Coweta Fayette Real Estate & Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

You are right Richard, The Real Estate business has always been a CONTACT SPORT! 

I focus my online presence on just a few locations, web sites, ActiveRain.

There isn't sufficient time to flail around hitting this one and that one.  I just selected two venues and work it.

Good morning sir,

I have been wondering why there are those that don't place a photo on their profile, not to mention as you say the rest of the profile information.

Hi Richard:

I'm in total agreement with you!

Putting your best foot forward is the first step!

My Facebook friends and Twitter followers know that I write about real estate all of the time.

Fernando...

Ha! It really is, and you gotta be on the field of play! thanks, my friend.

Lenn...

It's absolutely better to do one or two well than to do many half-a$$! Thanks for the wisdom, I appreciate it!

Don...

It's not really about the photo, it just seems to give the appearance of being lazy! Have a great Saturday, my friend.

Maintaining a focused balance while presenting a professional image...sounds easy. For some it is, for others it is work!

Richard, I'm pretty much all aboout business. I would say 90% or more of my articles on AR are real estate related. I have profiles on facebook, linkedin etc......but really have no time to do anything else with them.

I'm not a social person. I prefer alone time with a good book.

Richard, Right you are. I do write as a professional and do my best to portray that professionalism whether I am writing something related to home inspections or writing just for fun...

Toula...

It really is. Thanks my friend, and have a great Saturday!

Roy...

And that is using the technology to your advantage! THX!

Gary...

It is a TON of work! It makes me tired, but I trudge on. Thanks, as always.

Hi Richard,

It is advantageous to dip into the social and business networking web sites. Every bit helps! 

Richard, well-written.  I barely have time for the Rain and our website, yet I'm Facebooked, LinkedIn and Twittered....needless to say they are dusty.  Time for some housecleaning....

BB...

My eyesight has made reading hard for me ... the letters jump all over the page. The computer allows me to zoom in so it works a little better for me! THX

Michael...

We must never forget who we are! Thanks, as always.

Tony...

It's all about maximum coverage! Thanks, my friend.

It's funny that you blogged about that.

At first, when I started social networking, I thought the more the merrier, right?

I figured the more people who know you are an agent, the better, so I became "friends" with everyone.

Then after I saw some of the photos and language that became part of my network through "friends of friends", I starting being a little more picky about whom I choose to social network with.

As you state, it can be fun, but the primary goal is business exposure.

Thanks for the post!

Richard - I got so hung up on whether you used connote correctly or should it have been denote that I had to go reread the post to remember the topic, which had nothing to do with railroads or bridges. I do have to fix my linkedin page, but focues mostly on AR, website and a couple of other blogs.

Richard - I was checking my Facebook account and noticed that there are some x-rated individuals wanting to become "friends" . Not exactly the professional image I want. Same as on Twitter. So with an accidental click of the mouse, you can start looking like Larry Flint

Richard, one thing you mentioned about that connection to other professionals or the public is the photo. I am not sure why some use a logo or image but we connect with people, not logos of our business. Good post.

While maintaining a professional image is important do not forget to show who you are also. Let your personality or sense of humor show. Also if I am willing to put my ugly mug on my profile, everybody else can.

I try to keep my profiles professional, but I do my best to convey my personality when I am encountered anywhere.

I have seen a few of the profiles that I expect the agent did not think before they presented themselves.

Good reminder Richard.  It can be easy to forget on some sites.

Excellent advice, and I hope everyone heard your "alert" -- we're always "on", in business.

I frequently get requests for to be linkedin or to be added in another's facebook as an acquaintance.  I normally read the profile before making the decision.  Unfortunately many of these requests come from individuals of questionable backgrounds.

Richard excellent thoughts and ideas.  I have learned to focus on a few platfrorms and not be so wide spread it's insane to manage or handle. AR is by far my favorite

How are you handling Twitter?  That seems to be out of control and.... I am I missing the boat or just not liking that platform much!

I agree with all here. I'm new so I haven,t figured yet how to get my picture on my comments as it is on my profile page. This fumbling always scares me. Will I get it right fast enough?

I just had my first customer who told me that she loves my blog. I met her through a previous customer, I kept her with my blog!

However, I still haven't seen the business use to Facebook. Any ideas out there?

Richard,

I don't use facebook for anything more than to meet up with old friends. I rarely post anything related to business. Some times like recently I post a few listings but I don't expect business from it. I rarely use twitter...I don't there is much benefit for me to use it and I have linkedin but ...also not a regular user there. I do have a fairly good website and have gotten business from it as well as my blogs being linked to it so I can't complain. Even through I've been a web surfer for many years....I never had much web presence until the last 4 yrs.

Suzanne...

It really is hard to keep up with all of it! I do the best I can but it is overwhelming at times! THX

Ralph...

It's a fine line, but I think that if we maintain OUR professionalism, the rest will take care of itself! Thanks for the comment!

Big Mike...

I believe that I uses the correct connotation ... also, the bridge reference is in the title! lol and thanks.

Yep - the old 'spreading yourself too thin' problem arises with many who get their foot in the door of many outlets, but never really master any of them.

Very good reminder for us to keep in mind.

Cheers Richard !

Sheldon

This is kind of a 'hot button issue' for me and I've wrestled with how to manage that I have a lot of interests, 1 full time vocation (RE) 2 avocations (which work around RE, not v/v), and I network socially in all of them. They often do overlap. And it has always been to the benefit of all :)

I don't like Facebook so I ditched it very quickly--it's a box of annoying high school apps and I think outside boxes and don't like apps.

I love my Twitter and MySpace and they are not just about real estate. No one yet has commented negatively that they are flashy and flamboyant and not all RE, all the time. Because I am more than that too.

Candice (Blonde Universe, blip.fm)  haha

Hi Richard - What we do on social networks tells a lot about who we are - whether it is discussing professional issues, hobbies, our region, or what.  You're right that we should always have our professional 'badge' on!  I'm not a big Facebook fan - only use it to communicate with friends, etc.  Thanks!

Mary

At the Charlotte NC ReBAR Camp, I did learn that you can have a business page on Facebook. I believe you have to go to google and then add the page. Not sure about this...perhaps someone can give us a better understanding.

Richard: Couldn't have said it better. Not as many as there use to be, but I am always asked... what's my ROI... simply put, "Whatever you have on line, have it right!" As you succintly say, good pictures, complete profiles, etc... The internet is a visual medium, look smart... and be there because you mean to.

Chatting it up on Facebook is fun, but having a good Google profile, an Active Rain profile, Linkedin, etc. will get you farther than you think. Participating online, taking your professional conversation online isn't BS. It's well placed with some thought behind it. It's not how much you say, but where, when, and how you say it...

As always, great post, appreciate your take on it...

Rene'

I agree with Lenn.  There's SOOOO many networks to utilize that you can't possibly use all of them effectively.  Choose a few and dedicate yourself to them.  I like Active Rain, Facebook, and Plaxo.  Good post and best of luck.

I agree with this.  It is "social" venue, hence, fun. But don't lose sight of our professionalism. Nice picture.

Business savvy and acumen mixed with a healthy (if somewhat twisted) sense of humor has to be balanced so as not to be too serious or too silly. Great post and you have managed to get some hilarious stuff out there while maintaining professional reputation!

Online opens up many avenues, but it also means we are very visible and need to be aware of this.

By the way - the photo is beautiful.

This is absolutely correct.  I try to keep my webs presence very professional.  Like Lenn, I concentrate on a couple of venues.... otherwise, there is not sufficient time to do a good job... and there is also that old fashioned face to face networking that has a place in my marketing plan.

Good points you've made Rich. There isn't really enough time in the day for every one of the many platforms (or even enough time in a week, imho), but being consistent on one or two sites and visiting the rest on a regular basis can be rewarding, both for business and for personal use. For example, I focus my real estate presence here,  my blogs get tweeted on twitter, and I have a feed for both linkedin and facebook, but on my facebook page I am more connected to non-real estate people in my soi, and I discuss things non-real estate.

Agree with Lenn-- there is only enough time to be in a few places - not sure how other do more .

Richard, You are so right. I have always tried to present myself in a way that my children will not be ashamed of me. Perhaps that will always keep me in good shape.  It works for me.

Hi Richard~ I am on and utilize many social sites.  Activerain is the first one I utilized and it is my favorite and the one that brings me business!

I think that the idea is to be everywhere, but only go deep on a couple that are a good fit for your personality.  The big problem comes when you try to be everywhere... with depth.

Hey Richard!

I like to keep many things open at once. I find the more roads you have out there, the more people will travel those roads.

-Lisa

Richard,

Good tips. When you understand that this is "business" it takes on a different perspective. :)

Steve

Hi Richard!  EXCELLENT points and I do think that many of us try to do too many and don't focus on the one(s) that DO bring us the business. 

Congrats on that little gold star too!

Richard.. I must agree with you on this one... Always have to think of who may be watching you.

Hi Richard!
I agree with your emphasis on quality.  There is a local agent who, while is very professional and does well, does not present the classiest profile on FB.  I wonder if and when it will catch up with her.

Hi Richard -- Solid advice.  Many consumers can smell or see right through something half-baked.

Richard,

I could not have said it better myself, "So while socializing can be fun, always remember that we wear our professional name badges at all times!"

While everybody has let their guard down from time to time, I try to remember that everything I say can be viewed by everybody.

I agree we as professionals have to be very careful what we post anywhere online, even if it isnt part of our marketing.

Richard- great truths... the way you present yourself online is just as important in this day as the way you dress or answer your phone!

Very very ture. The last thing you want is to have your old fraternity photos posted for your clientele to see. Thanks for the heads up.

Whatever is put on the internet will find its way onto the computers of our clients and everyone else.  It must support the "professional" image that is desired.  Well written post.

Great reminder!! How many times have we run across people who lose site of the fact that what you write here, doesn't stay here. It is posted for ALL to read and see and passon.

Richard, thanks for saying what I've been thinking! I've cringed more than once when I've seen the facebook and twitter content of some "professional" people (those same people are using social media for business as they talk real estate, etc). There is more talk about hitting the bars on some of these pages than there is real estate content. Maybe that talk will attract a specific clientelle- who knows?

What Ralph said above sums it up for me: "Then after I saw some of the photos and language that became part of my network through "friends of friends", I starting being a little more picky about whom I choose to social network with."

So no bikini photos on my facebook page????

PS--We all have to be careful about what we post. I google all job applicants, and check them out on facebook/myspace if they're there before I interview. I have rejected resumes because of the personas I've seen on there.

Richard:  This is a great reminder.  We can feel so anonymous online.  We are not.  We are always Realtors and need to remember that.

Richard:  This is a great reminder.  We can feel so anonymous online.  We are not.  We are always Realtors and need to remember that.

I love the social networks, and can say with confidence that my business is much better for it!

Please take the advice of Richard here, if you are going to take the time to do it, do it right.

Profiles need to be completed, and a photo/avatar needs to be present. Do not use your company logo/cartoon/house photo, use a photo of you. The reason solcial networking can be so powerful is the "personal" interaction that creates relationships.

When I first entered the social networking universe, I was branding my company first, me second. I have since flipped it around, and it has been 1,000 times more effective.

Have a Profitable Day Everyone!

- Harrison Painter

Like Lenn, My focous is on AR and my real estate website  that's all I can keep up with.

Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate

Lenn used a good phrase 'flail' - as in doing it without any consistency or just half arsed just to be there??  Or 'flail' as to flop around like your an idiot that doens't know what they are doing on the venue? Your right, your a celebrity of some sort all the time, better have your best game ready!

When I joined Facebook, I accepted all invites to be friends.  An agent in my office started contactiing all my friends to become his friends to build his "network".  Needless to say, I quickly changed my strategy and now use Facebook only to keep up with old friends, not business contacts.  As many have said, keep your online presence professional if the venue is open to everyone.

I use "social" media to stay in touch with my clients on a strictly professional level. As with everything, one has to be selective where to particpate. Active Rain is a great platform to connect with other real estate professionals as well as with prospective clients!

AR and Facebook are all I can possibly devote time to. Well........ there's always those boring real estate sales.

There is a lot of talk about not getting caught with ones pants down (literally) on the Internet these days.  One should google ones self.  You can find out personal information on me, hobbies, fun stuff, but nothing I am ashamed of.

Hi Richard - Just wanted to compliment you on your photo for "bridging the gap." I really like all of the reflections in the water.

Good advice.  I really need to plant my feet in the water and stick with my plan.

Grreat blog

Does this mean that perhaps some of my comments were ill advised?  Congrats on being in the newsletter and for the feature! 

Same thinking applies to employees. Have found a couple with activity that does not advance the company image. Just another thing to be aware of.

Richard

Some have recommended separate sites for business and personal, but I have only one Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. account. I agree that business is conducted by people and I want to be more personal with my clients, but at the same time we must act professional.

This topic should also be covered when hiring new agents...the kind that believe in email and laptops!  It's better to start with a healthy practice, than have to pick up the pieces after a mistake...

Richard:  Good points all around.  Learn all you can.  Apply what you've learned to the best of your ability.  Focus on making what you've chosen to concentrate on the best it can be.