I’m no Abe Lincoln. I don’t posses his self-assurance. Or his legendary judgment. But he taught me the importance of holding two opposing thoughts in my head at the same time – something I was called upon to do this week.
On Monday, I had strong set of beliefs about social media. Today they are altered. While I owe a debt of gratitude to Lincoln for showing me the importance of having an open mind, I have someone to thank for filling it with brightness: Bill Lublin.
Chicken soup for the social soul
Like chicken soup, beliefs tend be as any Jewish grandmother would advise, a little bit of this mixed with a whole lot of that and cooked over heat for a long period of time.
And, like chicken soup, beliefs can sometimes be a bit cloudy.
After speaking with Bill yesterday (which turned out be a historically long phone call where time passed far too quickly) my beliefs on social media poured through his cheesecloth.
Today, they are clarified.
For the record, I take this social media thing pretty seriously. But only because of the threat I feel it presents to brokers and agents when pitched by overzealous promoters who use everything from exaggerated success stories to scare tactics to sell whatever it is they’re selling.
I saw this occur during the 90’s, when real estate discovered the Internet, and in the early part of this decade when technology salespeople were peddling crack disguised as ambrosia. So many real estate people bought into goods that were anything but. Thankfully, karma has a way of working things out and while most real estate people are still around, many of the vendors that sold snake oil aren’t.
But there are always new ones emerging.
Tugging at me to sound the alarm.
Warning. Warning.
I was not alone in this concern. Real Estate Tomato launched in an effort to provide products and education for emerging bloggers. As did Internet Crusade and Active Rain. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World swiftly reacted with concern, creating the blogging platform Propopoly to better enable agents to blog safely through the use of their editorial and legal eye. Frances Flynn Thorsen and her firm created social media policies to bring some order to the discussion.
All around me geysers of goodness where springing forth. But I was skeptical. I had beliefs. And I kept to them. Despite emerging facts around me.
SMMI
When SMMI launched, delivering a social media program wrapped around a 2-day course that culminates with a social media designation, my skepticism was unwavering. Fueled by other cynics both inside and outside the industry who paid too much attention to the negative aspects of social media, I found myself focusing so intensely on the bad I failed to acknowledge the good.
Then I spoke to Bill this week. And it might very well stand out as the best phone call I’ve had in the 13 years I’ve been in real estate.
Bill told me things that made me laugh. He told me things that made me think. Bill also told me things that made me cry (Bill, that long pause of silence while you were speaking was me trying like hell to compose myself).
After the call, I shut down my computer. No wait, first I ate some humble pie and DM’d a few people. There are more on my list like Ginger, Jeff, Jim and bunch more who I now understand a whole lot better than I ever allowed myself too. Thanks to Bill Lublin. And Abe Lincoln.
Then I went home.
I hugged my wife.
A little tighter than I normally do.
I was wrong
As it turns out, my beliefs are still in tact. And my instincts about social media are not wrong actually. At least according to Bill, whom I learned shares the very same passions and concerns I do.
Where I have been remiss is not realizing how many more advocates there are in real estate who are looking out for everyone’s best interest. If only I just paid a little more attention, or as Todd suggested on Twitter, get a little social media training of my own, I might have recognized it. Damn straight Todd. I was blind.
I see better today.
- Davison
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marc Davison, FrancesFlynnTho. FrancesFlynnTho said: GREAT! RT @1000WattMarc: Just posted: About SMMI, Social Media. Abe Lincoln, & being pig headed.- http://bit.ly/6WFxfC [...]
So mysterious, Marc…
What was said that changed your mind? Don’t leave us hanging like that bro
That’s a lot of mea culpas without knowing what beliefs you held, and what changed.
-rsh
It’s not hard to guess Rob.
Hey Rob,
Don’t mean to be Rob. Seriously. If only I had your writing stamina I might have gotten to it but I get fatigued after 600 words.
But Bill did most of the speaking and provided me with a level-headed, insight into a side of social media, Barcamps and the people involved that I had been too lazy, busy, or whatever to unearth on my own.
If I can, I’ll leave it to Bill to divulge the nitty gritty’s but in short, it became apparent to me that there is an emerging culture within real estate that I always dreamed about – one of true advocacy, help and community. He introduced me to that and this has filled me with a new excitement that I had not had prior. I saw the industry as an aquarium filled with sharks and barracudas. They exist yeah, but that’s not all it is. I was wrong. Thanks for asking Rob. You are one of the good guys helping make this a better place. Looking forward to seeing you in NYC in January
[...] This post was Twitted by startabuzz [...]
The question becomes if 1% to 5% are moved to use it well, for the betterment of the industry and public as a whole (with 99% to 95% not doing that) is it worth it?
The answer generally is yes, and if you wait for a majority to do it for best reasons, you will never make any good change. You always have to look at the bright side, even if it is small and hard to find, than the underbelly.
Very interesting — will await Mr. Lublin himself to weigh in
As to this: “it became apparent to me that there is an emerging culture within real estate that I always dreamed about – one of true advocacy, help and community. He introduced me to that and this has filled me with a new excitement that I had not had prior”
What’s funny about it is that I’m constantly trying to understand which of the Seven Deadly Sins social media appeals to…
-rsh
Rob,
Depends on the person I suppose. The again for others, it may appeal to 7 Heavenly virtues.
First off—let’s call it what it is: Marc drank the kool-aid, and that’s ok.
Social media doesn’t intersect with advocacy–let’s not fool ourselves. I’ve been in this circle for almost three years and it’s now a noble cause to trumpet while dredging for clients. PERIOD.
I still see every SM agent out there continuing to write keyword-stuffed blog posts–nothing’s changed.
I’m not a big fan of putting on a show. I like people who call it what it is.
Here’s what has been rolling around in my head—say it’s the “Kevin Tomlinson Challenge”:
No one in the “industry” can speak of social media for 7 days. Imagine that.
If you contemplate that thought you’ll understand my frustration that no conversations/insights/advocacy/education/ happen in any of these forums without “Social Media” in them. Ah ha!
The are hundred of other things that concern this industry-aside from SM-that vendors/agents/consultants/speakers won’t talk about.
Hello people. Reality check. SM is such a miniscule part of the whole RE picture but it’s really the only interesting thing to “sell” or the newest reason to inflict guilt on the sappy, weary agents.
I will be the real estate agent’s advocate.
I’ve heard/read about consumer advocacy–what about real estate agent advocacy?
Something’s up here.
What would be discussed if no one were to discuss social media??
I think the internet would go blank–twitter would dry up—AT&T phone lines would be clear.
Blogs would die.
How do you really feel, Kevin? Don’t hold back now.
FWIW, if social media were verboten, I guess I’d have to talk about mobile, brokerage models, asymmetric warfare…
-rsh
See–?? Mobile brokerage model is timely. I would be very interested to know more.
I’m very engaged in SM and my best ROI is STILL direct mail. It’s, of course, very high end but it works.
What if someone in these forums put together a cornucopia of things that work. Including Web/online presence, direct mail, referral, et al???
Here’s what rubs me wrong…go to the SMMI Web site: click on training camp–then the Web site goes on to say how SM is here to stay and that y ou are “behind.” Next title is “Why You Should Hire Us.”
99.9% of the people “advocating” social media look for paid speaking engagements.
So—let’s be real here.
Realtors are still looking for the silver bullet. Once it was mass mail, then e-mail, then a website, now SM, in the future mobile apps.
Newsflash…there are no silver bullets.
Interesting conversation.
Marc watch out for the shadows …. from where I’m sitting I think Kevin is a lot more right than the consultants would like to admit.
There may be “…. culture within real estate … one of true advocacy, help and community”…
BUT
1. It’s not “emerging” it’s always been there at the grass roots – it’s just using SM today.
2.that’s not the group the gurus are trying to sell to.
SM like Web 1.0 before it, is just a tool. It will be useful and profitable for some agents, while others will make the decision to ignore it and still do just as well as ever. Some will never know it even existed before the next wave comes along.
Market size, target demographic, agent personality and so many other variables all come together to determine the effectiveness of SM as a part of an agents business plan.
As was stated, too many people advocating Social Media are looking to get paid.
Cheers …. Dave
Marc
Thanks for an opaque post intended I suppose for the transparent crowd!
The abilty to keep and open mind and be skeptical is certainly one of your strengths.
I see SM for real estate as a wonderful movement that mostly touches other realtors and brings them together in a spirit of cooperation.
The willingness to engage, learn is more than refreshing.
To date most of the learning, sharing and good company (most of which I have sadly missed)has been WITHIN the real estate community.
To unleash the benefits of these advances, sm needs to extend beyond realtor to realtor contact.
Potential customers need to engage with realtors in a meaningful way. This may be hard because of the reputation of the industry is not what it should be.
Where are the “bar camps” for agents to connect with home buyers and sellers?
Its time for the Re.net to reach outward beyond bar camps, retech south, lucky strike clubs and inman connect get togethers.
@lcammarosa
There will be no final perfect receipe. It will continue to evolve.
I remember from previous Inman’s it was said that video will take over real estate—previous to that was blogging..now Twitter and FB–next is Four Square, then Google Goggles and on and on. Good grief.
The final result will be a little of this, a little of that–not one thing will be the end all.
I think a little social media training is warranted—but no more than anything else.
Social media hysteria is getting out of control. SM will find it’s correct place when the economy isn’t so bleak. Everyone is looking to SM as their great hope because they don’t know which way to turn.
It’s turned into this huge cottage industry that seems to be built on if-comes.
This is all I will say about SM: I’m glad my seeds are planted but the best use of my time is anywhere where the customer is at. Right now I can tell you it’s Google and direct mail.
Kevin
Reminds me of the chlorphyll craze of the 1950′s-it was the answer to everything, yet there was nothing to back it up.
From Time 1952
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820526,00.html
Louis
Opaque? Tell me what’s really transparent these days?
But really, I blogged what I felt and happy to answer or fill in any blanks you or any one else feels needed filled. But these comments have taken things to a new place. Interesting to see where it goes.
Marc,
I’d sincerely like to know the differences before/after you saw the light.
I think ur a smart guy and obviously would love to know how you see it now.
There’s been a lot of background chatter, more than I’ve seen in a long time, about ur post.
Kev,
Consider this: Marc said: “Where I have been remiss is not realizing how many more advocates there are in real estate who are looking out for everyone’s best interest.”
I think it is true that those who, like me, push advocacy and everyone’s best interest over agent-centric goals may in fact still be a minority. At least the vocal ones.
However Social Media, in all its varieties, gives that seed a much better chance of thriving and growing. While Social Media’s purpose is not necessarily to do that, those who use it to that purpose can invoke change in the right direction 1,000 times faster than they can without it.
It seems that as if you don’t engage in SM that somehow you are not client-centric. That’s just the feeling I get when I read your comment.
SM people are not necessarily better or “more honest” real estate agents—they just dredge SM looking for clients with the pretense of being more transparent than agents who don’t.
Am I missing something?
Kevin,
The % of agents who are honest is likely the same outside of social media as inside social media. Social media just helps that to come to the forefront where people can see it, both good and bad. That is a good thing for consumers.
My point is that you can spread an idea faster with social media than without it. I guess that goes for both good and bad ideas, but I give people credit for being smarter than that, and know the difference.
As to your thought that all Social Media activities are about “dredging for clients”, I think that is an internal conflict you are having with yourself. Reality is that showing “who you are” in public via social media may get you clients who like that “who you are”, but that doesn’t make the purpose “dredging for”.
In the long run it will be the consumers who dredge the social media waters for best agent, and not the agent who dredges for clients.
You have to see the full purpose of blogging and facebook and twitter, etc 5 years from now. It will be the basis for Client Initiated Contact by consumers dredging the sm waters vs. agents dredging to find people to “drip on”.
@Kevin
Real estate clients could care less about how well you engage the re.net, how many twitter followers you have, whether you go to bar camps,whether you read Seth Godwin, understand viral marketing etc.
They care how well you will look after their interests.
We don’t see other professions (lawyers, accountants and doctors)blowing enormous amounts of time on social media.
Professional ability and integrity are what matters when choosing a professional, not his/her Klout score on Twitter
Louis,
My clients do care about how much or how little we use paper and how much or how little we use technology. But that may be a Seattle thing.
Kevin –
You wrote. “I still see every SM agent out there continuing to write keyword-stuffed blog posts–nothing’s changed.”
There are many that would say I clearly fall into the “SM agent” category.
Please provide a link, just one link, to a “keyword-stuffed” post on my blog.
Thanks in advance.
JT
I know an agent who is an SM speaker that spoke recently at NAR who stuffs like a maniac–but professes otherwise. The “old Kevin” would drop a link right here. But, I’m not.
Jay, do you get paid for your speaking engagements? Aren’t you a social media trainer?
ARDELL
I don’t see consumers ever going to FB or Twitter to “look” for an agent, ever.
The properties will always be the focus.
Hi Ardell
Irrespective of how much paper or technology you use, your clients will expect you to do a good job. Your tech cred is probably a given!
@Jay and @Kevin I’m not convinced that “writing for google” is a good stand alone strategy. Just because you appear on the front page of google doesn’t mean you know how to conduct real estate transactions.
@Jay-you must realize that you are an anomoly in that your blog is well placed on google -without any obvious key word stuffing-lots of inbound links though:-) and well read and that you do social media on your terms and drive significant business from it.
@Kevin you appear to be doing well on google too-BUT you also seem like you take the busines of real estate and client service seriously.
Indeed neither knowing how to get on the front page of google or sm prowess is enough to be a successful realtor. You two seem to have figured that out.
Ok Mark…….Joel Burslem joins 1000 WATT; official announcement posted yesterday. Today Mark does a 360 and pronounces that social media is the way to go after a conversation with somebody he previously thought was a jerk? I can smell the money honey……. Is there a snake oil salesman in the house?
So what is the new product or service that is Social Media related which you are about to pimp?
Love ya babe!
@kevin
At homegain, we do drive significant business from consumers who are indeed looking for AGENTS,not listings.
It may be a minority of consumers BUT these leads are gold. The consumers that participate in our agent evaluator program are interested in the proposal you send them.
For the consumers who do searches like “compare realtors” the key is not a good key word stuffed blog but a great timely personlized proposal
http://blog.homegain.com/agentevaluator/what-agentevaluator-homebuyers-and-sellers-want-in-their-proposals/
http://blog.homegain.com/agentevaluator/how-to-get-consumers-to-select-you/
Wew have over 900 agents who have made over $5oK on this product and about 40 who have made over $500K.
http://blog.homegain.com/homegain/todays-news-homegain-quantifies-continued-success-of-its-members/
Louis
My tool belt is a full and well rounded one.
SM is only a small tool in said belt. I rely on Google (almost 100% of buyers/seller go to net during their real estate search) and direct mail.
“Jay, do you get paid for your speaking engagements? Aren’t you a social media trainer?”
Kevin, I rarely get paid for speaking engagements. Sometimes (and no where close to the majority of times) I get expenses covered.
I teach a Continuing Education class for a local real estate school. So if that qualifies me as a “social media trainer”, then I guess I am. And yes, I do receive some small (and I mean small) compensation for that. But that’s not why I do it.
So no, I don’t consider myself a “social media trainer”. I’m a real estate broker. But if you consider me one, oh well. To each their own.
What’s your point?
You said, and I repeat, “I still see EVERY SM agent out there continuing to write keyword-stuffed blog posts–nothing’s changed.” (My emphasis on ‘every’.)
I don’t think you’ll find a single keyword stuffed post on my blog. You’re welcome to prove me wrong. Or maybe I’m not what you consider a “SM agent” (I’m not even sure exactly what that means).
Here’s what I struggle with Kevin. You’ve been on an anti-social media tear lately. You seem convinced it doesn’t work. And maybe it doesn’t for you (though I think you’ve said your blog does well. A blog IS social media Kevin). Regardless, just because it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. Why the need to constantly tear it down?
Different stokes for different folks.
@Laurie
Good to see you. While it might appear that Marc’s new views on SM and the addition of Joel are more than coincidental, knowing Marc his learning today is genuine-what exactly he learned he has promised to tell us….
Kevin, Ardell…
Thanks Ardell for clarifying. But more to my point:
The light I had been shown had to do with intention vs. perception. This was a two-sided revelation for me. On one side, I began to realize through my discussion with Bill how my own personal intentions were being perceived based on what I posted. I couldn’t argue with him. I didn’t like what I saw about me.
This would not have occurred had it not been for social media. It was a mirror revealing a side of me I felt I needed to amend immediately. It also provided me an opportunity to understand friendship through social in a way I never had before.
I’ve held SM up to a microscope, analyzed it down to the fractal and believed that unless you did it meticulously, born of talent and skill, you shouldn’t do it. (What an arrogant position)
I still hold true the notion of being meticulous. And I still believe that those with a special skill or talent might reap more of whatever they seek from than others. But I’ve proven that I am neither meticulous or skilled and yet SM provided me something quite valuable.
So, I’m chilled out. But to a point. I’m not going to let up on pushing the idea that SM can lead you off a cliff if you don’t keep an eye on it.
But also, Bill revealed a few things about himself and his life that gave me pause about mine. Not in a bad way but in a manner that made me reevaluate some of the things I am anxious about which now seem far less important today than they did earlier this week and the things that are precious that can be gone in an instant.
If you know Bill, this will make sense.
Finally, I’ve been fixated on social media applications for business. Yet the most beneficial event that has occurred to me thus far, had nothing to do with business but rather, about personal growth, life’s priorities and friendship.
I never expected this to happen. I was blind to that. Bill helped me see many of the things he and others have been talking about that I blew off.
But I have not done a 360 on SM. I have always believed SM is important. Today I understand that there is a reason to provide courses and education in it.
I didn’t get soft or anything like that. Just a little smarter. God know, I can use it.
@ kevin
I figured as such. Interestingly enough, while I often advise HomeGain customers to use other marketing solutions, many in the SM crowd refuse to even consider Homegain, to their detriment.
@ Marc
Indeed through conversations and interactions we can learn, grow etc. I don’t think you, kevin or anyone else was saying Social media was useless but rather not the powerful business tool many insist that it is.
I am still of the view that people engaged in social media that rely on it as their source of income as conference organizers, trainers, gurus etc have a vested biased interest in promoting its effectiveness as a business tool.
Jay is NOT one of those as he does very well with his primary real estate business.
Jay is about helping people and sharing his learnings, not about promoting his speaking engagement business. He does not rely on speaking engagements for cash as far as I know-although plenty would pay for it.
We were lucky enough to have Jay share his learnings at HomeGain Nation this summer (free of charge)
http://blog.homegain.com/homegain-nation/homegain-nation-2009-video-trends-of-real-estate-marketing/
Louis wrote:
“I’m not convinced that “writing for google” is a good stand alone strategy.”
Personally, I think writing for Google is a horrific strategy. I’ve said it many times. Google is smart, they don’t need to see “Phoenix real estate” in every blog post title and every H1 – H3 tag to get the idea. And readers, buyers and sellers are smart too.
Write for your audience, Google will figure it out. That’s always been my “SEO strategy”.
“Just because you appear on the front page of google doesn’t mean you know how to conduct real estate transactions.”
I agree completely.
“@Jay-you must realize that you are an anomoly in that your blog is well placed on google -without any obvious key word stuffing-lots of inbound links though:-) and well read and that you do social media on your terms and drive significant business from it.”
I do drive significant business from my blog and other SM tools. But if I can do it, anyone can. I’m nothing special. That said, and I’ve said is a hundred times, NO tool/strategy/method works for everyone. Some people’s inherent skills and abilities are more in-tune for one way than another. This doesn’t mean someone is better, or smarter. Just different. And thank God we’re all different else the world would be a pretty boring place.
“On your own terms” is the key, I think. I am what I am, people can like it, or leave it. I think if more people would be themselves, and be open and honest and deal with client concerns and fears, then they’d do a lot better in this business — no matter what tools and methods they employ. The fakes, the “NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!” cheerleaders, they can still get business. But how they sleep at night or enjoy life is beyond me.
Laurie.
That is sickening and insulting and all you did was prove one advisor right by warning me not to publish this post for fear that it might be misunderstood.
If any of you think that I would have to resort to get mixed up in an embarrassingly childish debate with people on Twitter and publicly making it right to push a product you vastly underestimate my ability to market and sell products. Even in my wildest, most creative moments, I would never conjure this up.
For those who really know me Laurie, you did not do yourself justice in their eyes. And further prove the need for education in social media.
I stand on high ground folks.
Think what you want.
Turn my post into whatever.
But I have nothing to sell anyone here but good will.
“But I have not done a 360 on SM. I have always believed SM is important. Today I understand that there is a reason to provide courses and education in it.”
I know of what you speak, because I do know Bill. But I’m not sure I see where you get to this from what you’ve sort-of laid out.
I’m extremely torn on this “reason to provide courses and education” on Social Media… since the core essence of social media is to be yourself. You need lessons for that?
And if the benefits of social media are mostly personal growth, friendships, and life priorities… do you really think folks like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tara Hunt, and Chris Brogan make much of a living doing what they do?
Not sure I buy that line of reasoning.
No — either social media impacts business and is a powerful tool for marketing products and services, or it is not. If the former, then I’m partial to my ideas about it (environment vs. action); if the latter, then I like it and dig it, but… beyond that… meh?
So… what is the reason for social media training and education in your newly found view?
-rsh
@Jay
You wrote “But if I can do it, anyone can. I’m nothing special.”
I guess its hard for you to look at your self objectively..or you are too humble
Everything is easy once you have mastered it.
Maybe anyone can do it -but they don’t
What makes you special is that you have been consistently producing quality posts for four years. While anyone with some intellgence could probably do so the same most don’t.
Jay
You can split hairs, but there has to be a ying to the yang.
The ying should be a welcomed part of the equation.
I’m not here to tear anything down, or anybody–I’m giving the “other side” or “my view.” You have an opinion, can’t I have my opinion. Or because my opinion differs from yours, I guess I’m considered negative on SM.
You see, if I was in Jonestown, I’d be the one questioning, looking for proof, qualifying and speaking the truth-even if I knew it was something I knew the group doesn’t want to hear.
Oh come on Laurie. Are you serious?
Yeah Rob, sometimes, in areas that are unfamiliar, lessons on how to be yourself is worthy. Otherwise there would be no therapy business. And we would all be perfect in everything we do.
So what is the reason for SM training? Maybe to avoid the simple pitfalls of misusing it. Look I am still crunching my feelings and thoughts on this as I go.
And whatever it is you are not buying, not much I can do for ya. I’m not trying to sell you anything.
@Kevin
Using social media to state reasons to not embrace social media for all purposes creates the appearance of an ingrate or in the eyes of those totally immersed in it as an ignoramus.
While nothing could be further from the truth the true believers in sm for all purposes control the dialogue by their sheer numbers and time at it.
@Laurie
I can spill the beans: The SM tool we are about to pimp is called “Flaymd” – an app for auto-generating unkind blog comments. It’s only $99 per year, 3-day free trial.
r u down?
Kevin – have I not said that I enjoy our debates? I’m pretty sure I have. If not, I should have.
Of course there are two sides, a yen and a yang. Am I not saying that when I say that no tool, including social media, is right for everyone?
I probably took too much offense to the “keyword stuffing” comment, because I am so opposed to that strategy and and am about as far from a keyword stuffer as you can find.
Questioning is good! I try to question myself every single day. Keep doing it, it makes me think and I appreciate that. Hopefully some of what I say makes you think too…
Rob wrote,”. . .since the core essence of social media is to be yourself. You need lessons for that?”
I know you’ve seen some of the utter crap posted to Twitter, FB and on blogs. If not, set up a Twitter search for “realtor”. It’ll make you laugh, shake your head in disbelief and/or want to shove a spike through your head.
Yes, some people need to be told how to use this stuff. Or told to leave it alone. I’ve seen *many* doing themselves more harm than good.
Heh, I _know_ you ain’t sellin’ shit on this thread (or on any other thread of yours I’ve read). Not what I meant. Don’t let Laurie’s li’l bitchfest get to ya.
I do mean, however, that there’s a fundamental conflict within the… ah… what to call it… “social media marketing established wisdom”. On the one hand, it’s about being yourself and being transparent; on the other hand, we’re advised to avoid pitfalls and mistakes. What gives?
I doubt you meant to draw a parallel between psychotherapy and social media — but unfortunately, so much what passes for “social media marketing” sounds to me like psychotherapy, like “CRUSH IT!” WTF does that even mean to a business?
You and I are professional marketers, and we know that what separates professionals from amateurs is in demanding results, metrics, sales, revenues, impact, lift over control. We don’t hope to get lucky with a campaign; we segment, analyze, dissect, strategize, then execute with an eye towards what constitutes success and what constitutes failure. I hope you didn’t lose that focus.
If your new position is that social media is justified because it’s a tool for personal growth, and a way for people to share of themselves and spread goodness and love, okay, I respect that bro. Whether those things are the driving force behind our (and other) industry’s current love affair with social media… time will tell.
-rsh
@Jay-If someone needs social media training, perhaps they also need lessons on how to behave at parties, weddings, and other gatherings.
I think Rob’s point is if you don’t know how to behave offline (ie being your self is not too attractive)online training isn’t going to help much…
Jay -
See, what’s funny about those horrible blogposts and tweets and whatnot is that those are usually the people who are trying to be REALTORS instead of trying to be themselves.
Many of them have been “trained” and “edumacated” on how to use social media for marketing.
Maybe it’s more of a deprogramming thing then? Since realtors more than any other are realtors 24x7x365?
-rsh