What do You do with the Active Rain Network? I don't know about You...but Up until now I Blogged.....and Commented on other Realtor's Blogs...
I've been on A/R for about 6 weeks now - and its rather amazing how quickly 'blogging ' has become part of my daily routine - its like brushing my teeth!
And so needless to say, I've been chatting with my partner about how excited I am about blogging and the networking and how A/R has opened up a whole new world to me. .........
So yesterday when Gary asked me "hey do you know a Realtor in Blaine/Bellingham Washington?
Well I felt like the kid in grade school waving her arm furiously when the teacher asked a question..because I knew the answer!
At any rate, I said, "I don't know one personally yet, but.... I'm sure I can find out!" So I put out the request to see what would happen!
Well for some of you this is 'old hat'....but maybe for some it'll be 'new news'...like me!
First.... I went to the...
> Left hand column of My Blog page
> Then I Clicked on Referrals
> I Posted Details about my Clients Needs (Buyer or Seller)
> I Posted the price range, time frame, type of property and the Location where the Realtor was needed...
And Oh My....word! Within 5 minutes I had 7 A/R responses from a Realtors in the Bellingham/Blaine area.
Three left detailed phone messages....all sent e-mails....some sent resume's.....2 gave me details on 'commercial properties' by e-mail........and one even sent a fax with signed referral form, before I'd even talked to him! Talk about pro-active! I was so impressed........One hour later I had 12 responses..and by this morning 16. I have to say - I am Impressed!
So this is what I get from this...
> I have friends, family and clients talk all the time - about OTHER friends and family members all over Canada and the US - where either they're moving, or transfered, or looking for an investment or 'snowbird' home......
Heck some have even met people cross country by 'internet dating' and are partnering up and/or marrying.
> Where before I thought....'oh isn't that interesting'.....Now .....its going to be like a 'red light' going off....Stop what Realtor do I know - or can I quickly find to refer to these people........?
Just because they're not buying in 'my area'....that doesn't mean they're not going to be buying somewhere!
And now I have a resource.......that will allow me to 'recommend' someone to them.......and allow me to build referral relationships. Up till now, I've really primarily thought of A/R as a 'blog' for generating web traffic, support, encourage, sharing of ideas, learning new technologies, gizmo's and gadgets, developing relationships, making friends........
But now.....(and ok I'm sure this is obvious for some - lol - ) I actually 'know' hands on how to not only better service my friends and clients.......but develop reciprocal referrals with my fellow Active Rainers!
Wow I'm excited. Now thanks to all those Realtors who responded - too many to list.... I know where my ears are going to be tuned! Thank you!
