RealTown's RealTalk

Randy Eagar, CRS wrote:
 

Most of you are too young to remember the Stanley Kubrick movie "A Clockwork Orange". It was set in the future and contemplated the value/moral dilema of brainwashing to reach an "appropriate" response.

We just got back from a major convention where we had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of real estate agents about their website marketing. I know that I'm probably preaching/questioning the choir here but here is my question:

Why does it seem that so many agents are like "deer in the headlights", or using the Clockwork Orange mentality? When asked if they are marketing their websites, here are the main responses:

1. I don't know (which means no)
2. I don't think so (which means no)
3. I don't know how (which means no)
4. I don't have a website (which definately means no)
5. I think so (which we found was typically a brush off, leading to no)

So my next question to all these agents is this:

Why in the world are you paying serious money for a website month after month if you're not going to market it? (News flash: putting your website on your business card and sign rider is not "marketing").

I know that this question coming from me or any other SEO vendor seems a little self serving, but I do believe the questions are legitimate. And yes . . . especially in this market.

Randy,
Most Realtors and I think 8 out of 10 have no idea what you mean by marketing a website. They have heard, that a website might bring business. They buy one and hope it does. One Realtor in our office let her clients use her IDX on her website to find homes. And that is all what she uses it for.
Our office Realtors are between 40 and 80 years old. Some think that having an email address is the same as a website. They only understand selling homes. Computers, websites, SEO, this is all a foreign language for them. People like you should come down to their level and teach them at their level. Most older Realtors do not know how to upload pictures of their listings into the MLS system. This world is in a transition and the next generation will do it, hopefully, a lot better.
Meanwhile we have to help them. I am a MLS committee member who tries to make their lives a little easier. Because of my age of 73 I do understand them and their problems a little better.

 

Good thoughts guys.

From a marketing perspective, the answer is simple. They don't know what they don't know.

That's why many will be going back to their old job, if they get it back, if they don't make plans NOW that include creating a technology action plan as taught in the e-PRO course.

I get emails for agents every day saying they can't afford e-PRO. I say they can't afford not to take it.

When the market "adjusts" the good agents gain market share. Check out the e-PRO Streaming Video and make a decision.

e-PRO, now more than ever.

Rich