Avoiding Risk While Taking Advantage of Social Media and Blogging

By
Real Estate Agent

We all know that blogging and social media can offer advantages when it comes to marketing and promotion in the real estate arena. However, it is also important to be aware and understand there can be pitfalls as well!

It's no secret that prospective employers (and clients) can simply Google a name and often find what one has been up to.  And, there are issues with cyber-bullying, and other pitfalls!

For real estate professionals there are additional concerns.  For example, often we see posts that are political in view, or are have strong religious overtones.  Most folks have a political stance, and have beliefs, which make up part of who they are.  However, if you are a professional person, and wish to endear potential clientele your way, it may be good to remember that prospective clientele may not share your political views, or your beliefs.  Perhaps you ought to consider being more guarded in what you put out there on your professional blogs and the internet.

There is also another issue real estate professionals sometimes need to confront, concerning the internet and blogs. There are a considerable amount of laws, rules and regulations which govern our profession.  At times, it is easy to innocently find ourselves in violation of these.  For example, in California, real estate licensees must make certain that their license number is on their business cards, marketing materials, blogs, internet websites, and a litany of other items we use to do business on a daily basis. 

Sometimes there are disclaimers, which need to accompany certain things we post.  We may at times, accidentally neglect to use the appropriate disclaimer; or we create some other minor infraction. If you are industrious, and you are prolific in your efforts, it is inevitable there will be an occasional oversight or minor error.  It's inevitable.

Hopefully, because we are real estate professionals, we privately issue a friendly reminder to one another and help each other out when there is oversight.  But occasionally, there will be that one person in any group of people, who will be compelled to escalate it to the next level and cause a problem, rather than helping solve one. 

Sadly, all your effort and hard work marketing to the public can have pitfalls.  However, with all that being said, it is only those doing absolutely nothing, who aren’t exposed to risk.  But, they are also not the top-producers in their enterprise.  

It is a sad fact there are those that are more interested in how you do your business, than they are in doing their own.  But hopefully, you will be cautious, you will continue to be professional, the gods will shine upon you, and you will prevail!

Posted by

Myrl Jeffcoat ActiveRain Signature
  

Comments (34)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

A strategic gamble can be taken once in a while but, I know I have to be

Myrl Jeffcoat

Nov 04, 2019 09:15 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Thanks for sharing!

There is also another issue real estate professionals sometimes need to confront, concerning the internet and blogs. There are a considerable amount of laws, rules and regulations which govern our profession.  At times, it is easy to innocently find ourselves in violation of these.

Nov 05, 2019 04:29 AM
Barbara Michaluk
Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD
Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Myrl, This also plays into the new rules in Maryland about posting "Coming Soon" and the appropriate ways a property can be shown before listing on the MLS.

Nov 05, 2019 04:49 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Myrl Jeffcoat -  I really don't want to do business with people who have political rants on social media.  Also, as you point out, some professions must be careful.  For example, fiancial planners can not blog or use social media unless it is approved.

Nov 05, 2019 05:47 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It's all about being professional. There are many times I'd love to respond to something but I don't. 

Nov 05, 2019 05:54 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kat Palmiotti do I ever get that, Kat! Lots of self-restraint many days on my part.

Nov 05, 2019 06:07 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

What a great post, Myrl. Maybe it's my age, but I don't get all that personal sharing on social media. I don't share much even on my personal Facebook page, much less on a site meant for professional purposes. A well-deserved gold star.

Nov 05, 2019 06:06 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I always enjoy sharing about things I care deeply about in life, but I never get into political, religious or other debates.  If I find that someone wants to debate, I just move on and let them express their opinions without retort.

Nov 05, 2019 07:16 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

What a great post. I especially liked the point about the one person in a group who will escalate it to the next level. That's when we learn to rise above and keep going. Thanks for your thoughts!

Nov 05, 2019 08:18 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Congratulations, Myrl, on your feature recognition.

This is good advice to share.

Nov 05, 2019 08:36 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Myrl:

It seems that reminders about behavior and comments online remains an important thing to share. You have to wonder...if you were to ask consumers about what they read about agents online, does that impact their decisions. And no doubt the same question asked of those in the business would yield compelling results. Glad to see this was featured - it would have been recommended otherwise!

Jeff

Nov 05, 2019 08:05 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Blogging must observe ethics and laws that govern our Real Estare industry.

There is also another issue real estate professionals sometimes need to confront, concerning the internet and blogs. There are a considerable amount of laws, rules and regulations which govern our profession.  At times, it is easy to innocently find ourselves in violation of these.

Nov 06, 2019 03:25 AM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

we actually have a couple agents that have never sold more than a couple houses a year who always report other agents mistakes to get them fined. I'm betting if they spent their time working their profession they'd be alot more successful. 

Nov 06, 2019 08:31 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Failure to communicate in this day & age is risky. Learning how to navigate through all arenas is wise and you get that by going into them. It is doable

Nov 06, 2019 10:45 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Wednesday afternoon, Myrl.

Your comments on my posts are very much appreciated.

Nov 06, 2019 11:06 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks so much for your comments on my posts.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Nov 07, 2019 06:55 AM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

A good sense of ethics nowadays should include knowing the consequences of what you write online.  ActiveRain never seems to flirt with that line, so everybody here knows what they are doing. 

Nov 07, 2019 09:28 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh my gosh, I thought I left a comment earlier but, I guess now! I am in total agreement with you, Myrl. I can't imagine that what we do online isn't being judged by our current clients and those who may be considering us. 

Great post, as always!

Nov 07, 2019 09:58 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

To our minds...business owners who are good at what they do...know that expressing their political views loudly on social media is apt to alienate 50% or more of their audience...not a good idea.

Nov 08, 2019 04:51 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

Hello Myrl, I wanted to stop by to say hi. I read your original post on Roy's blog.  Thanks for sharing.

Nov 08, 2019 09:58 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I am shocked sometimes as to what people put on social media.

I have a nephew who would drop f-bombs on his personal social media accounts only to find out the employers he was applying to screened his account and pictures. 

It doesn't just happen to the young it happens to us all...

Happy Monday Myrl Jeffcoat 

Feb 03, 2020 09:17 AM