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How Good are your Facebook Friends?
February 10th, 2010 by Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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Why are they friending me? Does business and Facebook clash?
By: Stephen Roesler
We’ve all asked ourselves the question. Who is this person, how do they know me, and why are they asking to be friends on Facebook? Ironically, much of the time we cannot answer such a seemingly basic question. The reason, likely, is due to the now blurring definition of a friend.
Since the onset of Social Media, the idea of a friend is rather different from the classic sense. A friend may not be your old fishing buddy or your loyal, die hard shopping companion. Now, a friend could be an utter stranger.
With over 400 million users, Facebook neophytes are volatile, jittery beings that are friending everyone in sight. But what’s the point? Now your newsfeed is overflowing with vapid status updates that remain inconsequential because you haven’t a clue who the person is, what they do and why they accepted a friend request from a stranger. Many are building profiles based on desperation. And, one thing we can extrapolate from a classic friendship is that desperate friends rarely last.
This is especially true for businesses. As organizations grow their friend networks, they must remain mindful of who they are adding and accepting into their sphere of friendship. Service oriented business runs the largest risk. If we add friends because they engage in similar or complimentary business, we better like how they conduct business. Afterall, in some sense, we are vouching for their quality of service.
If the goal of Social Media for business is to turn relationships into clients, then businesses should seek Facebook friends that correlate with their industry. Before friending someone or accepting a friendship, ask yourself a few questions:
- Could I benefit from this person’s industry knowledge or could they benefit from mine?
- Am I going for quality over quantity?
- Am I geographically desirable to this person?
As Facebook continues to grow, the idea of a “network” becomes more applicable. Although Social Media allows us to stay connected to more people than before, we can’t have meaningful social relationships with millions of people. We must draw a line somewhere and I propose that we start by limiting Facebook friends to people who we know and marginally trust their opinion. Same goes for Twitter. Spreading yourself thin with an abundance of fruitless friends and futile follows won’t help anyone focus their efforts. Instead, we will create a massive database of information that becomes unnavigable. Let’s not defeat the purpose.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
The Personality of Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s Realty in Sherman Oaks
February 5th, 2010 by Jeff Biebuyck Categories: Sherman Oaks, Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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By: Jeff Biebuyck
Just to give our audience a visual presentation of our brand at the personality of Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty in Sherman Oaks, we shot a video in our office to showcase the unique personality of Ewing and Associates. Take a look at what we offer and let us know if it’s a place you would enjoy being apart of.
For a confidential appointment, call Jeff at 818-486-1763.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
How Social Media Impacts Global Crisis
February 3rd, 2010 by Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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By: Stephen Roesler
Election Day
Yes, the headline suggests another typical article on the troubles of our world and thus runs the risk of perhaps another futile attempt at suggesting a solution to our most politically pressing issues. Well, it’s worth the gamble.
Let’s examine 3 major events that Social Media affected:
-> Iran Elections
-> Google and China Censorship
-> Earthquake in Haiti
In 2009, “Iran elections” was the most twittered item of the year. In June of 09’, The U.S. State Department asked Twitter to delay the release of a service upgrade to protect the interests of Iranian citizens. This free, fast and highly mobile social media service provides certain demographics with a voice they don’t normally possess. In a sense, it acts as a social equalizer. Twitter delivered published, real time information from distraught Iranian citizens in Farsi and English. It was an ideal platform for mass protest.
Haiti Aftermath
Similarly, Google recently threatened China to pull out of the country due to China’s censorship laws. Similar to Iran, Chinese citizens, who are typically oppressed and left without a voice, now maintain ways to articulate opinions with the help of social media tools.
Perhaps most impressive is the impact of social media on Haiti. After a 7.0 earthquake, a slue of tweets and status updates heavily streamed across the web as Google, Skype, GoDaddy, Facebook and other tech giants mobilized. The Red Cross already raised $10 million through their charity text message campaign; Google threw down $1 million, Skype gave each Haitian a $2 voucher that allowed citizens to make 1 hour worth of calls to the U.S.
Although I am not suggesting that political crisis is solved through social media, it does receive more exposure from everyday people, altering the outcome of crisis around the globe. As we learn new ways to leverage social media, we ought to consider the potential for information dispersion and its effect on global dilemmas.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
Sick of Hearing it?
January 28th, 2010 by Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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The benefits of a recession. For some.
By: Stephen Roesler
The rhetoric about a floundering economy due to faulty loans has been buzzing in the ears of consumers for a little over two years. It’s getting old. Now the sob stories of lost homes and accruing debt seems to be our focus. The housing market is poor, the loan process stinks and banks are shoddy. Obama, we think, is listening.
While hardship and strife continues among everyday Americans, Apple recently announced it’s financial results for its fiscal 2010 first quarter. $15.68 billion. It’s Apple’s all time highest quarterly revenue ever posted. Last quarter alone Apple sold 3.36 million computers, 8.7 million iPhones and 21 million iPods. And these profits come before the launch of the much anticipated iPad.
During a recession, the gap in success between markets can be substantial. The economy bears a contraction in real output and employment which inevitably suppresses or bolsters different sectors of the economy. Taking a glimpse at the Great Depression it’s relevant to note that recessions produce emerging markets. Unneeded markets naturally select. The elevator for example, gained enormous popularity following the crash in 1929. Another notable example is the personal computer which eradicated the need for typewriters.
Currently, we are experiencing similar fluctuations in valuable sectors. We live in an accelerated time driven by technological trends. Google knows our online history, where we work and the street we live on. Facebook knows who we hang out with and even suggests who we should be friends with. Stumbleupon knows our interests, Digg knows our favorite stories, and Flickr see’s our personal photos. Apple, in all their brilliance, knows what we want before we want it.
Today, the online market dominates. From this recession, consumer technology is expanding quicker than every before. 96% of Gen Y has joined a social network, social media has overtaken porn as the # 1 activity on the web, 1 billion iPod apps were downloaded in 9 months. 80% of companies use LinkedIn as their primary tool to find employees and there are more than 200 million blogs. As we begin to emerge from the recession, we will soon see the true success of the online revolution.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
The Web of the Future
January 25th, 2010 by Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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By: Stephen Roesler
Recently, Mashable published an article regarding 4 web trends to watch in the future. It was not a despondent foreshadowing like 1984 or another forlorn Brave New World, instead the article predicted some very reasonable trends on the web. The most important, and thus the reason for this article, is the predicted longevity of social media.
In the last year, Nielson shows that social media usage has increased by 82%. Consider the online interaction on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook. Ponder the millions of blogs. What can we deduce? It’s obvious that we are social creatures seeking relationships, attention and affirmation from others. The question is, how do we effectively achieve these relationships in today’s world of Smartphone’s, tablets, laptops and the remarkable ability to know what everyone is doing at any given time? The answer seems to be Social Media. And it’s here to stay.
This conclusion does no come unfounded. Sure, it’s clear social media is on the rise, but how will it sustain growth? Here are a couple reasons why it’s only getting more popular.
Currently, many of us use our Smartphone’s to access the internet when we are aren’t by a computer; we will soon use tablets and other forms of media. The web will be accessible everywhere.
Apple Tablet
In 2008, the FCC held an auction for the 700 MHz wireless spectrum that detailed a nationwide Wi-Fi program. The idea received momentous attention. To give an example, Google was one of the multi-billion dollar bidders. In five or ten years, it’s likely that people will scoff at the time when laptops were unable to receive Wi-FI or 4G. Which brings up an important consideration. These clunky metal machine’s we lug to work will likely take a back seat to emerging hardware.
T.V’s will allows us to browse the internet and tablets will likely have 3G access. Many of us access the Internet on our phones more often than computers; 80% of tweets are from mobile devices. As devices change, we will see more touchscreens and alternatives to the keyboard and mouse. Already we’ve seen HP’s Wall of Touch and Project Natal.
The emerging interfaces focus on the ease of viewing videos, images and music – all in the name of making social media more accessible. We are observing the beginnings of a social revolution driven by online networking. It’s not going away. Instead, it’s shaping the future of technology.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
Secrets of Social Networking
November 18th, 2009 by Jeff Biebuyck Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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Some insight on social networking
By: Jeff Biebyuck
According to the latest research, 64% of buyers use social networking sites every day, but only 11% of REALTORS do. You need to take advantage of the next great growth platform for business online by unlocking the Secrets of Social Networking in real estate. Did you know the current real estate customer already uses social networking sites more than search engines and how today’s innovative brokerages are target-prospecting their sphere of influence by creating relationship management, marketing and research opportunities with current and future customers – including Customers for Life!
I will be posting blogs on the following content from Mathew Ferrara & Company, www.mathewferrara.com
- Identifying key business case aspects to use social networking as a primary prospecting tool
- Examining research on how modern consumers use social networking every day
- Creating a personalized plan to use the most important social networks like Facebook. LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter
- Develop and maintain your online presence using key features like status updates, sharing, links, video, etc.
- Implement a Daily Action Plan to monitor and influence your sphere of influence
- Managing your social networking presence using mobile wireless tools
- Master the the “do’s and dont’s” of social networking
- Expanding your Sphere of Influence and Network using Recommendations and other interactions
- Eliminate databases, mass emailing, postcard mailings and classified ads with online tools
- Developing a short- and long-term sales pipeline with these modern Customer for Life systems
Social Networking can help agents, managers and staff unlock the relationship-building, marketing and leads management opportunities of social networks. With hundreds of millions of consumers already online, and some social networks generating more traffic than traditional search engines, don’t waste another moment without integrating social networking into your prospecting and customer-relationship strategies.
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
How Facebook REALLY Works for Real Estate Agents
November 9th, 2009 by Jeff Biebuyck Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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The $60,000 click
By: Jeff Biebuyck
Here is a great story. A friend of mine who is a real agent got a call for a showing on a $2,500,000 listing. It was an internet lead and the buyers had no representation, which happens to be increasing due to the fact that over 85% of all buyers go to the internet to start their search. The buyers were from out of the country on their vacation (or Holiday as they call it). The buyers liked the house but were not ready to purchase at that time. As they were leaving, the agent exchanged cards and thought to themselves, “Great, another waste of time “looky-lew” buyer, and this one is from out of the country!” The agent is most likely going to right it off as another Sunday afternoon that they could have been home with the family. After all, the buyers were not ready to purchase for possibly another year.
Ah, you begin to sense the emerging glass-half-empty scenario that we as real estate agents tend to frequently imbibe…
That night, the agent received an email notification from Facebook. It was a message from the buyers! The buyers asked them to be “Facebook friends.” Here is a series of Facebook emails and posts from the buyer over the next 6 months on how this online relationship blossomed into a friendship, and a transaction.
- It was great to meet you and thank you for the time today. Let’s stay in touch and keep me posted on any new listings that you see might work for us.
- You have a such a beautiful family. Great vacation shots! We love to go to Hawaii at that resort as well!
- I enjoyed that movie too!
- Happy Birthday!
- Thanks for the updates, we are ready to buy and we like the listing you sent to us
- We are coming into town next week, let’s have dinner!
Before social media, where would this relationship have gone? Most likely nowhere. The agent was not going to call over seas to check in, not going to put them on a mailing list and not going to follow up in a traditional format. Instead, the buyers befriended the agent via Facebook which allowed the client to have a “voyeuristic” insight into the day to day activity of the agent. This is a testament to real estate being about relationships and trust. Facebook was the catalyst to help build that trust.
“This is a testament to real estate being about relationships and trust. Facebook was the catalyst to help build that trust.”
To make a long story longer, that friend request turned into a purchase and a $60,000 commission, not to mention a great new friendship and potentially MORE referrals.
Look at the past 5 to 10 deals you have done and ask yourself where these leads came from. I guarantee the majority came from referrals. People have to trust you and maintain a relationship with you to refer friends and family your services.
Fill that half empty glass to the rim and do the following. Invite 5 clients this week to be your Facebook friend and get active with them. Don’t talk about real estate, talk about social topics and watch what happens!
Post back to this blog and let me know how it worked for you. I love hearing positive stories about agents building relationships that yield referrals and solidify friendships through the powerful networking method known as “social media”.
You Googlin’ me
November 9th, 2009 by Roger Ewing Categories: Social Media for Real Estate Agents
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Nearly everyone is Googling, Tweeting, Facebooking, and Digging. Just about no one is talking.
By Roger Ewing
In Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic movie Taxi Driver, a deranged Travis Bickle, portrayed by Robert De Niro, asks his own reflection this now famous question, “you talkin’ to me?”.
De Niro’s character is a troubled and conflicted New York City taxi driver who has isolated himself from society. His aloneness allows Bickles’ demons to get the better of him and he lashes out at the decadence he sees in the city. Travis Bickle is emblematic of the struggle we face in our modern lives. Anonymity has become the desired posture. And like Bickle, we have created cocoons of privacy around ourselves.
Problem: How do we develop new business relationships in an environment where our customers and clients are demanding more privacy and seclusion?
Nearly 85% of all my business transactions are the direct or indirect result of someone recommending me. Sound like a large number? Do some research into the specific sources of your successful business transactions and you will discover, as I have, that developing and maintaining relationships is probably the most important aspect of your business.
At the end of the day, we are all in the business of relationships.
In a rapidly expanding web based world, privacy has become a scarce commodity. Modern man seeks paparazzi free space. The development of filtering software, and mechanisms to ensure our separateness, has become big business. No one wants to hear from anyone they don’t already know and trust.
The irony is that your business enterprise, regardless of the category, is probably dependent upon the continued expansion of your sales base.
Solution: “Micro Community Blogs” that provide meaningful, quality information to people on a neighborhood level. I have found this to be a simple and effective marketing strategy that gives me permission from individuals in the community to communicate directly.
Information is the drug of choice in our modern civilization. In an effort to satisfy their desire for information, modern humans Google everything and everyone. If information is King, then Google is surely Emperor.
65% of all inquiries on the Internet begin with Google.
Lets put that in perspective. According to marketing research company comScore, in the United States alone, some 14.3 billion Internet searches were conducted in May 2009. comScore estimates there were 9.3 billion searches on Google for that month, representing an astounding 299.83 million Google searches per day!
Micro Community Blogging involves an Internet strategy that provides valuable information to individuals in their cocoon like sanctuaries. Reaching out to people, community by community, will prove to be the successful approach for enterprising marketers.
Here are the basic rules of engagement.
1. The information we share with the community must be in the first person.
2. This information must be relevant and topical on a neighborhood level.
3. Never sell anything in the Micro Community Blog.
Blogging is the preferred means of communicating in a village-like environment. Blogging has replaced the chatter we used to share with our neighbors and it has become a replacement for the party-line telephone that served as the internet in our parents ancient analog world.
You Googlin’ me? Hope so, because I already Googled you.
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