Comments on: Social Media is a Sinkhole for Real Estate – Seriously?

By: ines

ines — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:15:20 +0000

Denise – and we cannot question the “permanence” of blogging – with what other form of marketing can you keep an ever “searchable” database for anyone looking for real estate information? It boggles my mind at times

By: Denise Hamlin

Denise Hamlin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:10:34 +0000

Ines ~ “Social media is the new blogging. It too will peak, then decline…” That’s from the article you quote in your post. He goes on to pitch an exception to the rule. (Is he affiliated with the company he’s pitching there too? I don’t know, but I didn’t want to complete the quote and give them airplay here).

Figured this was worth pointing out, since we can differ on opinions when it comes to social media, but it is a fact that blogging is good for SEO.

Denise

By: ines

ines — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:27:02 +0000

Hey Denise,
Getting the whole scoop definitely gives everyone a rounded perspective, so thank you for that. It lead to many writing articles about ROI and social media beyond the real estate industry. Curious about Mike wrtting negatively about blogging if in this very article he talks about SEO. Would have been interesting to get his point of view.

By: Denise Hamlin

Denise Hamlin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:46:23 +0000

Hi Ines ~ I’m a real estate agent and blogger active on ActiveRain. I too felt compelled to write a post after reading Mike Parker’s article. I’m not sure if everyone here is aware of it, but Mike Parker is Principal with Compass Internet Systems, an SEO Company that charges mega bucks to get agents on the first page of Google. He wants you to pay for your leads and is probably not too happy with the concept of getting them for free on Facebook and twitter. (He also slams blogging and we know for a fact that blogging is great for search engine placement).

In short, I don’t consider him a credible source for advice on social media.

Great post. You make some great points on the merits of social media, plus of course some of the pitfalls.

Denise

By: Mike Bowler Sr

Mike Bowler Sr — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:22:39 +0000

@agentgenius #agnow Why would people get up and speak about how social media is so successful---... http://bit.ly/4tN1BW (It Works)

By: Lani Rosales

Lani Rosales — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:46:35 +0000

Claaaasic Rob! (http://www.hulu.com/watch/72441/saturday-night-live-target)

By: Rob Hahn

Rob Hahn — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:30 +0000

Late to the conversation, and it’s a good one… so let me just ask this.

Do any of you track the social media your past or present clients do about you?

Just curious.

-rsh

By: Kevin Tomlinson

Kevin Tomlinson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:41:23 +0000

Tony
Now your comment is a good comment to respond to. I don’t like, at all, comment like “true believer” or thing of the like.

There are a lot of agents who genuinely ask me for good advice. Advice on how to get REAL ESTATE BUSINESS–not how to engage in social media.

I think that it’s way too early for most agents to look at SM as a client stream. #justsayin.

When these people look at me, and are struggling, and broke—I HAVE to tell them the truth. I have to. If I can only give them five minutes of my time–I’m going to tell them to:

1. send a mailout
2. know the market
3. work an open house
4. get a hybrid blog/Web site
5. hold an open house for a top producer
6. be and get active in the REAL ESTATE arena

There are many, many more things to do, that yield better results than SM.

Further, I would go as far to say that if your online efforts aren’t indexable in Google–then for right now, your time is better spent elsewhere.

The above is great advice/direction for a newbie.

By: tony lazzari

tony lazzari — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:57 +0000

Kevin~
I am with you 100% that we need more agent perspective and experience at the forefront in sharing how these tools work. BTW, did you happen to see the presentation at NAR by Marianna Wagner, Kelley Koehler, and Ginger Wilcox on how they use different tools in their agent business? More of that is needed. I caught it on livestream – it was great. Ever see Heather Elias present on how she uses Market Stats and blogging to reach a community? Listen to Teresa Boardman talk about how she connected with Flickr to an entire new client segment related to photography? There are agents talking about how they use it across the country at different conferences. It happens. We need more.
And yes, I am aware that there and not shocked that there are other types of real estate conferences. And I attend – on my own dime in order to learn and network and socialize (I know, bad word).
One of your points I don;t understand and maybe its a matter of who defines what & how (that make any sense?) – You claim you have never made $.01 from the use of social media, yet 60% of your income derives from your website. Folks, check out Kevin;s website. I think it’s great, in that it incorporates rich content, calls to action, all the tools that should be in a real estate website. And there is even a blogging component. By most definitions of folks who use social media in this space – you are using a component of it very well – and generating measurable income with it, by your numbers $240k. Impressive!
So I guess it’s Facebook and Twitter that you don;t see as viable components. No big deal – others do. Personally, I have learned one hell of a lot from the folks I have met on Twitter in the past year. There is a mindset among the folks there, as you know, that is stimulating, and groundbreaking. And Facebook – more people hang out there than exist in the majority of the countries of the world. There are effective ways to employ it. And yes, like any other tool, there are those who misuse it. Is that grounds to condemn?
So I guess it’s “Weapons of Choice” (great youtube vid of that) in each of our businesses. We find those that fit our personality and style and, as professionals, hone them to a fine edge and employ them with constantly refined skill.
Thanks for the stimulating discussion.

By: Matthew Rathbun

Matthew Rathbun — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:24:04 +0000

Kevin,

How about about the people who get up and speak about cold calling and open houses being successful?

Somewhere in my desk I’ve got a report that says that less than 3% of open houses yield a client.

I think you’ve got a lot of good points. I’m just curious to see if we could apply a lot of those same theories to other marketing venues.

Chris Brogan has a list of Social Media case studies here: http://delicious.com/chrisbrogan/casestudy