanks for this timely post!!!

Mar 01, 2011 02:03 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Karen,

Social Networking can be a little too social sometimes. It's important to keep your priorities on track by focusing on what's serving you and others when it comes to one's business online presence. Thanks for sharing your 4 C's in the C.

Peace,

Mar 02, 2011 05:47 AM
Brad Hornshaw
Brad Hornshaw Realtor Lynnwood, Bothell, Everett - Lynnwood, WA
Realtor, Listing Agent, Buyers Agent, Investments

Hi Karen

Great post every one should have a destination in mind and you layed out a great road map here..........Brad

Mar 02, 2011 10:31 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

You're right Pelin, goals are so important when thinking about your social networks & business!

Don't you love hearing others are reading what you write Michelle? It always floors me and humbles me.

The feeling is more than mutual my California colleague and cohort! It was our core group in 2007 that took me thru the ups and downs of the industry and my life personally at the time and I am forever grateful for that and so happy we've had the chance to actually meet!! oxox to you MM

Great point Tracy!

True Gary, we can get caught up and hours will fly by and we won't have done anything productive!

Hi Platinum Funding Group posted (what's your name?), I'm thrilled to know this blog helped you!

I love your fun posts Valerie - especially the supernatural related ones! So glad we got to meet this year too!

Hi Kimo, thank you for your thoughtful comment!

Thank you for reading Brad!

 

Mar 03, 2011 03:21 PM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Great post Karen! Congrat's on the AR Feature!

I totally agree with all your C's! 

I too love to social network with my colleagues but I have to stay focused if I want to grow my business!

As for the "Capital" That's a new idea to me!  Very interesting!!!  :)  Thanks for sharing your C's with us!!

Mar 03, 2011 03:25 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Hey Janice! Thank you for reading and yes capital is a nice return for "socializing in the network"!

Mar 03, 2011 03:27 PM