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Conversations Are For Everyone

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision

Lately I have been reading more posts about automating the process of social networking and blogging.  The time crunch is starting to feed a mentality of an I ROBOT process online.  Automation seems to be the only answer to a harried business professional looking for the key to slow this online pace down.  Fear is fed to those who haven't engaged in blogging, "It's just not for everyone", some say.

I say Beware of Automation.  Conversations Are For Everyone.

Allow me to bend your ear.  Have a Listen,

Are you willing to let down your hair and reach out?  Consumers are willing to climb out from their Hummers and reach back.


Oh Rapunzel let down your hair and find a genuine way to have conversations with people.

 


All these three methods can be used as a standalone, in tandem would be better, to have conversations with consumers.  All three can be syndicated to blogging platforms.  All three can be part of your social media marketing strategy. 


Microblogging, video blogs, podcasts are all conversation starters and they are all effective.

 

The time is now.  Online it's personal and it's your brand.  When you hear that you can't and that you have to automate or you have to find someone to do it for you.

 

That's just crap. 

 

Conversations are for everyone. Come on and engage there's a big wide borderless world ready to receive you.


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What method of communication is best for your business?  Real Skillz can answer that question and in no time you will be having conversations regularly, fluently, and comfortably...conversations that create relationships that lead to community building business.  Call #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@realestateskillz.com.

Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA
I agree that conversations are for everone! This automated process trend is for the birds! Michael
Jan 26, 2009 04:53 AM
Goodbye Active Rain
Out of Real Estate
Rebecca, Great insights. I like reading your posts. Thank you!
Jan 26, 2009 05:02 AM
Walter Grewe III
Long and Foster Realtors - Roanoke, VA
Realtor, SFR, A-REO, Roanoke Homes and Real Estate
Automation eventually turns people off, remember when the first automated phone systems came into play, it was a great novelty. Now people hate them and do everything they can to avoid them.
Jan 26, 2009 05:02 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life
Hi Rebecca-Automation has it's place in the world but nothing can replace the human touch and voice. Great post. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Have a blessed day :-)
Jan 26, 2009 05:09 AM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Rebecca- I love your header on your blog! I am all for you, taking your back, 100% with your words on this post:)

Jan 26, 2009 06:25 AM
Kim Peasley-Parker
AgentOwned Realty, Heritage Group, Inc. - Sumter, SC
Rebecca- I truly feel automation can get you to be too repeatative and in trouble with the consumer. If I google something and come up with several blogs, I expect each one to be different. What happens if suddenly, the top five or ten are the exact same blog word for word by the same person. Makes me wonder what they are doing. As a consumer, it would really frustrate me. Great blog and topic.
Jan 26, 2009 07:18 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!
Rebecca Sounds cool, I use Odiogo but it is synthesized with a mans voice Sincerely Tom
Jan 26, 2009 08:08 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Bonner- Thank you.  People prefer all different mediums, so I try to mix it up.

Michael- Exactly.  I would rather not walk under the trees and get rained on:-)

Jan 26, 2009 09:41 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Tony- Thank you I enjoy the company.

Walter- Good analogy.  We don't want the consumer to be trying desperately to zero out.  In our case they will just walk out and on to the next.

Sharon- Thank you.  I agree that there needs to be some automation, but not as a replacement and not to where we sacrifice the customer experience and making relationships.  There is nothing automated about good relationships.

Jan 26, 2009 09:44 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Katerina- Thank you you are true blue and I know that customers choose you because they get to KNOW the REAL YOU.

Jan 26, 2009 09:45 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Kim,

What would happen if the consumer picked up the phone just to realize in conversation that you are not who they thought you were because someone had been blogging for you.  It's crazy.  I know if I had been doing that I  wouldn't have the wonderful clients I have had the pleasure of working with. 

The r.e. industry doesn't need any more loss of credibility with consumers and neither do marketers.

Jan 26, 2009 09:48 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Tom,

I have seen the Odigo tool and tested it.  It has it's place.  I like podcasting because I don't write what I have said exactly and I don't say what I have written.  It gives my posts a different dynamic and I hope that engages more conversation in some cases.

Jan 26, 2009 09:49 AM
Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

I have just got to break into the video blogging.  I am shopping for a camera now.

Jan 26, 2009 02:08 PM
Danny Thornton
R & D Art - Knoxville, TN
WordPress Guru

Rebecca, automation is not a bad thing when it is used right. In each and every social network or media, there is an alert function that will allow for the conversation to continue.

Jan 27, 2009 06:20 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Larry- Awesome.  I have a flip and a smaller video camera.  I have my eyes open for a better system though. 

Danny- Those reminders aren't bad, it's not syndication, or drip email, or recorded webinars that concern me.  It is the robotic type functions that remove all personal delivery from the equation.

Jan 27, 2009 06:26 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

It is those that do not have a social media marketing strategy that will be left behind. I try to use all the mediums of communication to better my business.

Jan 27, 2009 07:32 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Yeppers, you are right, blogging just doesn't feel as warm as a voice.  It may tell someone they are interested in what you have to say but certainly doesn't replace the voice inflections.

Jan 27, 2009 10:15 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Bill- You don't try, you execute and you do very well at it.

Evelyn- We can have conversations online in many different ways....the key is to have them:-)

Jan 28, 2009 04:13 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Hi Rebecca, I agree that conversations are important as well. Automatic blogging is a crock. But I think Twittering can consume a lot of our time too. We are not robots. We want real people to talk to.
Jan 28, 2009 01:52 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Gary, The automatic blogging really bugs me.  It's like the anti blog:-)

Jan 29, 2009 12:19 PM