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The question that will not stop haunting me!!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd.

"How am I relevant?"...is the question that I cannot stop asking myself! 

Question Mark

I ask myself this question relentlessly on a daily basis.  Every time I go to pick up the phone, jump online or whatever it is that I am doing I want to be productive!  I need to remind myself that everything I do during the workday should be of some relevance to my real estate business.  Otherwise, how do I expect to grow my business if I don't keep myself in check?  I am a dedicated online real estate agent and that is where I spend essentially 100% of my time marketing myself and my clients homes.  It is because of this large amount of time and effort that the temptation to play on the net is always there.  Having sites like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace to name a few can be so very easy to get sidetracked and not be productive.  Please do not think that I am advocating not having fun or down time, I simply know myself and what I need to do to keep moving in the right direction.

Google SEO

"How am I relevant?"...is the question I ask of my SEO and marketing efforts!

With my deliberate decision to focus my business to online presence, SEO is everything to my business!  I am extremely passionate about squeezing every drop of "juice" out of the Google machine.  Can I be found everywhere?  Will potential buyers and/or sellers seek me out because of my onlne presence?  I am constantly on the lookout for new sites that can further promote my business to a very visual online real estate world.  There is so much more for me to do before I reach a page rank worth writing home about.

 

Thinker

"How am I relevant?"...is the question I ask of all my blog posts!

Active Rain certainly has given me a lot to think about in terms of the art of blogging.  Surely, everyone on AR can agree that we all glean so much just from being on here and sharing ideas.  I truly believe that a good blog can produce tangible results in terms of lead generation and ultimately sales.  I am driven to learn how to blog effectively and produce something worth reading.  Like any artist, I really want to get better at my craft.

 

This question that is so ingrained in my mind will likely never be satisfied or quenched!  Although, it may seem like I am obsessed I am simply passionate and driven to succeed.  I am haunted by the question of relevancy by choice as I want to excel at my profession.  I will never compromise my family for success and I am truly grateful for my wife and children as they keep me grounded in my everyday life!

 

Sincerely,

Jason Neumann

Posted by

Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

Very good question to keep in your head.  Anything to keep you focused on the 20% of your activities that produce 80% of your results.

Jan 04, 2009 05:17 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Jason:  I think maintaining your focus of keeping keyed in on Real Estate can be very difficult when we are online so much.  Focus is key.  Thanks for some good reminders.  Take care...

Jan 04, 2009 05:21 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jason, Results in the final analysis, that will determine your efforts. If the Results generated by your efforts are good, then you know the answer. Re: are you everywhere and does that translate to more sales? If the answer is YES then it is good. IF the answer is No, time to revisit your theory. Have a prosperous and successful 2009

Jan 04, 2009 05:54 PM
Mark Organek
And the United States of America - Mesa, AZ
It's not a game, it's your life.

Jason, I found that when I changed my website to be less about me and more about what is relevant to the consumer, my web based contacts skyrocketed.  I use AR as a learning tool to get information and sometimes, what little I contribute ends up paying dividends.  Great reminder to not get so tied up with the rankings.

Jan 04, 2009 05:57 PM
Laurie Strickland
Prudential Meridian Valley - Kent, WA
CRS, ABR, Certified Relocation Specialist

Great post Jason, I tend to be a bit of an internet junkie when I'm not out on appointments.  It is a question I will ask myself as well.  Are you doing any advertising on Facebook, that might be an idea.  If you are how is it working?  I love technology and all it has to offer but I really don't understand the SEO placement at all and need major help on how to better my placement on the web as well.  Here's to a extremely successful 2009 for all of us!

Jan 04, 2009 06:29 PM
James Graner
Residential Services: http://appraisalmo.com - Saint Charles, MO

Great way to keep your mind on the importances of your services and how your clients see you!

Jan 04, 2009 10:59 PM
Jason Neumann
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. - Kelowna, BC
Realtor - www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Mark - I agree with you 100% that information and content is far more valuable to a consumer than what it is that I say I can do for them!

Laurie - Facebook ad words are one of the cornerstones of driving traffic to my website.  I also use Google aw words and have been very happy with the results thus far.  In terms of SEO keep doing what you are doing here on AR and the dividends will come.  Blogging is a great way to get maximum web presence.

Take care and happy blogging!

Jan 05, 2009 02:12 AM
Patrick Johnson
Windermere - Bellingham, WA

Wow, great post Jason. It is really hard to know how to get the most out of the internet as far as putting your biz out there. I strugle with trying to do my best also, but am a novice on the blogging/SEO/google placement game so it is pretty frustrating. Its hard not to get overwhelmed with all the information and "how to" books.

Jan 05, 2009 06:37 AM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Jason.... I would agree 110%... it's very easy to lose site or focus, especially when online. And most of my business plan is through the internet also. For me, I just walk away from the puter... I try to keep in check that way and have learned to relax with other things than just the internet. Spending to much time on here can burn me out. It has before...  and being pasionate I think is half the battle. That is a major plus on your side and will shine through.  and yes, AR has done tremendous things for my business, both financially and in regards to netwokring with asscoiates and new found friends.  Good luck..

jeff belonger

Jan 05, 2009 06:42 AM
Mike Russell
Mike Russell Real Estate Group - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Kansas Real Estate

You have to keep yourself relevant by providing more than a buyer and seller could expect or do on their own.

Jan 05, 2009 06:42 AM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Thoughtful post, Jason.  Sounds like you have a good handle on your time management.  We all strive to make ourselves more relevant and get more business, just hope that what we do is visible to others.

Twitter

Jan 05, 2009 06:48 AM
D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

This is an excellent post there Jason.  I agree with you.  It is easy to get sidetracked in some of these social networks.  However, it is the place to be in this day and age.  I just budget my time there so it is networking towards real estate and not on silly things that they also have in facebook.

Happy New Year to you

Don

Jan 05, 2009 06:55 AM
Becky Brand
Shorewest Realtors - Oconomowoc, WI

Jason - great post and very relevant for me since I have just started delving into the whole online internet marketing world.  Like most other newbies I think I spent the first week or so just realizing how much I don't know and clicking on any post that looked interesting.  My goal this week is to come up with 2 or 3 specific questions I want answered and not float around until I know the answers to those.  Thanks for the viewpoint! 

Jan 05, 2009 07:18 AM
Gail Szeluga & JoAnna Siminerio
Coldwell Banker Realty - Manalapan/Marlboro - Manalapan, NJ
Fostering Community Spirit Through Real Estate

Great post to get me thinking.

I have a bit of an obsessive personality.  When I take something on... I TAKE IT ON!  Full force.

My most recent project has been expanding (committing to) my online presence.

I'm doing well so far, but you sure said it when mentioning how easy it is to get sidetracked.

I don't get super distracted with "fun" things, but I can get tied up for hours researching, exploring and learning about all the cool (free) ways to promote myself on the internet.

Great post!

Jan 05, 2009 07:53 AM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Congratulations of the featured post Jason.  Very true . . . being online isn't my job -- making myself being able to be found online is vital however -- it's hard to find balance!

Jan 05, 2009 10:25 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Jason, getting sidetracked is a huge temptation with all the options out there on the web.  I am like you and constantly have to keep pulling myself back to what I am supposed to be doing...twitter and facebook beckon... LOL!

Congrats on the Featured Post!

Jan 05, 2009 01:18 PM
Jason Neumann
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. - Kelowna, BC
Realtor - www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com

Thank you for all the congrats and the encouraging posts.  To be honest I am quite honored to have had one of my posts featured on AR! So much to learn and keep striving for in this business.

Kris, I am a "work in progress" when it comes to time management.

Donald, I couldn't agree with you more!

Becky, I know you will find the answers to your questions right here on AR!

JoAnna, I am guilty as charged when it comes to spending hours online looking for new innovative ways to gain online presence

Margaret, I really like your take on how we should be found online with out having to be online. 

Sharon, Facebook and Twitter are community bulding sites.  Fortunately, you can enjoy them for what they are and gain business from them as well. 

Jan 05, 2009 02:57 PM
Lara O'Keefe
North Texas Home Finders - McKinney, TX

Jason, you bring up alot of really good points. The question I ask myself every day is, "is this an income generating activity?" If not, then I focus and move on. We have to be self starters in this industry.

Congrats on the feature :-)

Jan 07, 2009 04:04 AM
Jason Neumann
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. - Kelowna, BC
Realtor - www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com

Lara, you are so right that in order to be successful in real estate you need to be a self starter.  Being passionate and driven about the business is also important!  Thanks for the congrats and happy blogging!

Jan 07, 2009 04:21 AM