Today’s Realtor® is being required to embrace change and must readily identify the needs of their client-base. Web 2.0 is all about interaction. Clients are no longer helpless at the hands of the broker, but are rather empowered by the web, actively engaging and sharing information. Instead of being the talkers, we’ve actually become the listeners. Venues like trulia voices, active rain, yahoo! answers and a multitude of networking sites allow consumers to become better informed of not only the market, but also of the level of service they should expect from their agent.
In January, RisMedia reported that a recent survey found that 88% of consumers use the Internet as their primary source of real estate information, compared to a meager 12% from newspapers. We all know that the Internet is the future of real estate, and the key to succeeding in even a down market is how you make use of the potential made available to you. More agents are actively engaging prospective clients by establishing themselves as professionals through personal websites, blogs, social networking, and other e-strategies.
When a consumer searches for Realtors, they want instant access to information about you and your services. If you don’t have a web presence, your competition will succeed in converting the lead… not you. Signing up on LinkedIn or creating a website will not guarantee immediate results, but it does give you more of a chance to be found online than you previously had before.
Consumers know they need you, but it’s up to you to tell them why you’re the more qualified professional. When someone Google’s you, are you there to be found?
