Social Media isn't the Problem
Real Estate can often be a lonely business. I speak to Realtors every day that spend their days running from fire to fire, client to client, speaking to hundreds of people per day, and yet still feel as if they are completely alone in their efforts. Gone are the days where Realtors spend their life at a desk in an office. The community we once had is being replaced by technology, digital transactions, and telecommuting.
It would be easy to blame the technology, or the portals, or the culture of your office. We could complain that the smartphone is replacing that belly-to-belly contact, or that Facebook is ruining the relationship process. We may long for the times where we sat around the coffee pot and leafed through the new listing sheets.
Folks, those days are never coming back. If you are longing for the “good old days” in real estate to return, you may as well cash your chips in now.
If you are longing for the “good old days” in real estate to return, you may as well cash your chips in now.
Ironically, the key to surviving (and thriving) in the face of all this technology is still people. The need to surround yourself with great people has never been greater in this business. It has also never been easier, given the abundance of social media. And what an amazing opportunity social media is! You have the ability to connect with smart, wise, inspiring people around the globe, in ways you never had before. You can gather them into a tribe of warriors that will help you take your business to places you never dreamed.
Social is not your problem. Your problem is what you do on social, and more specifically, who you hang out with.
Too often we spend our time online in conversations and with communities of people who would rather whine than empower. Friends, it is no ones fault but your own if you choose to do that. And I am sick to death of coaches, trainers, and managers telling Realtors that social media is a waste of time. Anything is a waste of time if you allow it to be.
Follow these best practices to start finding the good in social networks, instead of getting mired down in the drama:
1. Don’t be afraid to clean house. Unfriend, block, or unfollow those that don’t add value or who clog your feed with negative energy. You do not have to accept every friend request. (In fact, blindly accepting every request is a horrible idea.)
2. Avoid those groups where Realtors just complain about other Realtors. (You know which ones I am talking about.) Sure, venting can feel therapeutic, and everyone needs to vent once in awhile. But keep in mind that everything you say online is public domain, and you have no control over who shares it or takes a screenshot.
3. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who you admire, or who are doing great things. One of the very best things about social networking is that you have the opportunity to converse with anyone, anywhere. Seek out those who are positive and trying new things, and reach out!
Your outlook will change completely if you spend time curating a tribe of people that will encourage you. The same way you are prospecting for new business, you need to be prospecting for a tribe. Seek out those who add value to this industry and engage them in conversation. How often are you adding to your personal tribe? Are you networking for allies and mentors, rather than just someone to refer to? Social media is not your problem; but it can be your solution. It all depends on how you look at it.
