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Is there truth in real estate marketing ?

How can you tell what’s truth in the Princeton real estate marketing or for that matter any marketing at all? Did you ever try the detergents that promise to take all the stains out, or those miracle creams that erase the wrinkles in front of your eyes? Did you ever write or respond to a personal ad?

I was writing this post, when in the middle of it I read the excellent post by Jeff Dowler, which if you didn’t read it yet, make sure you do. His topic in some way related to mine. Jeff Belonger also wrote an interesting post on the advertising topic.

Princeton real estate blog
Let’ get back to my posed questions which really have to do with truth in advertising. My wrinkles are all still there and so are the stains on the cloths. My dating days go back to the era before the Match.com and to the ancient times of personal ads. I never tried these ads (honestly) because they all said basically the same thing. For the guys it was: “Handsome, 6” tall, athletic, emotionally available, financially secure. Looking for marriage.” For ladies the ads were: “ Gorgeous, blond, blue eyes, 5’7”, 100 lbs., emotionally available, financially secure, looking for marriage”. My friends, who tried responding, reported that 50% of the guys in these ads were in real life overweight, married or never planning to marry, emotional train wrecks and without a job. I could only guess, that man found similar things responding to women's ads. If these people said the truth in their ads, who do you think would have answered them?

What about the “truth in advertising” and more specifically the truth in real estate “advertising”, that being the blog? This is the story that got me thinking about the topic to begin with.

Last week I wrote a post about enjoying a meal in a local seafood restaurant. Several days later I received an e-mail that surprised me. It was from a friend who read the post. She did not think that we would eat in this type of a restaurant because it was not kosher, which means adhering to the Jewish dietary laws. She thought that this post was just for “marketing” purposes.

I explained to her what our dietary practice was and that every word in my blog is true regardless of it being “marketing”. This was the end of it except for two things.

First, is the public perception that in real estate marketing you would say things that are not quite true. Perhaps there is a reason. I have seen so many claims of agents being #1, that I finally stopped figuring out what are they #1 in. This is something I have to remember, when blogging – there is a lot of baggage relating to the public views of real estate agents. Even my friend was unsure.

Second, people who are reading our blogs may or may not know us, and they can make inferences that could be totally wrong. In this case, it was a friend and it was easy to straighten things out. Through my blog, I want to communicate with people who want to buy or sell homes in Princeton. I can’t straighten things out with people I don’t know. I would probably never hear from them again.

I have to be as clear and as unambiguous as possible in my writing. If it's even possible without the body language, facial expressions, and voice inflections that are present when people talk in person. I need to remember that a blog is not a personal conversation, not matter how much I would like it to be.

This brings me back to the issue of truth in blogging. The Internet is filled with characters that live behind their screen names and may have little in common with the actual person. The idea of the Internet dating people is to meet the “real” person. Wouldn’t it be a let down to find out that he/she was not what was “advertised”? The theory behind the truth stretching is that it makes the phone ring. It makes people respond, and when you eventually meet, you can dazzle them with some other aspect of your personality and overcome the “stretching” part.

This didn’t work for me in dating. My husband, the love of my life, had to come to my door for us to meet, but that’s another story. The Princeton buyers and sellers -let's dance dating concept of marketing doesn’t work for me in Princeton real estate and in the Princeton real estate blog. I am not naive to think that “the love of my life” Princeton home buyers and sellers will appear on my doorstep. I want my phone to ring. Yes, the blogs are self-promotion, and I sleep content to know that every word in my blog is true.

Please contact Faina Sechzer at 609-553-4175 when looking for real estate, homes for sale and/or listing your house to sell, and relocation assistance in Princeton, Montgomery Township, West Windsor, Hopewell, and Lawrenceville New Jersey. Referrals are accepted.
If you are moving out of the greater Princeton area, please inquire about the countrywide relocation program.

Copyright 2007 Faina Sechzer All rights reserved. This information cannot be copied, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, displayed or published.

Posted by Faina Sechzer - Princeton, Montgomery, Hopewell, NJ Real Estate Expert on 12/08/2007 12:25 PM

Comments (93)

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93 Comments on Is there truth in real estate marketing ?

DEC

2007

Truth in advertising, Is that an oxmoron? I remember a comedy a long time ago, I think it was Dudley Moore who was an ad exec, he tried truthful advertising, He said Volvo's Their Boxy but they're safe. I always wondered why the auto industry never followed suit :)

Faina... such an excellent message, especially since I can relate to so much of it. First off, I hate to admit this, but I am single and have tried the match site. And I was on it even last month. What I can tell you is that I am honest in my profile... the height weight thing... which I can completely understand after talking to a handful of women that have made the same comments as you did. Basically, those that misled. It cracks me up, if I am 5'8" and I list myself as 6'0"... lol And that's a whole other issue and story.

But overall, you make an excellent point in regards to truth in blogging with real estate. It just makes you think. Besides, I have read many blogs about mortgages that were so untrue... just based on opinion, not fact.

On another note.... lol I think someone 5'7" and 100 lbs is too skinny... but this is just my opinion. ;o) That is a models size and weight and I have dated a few of them. But I guess it comes down to our preferences, right?

PS.... thanks for the polite mention.

Faina, I can't imagine thinking that what I read from you could be untrue. Your posts are well thought out and voice questions that I know I have. Yes, I'm making up a word for your blog -- Thought-full. Your writing considers many sides to your questions. I can see that you would be great at helping your clients to take a good look at the many aspects, pros and cons, involved in their transactions.

"Number one at what?" is a question I'd like to see clients ask any prospective agent who claims that perch.

I sometime have a hard time communicating a thought. I try to be sincere, but sometimes people read it wrong.

Hi Faina,

The moment I saw you post this, I knew you had another Feature! The public often perceives what we write as a marketing ploy and it becomes difficult to separate one from the other. We are trying to offer a service and if at the same time it provides marketing, then we are doing something right. That's just MHO!

Excellent post. Even if I could say I was first in something I wouldn't. There is always so many ways to interpret some one else words. It never ceases to amaze me when I think I am perfectly clear, I am clear as mud to someone out in the universe.

Good one Faina! Truth in advertising - some things can be true and still be worthless. For example from an advertiser on this website you can spend I think $1200 to get "certified" in short sales. The training may be okay, could even be worth $1200 but the certification is worthless. There is another advertiser who promises "four hour approvals". Possible but extremely unlikely ... like maybe one in ten-thousand. The larger the lender the more likely the small truth is made out to be global, "no closing costs", "no one can do what Nationalwide can do".

Jeff - hang in there man! Myra and I met online and just celebrated our 9th very happy year of marriage. My add said, "6 feet tall, 200 pounds, muscular, love working out, church, the outdoors, children and small animals." Well, it was true at the time!

Brett - I would extend what you said to the real estate advertising. It is perceived by the public as an oxymoron. My hope that blogging, being the much longer version of marketing, can somewhat change the perception. On the other hand, it could be just wishful thinking on my part.

Jeff - your comment is an excellent way to test the power of the Internet. You should be getting a lot of responses from single women who are "true in their advertising" and weigh more then 100lbs (that is if they can find my post):)

As far as real estate marketing and blogging, I went into it as a way of honest and less self promotional way to engage with the public and more transparent way to market. Don't get me wrong, I want to promote my services, but in my own low key way. I am not sure if it will work, as I see hype even in the blogs and even in the comments people make on someone's post. So much of "me, me, me" (let's not even open this Pandora box). I could in the end be the real naive one.

I'm with Jeff K., I have a hard time sometimes communicating a thought and occasionally people hear what I'm not saying.

Elaine - you said "I'm making up a word for your blog -- Thought-full. Your writing considers many sides to your questions." Thanks for thinking so highly of my writing. I learned from my relatively short time of blogging that the issues that are on my mind are very often on the mind of others. Hopefully it could bring more clarity and understanding, once they are put on the table, so to speak, and looked at and discussed.

I did not do any personal real estate advertising, which may or may not work for others. I just could never see what my ad and my picture could say that would make someone call me. May be if these creams worked better on my face, it would be a different story:)

Faina-You have really found your way with blogging. After reading your blogs I always find myself asking many important questions. One now, being, "what do I want to come across to my readers"? I keep saying that I need to focus more on localism and somehow I haven't found what exactly it is that I want to write about. I'm trying to find some things that are individualized and not exactly what others may be sharing in my community. Hmmm...a lot to think about. Have a wonderful weekend.

Nicely done. It's a constant struggle to be seen as authentic in a business not know for being so! Julie hit it on the head for me... What do I want to say?

Jeff Kessler - communication is difficult even when you are siitting across the table from another person and look them in the eye. Blogging communication is harder yet for we don't see the people and have no idea of how they are reading what we wrote. The same sentence could have so many different meannings.

I try to write clearly, but mostly I make sure that my facts are true.

Marry - In personal conversations, and sometimes even in the comments on other blogs, I say "Do I understand, that you are saying XYZ?"

Very often it clarifies things. I may hear: "No, this is not what I said, or meant". It's just a communication idea that worked for me.

Lisa - you need to teach me how you know about those Feature things:)

On the subject of the post -it could be a challenge to figure out what is a marketing play and what is service, what is genuine and what is hype? Do you see the hype and the stretching in the real estate blogs? If you do, then others probably do too.

Add to this all the negative baggage that the real estate profession has, rightfully or wrongfully, and it makes the challenge even harder. My answer has been to say the truth, and keep the "me,me" part as low as possible. I don't know if this approach works for selling real estate, for we all try to promote ourselves. It works for sleeping well:)

Melanie - I hear you. My take - if you are first in something, sure go ahead say it, provided that it's important to whoever you are talking to and that it says precisely what you are the first in. If it's the "top producers club of 2003", I am not sure what that would mean for the buyers and sellers. MHO.

Ken- I could have already answered your comment in response to Melanie. I agree there could be advertising claims that are true, but don't have much meaning for the intended audience. An example: "I am #1 in the ABC company bronze Club in listings in 2002". Does that make the seller real confident?

My broker has this magnet on his fridge from a local realtor. Her tag line is "Satisfaction guaranteed". I asked him why he put another agent's card on his fridge. He said because it was so funny. There is no way a realtor can guarantee satisfaction. There are too many things out of the realtor's control. How can she guarantee that the neighborhood will not go down in the next 5 years, or that major problems won't arise with the home that were missed in an inspection. But why bother with an inspection when your satisfaction is guaranteed. Is this marketing dishonest? Kind of funny so I thought I'd share it.

For updated information about the Pensacola real estate market, visit my blog at Pensacola Real Estate News.

Jullie -you must be my blogging sister. That is exactly the question I was asking in my post yesterday "What blog is right for you?"

That post helped me clarify the answer for me. What I do with the newly found clarity is a whole other thing. Probably write another post?:)

Josette - you got it, friend. I mean the issue in your words of "constant struggle to be seen as authentic in a business not know for being so!" My answer, as i said before, is to keep it true, and make the "me, me" part small, if I can help it. My natural tendency is towards the "secret" agent, hoping to be discovered for my good works. That one I know does not work.

Faina - This was very nicely stated, and a creative post. I also try to be very careful about the words I choose so as not to be ambiguous. I like the analogy you used. Keep up the good work, my friend.

LOL.... Ken.. thanks man.... but as so many say, it happens when you aren't looking. I honestly think that it's a great way to meet more out there in finding someone. Unfortunately, I have found that so many use it as a social networking site and don't care why they meet... but just to see how many they can meet. I could be here forever on that one. But yes, it can work for some, as it did for you. that's awesome.

Faina.... in regards to many responses.... none.. LOL Maybe my profile seems to fake, yet real... But it is actually me.

In regards to the fact that you don't do any promotional blogs about yourself. I think it all depends on how you look at it. This blog shows another part of who you are. In reality, I think it's okay to write about yourself, promoting yourself,... if it's really who you are and what you are saying is real. This is just my .02.

The Internet is filled with characters that live behind their screen names and may have little in common with the actual person.

Now....that statement says it all.... So often the online persona is unlike what the person is....face to face. I keep going back to TLW's group and post about the Psychology of Cyberspace. That has helped me tremendously to relay what I need to the consumer with a little bit of personal side. I just landed another client last night whom I will be showing property tomorrow....because of the INFORMATION and the PERSONAL side together. It's not hard to decipher when one writes about the Real Estate Industry or our area and it looks like it was book written. Great insight into the online blogging personal and techniques you are grasping to write to your audience.

Karl - you are right - it's very funny. I am not sure real estate agents can guarantee satisfaction, especially in todays market, when everyone is dissatisfied with the value of their property. Agents can't take the real out of real estate.

Jason - there is always something that is possible to be misinterpreted in the blogging world. It happens on posts and with comments, when things are taken the wrong way. Hopefully there are less of those, then the ones where your message is taken just as it was intended. Thanks.

Faina, great post that's pushing me to seriously consider this issue. I'm challenged by positioning myself as both extremely professional, yet fun to work with. I have extremely strong opinions about how agents should counsel their buyers and sellers. I feel as if it's my personal duty to dispel and correct every negative perception about realtors and I take this very seriously! How to come across to the consumer? I haven't tackled much consumer blogging past the market report forum!

Must consider this more seriously for early 2008! Thank you for the inspiration!

Jeff - I am tempted to write a story about how I met my husband -very unconventional. I"ll have to sit on that thought.

The whole blogging thing is a way of self promotion, and of course I am part of it. I wrote before about being the "secret" agent - I do not promote this models as the smartest way to do business. I totally agree with you on writing that reflects in your words " if it's really who you are and what you are saying is real". Thanks for your contribution to this thread.

Faina.... my pleasure.... please send the $10 to __________. lol

Okay, just being silly. But seriously, you wrote a good thought provoking post. Hence why it was probably featured also. And if you don't want to share how you met your husband on here, you can tell me at the gathering in Philly next week. ;o) No excuses... and if so, you can send it in an e-mail.

Without truth as the basis of our marketing approach, how can people know what we're about? If we owe our clients & customers honesty, why not the general public? Thanks for your post on how this affects us at AR. Without a high standard of truthfulness, AR would be seen as so much hot air in the eyes of consumers.

Excellent post and insightful, you really don't know the people behind the screen. But, after I while on AR you do get to know so many people that you meet in real life that are exactly the same.

I have never done promotional advertising either. I've always been a what you see is what you get.

Faina, excellent post- thank you. It's so difficult to be objective when the writer knows the point that he or she is trying to make, without the certainty that it won't be misconstrued. Great food for thought.

It's interesting because I regard my blog as a window into who i am. I don't shy away from politics and I have talked about my tennis coaching as well. THAT to me is what a blog is for. You don't know me - but if you read my blog you'll get a very good idea about who I am.

Faina-- I think being truthful is the way to be in a blog or in life. It's refreshing to read your blog and it's message. By the way, I'm not the #1 mortgage guy in N.J.--just someone like you trying to do and promote the right way to do business--thanks--mike

Absolutely incredible post. This is something we all must keep in mind when posting, you never know who could be reading what we are saying and how they will interpret it.

This is a great post...the truth will always prevail!

Sally -congratulations on your new client. This is a obviously a testimony to the fact that you found the right mix of information to provide in your blog so that the consumers can find you and relate to you. Thanks for your comment.

Jeff - i will consider writing about how I met my husband. I am not sure that Princeton real estate buyers and sellers will be too interested, unless they want to meet a husband:)

Antoinette - you said: " I feel as if it's my personal duty to dispel and correct every negative perception about realtors". Is that something that you write about? Did I understand you correctly, that your blogging has not been very consumer oriented, or did I miss something?

I would like to know more about what inspiration this post provided for you:)

Marsha - you said:"Without a high standard of truthfulness, AR would be seen as so much hot air in the eyes of consumers". I agree completely. Thanks for your comment.

Missy - I have the same feeling about many people on AR even though I didn't meet them yet. As my story illustrates people, even sometimes friends, question real estate profession and what our marketing is all about.

Laurie - it was kind of eye opening. What I took from this episode is that once you put yourself out there in whole big world of the Internet, there's bound to be misunderstanding from time to time. That's why for me the most comforting thing is to know that my blog contains the truth as I know it. I just have to be mindful of trying to be as clear as possible.

Great post. I think truth is something we all struggle with. Sellers especially always wants us to represent something that is not quite what it seems.

Simon - that was so great when I found AR and this new way of "marketing". I thought that this was perfect medium for me, so that like for you my blog can be, using your words " as a window into who i am." I still firmly believe in this concept as far as the blog being true reflection of my ideas and facts.

Michael -thanks for your comment. It is refreshing for me to hear you say, and I paraphrase "I am a regular guy, just trying to do the best job I can". I am used to hear the opposite "i am the best, I am the best". You got it, friend -I am just a regular "girl" truing to do my best.

Don - you said : " Absolutely incredible post". Thanks for the kind of words and I am glad you enjoyed it.

Jeffery - you said:" This is a great post...the truth will always prevail!". i can't do better then that. Thanks.

When people contact us from reading our work, much of the time trust is already established. That was really cool the first time we noticed it. When folks think they know us through our blog, that's usually a good sign that we are writing clearly and passing along both ourselves and our intentions like we want to. But you are right, how do we know how many we turn off? Truth is of course, we never will, and as long as each of us is taking the highest road we can, those that get it, and contact us from it, are the very people we want most to know.

Good post, and thanks. Wish you the best of holidays, Faina.

DEC

2007

Faina - I am happy that I have come across your post --I enjoyed it and it will be useful as I continue on my blogging ways. Thank you:)

Faina - great post and extremely important in our little online world. Thanks for sharing your seafood rest story, too - pretty amazing that she really thought your post was made up.....

The truth is you cant ever make EVERYONE happy. You will win some and loose some with your blog. You probably only want to work with the people who are attracted to it. Be truthful and be yourself Great way to make us think about what we are saying.

Alayna - presenting something, for example a house, at it's best I don't consider truth stretching. It's kind of like ladies putting make-up to look better. Everyone understands that. Stretching the truth in other ways is what I see as an issue, although I understand that we need to promote ourselves as well.

I have not even attempted to target any market in my blogging here. I choose to use this site primarily as an opportunity to communicate with my peers and write from my heart about what I am feeling and experiencing at the time. This makes it easy to just be me and to be honest and sincere. Marketing yourself IMO is projecting your strengths to meet the needs of others and often times by it's very nature requires exageration to make an impact. I don't think it is dishonest if it has some basis in fact, but, I think the public has become numb to slogans etc. and really just wants to know how you can help them in this difficult market. Again I think a direct, no hype approach works best. I sell properties that are for the most part from $500k-5M and I am still the same as when I am selling a $150k home. I am not your typical Realtor. I don't run around dressed to the nines or drive a Mercedes etc. I have a reputation for being a no nonsense, can do person and more than anything else folks that work with me know that I will be direct and honest and they can relate to that. I never sit and wait for the phone to ring. Most of my business now comes because I am known in my area and people refer me or find me by reputation. I am a former New Jerseyite. Born and raised there, and Princeton is a tough market. You have such a diverse cross section. Good luck. BTW< if anyone I know needs service in your area I will keep you in mind. My Jersey roots often have people asking me for RE advice and of course I can't handle their needs from TN.

Gary -you have awesome blogs and taking the high road is always what I try to follow. The incident I described underscored the point for me even more. The perception of the real estate marketing lets just say is not the highest. My blog has not resulted in business yet, so I don't have the feedback in that way. I am happy that the things I say represent the truth the way I see it and the facts are correct.

Faina,
To be totally honest (and I do try very hard to do that), I think the public is skeptical of our blogs because of all the hype, deceit, and dishonesty on the internet. It is going to take a lot of hard work and persistence to win their trust.

Aziz -I am glad you found this useful in some way. BTW -the pictures on your blog are funny. Thanks for commenting.

Courtney - she didn't think it was totally made up, she just thought that we only ate kosher food, and this was a non-kosher restaurant. She couldn't understand. You see how easy it is to have a misunderstanding:) I totally agree with what you said, that it's:"extremely important in our little online world". Thanks.

Kim -I can't agree more with what you said:" Be truthful and be yourself". There will be misunderstandings and like you said, you can't please everyone. The question is to reconcile the need for self-promotion with the hype and truth stretching. As I said, it didn't work for me even when I was dating. Thanks.

Gayle -I am so glad you commented on this post, which gave me an opportunity to find you (there are so many people here) and read your blog. Your blog is very open about issues you are facing, and like you said it's directed to the AR members. I am so sorry that you have the health issues. It puts all the other issues we are discussing here in perspective. There is nothing more important then health.

You have an established business in your area based on referrals. You may just enjoy then the social part of AR and meeting a lot of wonderful people. Like you said, Princeton is a very tough market and especially for people who are relatively knew to real estate. I appreciate you thinking of me for anyone headed in the NJ direction.

Faina -Excellent post. Yeah, I am sure some think of this ' as "fictional" rambling but for most of us, it is the truth. We share our personalities as well as our business practices and hope people will recognize it for what it is!

This is off topic but since you asked:

Hyrdoderm actually does reduce wrinkles and makes your skin look and feel firmer. I tried the free sample and I've been using it ever since.

Cynthia - I may be right, but I wished you were wrong, you know, what I mean... I have put in a lot of work in this blog, but I may need to change focus on very local info, this may be more of what consumers are interested.

Gary - Internet is a difficult thing to figure out, but the presence of so many real estate blogs says that it works for some for business and for others for other reasons. We, the blogging, are still a minority. I wonder what that means ...I hope that it's not that others know better:)

Andrea -you have the age advantage over me, you probably don't even have wrinkles:). Thanks for the heads up - I need all the help I can get in the wrinkle department:) I will check out your suggestion.

Thank you for the post. It is ajida (?spelling) an italian word I think. It is like that feeling when you put something out there that is not true in whatever you are doing or you are not sure of the information. You get agida. I think they mean sick to your stomach. The only way is the truth. Thank you for the great post. I have taken care of my wrinkles and I am turning 60 tomorrow.

Some people put in their marketing what would attract the consumer the best. Another for me is the outdated pictures that real estate agents use. What a surprise look on their faces when they see you in person.

This is a great post! Statistics can be manipulated in so many ways that companies can usually make them come out to show that they are #1 or that they sold so many dollars worth of products etc. Or, how about when an agent markets that a property is beautiful and in great condition and you get there and the house is falling apart. There is a lender in our area that emails agents frequently and he always signs his emails with "your realtor friendly lender". I kind of take offense to that. I mean, are all the other lenders out there working against us?

I have a hard time explaining to home buyers that the new home they saw listed for $350,000 is really $500,000 because the $350,000 model advertised is their smallest model of which they build only one on their very worst lot.

Some builders in my area are famous for advertising low base prices.

There's one builder here that advertises the price of the improvement and doesn't disclose in the ad that it doesn't include the lot.

Pat - we are in agreement about the truth. Wrinkles? -I am always open to suggestions:) Thanks.

Robert- in the consumer marketing brochures I see the difference between taking beautiful pictures and making the house look the best it can be, and misleading an untrue information. thanks.

I think this is why the terms transparency and authenticity are being used so much in describing what works!!! It is an interesting medium :>) Nice post and well deserving of being a feature!

Christina -it's an old adage about statistics -you can always make them look favorable to ones point of view.

When we take on marketing the property it's our job to make the house looks the best it can be. The marketing skills lies in finding the most attractive features, even if it's a wreck -may be it makes it affordable. It is different then misleading and untrue. Thanks for your comment.

Lenn - the builders are such masters at this. It is so hard for people to see that what they will be getting are bare walls, and no- all these moldings are not included, the sun room is an extra $50k, and so is the basement. I just dealt with a home where the new ones are sold for $430k and you can easily spend another $270k and that would not include the beautiful drapes and colors, etc. This can turn into a long response, so I'll stop, but I share the sentiment. Thanks for your comment.

You know, the truth can be so much more fun than untruth. I can understand a little spin, but the truth needs to be there and discernible. So, I can say I look better than the average troll...

Faina, there's a definite connection between truth in dating and truth in advertising. We may "make the phone ring" for a date - but our date will soon discover that our photo was from 15 years ago and we're not independently wealthy!

The harm has already been done with real estate advertising - almost everyone already believes that it's inherently dishonest. That's why "#1" claims are totally ineffective.

Faina, I'm glad I came back to check on your response. Your post has pushed me to think more intently on what to blog to the consumer -- I'm certain I'm about as authentic as them come! I'm dissatisfied with how REALTORS are perceived as deceptive and have a mission brewing inside me to illustrate to consumers how to distinguish a true professional from the "riff raff" as quickly as possible.

Give them a way that provides true insight on how to see past the smoke and mirrors that some agents spin, to the consumer's disadvantage - both buyers and sellers. I do have a few ideas already...thank you for getting me started!

Great post - It makes me stop and think before I blog. I have had a bit of writers block. I usually write relating to my business and transactions.

I am with you. What I have to offer is that I will be an advocate and advisor to my clients. I think those who try to be all things to all people are those who don't succeed!

We also try to get the truth out(6'2" and 190 at least, several listing that have not sold and when they sell I will be financially secure.) Do buyers really fall for that line? Thanks

Faina, I've always joked that I'm not smart enough to lie. I am who I am. Truth always!

There is truth in my marketing anyway. come buy my listings they are the best in town.

If you read articles about marketing you will find that most consumers do not relate to the FRILLY stuff that most agents write.

DEC

2007

I guess I'm naive, because I tend to believe what I'm reading is true. If it isn't, the writer gets found out sooner or later and they move on.

Faina- Congrats on your feature! I totally agree with Gary and have the same experience. People who contact us because of our blog, already know, like and trust us and we do not have to 'sell' them, they have already made up their minds to work with us. This is the best and easiest way to gain loyal customers. We get our listings over the email this way from out of town folks through our blog too. Great post! Be truthful, Of course, it is fun to make a joke once in a while as long as it is obvious. Katerina

Faina - The written word is easily mis-interpreted. Just think of the emails you've probably sent with one thing in mind, only to have the recipient read something entirely different into it. I'm sure that's equally true of blogging - and perhaps even more since, as you pointed out, our blogs are being read by strangers. How could you have guessed that a restaurant review would be interpreted negatively! Admittedly, I'm probably not as careful about my AR posts as I should be, but I try to re-read my local blog posts repeatedly to edit for anything that might be offensive. But some things probably slip through, because there's always a glass-half-empty person out there looking to find fault.

Faina, nice post. I appreciated the time you took to make this post comprehenisve on the subject. I so agree with you and I am reminded to always keep in mind when we are writing. I thank you for this post and the sincere perspective of your writing. It is helpful to us all.

I think you are one of the leaders in the new marketplace. Solid fundamentals and real service are going to be the cornerstones of the new marketplace.

I enjoyed reading your post. I think there is a fine line in truth in advertising.

Great post, Faina. There is a lot of truth here, and it is important to make sure we are not falsely advertising ourselves or any aspect of who we are when we are out in these social networks.

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Lane -the thing with the truth is -that each of us has to know that it's truth, sometimes it's fun and sometimes it isn't. If someone questions it, there is nothing we can do.

Brian- that's why I never understood the claims of being thiner or taller, if it's not the case. I agre that there is a lot of damage already done to the perception of real estate marketing as being truthful.

Rebeca - there is probably less chance of a misunderstanding in a localism post, but it happened to me, so it can happen. Did you get out of the writers block?

Joan -you said: What I have to offer is that I will be an advocate and advisor to my clients." Thats' my models as well.

Terry -we all want to believe in the ideal, so my guess is that some consumers may believe the various claims, but others are already skeptical.

Carol - me too, even when I was a kid. As an adult I think it takes too much emotional energy, that I would rather put into something else.

James - I am sure they are.

Allen -why are they then continuing ti write the frilly stuff? Some one must be responding, I am not sure.

Fran -I agree. When they move on they are probably disappointed and may not come back.

Katerina - I joke, it makes things easier in life. Even with a joke I make sure it's clear that it's a joke.

Margaret - the misunderstandings can surely happen. There was already one even on this thread.

Jeanean -thanks, I am glad you enjoyed the post.

Tim - you said: " I think you are one of the leaders in the new marketplace." Thank you so much for these kind words. I do believe that it takes honesty, "technical" ability and service to make a difference in this industry. The difficult part for consumers is to find those who really deliver it, since everyone makes such claims.

Ginger -thanks for reading and commenting.

Brian - social networks are like anything else on the Internet -one can choose exaggerate and stretch the truth or not. Real estate agents want to meet potential clients, so it would make sense to be real. Thanks for your comment.

Faina,

I agree with your post. I not only stopped trying to figure out what the agents are #1 in, but also how can so MANY be #1 in one neighborhood! That's because I'm trying to determine what one local agent, billing themselves as "Famous", is actually famous for.

So many agents play the symantecs game that I'm surprised (or maybe I'm not) that customers/leads don't take everything a real estate says with a grain of salt.

DEC

2007

Faina, Funny thing about the "truth." There is never a time when it isn't in your best interest to tell the truth.....especially in marketing.

Good post, hope things got situated with your friend. I did utilize match, and found my husband on there!

Keep your blogs coming.

Heather

DEC

2007

Faina- Integrity is the one thing that people can't take from you. (According to my best friend, there is something else as well, that's another story.) As Realtors we must keep it real. We aren't used car salesmen. ( I was once one, so don't anyone get in a huff.) I left that business because even when I was telling the truth, the public distrusted me. Keep your integrity above all. Tell it straight. Good Post. Thank You

Faina- Truth.....so elusive for some people that they try to embellish it, or their "truth" doesn't match others perceptions because of limited understanding of social norms or mores. I am late, quite late to this Post, but today as will be tomorrow, the message is clear. Thank you, and it is obvious that you are a "thinker."

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