Here’s another video by @equalman. Erik Qualman wrote a book called “Socialnomics” and after seeing the following video, the book is on my Christmas wishlist. Erik discusses his reasons for creating the video over on his blog, Socialnomics.
This video offeres more interesting facts about companies that have used social media to increase sales:
You can also view his Social Media Revolution video here.
Join us on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 11am to hear about an amazing certification program for the Virtual Assistant industry.
MIVA’s own Diane Hess will be walking us through the process of Exploring the influence an authentic professional certification verses a standard certificate of achievement has over today’s virtual prospect.
An older video explaining social networking but still applicable for people just being introduced to social media. This “draws” the potential business and personal relationships out making it easy to see how social networking can benefit you.
Social Networking in Plain English Video:
Still with me? You are probably thinking I have lost my mind right....actually seeing my future office, with a huge tree and stream in it no less. Trust me - kind of freaked me out too. But stay with me, it will eventually start to make sense.
In my posting on Oct. 29th, I told you about a tree that I look at pretty much every day. I had no clue how that tree would play such a big part in my vision planning and be used as such a huge metaphor for my business. Until a few days ago.
I'm standing at the bus stop waiting for my daughter like every other day, looking around, and there it was - like a smack upside the head, or a light bulb going off - a different tree!
Where I stand, I face the street. Behind me is a house. This house has a beautiful tree in its front yard. Has been there for many years. So why am I seeing it for the first time just now? And why another tree?
The differences between this tree and my original tree are so dead on to where I am at in my business and in life, that it truly gives me chills at times.
As a reference point, the original tree, I now cal Future Tree. The new tree I just realized was there is my Current Tree.
Future Tree has a thicker trunk that is lower to the ground. From there, three thick branches go off in different directions leading to more branches and eventually leaves.
Current Tree has a thinner, taller trunk, with a few thick branches going off to tiny branches then leaves.
To any "normal person" this would not be a big deal. To me - I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My business is the Current Tree. I am the trunk that goes up high off the ground, my team is the thicker branches and our clients are the leaves. What this signifies is that I am still doing the majority of the work, my team is supporting me pretty well, and there are healthy clients. But my intention has always been to step away from the day-to-day operations and simply "run the business".
The Future Tree, with the "team branches" closer
to the ground, signifies what I want my business to grow into. Where my team is supporting more of my
business.
Needless to say I had to run home and call Coach Ginny with this "a-ha" moment!
In my next post I will go into what else I have learned about the differences in these two trees and how they represent my life just as much as they do my business.
A couple of months ago I was invited by a fellow Realtor to attend North Oakland County Board of Realtors Technology (NOCBOR) Board meeting. (I am a licensed agent in Michigan)
I assumed I was observing, everyone else assumed I was joining. So I now find myself part of the Tech committee. That role quickly expanded into also writing a monthly technology and social media article for the board newsletter. Funny how things snowball, isn’t it?
Social networking is like that too. It starts small and grows into more than you ever expected.
Here is my first submission to NOCBOR’s newsletter. Members will receive it in print, or you can read it online this month at NOCBOR’s web site.
The Social Media Revolution
“Social Media is not a fad.”
“Social Media is a game-changer.”
“Some say it may even be the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution.”
So starts the preface to the newly released Swanepoel Social Media Report 2010. By now I’m sure you’ve heard of Social Media. You may even have a FaceBook page, or a profile on LinkedIn but if you’re like most people, you still may not “get it.”
“How does knowing what someone had for lunch help me get more business?”
When I decided to get my real estate license, I was new to Michigan. My entire sphere of influence consisted of 3 neighbors. I’ve put my efforts into learning about social media and the people who use it. Two of my last three contracts are a result of social media contacts. The incubation period with social media may be longer than traditional forms of marketing but if you work it along with your existing business the opportunity to keep your sales funnel filled is tremendous.
When Swanepoel refers to the “biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution, he is referring to the way in which we do business. The Industrial Revolution changed the manner in which products were produced, and created faster, more efficient ways of getting those products to market.
In the decades since, our marketing efforts were unidirectional. Realtors sent out postcards, newsletters, placed ads on benches and in grocery stores in the hopes someone looking for a home would see their information and call. We had complete control over the advertising persona we chose to show our customers.
What customers found is that the promises marketed were not always what they got. Referrals became important. We know if a past client refers us, it’s much easier to “make the sale” because we’re already a trusted advisor. The limitation is we are restricted by the number of people we know or know of us. That’s where networking groups came in. It expanded our reach to local people we may not have met otherwise.
Social Media changes marketing completely. It’s no longer unidirectional, you must be an active participant. Every day is a networking event. Participating with online platforms such as Facebook or Twitter is far easier and much more fun than walking cold into a face to face networking event. By using the tools Social Media provides us, we expand our marketing reach so when we do finally meet face to face, it’s as though we’re meeting an old friend. And old friends are the best source of referrals. Social Media interaction has the potential to be the referral process on steroids.
Are you ready for the next revolution?
Footnote: Swanepoel Social Media Report 2010 is available at www.REtrends.com
SAVE THE DATE - October 2, 2010
How to add AudioAcrobat to WordPress
Social networks allow colleagues quickly make recommendations.
SAVE THE DATE - October 2, 2010