Thoughts From the Inman Connect Real Estate Conference in NYC
As a licensed North Carolina real estate broker, I receive immense fulfillment from helping my clients in real
estate marketing, blogging and social media navigation. As a part of those passions, I had the pleasure of attending the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in New York last week with my son, Brad Carroll. Brad was asked to participate as a panelist in a breakout session on “Build a World Class Agent Web Site” moderated by Bernice Ross.
What Is Inman Connect?
If you’re unfamiliar with the Inman Connect Conference, it is a semi-annual gathering of forward-thinking real estate professionals who come to learn and to share how our industry is changing and being changed. Main hall sessions typically focus on the state of the real estate industry and ground-breaking technologies plus breakout sessions that focus on Internet marketing, blogging, state of the MLS and various other “tracks”.
From the Observation Deck High Above Times Square in NYC
The primary purpose of this Crystal Coast Blog post is to offer some thoughts based on attending the RE Bar Camp, Bloggers Connect and the Inman Connect Conference. The original train of thought of this post was sent via Twitter “direct message” to a social media buddy of mine and video rock star Uncommon real estate agent in Boston, Mike Lefebvre (@MikeLefebvre). Did I get all that correct Mike? Limited to 140 Twitter characters, I decided a lengthier blog post was in order. My time in NYC triggered the following thoughts:
- Uninformed real estate agents who begin “playing” online without knowledge of “netiquette” in the social media space stand a better chance of making mistakes. Social media newbies, may I suggest you stop (before you create a profile), look (at the guidelines), and listen (before you engage).
- Many will experience social media fatigue and will probably fall by the wayside not knowing how to implement a carefully managed plan to remain focused and active in social media.
- The vast majority of real estate agents just don’t get how to use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn, and blogging. Each tool is distinctive with its own personality. Suggestion, read the social media primer “Social Media is a Cocktail Party” by Jim Tobin.
- Real estate agents who were the early adopters have a huge head start over their competition and the competition will find it increasingly difficult to play catch up.
- The next phase for early RE.Net adopters of social media is maturity in it’s use of the medium. Instead of using interruption based marketing tactics such as mass spam drip email campaigns and print media, most are forgoing these strategies in favor of permission based marketing in conjunction with social media.
Passions That Intersect at the Crystal Coast of NC
Granted, Emerald Isle is a far cry from New York City, but these social media concepts still hold true no matter if you’re a real estate agent on the Crystal Coast or in a large metropolitan area. People who live in Emerald Isle participate on Facebook just like those who live in Charlotte, Pittsburgh or any other area.
Leave a Comment
Agree or disagree? I invite you to leave a comment and tell me what you think about my observations.
Bobby Carroll
Your Crystal Coast Blogger
Twitter Me: @Realestatecoach
January 12th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Happy to see your back on the Crystal Coast Blog from your trip to “The Big City” – Thank you for sharing a few tid bits from Inman Connect. You’ve really illustrated that even an agent from a small town who embraces new media can “connect” with industry leaders and trend setters through social networking and develop the skills to be a better REALTOR that serves his clients needs to the fullest through the implementation of the lastest real estate technologies. Bravo!
January 13th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Hi Lake Mary Realtor Debbie Summers – Discovery of social media tools is only the beginning. How one leverages those tools is the key. I’m confident in your have ability to own your social media space in Seminole County down in Central Florida.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Bobby-
Great post! As someone who planned on attending REBar Camp (not Rebar Camp…still laughing about that sign) and Inman but was sidelined by family conflict that kept me in MA, I was thrilled to get such up-to-the-minute updates via my social networking circles.
I saw the whole @GaryVee keynote on Viddler.com (thanks @KellyOlexa), I got notes from all the sessions I wanted to attend, and I even got some of the candid shots from the after parties (talk about putting the “social” back in “social media”….)
This kind of connection wasn’t even possible just a few short years ago! What an exciting time we live in and I can’t wait to see the impact this all has on our industry.
(And, yes, you did get most of it right, but you left out charming, witty, painfully good looking and humble)
Looking forward to meeting IRL soon!
Mike
January 14th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hi Bobby,
I have watched a few of the videos that came out of Inman but wish I had been there in person.
Had a quick question. You mention not using drip marketing and moving towards permission based. I assume that means by connecting with your sphere through Social Media?
That one peaked my interest a little bit. 🙂 Thanks for the detailed thoughts.
Steph
January 14th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Mike – In my next post I’ll be sure to mention how smart, witty and cool you are. :>) Social Media has had a significant impact on RE but many agents still remain “in dark”. That’s just the way it is. Some get it and some don’t and never will.
Stephanie – You said “You mention not using drip marketing and moving towards permission based. I assume that means by connecting with your sphere through Social Media?” Correct. Consumers are becoming more savvy by the day and the “old” marketing tactics such as drip emails are viewed more and more as spam (interruption marketing). Hence my reason for suggesting agents/brokers move to a connect by conversation model instead of dripping.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Thanks Bobby, That makes sense. Just wanted to make sure that I got it right. Will be interesting to see what online marketing holds for ’09-