Ya know, this whole Social Media thing is pretty funny when you think about it. For a little while now I have just sort of sat back and watched instead of hopping in to create a conversation. It’s kind of like sitting at the airport and watching how people react to different things. By no means am I a social media expert, I don’t really think I want to be one ~ I’m just a Real Estate Professional that finds it all really interesting and enjoys meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.
One of the sites I find the most interesting is Twitter. It’s amazing how everyday there seems to be another site that helps you ‘use’ it as a tool. You can go and find out who is following you back-maybe get your feelings hurt when you find out who is not reciprocating or Grade your twitter stream and find out how you rank or if you just pretty much suck at socializing..
All of these tools seem, in my eyes atleast, to make us more vulnerable in so many ways. It all takes so much time. Where our blog used to be what we needed the most, folks are saying there is no point in having a blog if you are not on every Social Media site imaginable.
While I love the Social sites, have met some amazing people and truly value all of the Relationships that have formed through Social Media Sites-what is this doing to business? Are we at some sort of tipping point?
All of this just makes me think about how much time it really takes away from conducting business. While we may be out there creating opportunities, marketing a listing or other service, prospecting…are all of these ‘tools’ that ‘grade’ us in a way taking away from what we should really be focusing on? Are we worrying so much about making others happy in what we say, tweet or update that we are not connecting with people on a real one on one level?
I am totally in agreement that Social Media is a place to be, but how much time should be spent in a virtual world. By not updating on a lot of sites frequently it takes your ‘Karma’ and Rankings down to practically Nil yet more and more applications are in a sense judging people for their online activity. This may be all well and good for Social Media and other online Experts, but probably not so hot for those whose jobs rely on us connecting in person.
What will this year bring in the Online World? Maybe a little less of ‘Do This’ and ‘Don’t Do That’ or ‘If you want to Succeed this is how you HAVE to do things’? Everytime a new application comes out is it really separating all of us a little more instead of bringing people closer?
If you are wondering, there really is not a point to this post. Just rolling around a few thoughts that have been in my head. I once attended a conference where one of the speakers led a discussion on ‘How Web 3.0 will be more like Web 1.0’ ~ maybe this is why?
So for now, I think I’ll just hop over and update Twitter and Facebook and tell everyone how much I appreciate them and have some fun with it. After that, I’m going to continue prospecting and connecting with past clients. To all of you, I wish you a Happy New Year!
Kim Hannemann says:
Stephanie, I feel your pain – or in any case your interest in “where is this all going?”
I’ve avoided Twitter so far. Instead, I occasionally (3-5 times a week) put up something in the “What are you doing?” area on my Facebook page. I also blog 3-5 times a week (novarealestate.wordpress.com), and note that on FB. I am considering a second blog but I wonder – do I have time to write that content?
Right now, I do, because clients – for whom I would love to be working – are not exactly plentiful. So I want to get me some, and extending my social network is one way I hope to do that.
January 2, 2009 — 3:52 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Hi Kim,
That’s what I find so interesting about it all. Online Professional Relationships are, in a way, like that really awesome website you ran across but forgot to bookmark and now can’t remember exactly what it was.
I promise I don’t mean that in a rude way. Maybe this will make all of us better communicators? Who knows. Interesting none the less. 🙂
Good luck with the blog and I wish you a properous ’09!
January 2, 2009 — 3:59 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
And just so that last statement doesn’t get taken the wrong way by anyone, I’m just noting how fragile relationships really are. Communicating correctly is really important. That’s all.
January 2, 2009 — 4:03 pm
Matt McGee says:
You’re not alone in this, Stephanie. A lot of small biz owners are trying to sort out all the social media options, the what, where, and why of it all.
>> All of this just makes me think about how much time it really takes away from conducting business.
I’d say, if you’re doing it right, it is part of business. It’s prospecting. It’s making real connections with local people who might become clients, or refer clients to you. You can’t sit back and wait for people to find you; you need to go find them before they need a new house.
>>how much time should be spent in a virtual world
>>not so hot for those whose jobs rely on us connecting in person
To me, there’s no difference between this “virtual world” and “real world” that you describe. It’s all the same. Things like Twitter, Facebook, or whatever aren’t worlds — they’re tools that make real connections easier. They serve the same purpose as your telephone, your mailing list, the postcards you send out, and so forth.
>>I’ll just hop over and update Twitter and Facebook and tell everyone how much I appreciate them and have some fun with it
You could also use Facebook search and Twitter search to locate other people that live in your target area. Drop them on a note (on Facebook) or follow them (on Twitter) and see what happens when you strike up a conversation. That’s where the real power and utility of these tools is, in their ability to make connecting easier.
There are other social sites that are good for local networking. I wrote about a bunch of them here:
http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/social-media-local-networking/1327/
I’m not an agent (my wife is), I’m a marketer/consultant. That’s where I come from with this reply. Hope it helps in some small way. 🙂
January 2, 2009 — 5:07 pm
Kathy McGraw says:
Stephanie-Loved the ramblings, and can connect with some of your points. There has to be a balance,and maybe it is different for everyone.
January 2, 2009 — 5:17 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Hi Matt, thanks for all of that. I’m not referring to social media in general really- more than that I am referring to all of the ‘tools’ and sites that come about every day that seem to directly relate to how much time someone spends online or spends conversing.
I agree that social media is great, I agree that they can be used to get business..I just think that many of the applications being made are separating a lot of people and not bringing them together.
By all of that I don’t necessarily think it is a bad thing. For people like myself, it is making me focus on meeting and conversing with other people that relate to my niche. Green.
It almost appears that social media is almost streamlining in to more of a niche type deal. Hope that makes sense. 🙂
January 2, 2009 — 6:22 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Hi Kathy, I think it is different for everyone and that is kind of the point I was trying to make. What works for one person may not work for the next.
It’s all good. Thanks for stopping by and see ya around twitter!
January 2, 2009 — 6:24 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Hi Bobbie, Exactly! Have fun! 🙂 But then some would say that isn’t good enough. LOL. It’s just funny watching all of the do’s and don’ts
January 2, 2009 — 6:26 pm
Thomas Johnson says:
I am the optimist. Like the kid on Christmas Day who went into the room full of manure and declared, “There must be a pony in here somewhere!
January 2, 2009 — 7:36 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Thomas, too funny. There is a pony in all of the social stuff for sure. LOL.
January 2, 2009 — 7:41 pm
Thomas Johnson says:
Stephanie: I truly do believe it, it’s just how much manure should we sift through at no small expense in time before we uncover a commission, er, pony, especially if there is a pony sitting in your car?
January 2, 2009 — 8:31 pm