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Beware Of Social Media And Blogging Addiction

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

November 22, 2011 03:23 AM

I'm on the Internet and I can't get off. Web based applications that now drive to mobile devices are becoming MORE addictive with our time cause of the easier access to us in our 24 hour day. BUT

Beware Of Social Media And Blogging Addiction.

The core thing to understand in allocating just the proper amount of time with social media (Facebook/Twitter) and blogging is WHY are you doing it? Staying in touch with friends, promoting yourself, reading, sharing and learning? How much is enough, where instead of OTHER things in your life you are deriving emotional hits, starving for attention or feeding your loneliness with strangers? Do OTHER activities in your life besides the computer. Balance is the key.

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Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Alan: Ha Ha... we ALL can relate.

Marge: I had the same thing way back when with CompuServe discussion threads.

Wanda: If we are enjoying ourself it is probably fine but the time clicks along and the OUTSIDE world is getting heavily neglected you know.

Jenifer: Just REMEMBERING there is MORE than just the computer in our life.

John: When you step back and even YOU conclude you have spent too much time on the computer then you know it is getting out of hand. Look at how many people tweet at restaurants and such. Gets crazy.

Nov 22, 2011 04:22 AM

Li Read

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC

Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Good reminder! I call this our editing function...it's up to us to create the "when" in a ceaseless sea of data.

Nov 22, 2011 04:54 AM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Gary,

I love the photo of the little one..so true! There is a balance that must be found or you'll find yourself married to the computer!! Suggested!!

Nov 22, 2011 04:58 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Li: The sea of data as you point out can wash over us and send us out to sea. We have to remember these are tools and WE are the ones in control. It all started I think with email overload and then it went to commenting and tweet overload and automatic updates of people's Facebook messages 24/7. It is never ending for sure.

Dorie: I know I don't want to be shackled to the computer even IF the SmartPhone seems to be in my pocket all the time. Everything in moderation and we will be fine.

Nov 22, 2011 05:58 AM

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Gary you hit the nail on the head as usual ,,social media is fun and important but lets not forget personal contact .There is nothing like it ..face to face and a smile goes along way..

Hannah

I hit the feature button

Nov 22, 2011 06:24 AM

Charles Perkins

Charles G. Perkins, CPA - Burien, WA

I've had to make a number of choices regarding where to spend my time. Social media has exploded and it is easy to spend 24 hrs on the internet.

For me these days Facebook gets almost none of my time.

Nov 22, 2011 06:29 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hannah: PERSONAL contact in our local area is very important. Reading all those non verbals like real smiles.

Charles: So true, it all comes down to our own individual choices !!!

Nov 22, 2011 07:05 AM

Lynda Eisenmann

Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA

Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Gary,

Your last graphic made me laugh...not sure if I'm addicted or not, but I do know one thing...at times when I'm not online I feel like I'm missing my friends.

Nov 22, 2011 09:42 AM

William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It is a habit forming activicty. In the right application, it can also be very profitable

Nov 22, 2011 10:44 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I think those lines for facebook are pretty thick. Not that I would know anything about it, hahahahha. But it makes me feel oddly attracted to facebook -- where I rarely go -- LOL.

Nov 22, 2011 10:47 AM

Michael S. Bolton

Michael S. Bolton,Inc. - Zimmerman, MN

MN Appraiser

Gary, You're right, trying to find that balance is the key. I gave Facebook a break for a couple of weeks, and I survived, but I'm curious what the heck everyone is up to.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 22, 2011 11:11 AM

Cherise Selley

Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realtor

Gary,

This is why Cherise and I have diminished our blogging on AR. We've not noticed any slippage in rankings and 20 blogs per month allow us more freedom to do other human activities, besides sitting behind the computer keyboard... g

Nov 22, 2011 11:34 AM

Peggy Wester

Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI

Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

Love the top photo. And yes, this online stuff is addicting. I think the best thing is to put aside a specific time each day to blog, etc. Helps keep the balance.

Nov 22, 2011 12:01 PM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Happy Thanksgiving…. I wish I had time to comment, but I will be back later in the weekend.

Nov 22, 2011 02:44 PM

Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ

NJ Home Stager

Gary - funny you should bring this up - Michael Thornton and I were just discussing this on the phone today and both agreed that while it's important to market ourselves using social media, when you start neglecting your family or work, it's time to get off the computer! Everything in balance - that's my motto!

Nov 22, 2011 02:57 PM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Gary - and allocating is the most difficult thing. Even with AR only I more and more feel that I am spending too much time.

Nov 22, 2011 05:03 PM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Gary, step away from the electronics! Shoot, I have to say that I've been busy enough with real estate lately that I honestly have been neglectful of the whole commenting thing....however, as Kris and I talked about today (she gets around, huh?) if you're busy with BUSINESS, that's the whole point!

Nov 22, 2011 05:38 PM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very good advice. The holiday season is a good time to step back and enjoy our personal lives. Many of us spend too much time in front of the computer.

I am using an orange dahlia in my post in honor of the birthday of our friend Rob Thomas in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia.

Go VOLS!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dahlia Show at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, Maryland. Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Nov 22, 2011 11:31 PM

Stephanie Stringer

First Choice Loan Services NMLS#210764 - San Antonio, TX

Mortgage Loan Originator

Gary- Good advice. I know I can sometimes get carried away on facebook and by the time, I know it hours have slipped by. Love the picture of the baby and his shirt. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Nov 23, 2011 04:43 AM

Norma J. Elkins

Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN

Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team

I agree with the rest - Facebook can eat up way too much of my time. We certainly have to discipline ourselves. Thanks for sharing.

May 31, 2012 08:59 PM