Isolated Agents That Are Everywhere
There are so many progressive real estate agents that have engaged with the web, especially within the last year. A few years ago a good portion of them didn’t have a clue what a blog was, what Twitter could do or why they needed a Facebook account. These days, or a lot of people if you name the network, they’re on it. At the very least they want to know what it does and how it will help them.
Slowly, I discovered that I spend too much of time at the keyboard. It didn’t seem like it at first but it progressed and built up and so did a little extra weigh from sitting so much. One day I realized I was spending entirely too much time staring at a screen an not enough time with people in real life. Don’t get me wrong, the people I know online are an absolute blast and fun to be around but when I die shouldn’t at least one person in town show up to my funeral to see me in my red dress?
Networking Cleverly Disguised as a Charity
A little over a year ago serendipity stepped in and sent someone to invite me to lunch one day. A wind inspector said I had the perfect personality and would probably enjoy Rotary. I was considering joining some sort of organization just to get out and see humans, meet people and try to regain my social skills. Always the joiner, I said yes and within a month or two I was a full fledged member. My Rotary club membership consists of local elected officials, media members, business owners, bankers, retirees and their guests.
When You’re Only A Mug Shot on A Webpage
My hard work on the web has paid off. People call me all the time and say, “You’re everywhere!” That’s what every internet savvy real estate agent wants, right? Well, I might have been everywhere and easy for relocating home buyers to find but I think it was probably cold and distant for local people that only read about me or heard of me. My IRL contribution to local causes in the last year has made a huge difference to me personally and to the city itself. I now have a circle of friends that I don’t have to Skype, new business contacts and real honest to goodness, living people who can say, “Chris? Oh, she’s in my Rotary Club. I know her.” – not, I know her user name.
So, what do you so that people in real life really know you and not just your user name?
Susie Blackmon
June 16, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Rotary is great. I was a member in Hilo, HI and then here in Waynesville, NC until I put my membership on hold early this year … a financial decision. I’ll be networking IRL, but not so much on a local level.
Chris Griffith
June 16, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Good for you. There are a few more organizations I’d love to join but I’m spread so thin already.
Ken Brand
June 17, 2009 at 12:18 am
Rotary, Drunko, PX90, PTO, Gamblers Anonymous, the name doesn’t matter.
When asked or not, I say, “Join any club or group that you’re passionate about and draws a crowd.”
People do business with people they like and trust, people with the same interests and experiences, if you hang out with people like you, they’ll ask for your help and refer their friends to you too.
Likewise, don’t join a club or organization that you’re not completely excited about, the passionate people always know a poser when they see one….no business for posers.
My 2 cents.
My social sphere used to center around Basket Ball Leagues, now it’s Racquet Ball.
Paula Henry
June 18, 2009 at 3:43 am
Chris – I so relate to this – I sit behind this computer screen way too much and always feel better when I am out meeting people. I have yet to join a “club” or committee, but am looking for the right fit.
Maybe I’ll try Anonymous Agents:)
White Rock Real Estate
June 18, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I am finding I spend wayyy too much time behind my computer. My job is to generate leads for my office but it’s now gotten to the point that people think I’m no longer in the industry because I spend too much time online trying to generate leads
Missy Caulk
June 18, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I’ve volunteered so much in the past, I love sitting behind my screen. LOL
But, I hear ya, we gotta go where the people are IRL.
One advantage of living in small town America…you run into someone every time you leave the house.
tomferry
June 30, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Chris,
First off … GREAT photo on the blog! Perfect!
Real Estate is a social business and you’re making great sense here. As we are engaging and joining the conversation, we have to remember to get out and talk to the people!
Take a look at Obama’s campaign … sure he harnessed the internet and social media tools BRILLIANTLY, but he never stopped showing up to the local fish fry, shaking hands, eatting pancakes and the YMCA, etc. Even to this day, the Presidency is embracing social media, but still remembering to MEET THE PEOPLE and welcoming into their “home”.
Tom
New Options Realty
October 4, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I too am spending too much time behind my computer screen… I should probably get out and network more… We’re in a small community here and getting out and seeing people is important