PLANNING FOR 2009. AGENTS AND BROKERS, THE TIME IS NOW. OR, BE LEFT IN THE DUST.

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PLANNING FOR 2009. AGENTS AND BROKERS, THE TIME IS NOW. OR, BE LEFT IN THE DUST.

AS TIME GOES ON, I BELIEVE THAT THE INTERNET WILL PLAY AN EVER LARGER ROLE IN THE BUSINESS PLANS FOR SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND REAL ESTATE BROKERS.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR 2009?

In 1994, my then broker asked "What's new with you Lenn?" I said "I'm thinking of going on the Internet." He responded with, "What's the Internet?"

In June 1995, the original version of Homefinders.com went live.

In 1995, I told folks that the Internet would change the world. No one believed me and thought I had taken leave of my senses. Real estate MD VA

By December 1995, the Internet was my sole source for new business.

In 1995, the Internet completely changed my business practices.

In 2008, the Internet completely saved my business.

I'm not bragging, merely commenting.

STATIC WEB SITE OR BLOG???

Why ask the question? Do both. After all, a blog is a web site. It's still the Internet traffic that we are seeking to reach. Spend some time on the Google Guidelines and learn how to Optimize your Internet presence.

NUMBERS DON'T LIE. Many statistical reports claim that up to 80% of consumers use the Internet for their initial real estate search. Even if the statistics are overstated and I believe that they are, if only 60% or 50% of consumers use the Internet to begin their real estate research, that's what I call a TARGET MARKET. Reach out to them in ways in which you are comfortable, a web site, a blog web site, a web site with a blog.

IT'S TIME TO GET BUSY AND PLAN FOR 2009.

Agent REAL ESTATE

ENJOY THE SLOW SEASON? OR, GET AHEAD OF CONTINUING ED and WORK HARDER AND SMARTER.

REAL ESTATE PRACTITIONERS HAVE CHOICES. We can either enjoy the slow market until the money runs out, OR, use the time to prepare for 2009 and the new real estate market.

NO MATTER WHICH type of Internet site you select to pursue, with up to 80% of consumers beginning their real estate research on the Internet, we must be there.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, e-mail. Real estate talk.

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Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland on 09/28/2008 02:58 PM

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131 Comments on PLANNING FOR 2009. AGENTS AND BROKERS, THE TIME IS NOW. OR, BE LEFT IN THE DUST.

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I hear active rain is having a blogging seminar next month in Houston. I think I will try to attend.

Lenn-there is no doubt in my mind that the internet is significant to our businesses. The point that many agents miss is that we are business owners whether we are out on our own or under the umbrella of another company. So you can't depend on someone else to do it for you. I have't mastered SEO, a fall project, but am getting the business from what I'm already doing so I'm hoping a few tweaks will make it even better. Once again you are spot on!

Lenn, Unless you have an enormous base of clients, you are screwed if you do not have an internet presence. We now broker in three states. Why? Because each market is different, one is up, one is down (or they all are Lol). To be able to build your own sites is such an advantage, I cannot imagine the alternative. Also, the internet saves you from showing numerous homes to relos, they eliminate homes and bring you a short list. Thank God!!!

Lenn--I totally agree. In 2007 when many of my friends that I started in real estate with were struggling, I started to blog. I am still in business while many of them have hung up their licenses for new ventures. I plan for a bigger year in 2009 but it will take making more changes on my part. Now is the time to plan. Thanks for the reminder!

John. I'm not of a mind to travel much any more. I have to stay close to my office. In the past few years, about the only thing that can get me away from my office is an SEO seminar. However, enjoy the seminar and I'm sure you'll benefit mightily and learn a lot.

Cindy. I believe you have a wonderful grasp of Internet marketing. You'll just get better.

Frank & Jodi. Indeed. I couldn't have said it better.

Teri. Many agents are leaving the business because they have no reliable and continuing source of business. Folks who have invested in the Internet are light years ahead.

Lenn,

So true. This is the opportunity for agents (and brokers) to establish or re-establish their presence online.... to outline a business plan for 2009. We are very happy we combing our blog with our site and can already see the benefits with our online presence versus some of our competition. Great post !

This made me laugh, when I told my brokers a few years ago, gosh only 2 I was blogging, they said, "What is a blog?" Then my daughter said, you know sort like MySpace? They said what is MySpace?

They have kids for pete's sake....what do they think their kids are doing?

Most of my business this year is from the internet, 42% of all closings. For 2009, I am going to incorporate my blog (outside) into a new website, the template sites don't cut it anymore for me. Use too but not the last few years.

I searched my competition yesterday using the post you wrote on Google. (tee hee)

Lenn, I had a website way back in 1995. It was because my IT friends told me they thought that was a great idea? I didn't know much, paid someone to set it up for me and I got tons of business from it early. Then everyone and their cousin had a website and it was not so special anymore.

My mistake was not keeping up with technology until the last year or so. I have some catching up to do, but I working hard on it. There are so many great things that can help our business today, they key is keeping on top of it.

Lenn - thanks for the history, can we do both? I am amazed at how many in my office are not taking advantage of the internet. Yes, some do hire an outside firm to set up and manage their web site, but I am the only one blogging regularly (I need to spend more time on the website).

You are so right. We have been seeing a world of success with our web site and are thriving to make it even better.

Lenn, some agents are looking at blogging as they did about the Internet in the early nineties. My sphere of influence has increased tremendously because of the Internet. It's time to get on the bandwagon.

How true. What is amazing that there are still many (including some brokers) that do not believe in the internet! Wonder how long they will be around. ~Rita

Christopher. Me too. It works. The synergy is powerful.

Missy. I love it. You've worked hard to learn Internet marketing and it payed. Me too. About 99% of my business is, as you know, from the Ineternet.

Audrey. You are so right. You can't just throw something up and wait. Yes, when I went on the Internet, I pretty much had my market to myself. Then I lost a lot of momentum when my broker sued me for my web site when I left him. But, I won the law suit and got busy and worked hard and bring in a lot of business from the Internet.

Mike. You can do both. I do and it's the synergy that works for me.

Laura. Good for you. Keep up the good work.

Lenn, in these time it is so important to be a hard worker. Those leads just don't always fall in you lap like times gone by. Your post has great advise!

Lenn...

Believe it or not, I had my first web site up in 1991. Internet Explorer was not invented, the browser was called "Mosaic." HTML was in a primitive form, no tables or CSS, pretty much formatted text and images.

We have come a long way ... and thanks for the idea! I think I'll write a post about the "good old Internet" days!

Lenn, You have been a master of the internet for a long time. I got my first website in 1999 but never really paid much attention to it. Blogging has made a big difference on my business.

BTW I think you have one of yiour dates wrong. The 2005 for homefinders going live is probably 1995.

Well, said. I started my web site in 1998 when most agents barely knew how to cut & paste. Some of them chastised me for "playing" on the computer. I've received good business from it over the years. In 2007, I started my own WP blog and it has dwarfed the presence of my web site in traffic but I use the two together. Thanks to the blog, my business is up this year. While I still keep up with doing other more traditional things to generate business, the Internet (my blog) is definitely the most crucial. Down time - if there is such a thing - is used to continue learning, tweaking, and improving both the web site and the blog for even better results.

When I meet with sellers, their main focus is 'where will my home be on the Internet'. I can't imagine how some agents handle some of the questions that I receive, because the sellers are apt to be more tech savvy than those agents. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see how they handle those questions.

Michael. I'm not concerned about what other agents don't do. I'm concerned with what I do.

Kenna. The brokers will be around because they have agents who go on the Internet and bring them business.

Marlene. Thanks. We have to continue to work hard, stay on top of the technology as best we can and work it, work it.

Almost 45% of my business this year has been because of my internet presence. You can't scoff at that. Blogging has probably kept me in business this year, because it has increased my chances of being found online.

Richard. Write it. It will be a nice stroll down memory lane. My first exposure to the Internet in 1994 didn't even have windows. It was a DOS program. Nevermind! I was hooked. Yes, I recall the early search paths, Veronica, Archie, etc. Just a bunch of lists, but being the research junkie I am, I was enthrawled at the reach and thought it would be a wonderful way of reaching relocating home buyers.

It was.

My first Internet settlement was in Nov. 2005 with a buyer who relocated from Germany.

Loved it then. Love it now.

Kelly. Good for you. I've been concentrating on the Internet for so long now, it's my only advertising source.

Elaine. That's funny. I don't list properties, but I consult with some listing agents to give their listings Internet coverage. They can't do it. They know that I can and they pay me to do it for them.

Lenn, I think that a number of agents still view the internet as something they have to do in addition to what they're currently doing, and they can't afford to do that. When I ask whether what they're doing is effective, many times I get a blank stare. If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. You need to be able to replace what you're doing if it's not working and use the money more effectively.

I'm still stunned at the number of agents who's only internet presence is the nominal website provided by their broker.

Bryant. Thanks. Corrected. Blogging is good for your business. I use blogging to enhance my Internet sites. It works.

Lenn - How true, There are those who are competing for the business that real estate agents have that are using the argument that real estate agents are not using today's technologies to help them and are in fact afraid that they are loosing market share because of them.

Lenn, I just had this conversation with my agents in our last sales meeting. Adapt, implement changes and survive, or dig in your heels, hoping a referral will come your way and fade into the sunset. It's definitely a choice but hard to watch when the wrong one is made!

Richard. I'm not amazed. I'm just pleased.

Barrie. Not everyone has to advertise on the Internet. I know some experienced agents who have such a huge following and have worked their sphere so well, they just don't need to expand to the Iternet. However, for buyer's agents, the Internet is such a good resource, it just must be added or they will lose market share.

Colleen. Only about 5% of the agents that I know use the Internet and only about half of them successfully. The consumer is way ahead of the real estate industry to embrace this media.

Fine with me.

Lenn: I am still surprised at the number of agents who don't do much or anything with the Internet. The message is loud and clear. I was at a CRS meeting the other day and was again surprised at the number who are just using websites adn not blogging. But perhaps it is working for them.

Jeff

Jeff. I believe that one can do very well without blogging. My web sites produced before I blogged. The time I devote to blogging has merely reduced the time I spent on my web sites. I have only so many hours in a day.

Web site only works.

Bolg only works.

Web site and blog works.

I use both and it works.

Featured @ Club Chaos

Great insight and advice as always. Just got back from WVAR State Convention last night and guess what our continuing education classes covered? Blogging! I am busy catching up in the rain and getting LinkedIn.

Debbie. Good for you. Now if the price of gasoline would just come down, West Virginia will be in the pink again.

My contacts for West Virginia home buyers has just about evaporated.

Great Post! And it is oh so true. Plan for the future before it passes you by.

Carol. Indeed. Successful real estate agents don't happen by accident.

Lenn: I have a fairly static web site, but I blog actively and use my blog to drive business to my web site. Building my site was such a painful & time consuming experience I am loath to take on changing it, although I would like to update it more often. Thanks for the reminder.

Lenn: You are absolutely RIGHT! I have had this feeling for a very long time as well and even my husband doubted me until this year. When other agents started leaving the business, my business flourished. I will admit that things have slowed dramatically but, like you, I am using this time to earn the designations that I didn't have time to earn in the past as well as setting my 2009 plans in motion. One simply cannot achieve success without being able to be flexible and with our business, we have to CONSTANTLY change our we lose our footing.

Great post and certainly worthy of a feature, Lenn!

Debe in Charlotte

I will CONTINUE to do both. Just as you ...the INTERNET is what kept me going through half of my transactions this year. I have received contacts from both my website and ActiveRain. People I talk to doubted me about blogging. They also doubted me about 'fixing' my website to contain correct keywords etc. ... thank you ;)

Michelle. One thing for sure, if you work your web site, it will produce better. Same thing with a blog.

Debe. Not too many features to go around. But, I love my subscribers. You're right. Agents are leaving the business or becoming less active. We can't let that happen.

I, for one, have no choice. Who would hire a cantankerous old goat?

Sally. You're a fast learner. Of course, the web site is important. Not as much fun as blogging, but important.

Thanks for the push Lenn, I can't seem to find the time to learn how to build a website, but now that things are winding down I will put it at the top of my list. Blogging? I absolutely adore blogging!

Lenn - I remember my broker giving me a funny look back in 1997 when we started working on our website. Now, I AM the broker, and the majority of our new business also comes from the internet, whether it is our primary site or my blogs. This was a concise post - nicely done!

The conversion rate for Internet clients from contact to close is really high for me. That's what I like. People who choose to work with me because they already decided they want to. I don't have to sell myself. My online marketing already does that for me.

Forget sending out 1,000 postcards to have 100 contacts to close 1 deal. What a waste of time, in my opinion. I'd rather have 10 contacts and close 8 out of 10.

I'd rather be rafting then spending time tracking people that don't want to work with me.

When I became a Realtor, about 12 years ago, I needed to take a course on word processing. I was coming back into the work force after staying home with my son for 5 years and had no clue what'd happened in the computer world! LOL

Being new to the field, I had my hands full learning how to become a proper real estate agent and didn't really pay attention to the Internet. Not a good move.

Joined AR a year ago and am kicking myself that I waited this long to start blogging. Now I am spending my spare time learning how to become a proper blogger! ;-)

THE INTERNET RULES FOR HOUSE HUNTERS:

Its amazing when you talk to internet customers that have been shopping around...

Your tone of voice and interaction is the key to success. here is a tip that has done well for me...

I asked one client months ago, "What do they think was holding you back from getting the home you want?"

This question alone has opened up more business then I can count! hope it works for you! steve

Steve H. My goodness. I just wish to get someone in the market for a home on the phone. They are MINE.

Sandy. Just jump right in. That's the best way.

Jason. I understand. Even today, I meet agents who have no Internet presence. When I mention that I plan to blog an interesting even or experience, they look at me very strangely.

Melina. I have found since 1995 that Internet buyers are the best group of buyers out there. They are smart, more qualified than not, ready for an adventure. That has not changed over the years.

Elkhart-Evelyn Johnston. Me too. Not only is it good business, it's fun.

Lenn,

We started our web site in the late 90s but not until I became active at blogging on Active Rain did it start paying off...Google juice makes things grow!!! Thanks, Fran

It has always been my opinion that the best time to grow a Business is when the market is slow to gain market share. When the market turns those that did nothing in the down times are playing catch up at that point.

Hi Lenn,

Great post. It seems that many other AR members agree and have posted numerous comments.

Don't forget me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC!"

Michael

(949) 753-7900

No doubt, in slow times, unless you have a huge client base for referrals, work on the internet presence if not already.

There is absolutely no way, period, that we'd have the pipeline under construction that we have without the website. Now we have to keep on it until it bursts. I cannot imagine a better time to be a newer company, with...ideas, than with this blogging thing and beyond. Talk about REACH- we would never have met buyers from the city, all the way out here amidst the cornfields (and tag sales).

Hi Lenn. Thanks for writing.

I am just starting to enhance my internet presence.

Just started on Facebook two weeks ago.

So much to learn!!!

Thanks agan,

Ken

Ken. Keep going. That's really all you have to do. You'll learn as you go. Most of us did.n

Laurie. I don't care where they are or where they want to buy, the Interent will reach them.

Brad and Angela. Absolutely. Starting out is certainly easier with the Internet than not.

Lenn, great advice, we are beginning to find a lot more good prospects on the internet. We admitely still have much to learn to be more successful using the internet, but we have learned a lot from writers on Active Rain and are getting more educated on it.

Tony and Darcy. ActiveRain is a tremendous source of both training and direct contact from the consumer.

Lenn great post, and you know I totally agree with you. It did change the model tremedously.

HI LENN!

Powerful information. So true, that's why I've been packing my bags and preparing to board the internet ship. Everyone (just about) uses the internet for one thing or another. If real estate professionals arent's using this medium, then they are totally missing out.

Thanks for sharing your insightful information. Have a great week!

Yvette. It's been true for about 10 years. I got a bit of a jump, but now I have to work hard to stay ahead. But, it's fun.

Jim. Indeed. Our mark in MD and VA are very good for Internet buyers. You need to move on up here. We have water and gasoline. So far.

I agree with you Lenn, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed in trying to keep up with the latest and greatest tools!!! And I have an IT background :-) Just when I think I've learned something new, 10 more products come along. But I'm here to stay, so I've got to buckle down and keep up (and beef up) the internet presence.

Tamara. I limit my hardware and software to just what I need. Keeping things simple works for me. I substitute SEO for bells and whistles.

Who knows where the internet will be with our business, but the obvious event that is occuring is that consumers are finding our value less than previous to the internet. Thus, the substantial increase of agents in the market, deluting the market. Therefore, it is imperative that our focus should be to show the world the value of a successful listing or buyer. i.e. Before it used to be all about us. How great we are....how much business we have done..blah...blah...blah. The public is not buying that with the exception of the very high end. Thus, it is our job to educate the community on what is in it for them. In my 26 years in the business, I have never seen such a high percentage of agents on the market....especially in slow times.

On the flip side, if you are a new agent, this is a great time....if not an easier time to get into the business than ever before, as the public does not see much less value of you than a $50mm producer. We get zero business from print advertising (other than branding) and we are dominating in the internet. It still goes back to basics with the internet. Even today, 75% of our business is from people we know. It is just that the touches are more electronic than ever before.

Who knows where the internet will be with our business, but the obvious event that is occurring is that consumers are finding our value less than previous to the internet. Thus, the substantial increase of agents in the market, deleting the market. Therefore, it is imperative that our focus should be to show the world the value of a successful listing or buyer. i.e. Before it used to be all about us. How great we are....how much business we have done..blah...blah...blah. The public is not buying that with the exception of the very high end. Thus, it is our job to educate the community on what is in it for them. In my 26 years in the business, I have never seen such a high percentage of agents on the market....especially in slow times.

Lenn - I think most of us here on Active Rain know that we should be blogging and doing everything we can to maximize our internet presence - but as you point out, it's not enough to keep doing what we're doing - we need to have an internet plan for 2009.

Lenn how right you are and I 100% totally agree with you. Here in MI the real estate market is cold but our internet presence has kept us hot. I have told many of my real estate friends - you can either change your way of doing business or change businesses. Some will survive but sad to say many will be left behind. Great post..but I have always been a fan of yours

Lenn,

Great post. I'm in insurance and the same applies to my industry. Over the past year, I've learned to take applications over the phone and internet. I've adjusted because I noticed the same trend. Now 80%+ of my business is generated online and I get just as much business from referrals from those interney inquiries. I would be out of business if it wasn't for the internet.

I wish I would of caught on a lot earlier though. Every night I try and improve my internet marketing, weather it's on acitverain, other forums, blogging on my other sites, learning SEO strategies and building new websites. It's all a return on investment.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Lenn ... the internet is my TARGET MARKET this next year! I can't even tell everyone all the incredible things that have happened because of blogging ... I would sound like I'm bragging ... all I can say is BLOG!!!!!

Lenn,

Recently I made a listing referral to a seller. The most important thing to the Seller was that the agent didn't just sit back- they wanted aggressive marketing. It took me awhile to find a real estate agent that would fit the bill. Why? Because there weren't many real estate agents in the area doing internet marketing and you can't aggressively market a house unless you are effective in your internet marketing.

No one is gonna change my mind on that one.

Evening Lenn, I feel a little like you in that I am about the only one in my office that feels the way you do. So far my efforts have not made a big payback but I see the future as being internet driven.

That's where I think I have an advantage over some agents. I'm in the younger age bracket, have been online since 1994 (freshman year of college) and have four personal blogs, my AR blog and my blog attached to my website. My best friend is a web designer and after the first of the year, my new site will go live. I wouldn't even dream of NOT using the net for my real estate business.

I have to rework my internet presence totally. Starting in May with a new personal website and then AR. So much to learn.

Blogging supports a good website. But blogging must be targeted and the website must guide the interested visitor to conversion.

If someone is hoping to use the internet to generate business in 2009, they need to get started now to learn the tools and disciplines of internet marketing.

And there is a lot to learn.

Richard

Lenn, I think you have an amazing business model It's making me take another look at my own! Creaky knees and all that.

You are right Lenn, internet is the way of the future. I'm all in.

Keep sending the message and more will get it but some of us are still in the 1980's wondering what happened.

Lenn, good information as always. I too have gotten many buyers from the internet over the years. However, I need to get better at internet marketing also as it has changed a lot and continues to evolve & change more.

Lenn thanks for an eye opening blog. Internet is definitely where it's at, but there is so much to learn it is hard to know where to start. Any suggestions, like PPC or what.

Good advice! I've used the slower times to get my CRS and my principle brokers is next. No sense wasting the time we have moaning about having the time!

Lenn as always... you hit the nail on the head. The internet is where we need to be and be there loudly!

Excellent post Lenn. I agree. I got so angry a few years ago when I went to REMAX. There were agents there that did NOTHING and seemed to have buyers and sellers effortlessly. They focused on new construction and working hard to appease builders.

One has left the business. She sold two listings this year. Both were my buyers. She should kiss my feet.

I am not so envious now!

Hi Lenn - I completely embraced the internet when I first started in real esate in 1997. I never wanted to be one of those agents who cold called or door knocked for business but instead belived in "build it and they will come". While I have had my share of ups and down over the years the internet and now blogging are going to be the cornerstone of my marketing for 2009 and I can attribute almost half of my business this year from the internet and the rest from past client referrals and an occasional call in to my office.

As someone who has followed yoru accomplishments thank you all of the knowledge you have shared over the past few years.

"WORK HARDER AND SMARTER" - have I ever mentioned how much I respect and admire you? This post is exactly what new people and experienced people need to read. I would flag it for featured but that's done. Wonderful, wonderful post. I could put it all in quotes and keep saying "AMEN!" but I have to point out this one, too, "use the time to prepare for 2009 and the new real estate market".

I still have people in my own family ask, "What is a blog?" The same ones rarely touch a computer, much less surf the net.

I hopped on the computer in the mid 90's, willingly, and have never regretted it. THIS IS THE WAVE of the future. Period, end of story.

Good post Lenn.

Another facet of internet exposure - something I have noticed is that our listings seem to sell better than those of many people in our office. Do you think it could have anything to do with the fact that we're on about 20-30+ web sites? I do! It's not as easy to track this because the buyers come with their agents most of the time, but I have a hunch that our presence on the 'net has helped us with our listings.

I am sooo glad we got a computer in 1995! Strange as it was then, I don't think my husband and I would be as advanced in web presence as we are for our area and office if we hadn't started then.

Lenn, you are right on the mark about using this time for planning for 2009.

Lenn, I think you are right. I am trying to continue to position myself to be seen and heard on the internet!

Would you believe there are still many agents in my mkt who believe online lead generating is not practical and a "waste of time?" They still rely on 100% traditional methods. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

-Greg

On the mark as always Lenn,

I've been trying to learn as much as I can and use this down time to implement a new game plan I'm seeing the pipe line fill and it's a good feeling. Now just a few economic hurdles and onward ho!

Lenn, you ain't whistlin' Dixie! I applaud you for your foresight. I know a couple of people that predicted it but didn't follow through like you did. Now they're sorry. Great job.

Later in the rain~Deb

Lenn,

Good reminder! Thank you.

Well Said Lenn,

Las Vegas was in the "slow" stage last year... slow times until the price drops hit and then you get overwhelmed if the planning during the "slow time" was done.

Lenn.... I just told this to two realtors this weekend, about having a huge/large internet presence... and to do it now, not to wait later... not even in early 2009.... great words of wisdom from a smart cookie... good job here.

jeff belonger

SEP

2008

Lenn,

Congrats on the feature! You're a woman of action. (I know, because you put the photo of that shotgun sitting inside your door on my blog!)

Mike in Tucson

By next spring if you don't have yourself embedded in the market place and in the Internet in your community......you are as you say left in the dust. This is why I blog...I love AR Great post.

Lenn- thanks for the kick in the .... For the past month, the market's been slow ,but my life's been on overload and I've only given minimal attention to blogging and my website. Even so, in the last two weeks, 2 out of 4 potential new clients came from the internet.

Agree with you. Print is dead and the Internet is where to keep focusing money and resources and time. All the best.

I definitely glad that you wrote this post Lenn. I was thinking about this last week as far as planning for 2009 but I thought that it was too soon. But I am still need some training on SEO. People are having a hard time finding me. Great post.

I started planning for 2009 a couple of months ago. I try to never bite off more than I can chew, so rather than trying to implement everything this year (and failing) I split up my plans.

Awesome article Lenn.

Kris. It's time to get ready for Spring market 2009. I just keep plugging away because good buyers can come any time of the year.

Lanre. My advice is always the same. Read the Google Guidelines.

Bob and Carolin. I suspect that the owners of the print media know that their product is virtually dead too. For home buyers, the Internet is the place to focus.

Marilyn. You cannot deny the obvious.

Jane Grant. Me too. I worked hard through the summer and got a slight uptick for the Sept market. Now, I'm getting ready for Spring. Internet synetgy has no end date.

Mike. Goodness. You wrote about a Rattle Snake at your front door. A shotgun was, to me, the only logical solution.

Jeff. I'm hoping for a good Spring and plan to get at least my share.

Paul. Our market has been slow all year, but there are niche markets that produce. That's where I focus my work.

Kevin. Glad to help.

The internet is the way to more business - we need to take advantage of all that it has to offer. Good Luck!

Deb. Thanks. I never rest. I keep plugging away. It works.

Cat. Thanks. I'm of the opinion that we can't wait for opportunity. We have to make opportunity.

Greg. I have no sympathy either and encourage them to just keep doing what they're doing.

Emily. Work a little bit each day and you'll be seen everywhere.

Doug. Thanks. Our Spring market begins in mid January. No need to procrastinate.

Sharon. My experience exactly. I can trace my jump ahead of many agents here to my acquistion of my first PC in 2002. I had computers earlier, but they were not powerful for Windows. DOS just didn't do it. I purchased a PG and things took off. I was the only agent in my office of 65 who had their own PC. It worked.

Lenn,

I find it interesting that some people are considering "not" having a website and just doing the blog. Doesn't seem like a good idea at all.

Hi Lenn,

I have to take some time to work on my website. It is very basic right now and I have been having too much fun blogging to upgrade like I have planned. Back to the top of the list it goes.

Norma. Indeed. That's my goal.

Diane. I agree. Either will work, but a well organized web site is often easier to follow than a blog format. I keep my web sites going because they are aged.

Google, unlike society, respects age.

Paddy. Just do it. It can be fun.

For those that cannot keep up with the times, it may be time to get another type of job. I hope 3/4 of the agents get out of the business. (meaning the bad agents)

Richard. I decided early on to not hire part time agents. Nothing wrong with part time work, but real estate brokerage takes tremendous responsibility, contract management, often fiduciary, etc.

That just never seemed like a part time job description to me.

Lenn - you are a great role model and I love reading your successes. Like many others have said I can't imagine being in business without our internet presence - so I'm curious what are your thoughts on what to focus on for 2009? Some are talking about making a blog site for each neighborhoods - any thoughts? (P.S. Congrats on being recognized as one of Real Estates Top 50 Women - I made sure I voted :)

We jumped onboard in 95 and have definetely seen an upsurge in the past couple years as i think most companies are finally getting it and jumping onboard of the wagon once and for all. There's still a few dinosaurs out there who refuse to beieve it's the future of Real Estate but they'll find out painfully in time. Many advertising companies like the real estate book, homes and land , homes.com etc are starting to invest more and more into their online presence. That is a sign that print may be on it's way out at least in the way we know it. (newspaper ads etc). If you're not already invested online, now's the time. Don't wait or the future will wash you away like yesterday's news.

Amen! I keep trying to tell print advertisers make your website better and stop killing trees with those magazines. What are the best websties that you use?

You are so right!! Back in 2007 when I started in real estate, my husband (who is in computer industry) suggested that I start bloging it took me few months to hear him out. So far every transaction I have done is because of my blog. If you are not Internet savvy you might be out very quickly

Nelva. Your husband is right. With the growth of the Internet as a source for real estate research, any agent who doesn't advertise on the Internet is ignoring most home buyers. Sellers are different, but shucks, we are in a buyer's market.

Jean. I don't know what you mean by "web sites I use".

Castellum - The future is now.

Cyndee. A serious agent cannot ignore the Internet today. BTW, I am not aware of any "Top 50" anything.

Where did you see that???

Lenn, The rest of the world knows what we already know - you ROCK - Top 50 Women in Real Estate :)

http://activerain.com/blogsview/714072/OFFICIAL-RESULTS-Top-1

I agree Lenn. I use my website as an electronic business card, a home search tool, and backlinks to my blog and other places I think are useful for potential clients. I use my blog to provide local information, give readers insight into my personality, a tool to hone my writing and Google juice. All of this combined, when consistently fed, provides credibility, additional exposure and business.

Lenn, you're right on with the need to embrace the internet. It is the here and now and if we don't embrace it we will certainly die a slow death. The results on being an active part of the internet simply amazes me day after day - it's just fantastic!

SEP

2008

Lenn- It amazes me that I am the only Realtor in my town that blogs. Many have websites but they just have them to have them. They are not a focused part of their business plan.

We were online in 1998 and we did it all wrong and thus, we did not see results. We then went offline and of course saw no difference since we were not understanding or working the internet.

We went back online in March of 2007 and that is all she wrote!

Cyndee. Thanks. I Googled "top 100 women in real estate" and there it was.

Craig. For buyer business, the Interent is a great place to "post your card".

Lynn. I suspect that many real estate folks don't embrace the Internet because they don't see tangible results.

Katerina. Blogging hasn't changed my Internet business but it has made it more fun and broadened the scope of my market reach.

How come I don't have you on my subscription? Thanks Lenn for the encouragement.

OCT

2008

I am working on my blog. It is amazing how much Goggle will do for you!

Lenn - Great advice. This is no time to take it easy, now is the time for action, education, lead generation and business planning.

OCT

2008

Scott. Goodness. I love subscribers. I rely on subscribers. There are only so many Gold Stars to go around.

Barb Indeed. What Google can do for us is the worst kept secret on the Internet.

Jennifer. I'm preparing for January 2009.

OCT

2008

I have had my Spouses-Selling-Houses.com website since 1995! Back then, almost no one knew anything about the internet. I have since added the domain, tjplace.com just because it is SO much easier for the public.

After all these years, I got an email this week that the company hosting my site is going out of business! YIKES!!! I am looking for a new company now. Oh, well, it was time for an update anyway!

Now more than ever it is time to prepare for the coming year. The market will turn and the ones prepared will profit!

Toby and John. I'd sure hate for that to happen. I just actived a new server in August. Cost me a bloddy fortune.

OCT

2008

Lenn, thank you for the information, it is very encouraging. I'm very new to this, 2nd day, and I have alot to learn. I am finding, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

OCT

2008

Lenn,

You are right on target...in just three years in real estate I am #3 in my office (out of 130 agents) and credit my web presence...both my website and my blog.

Now we can only hope that the economy doesn't totally tank!

It is all so funny when we remind ourselves of the many who surround us and refuse to think out of the box. I can recall way back when of a discussion I had with my broker about the importance of a computer to better develop our business-she wouldn't hear of it or accept it. Today you can't get her off the computer as she just loves to send us all emails-read all the advertisements-it is her new penny candy store

Playing with this remarkable too since 1978 I am surprized each and every day of the many people I meet that still have a basic phobia of how to properly make it sing. The lesson I have learned is the importance not to assume that all we send our prospects/customers/clients via the internet will be easily navigated if we are more concerned with impressing and forgetting that the key is communicating.

Currently, I am having some fun but also frustration with the active communication thru the smart phones-I was forced to get more involved as I started working with a stockbroker (at least he was one the beginning of last week) who loved to see everything on his iphone and thus expected that my responses would be as instantaneous as his-no problem with texting back something but he wanted more pictures of the properties I sent etc.

The times ahead with the many tech toys we have to better position ourselves as "Real " Pros is exciting and I am of the opinion that all of us who stay on the cutting edge of our industry will have no problem in a down market and the "sky" is the limit in our next run at a real seller's market.

Bob

Robert. The tools are important, but I don't fall for the toys. Many agents become gadget, widget obsessed and lose sight of the goal, which for me is to produce in Google SERP. I look for numbers, big numbers.

Perri. I for one don't see how it can get much worse.

Matthew. Age has nothing to do with real estate brokerage. That canard about older agents not being Internet savvy is a myth perpetrated by folks to young to know any better. Experience is what counts in real estate. Along with, of course, a decent personality and willingness to work your butt off.

OCT

2008

We have had more agents leave our company this year than ever before. It is heartbreaking! I, for one, am choosing to stick it out and "ride the wave"

Vanessa

Vanessa. Thank your lucky stars that there are fewer competitors for the little business that there is.

Thanks for posting this Lenn. Nowadays whenever you mention the words "real estate" to people....they either make a comment or a face like the skys about to fall. I, on the other hand, see this as the ideal opportunity to renew online marketing efforts and prepare for 2009!

OCT

2008

I think these last few months of 2008 set the tone for 2009. Why wait for 2009 to do all the things you need to do to be successful? We need to parlay these months into a great January and a great 2009.

OCT

2008

I agree that not having an Internet presence is like trying to walk in deep snow without snow shoes, however you can spend a lot of money on sites from companies that promise rankings, lead capture, quality service...etc. I have a great site but my provider charges me every year for the honor of him hosting the site to the tune of 1500.00 yearly then tacks on optimization charges of 1400.00 a year to have it near the first page on goggle. I have also paid 3999.00 for site that is not very user friendly and frankly if I knew now what I needed to know then before I bought into the hype I would not have purchased the site. So I don't pay the optimization charge and I have decided to not pursue using the site anymore. My question is who can I turn to and trust to not nickel and dime me when I need a site that has ranking, lead capture,etc..? My current site charges every time I want to add stuff to keep up with consumer trends, and I mean everything. Any suggestions Folks?

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Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland

Leesburg, VA

More about me…

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate

Address: Lovettsville, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Woodbridge, King George, Fredericksburg, Leesburg in VA., Rockville, Laurel, Columbia, Baltimore, Waldorf, Frederick, Eastern Shore, Bowie, Harford, Annapolis in MD. , Maryland, Virginia

Office Phone: (800) 711-7988

Email Me

Maryland and Virginia real estate agents and brokers serving buyers and sellers with experience. Search listings in Maryland and Northern Virginia and get daily updates of new homes for sale by e-mail. Contact Lenn for a tour of homes. REALTORS available every day for home tours. Homefinders network of experienced agents and brokers includes new home specialists, resale specialists and luxury home experts. We can help you with your home buying needs. Homefinders offers discounted 5% listings for Maryland, Northern Virginia home owners. Experienced agents helping buyers and sellers in the Washington Metro area since 1985.

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