Embrace Technology, But Remember the Basics
When I started in real estate, I didn’t have the technology that’s available today. With technology, we can be better organized and have access to more information than we can imagine.
However, with an increase in technology comes an overreliance upon it. Many agents fall into the technology trap and spend more time online hunting for leads and updating their Facebook statuses than offline building real relationships with their customers. People ask me all the time about what technology they should use. While technology is useful, it’s important to rely on the fundamentals to build your business and relationships. You have to understand the connection between your offline business and your online presence—this is your “Offline/Online Understanding.”
What does this entail? It’s pretty simple, really. Offline includes your activities that aren’t associated to the internet and social media, so your voice-to-voice calls, face-to-face visits and the personal notes and marketing items you send to your clients. Your online activities include your social media, website and blog. While online activities are fun and provide another way to connect with your clients, you shouldn’t rely on them to generate leads for your business.
Put another way, it’s the fundamentals that help you drive your business. Your offline activities are essential and your online activities should complement them. If you want to generate a stream of reliable leads, pick up the phone, get out that pen and be consistent in all of your communication with your clients. I’ve been in business more than three decades and have seen the industry change and shift. But, despite all the changes, one thing is for sure; if you want to set yourself apart from the competition, it’s vital to serve your clients and build those relationships face-to-face. In an age when everyone is glued to their devices, a personal touch is a memorable one. When you offer your clients a high level of service, you can be sure to achieve success.
Joe
