Re-inventing Real Estate
I just have to give a shout out to the folks over at http://www.agentgenius.com. I’ve been reading quite a bit over there…and was inspired to shake out the carpet on how I market myself as a real estate broker. It’s all about social networking now, not so much being the most successful agent out there (which, really, I was never alltogether comfortable with, and focused my marketing on service). To be successful at social networking, I’m finding that you have to be really really comfortable with yourself. And putting yourself out there. All. Over. The. Place.
But, just a few weeks into it, I received my first social media lead. Because she had gotten to know me a little bit before even calling me, the initial conversation was very easy, comfortable, and we completely hit it off. Wow. I’ve never had a non-referred lead call go so well. And because we hit it off right out of the gate, she helped me help another client who is in a pickle with a couple of cats (really not as funny as it may sound). I can’t tell you how happy I am to cut back on expensive, ineffective print marketing. Yes, I will still send stuff out, but the focus will be quality, not quantity. Like cool bookmarks with an extensive summer reading list. Or a Christmas CD. Or…wait, can’t tell you that one, because it’s a surprise!
Funny, one of the hardest things to get over was having a casual picture as my profile pic on all of these sites. I’m embarrassed to say that I spent way too much time trying to get the right picture out of Mobi Lappy’s onboard camera. Yep, the whole sucking-cheeks-in, looking up, looking over my shoulder, hair here or there, and I finally landed on one that I had taken in the very beginning, just trying out the camera and not trying to get a profile pic. But really that seems to be the gist of social networking. Be yourself, be your best, and go for it.
So, look for me on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Linked In, Realseekr, Trulia, Zillow and more to come I’m sure.
And please add me! : )
Opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of author, and not to necessarily the opinions of Meadows Group Inc.
All rights reserved on all original content, non-original content is given credit | Michelle Berry | 2009
Thanks for this beautiful Posting On social networking!
It was very nice to see this great article talking about Community!
As a contributor for AgentGenius, let me say thank you! Benn and Lani have a great program over there and they work very hard to make it what it is and to support all of us writers. It was awesome to be a part of it all.
And congrats on getting your first social networking lead! From the many other professionals across the country I met last week, they all said it’s like a snowball effect. It may take a little bit to get the ball rolling, but then it just gets (almost) out of control. Hang on for the ride!
Thank you Nick! I can’t wait to hear more about Inman Connect and the plethora of information that was unleashed there….Talk to you soon!