Comments on: A sad and pathetic tale http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/ Seattle Real Estate Blog for those interested in Seattle real estate, popular culture, tech, news and opinion. Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:47:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Judy Nichols http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-8087 Judy Nichols Thu, 19 Oct 2006 17:12:30 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-8087 Hello. I'm late coming in on the conversation, but I just have to say that I'm blown away by the coincidence here. On October 5th, on the other side of the country in Wilmington, North Carolina, I attended a seminar on blogging for real estate agents and the exact same thing happened. The mood in the audience was one of stodgy skepticism. "I don't know about this blog thing...sounds like too much work. Write something every day? Who has time for that? Besides, I'm still trying to figure out how to launch my website." I think most of the people in the audience were only waiting around to see if their names were drawn for the raffle at the end of the presentation. Considering the biggest group of potential clients for our area are people from out of state, blogs are an excellent way to connect with them. I've got mine up and running (though it's a work in progress) and judging from the reaction of those in attendance, I won't have much competition. Hello. I’m late coming in on the conversation, but I just have to say that I’m blown away by the coincidence here. On October 5th, on the other side of the country in Wilmington, North Carolina, I attended a seminar on blogging for real estate agents and the exact same thing happened. The mood in the audience was one of stodgy skepticism. “I don’t know about this blog thing…sounds like too much work. Write something every day? Who has time for that? Besides, I’m still trying to figure out how to launch my website.”

I think most of the people in the audience were only waiting around to see if their names were drawn for the raffle at the end of the presentation.

Considering the biggest group of potential clients for our area are people from out of state, blogs are an excellent way to connect with them. I’ve got mine up and running (though it’s a work in progress) and judging from the reaction of those in attendance, I won’t have much competition.

]]> By: Johnny http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-8042 Johnny Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:43:57 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-8042 Hello, Thanks for the link to my site. Due to the unexpected popularity of that site I decided to buy a domain. (In large part due to your link.) So here is a link to the new Investing Sensei site. http://investingsensei.org Thanks for getting the word out, Johnny, The Investing Sensei Hello,

Thanks for the link to my site. Due to the unexpected popularity of that site I decided to buy a domain. (In large part due to your link.) So here is a link to the new Investing Sensei site.

http://investingsensei.org

Thanks for getting the word out,
Johnny,
The Investing Sensei

]]> By: Tyler http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7934 Tyler Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:16:55 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7934 Great thoughts Marlow - and great followup comments by others. You all know that websites and blogging are valuable tools that allow you to better connect with your (potential) clients. Maybe the entire general public isn't quite there yet, but I believe it will be soon: reading real estate blogs to find a competent agent, to learn about the buying process, to explore new neighborhoods. When the public starts reading blogs first, before anything else, all of you will be there waiting. The good, transparent real estate agents/bloggers will shine through - and the ones who can barely log on to the MLS or string a coherent sentence together will fall to the wayside. The death of the successful 'smooth talker' may be upon us... Great thoughts Marlow – and great followup comments by others. You all know that websites and blogging are valuable tools that allow you to better connect with your (potential) clients. Maybe the entire general public isn’t quite there yet, but I believe it will be soon: reading real estate blogs to find a competent agent, to learn about the buying process, to explore new neighborhoods. When the public starts reading blogs first, before anything else, all of you will be there waiting. The good, transparent real estate agents/bloggers will shine through – and the ones who can barely log on to the MLS or string a coherent sentence together will fall to the wayside. The death of the successful ‘smooth talker’ may be upon us…

]]> By: Ben http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7931 Ben Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:33:02 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7931 Like your office, out of nearly 80 agents only two of us blog in my office...and we're just down the Hill from you. It's not age; I think the average age in our office is a couple of decades younger than the national average. And, most of the agents are tech-savvy, but they use technology to do business rather than to build business. As we move to a single-license system and as technology advances the industry, those who don't adapt or further their knowledge will be left by the way side. That's a good thing, no? Like your office, out of nearly 80 agents only two of us blog in my office…and we’re just down the Hill from you. It’s not age; I think the average age in our office is a couple of decades younger than the national average. And, most of the agents are tech-savvy, but they use technology to do business rather than to build business.

As we move to a single-license system and as technology advances the industry, those who don’t adapt or further their knowledge will be left by the way side. That’s a good thing, no?

]]> By: Jillayne Schlicke http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7915 Jillayne Schlicke Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:25:32 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7915 From the perspective of a vendor, WAR (Wash Assoc of Realtors state convention) attracts Realtors from all over the state. In fact, most of the attendees are not from Seattle/Puget Sound, which is why they probably were scratching their heads. We have mandatory continuing ed for many reasons, one of which is to keep current on trends and issues. At least the older crowd wandered in to the unfamiliar territory of the blogging seminar instead of the safety and comfort of the "baby boomer" session. The Realtors who stretch and push themselves outside their comfort zone like Lisa Dunn will survive and thrive. You are a role model for your peers, Lisa. From the perspective of a vendor, WAR (Wash Assoc of Realtors state convention) attracts Realtors from all over the state. In fact, most of the attendees are not from Seattle/Puget Sound, which is why they probably were scratching their heads.

We have mandatory continuing ed for many reasons, one of which is to keep current on trends and issues. At least the older crowd wandered in to the unfamiliar territory of the blogging seminar instead of the safety and comfort of the “baby boomer” session.

The Realtors who stretch and push themselves outside their comfort zone like Lisa Dunn will survive and thrive. You are a role model for your peers, Lisa.

]]> By: Lisa Dunn http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7907 Lisa Dunn Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:12:44 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7907 I can tell you as a newbie blogger myself (4 weeks on active rain today) the whole thing can be a little intimidating! As is my style, I jumped in with both feet and even starting a baby newbie blog Twin City Real Estate http://lisadunn.typepad.com/twin_cities_real_estate/ (shamless plug, but I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing a newer neo-blog-phite in action!) It's a pretty steep learning curve, and I'm still learning...but loving it! boy does it stretch me as a professional! I can tell you as a newbie blogger myself (4 weeks on active rain today) the whole thing can be a little intimidating! As is my style, I jumped in with both feet and even starting a baby newbie blog Twin City Real Estate http://lisadunn.typepad.com/twin_cities_real_estate/ (shamless plug, but I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing a newer neo-blog-phite in action!) It’s a pretty steep learning curve, and I’m still learning…but loving it! boy does it stretch me as a professional!

]]> By: Marlow Harris http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7905 Marlow Harris Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:01:42 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7905 Dustin, I think you're right about the audience. While it was difficult to speak to you with all your 'fans' crowded around, a good number of the grumblers who held back were only there for the clock hours. You'd get a whole different audience if they were there on their own dime, with no credit towards their license renewal. Anyway, carry on the good work and continue with your incredible evangelical crusade for the value of blogging. Dustin, I think you’re right about the audience. While it was difficult to speak to you with all your ‘fans’ crowded around, a good number of the grumblers who held back were only there for the clock hours. You’d get a whole different audience if they were there on their own dime, with no credit towards their license renewal.

Anyway, carry on the good work and continue with your incredible evangelical crusade for the value of blogging.

]]> By: Cheryl in NELA, CA http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7890 Cheryl in NELA, CA Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:14:59 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7890 Yeah, I did comment, but it was only to say that if Dustin had an overflow of volunteer contributors to send some my way. :-) Since he did say several people came up to him afterwards and asked about becoming RCG contributors. Yeah, I did comment, but it was only to say that if Dustin had an overflow of volunteer contributors to send some my way. :-) Since he did say several people came up to him afterwards and asked about becoming RCG contributors.

]]> By: Andrew Hodge http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7862 Andrew Hodge Sun, 08 Oct 2006 13:39:15 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7862 I know exactly how you feel. I am in the Toronto, Ontario, markets and only about 15% of agents have a website, of which only a few agent know enough to have sites that are index-able. If you ask the vast majority of agents if they have even heard of a Blog they get a glazed look on their face, as they try to decide if they should admit not knowing about something or bluff and hope that there are no follow up question. I have been blogging since November and I have found it incredibly good at attracting clients and boosting my SERPs. In this industry, like any, we have to constantly look at where the trends are going not only in the markets but also in the methods that buyers and sellers use to find REALTORS® and trade real estate. Websites and Blogs are a big part of the future of the real estate industry. IMO :-) I know exactly how you feel. I am in the Toronto, Ontario, markets and only about 15% of agents have a website, of which only a few agent know enough to have sites that are index-able. If you ask the vast majority of agents if they have even heard of a Blog they get a glazed look on their face, as they try to decide if they should admit not knowing about something or bluff and hope that there are no follow up question.

I have been blogging since November and I have found it incredibly good at attracting clients and boosting my SERPs.

In this industry, like any, we have to constantly look at where the trends are going not only in the markets but also in the methods that buyers and sellers use to find REALTORS® and trade real estate. Websites and Blogs are a big part of the future of the real estate industry. IMO :-)

]]> By: Jillayne Schlicke http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-7806 Jillayne Schlicke Sun, 08 Oct 2006 04:49:19 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/07/a-sad-and-pathetic-tale/#comment-7806 Hi Guys, I believe you know I've been teaching a clock hour class called "New Media" for many months now which includes a segment on blogging. I would have loved to have been there in the audience cheering on Dustin and Russ, but other commitments kept me away from WAR this year. Recently I had a woman in my New Media class who need me to slow wAY DOwn. Realtors come in to tech classes with a wide variety of technology know-how. This particular Realtor had not touched a video camera since the 1960s and didn't know that today's digital video cams actually come with a microphone. As instructors, it is almost impossible to slow down enough for folks who seriously need it and not go too far off the other side for the agents who are already super tech savvy. What usually happens is the green Realtors end up feeling slightly overwhelmed and motivated and the tech savy Realtors end up picking up a few new ideas and tricks. A LONG time ago, I use to teach Realtor tech classes right at the begining of the technology wave. (1989: The first DOS version of Metroscan hit Snohomish County.) As Web 2.0 explodes in front of us, what's old is new again and Realtors who are afraid of or confused about blogging, myspace, youtube, zillow, redfin, base.google, and so forth, will once again be left in the dust. Hi Guys,

I believe you know I’ve been teaching a clock hour class called “New Media” for many months now which includes a segment on blogging. I would have loved to have been there in the audience cheering on Dustin and Russ, but other commitments kept me away from WAR this year.

Recently I had a woman in my New Media class who need me to slow wAY DOwn. Realtors come in to tech classes with a wide variety of technology know-how. This particular Realtor had not touched a video camera since the 1960s and didn’t know that today’s digital video cams actually come with a microphone.

As instructors, it is almost impossible to slow down enough for folks who seriously need it and not go too far off the other side for the agents who are already super tech savvy. What usually happens is the green Realtors end up feeling slightly overwhelmed and motivated and the tech savy Realtors end up picking up a few new ideas and tricks.

A LONG time ago, I use to teach Realtor tech classes right at the begining of the technology wave. (1989: The first DOS version of Metroscan hit Snohomish County.) As Web 2.0 explodes in front of us, what’s old is new again and Realtors who are afraid of or confused about blogging, myspace, youtube, zillow, redfin, base.google, and so forth, will once again be left in the dust.

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