Friday, September 4, 2009

Times, They Are A Changin'


Times, they are a changin'! Technology is ever evolving. Computers are getting faster, phones are getting smaller, Facebook & twitter are the new forms of networking and communication. In fact, researchers have found that if Facebook was a country, it would be the 4th largest in the entire world. Why am I blogging about this, you might ask? Because, as a young real estate agent it is important to know how to enhance my business through the new ways of social networking. When 85% of all home buyers find their new home through the World Wide Web, having a large internet presence is one of the key factors to make it in this economy - and in general. Not just as a Realtor, but as a person in the business world, overall.

Before I continue on, let me just say that if you are one of the real estate agents who has been in the biz for 20+ years, and you have taken the time to evolve with technology instead of just sitting there with your head in your hands complaining about how you have no business...then I applaud you, and I implore to come along with me during this blog ride into the new millennium of real estate marketing!

I feel that I am one of the lucky ones. I grew up in a time when all of these new electronic outlets were (and are) still evolving. The average age of a Realtor is 55. In no way am I saying that's a bad thing. I'm saying that many of them do not want to make the transition to being more technologically savvy. Which is fine with me, because many of my clients are 30 somethings that like to text message and Facebook me, as opposed to having a good ol' fashion phone conversation. I cannot tell you how many times I have text messaged another Realtor, only to get nothing in response. They either don't know how to text, or they can't be bothered, and they don't want to take the five minutes to learn how. Don't worry, I will take those crazy texting clients off your hands for you! They're nuts, and you wouldn't want to work with them anyway, right? Everyday that goes by, is another day that the agents with that old school mind set will be left even further behind in the dust with outdated marketing techniques. Heck, even my 90 year-old grandmother knows what I'm taking about.

Many of these social networking sites have a negative stigma attached to them. I can see why they would - to a point - but they are what you make of them, and if you make them great for you, they will be great for your business. Facebook was initially created for college kids to keep up with their friends to see what classes they are taking, etc. Then, over time, it grew to a world wide phenomenon. In my opinion, a site with almost 1/2 a billion users can't be wrong. So, as a Realtor, putting your listings on Facebook is a NO BRAINER! In fact, they even have applications that turn portions of your Facebook profile into an all-out Real Estate page, just like you would see on sites like Realtor.com or the MLS. Instead of sending a virtual tour of a new listing somewhere out into cyberspace in hopes that it might find it's way onto a potential buyers desktop, why not literally put the listing report right in the lap of those potential buyers. Facebook, blogger.com, twitter, youtube, texting, etc, will do that. But no worries, real estate agents. If you don't want to be bothered with learning these techniques, I'll take on those wacky internet cyber weirdos and find them a new home. You can help the 15% of buyers that check the Sunday papers.

Another fantastic internet portal that I have grown to love, is twitter. Twitter asks one question: "What are you doing?" It has taken the simplest question ever known to the human race, and has turned it into a marketing goldmine! At first this site was seen as something for the kids as well. But over a very short period of time it has completely taken off into something that no one could have expected. And for real estate, it is pure genius. Think about it...it's FREE! Any leads you generate that turn into a sale is 100% pure profit. Find other Realtors all over the globe, post links to your personal websites, add pictures, post listings on TweetLister.com , find buyers & sellers in your area and connect with them...the possibilities are endless. Potential home buyers are all over these sites, so as a real estate agent in the year 2009, why wouldn't you want to be as well?

One last bone to pick, and then I will conclude this blog posting. How can a real estate agent in today's world function with a cell phone that does not have internet and e-mail capabilities? I see so many agents today with phones that look as if they were the first cell phone ever invented. No, let me rephrase that: I see so many agents today with phones that look as if they were the prototype for the first cell phone ever invented. Much like The Zack Morris Phone from "Saved By The Bell." They say that it takes the average Realtor up to three days to respond to a client lead. If they had a PDA phone like a BlackBerry, then this would not be a problem. I receive, on average, approximately 100 e-mails a day. If I had to wait until I was able to use a computer to respond to them, I would never do any business. When clients click on one of your properties, they are also clicking on dozens of others. Studies show that if you do not respond to a lead within 10 minutes, they have already found another real estate agent to work with. In fact, they have probably found me to work with because I e-mailed them back instantly using my BlackBerry.

I am finishing up my second year in real estate and because of my internet presence, marketing, and also the fact that I am on a Re/Max team that has the most traveled Realtor website in Northern New Jersey, I did 12 deals in my first year alone. The average real estate agent does three deals a year. I am now pushing 20 closed transactions. For a rookie agent, that is a great accomplishment, especially in a down economy. It will only get better as the housing market turns around, and I'm looking forward to working with YOU!

You can follow me at www.twitter.com/nickbaldwin1979
You can follow The Baldwin Dream Team at www.twitter.com/thebaldwinteam
You can find me on Facebook by clicking on my profile badge near the top of the blog on the right hand side.

Please watch this short video called "Social Media Revolution." It will blow your mind!