Despite what many people think there are lots of Realtors that are ahead of the curve when it comes to technology adoption. That is until we get to discussing the value of social media.
I’ve been very public with my own thoughts on the subject but let me reiterate them;
social media is of historical importance and will be discussed alongside the invention of the printing press, the telephone, radio and television in terms of significance in the evolution of human communication.
Why? Because, amongst other things, it represents free speech. For the first time in history one person’s voice can reach millions – it’s the reason why countries like Iran and China want to ban twitter. Social media will go away when free speech dies; that is never.
In my many conversations with Realtors, recurring excuses come up for not using social media:
1. It’s for kids
2. I don’t understand it
3. Real estate is local
4. It can’t help me
5. I don’t have the time
6. It’s a fad.
While some, not all, of the above are true none of them negate the value of social media specifically its value to a Realtor. We’ll start at the beginning – “It’s for kids”.
While Facebook was initially used exclusively by the college crowd, today the average user is far older. Recent data published by pingdom and highlighted on the OhMyGov blog identifies that:
“people of middle age are the most “social” age group out there, because they were the generation of people in their 20s when online social networking took off in the mid-1990s”
Here’s the data to back that up:
If that doesn’t convince you think about this:
That sounds like a pretty target rich zone for real estate. Still think it’s a kids game?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Nothing REPLACES (or should replace) REAL relationships where human contact takes place . SOME people hide behind tech tools and miss out on the real flavor of life and long lasting business and social interaction. BALANCE is THE key .
Great article!
To the previous comment: social media IS human contact. Two or more people are talking to each other through writing. It is as human as a handwritten letter or a telephone call : both are simple mediated by different formats. So I think the “real” contact argument is excuse number 7 for many REALTORS!
Of course, The real reason many agents do to use social media is that they are too busy EXITING the industry – doing postcards and mailing magnets rather than connecting with their sphere of influence and past clients for referrals.
Just my observation. Keep up the excellent posts!
Matthew
I concur with the distinguished gentleman and internet scholar Matt Ferrara and am hastily upgrading my website SOON and establishing a business site on Facebook to supplement my personal presence on Facebook.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, folks.
)
No excuses. We have to do it. I do find that it takes a lot of time.
We have been using Social Media starting in 2006 by blogging and then in ’07 using Twitter and Facebook. We have built quite a following by creating fan pages for our local market area.
The leads we generate are a much warmer lead than the old way.
People now ask us if we can represent them and do we have time to show them property. They ask can you list our house etc,,,
It works….
Mathew, I would love to forward this by EMAIL to my agents that are not on FB or Tweeting!! reposting on FB or Twitter is like preaching to the choir
Shelly
My business model is centered around people (lead) generation, social networking, etc… Many agents have fears, and one of them is technology and social media. This is the new way of connecting. Signing every buyer and seller up on my facebook fan page is a requirement in 2010. We need to do a better job connecting with the consumer and our clients… Give them what they want!
Time to fish or cut bait!
For kids? No. My Sellers of Casa Estrella (CasaEstrellaCA.com, which you blogged about, thank you very much) were thrilled when told the video of their home has been viewed over 7,000 times, worldwide. I can’t imagine the pricetag for those in a “Just Listed” postcard, but I can imagine all the information that would not be seen and discarded in the trash. Study the demographics and focus there. Seeing your little face and fuzzy sketch of a home in the newspaper is good for posterity, but doesn’t typically sell the property. Social media gets the property out in front of those actively searching…quickly, efficiently, and with greater clarity than I’ve ever experienced. That’s where we’re moving, or that’s where we ARE? ‘Depends on whether you want to just list, or actually sell. Great post.
And to Matt, you were incredible and motivational in San Diego. Thanks to you both!
Adele.