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Social Networking: Challenge or Passion?

Real Estate Broker/Owner with eXp Realty LLC NM Broker License 16161

December 25, 2011 01:37 PM

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Most of you know social networking is changing how we communicate online about virtually everything. For some of you, Twitter,Facebook and LinkedIn, along with Foursquare, Flickr, Google Plus, are all exciting. For others, these sites are just plain scary. Regardless of how you feel about how technology, mobile phones and the internet have connected us to each other, they are here and the pace of change is only accelerating. We are all experiencing a revolution in how we communicate with each other that is more profound than many of us are likelyto see for the rest of our lives.

For over a year now in a column on Social Networking published by the Santa Fe New Mexican, I have been encouraging you to try social networking to see what happens and to be flexible enough to experiment and see how it works and what works for you. People tell me every day they are struggling to understand or keep up with how social networking is impacting their families, work environment, businesses and lifestyle. Some people still tell me they see no need to adapt to these changes now. Yet, more and more of you ask me what is new on Facebook this week!

What can you do if you are “not ready” or have “no time” for any of this social networking online? Remember all changes are not the same. Some are more difficult to adapt to than others. Social networking can be uncomfortable. I remember when I had absolutely no clue. I wanted to do it right. I discovered it was better to jump in and learn, then unlearn, then learn again. Perhaps, the next time someone asks you what’s new you can tell them to follow you on twitter.

What is your take or opinion? Is social networking a challenge or a passion?

Emily Medvec is an Associate Broker with Santa Fe Properties. Her passion is how social networking online changes how we communicateand make decisions in real estate and every other marketplace. See her on Twitter here.

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Chris Canfield

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ

Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Emily - Social networking is a challenge that I have had to jump into. I was one of those people who "wanted to do it right," but if you get hung up on that, you never will start. Some very successful REALTORS that I know have no online presence, and that is fine for them. But those of us who want to stay closer to the edge just have to jump in and make mistakes while we learn! Great post.

Dec 25, 2011 01:50 PM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Emily, first, Merry Christmas. Then, I find anything other than ActiveRain to be a challenge. I have Twitter and Facebook accounts, but I rarely (read never) post to them. Not enough hours in the day.

Dec 25, 2011 01:50 PM

Patrick White

Home Driven Realty, Inc - Baldwin, NY

Driven to bring New Yorkers home

Good Evening Emily

Thanks for the post on Social Networking. It is a challenge until you develop it into a habit and necessary tool for business. Have a great New Year.

Dec 25, 2011 01:53 PM

Malinda Montgomery RSPS AHWD TMS-Realtor

Gaffs Realty - Port Orange, FL

Hi Emily, it is not my favorite thing.It is time consuming and to me, loses that "personal touch". Thanks for the post and happy holidays!

Dec 25, 2011 02:03 PM

1~Judi Barrett

Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK

BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Both.. I'm always taking on a new one... challenging myself and then I do have a passion to connect.

Dec 25, 2011 02:24 PM

Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan

Samson Properties - Bowie, MD

I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Social Media Marketing is a challenge. First I think you have to follow people you want to do business with or get business from. Ex: People in your local Market. Two I think you have to have a Business Plan/Daily Schedule just like you do for your Real Estate Business. Third try to spend at least 30-1hr a day on Social Media sites. Instead of doing 30 minutes-1 hr straight,break it up. Say every 5 minutes.

Also just don't do Real Estate. People don't care what you know until they know that you care. Social Media is about sharing. Share with people things that they might want to know about. Ex: Health,Money,Finance,Investing,Sports,How to cook,Coupons,Marathon,How to throw a New Year's Eve party etc. The topics are endless. Share different things all the time. Also try to make comments every now and then. Now something I am going to start doing is put Hashtags-# words that are trending on Yahoo,Twitter and Facebook and put them in some of my comments.

You will be surprised how people find you. Mondays I hear are not good days to blog because everybody is just getting back to work from the Weekends. But I hear Wednesdays are the best time to tweet. Also it is great to do it in the morning before 9pm, Lunchtime around 12-1pm and after dinner around 10pm.

Check out this online article by Mashable Social Media Best-time-to-tweet. Sorry for this long comment. I need to do this more myself. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Dec 25, 2011 03:16 PM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Chris, jump in the waters fine! I was on twitter before ActiveRain. Both different and powerful - @emilymedvec

Suzanne, like you time is the challenge and it is one of our rarest resources. I love Twitter because of the real time connections and opportunities. Like anything new, I keep learning and unlearning and learning everyday.

Patrick, you are so right. Anything is a challenge until it becomes a habit. Way cool insight!

Malinda, everything takes time and like you I value the personal touch. For me, commenting here is not so different than connecting on social media sites. We are all learning to be connected differently.

Judi, like you I think I have some connection driven DNA. I am fascinated by this social networking cloud that is connecting so many of us differently.

Lance, thank you. Mashable has some great articles. I follow them on twitter. It is all about being authentic more than marketing. I use these tools for conversation and for me there is no special time or system. It is all about the relationships in social networking that make a difference. Jump in at your own pace and whatever you do, be real. Have a great new year online!

Dec 25, 2011 11:47 PM

Doug Patterson

Park Place Real Estate, Broker-In-Charge - Winston-Salem, NC

CRS, ABR, Broker-In-Charge

Social networking....we used to do that, in person. I'm not as active as I could be on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, etc. I do not enjoy those games....you know....Farmville, and others. I just don't have time to play like that. ....and don't understand the thrill in it that others seem to enjoy....

I enjoy talking to people by telephone and in person. It's just more interesting and rewarding to me. oh well....

Dec 26, 2011 02:48 AM

Randy & Nancy Selby

The Woodlands,TX Connect Realty.com - The Woodlands, TX

Social networking has its positives and negatives. If a Realtor spends all day on them, that can wreck their business. Schedule some time each day to work it in. It can be a useful tool if worked right. Randy

Dec 26, 2011 03:11 AM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Doug, we are talking here and I feel like it is at least virtually in person. I used to think the more technologoy changes, the less people do. Now, after several years here on ActiveRain and very active on Twitter mostly over Facebook, I see us changing along the way with it. It is becoming our new form of self-expression. As for the games, I have zippo time. I would rather exercise! Thank you for your comment.

Dec 26, 2011 03:13 AM

Christine Ordze

Royal LePage Benchmark - Calgary, AB

ABR, CCS, ePro

Emily, thank you for posting this, there is some good information here.

For me, I schedule in my calendar about 15 minutes each morning to connect on Twitter, Facebook Page and personal Facebook, and Active Rain, as well read my online newspaper. It was very hard at first to do anything in the 15 minutes but as I kept at it I became quite fast at going over posts and looking for neat things to comment on. If there's good blogs or articles I bookmark them and read them in the evening or when I have a bit of free time.

The area I really fall behind in is writing blogs. There never is enough time and topics... although I might be able to fit it in just before I turn in. :)

Dec 26, 2011 03:35 AM

Francine Viola

Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA

REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

All of this is overwhelming to me, so I just take one social media step at a time. Right now, I'm focusing on blogging; then maybe next year focus on another social media avenue, but it is impossible to do it all and all at once - at least for my methodical personality!

Dec 26, 2011 03:38 AM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Randy & Nancy, social networking online is still brand new as we are evolving with it. For me, commenting on blogs is another form of social networking and it seems to be filled with rewards here. You are right, spending all day on social media sites is a different story.

Christine, once again, we all have to prioritize our time especially in our 24/7 world of real estate. I would recommend changing your routine and perhaps blogging first and using the social media sites to promote your blog. Remember, one day at a time in this coming new year!

Francine, you are not alone about feeling overwhelmed. What is important is to realize people are now connected online and like blogging, social networking online is another way for people to connect and get to know you as a Realtor and human. I see social networking more of a conversation opportunity, just like commenting here. Sometimes, starting happens by jumping in. I was overwhelmed by ActiveRain until I actually started commenting and connecting. Good luck in 2012!

Dec 26, 2011 04:10 AM

Sylvie Stuart

Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ

Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

To me, it's a passion, it was a challenge when I was learning new sites, but tools like hootsuite make it easy!

Dec 26, 2011 08:27 AM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Sylvie, I agree in that just starting is the challenge and you are right about hootsuite. At the same time, our time is in such demand I understand the issue of adding one more thing. But like you, I have discovered this is how people are communicating...online!

Dec 26, 2011 10:18 AM

Winston Heverly

Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA

GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

It has been a challenge, but getting better each day. The more you click around and see what others are doing you learn and fill your bucket with ideas. Putting it all together systematically is the answer, that is still a work in progress.

Dec 26, 2011 12:17 PM

Bob Miller

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL

The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Emily, great post. For me Active Rain and Facebook are daily passions.

May you have a Happy and prosperous New Year!

Dec 27, 2011 09:45 PM

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