I Can Find Myself (Said with a Sigh of Relief)
March 10, 2010 1 Comment
I have a client selling a home in another state. I got a name of an REALTOR® in my client’s marketplace. The referring source emailed the agent’s name and number, but forgot to include the company. I wanted to find out about the agent before I contacted them. So I did what we all probably would do – GOOGLE:
- First the name
- Then added the city and state
- Then added REALTOR®
Then I emailed the referral source for the brokerage name. I added the National Broker’s name. All this and I still could not click on a link and get to the agent. I shuffled around some more on Google and found the Brokerage’s sites. It took many more clicks to locate the agent. Why would I recommend this hard to find agent and broker?
If you are a consumer, how many clicks does it take before you give up on the credibility or desire to use the goods, services or service provider?
IF I CANNOT FIND THE AGENT, HOW WILL I FIND THE LISTINGS (and ViceVersa? )
After that experience, I decided I needed to do something I had not done in a very long time : Google my name. The first page was me and one item for a website to an artist who shares my name. I added Chicago and it was all about me the way it should be. I have it all working. One click on any of number of pages and you can find all about me and my business.
The Basics:
- Google Profile
- My Website/Blog
- Sudler Sotheby’s International Realty Profile Page
- Social Network Profiles on Twitter, Linkedin, Activerain, Facebook, YouTube,
- Real Estate Websites Trulia, Zillow and Blockshopper
- Listingbook
- The Real Estate Wiki
There are a variety of other sites that came up as well that I have posted profiles on as well and some I was not familiar with. There are many links to my listings from a multitude of sources and a whole lot of miscellaneous stuff. There are many blog posts I have written as well as articles I have been quoted in over the years.
My point in all this is not to say I am great REALTOR® because of the page after page of items connected to my name. It’s just to say its easy to find me, found out about me, find out about my goods and services and contact me. There are no obstacles to the information with me. If it takes too many clicks or there is nothing to click to, the consumer will move on. I did.
We spend a lot of time talking about the professionalism of the real estate agent. If the consumer cannot easily find information about you and your business, how do they know you are a professional? The job of the REALTOR® is to sell services and listings. How can you sell a secret? #RTB
