Typically I do not consider myself cutting edge but tend to be ahead of the curve with technology. In the case of Social Networking I have been at it for a few years during which time agents around the office brushed it off as something silly. One agent that noticed me online as she walked by my desk stopped to comment that she thought it was cute that I had all these fictional friends. Others shrugged off the theory of blogging as a time consuming task that didn't warrant the time.
Well.... I Heard it through the Grapevine that the latest memo going around the office declared FACEBOOK is the place to be. Now I'm being hit with "friend" suggestions and requests that I'm a bit leery about accepting. There are certainly some agents within the office that I will think nothing of ignoring but I do have friends that I socialize with but don't know if adding them to my "social network" makes good business sense.
Our office manager recently put together a weekly meeting series to enlighten all the agents that want to keep up with technology. I gave up these nonsense sessions a few years ago because most of the agents just don't get it and I found I was constantly bombarded with requests for help. Each week a "self-proclaimed" expert in some form of technology offers a presentation to the group so they can all share ideas. I was told the first guru came in with an attitude that she is God's 
Gift to the World and started using buzz words like "internet" "smart phones" and "blogging". Here is an excerpt that I found on Facebook from her before the presentation to the group.
The jist of her idea was that everyone NEEDS a website. Yes, I agree.... The suggested method of developing a presence was to search Real Estate Agent Sites from other parts of the country and when you find something you like COPY IT! Of course, anyone with half a brain knows that techique is called COPYRIGHT INFRINGMENT but I have seen agents from my office employ that 
very logic here on ActiveRain . One agent has four blog posts and two of them appear to be Cut & Paste.
Not every agent is dumb as stone so it was brought to the Keynote Speakers attention that her instructions to the less experienced agents was illegal and opened them up to a lawsuit. After some back peddling and muttering this was the speakers Facebook comment.
Figured this dilemma must be quite common and was wondering what other commission based salespeople think of allowing office competitors to ride their coat tails. In time they can develop their own network of online friends but should I make the introductions easy for them?
I'm always running around the Connecticut Shoreline so if you need assistance Buying or Selling a home in my territory just remember to google Dan Cummings, The Running Realtor.
Comments (19)Subscribe to CommentsComment