As #REALTOR s it is our responsibility to both EDUCATE & PROTECT the consumer.

The question that crosses most of our minds is HOW?

More & more of you have heard the most recent BUZZ word in mass media today, TWITTER.  From President Obama giving TWITTER a nod by using it as a vital part of his SUCCESSFUL election campaign to CNBC & even CONGRESS jumping on the bandwagon to grab up TWITTER user names before they are all TAKEN, TWITTER has become a BRAND name.

“Ask anyone you know if they have heard of TWITTER, most will answer “YES”.  Ask those same people if they know what it is & the answers will surprise you.” Many people have no clue what TWITTER really is,  nor what it is capable of!

TWITTER is the ideal format to provide Americans & #REALTOR s all over the world with the #FORMAT required to EDUCATE & COMMUNICATE.  Like, “GETTING UP ON A SOAPBOX,” Twittering is a way for you to STAND UP & tell the WORLD what you have to say.  Just like in the “REAL WORLD”, people do not have to listen to you.  If your message is HONEST & truly #HELP s people, then it will SPREAD like a VIRUS;  EDUCATING society while allowing you to put VALUE back into our profession.

“All of us learned in REAL ESTATE 101: PRICE is determined by two factors, SUPPLY vs DEMAND,  Demand being what people are willing to pay for something.”

In relationship to the recent housing bubble, we saw first hand how fast things can change when there is too much or too little supply, but also how misinformation can lead the #MARKET down the wrong path.  As #REALTOR s we must put VALUE back into our profession by being EDUCATORS, protecting the PUBLIC from being misled by false or inaccurate information.  We CAN NOT allow ourselves to give in to the temptation of simply using LOW PRICED FORECLOSURE to sell our listing & help us recover from the market collapse.

Don’t limit yourself by focusing your marketing on PRICE alone.  SUCCESSFUL #REALTOR s know that the key to selling a home is “Price it right the first time,” but also “KNOW your product.” FACT: Consumers are willing to pay more money for items they know & trust as opposed to something untried. BRAND NAME items such as CLOROX bleach, KLEENEX tissues, XEROX copies & now GOOGLE it! The reason for this is VALUE. We use these products daily because we know that they are good quality & reliable. I believe TWITTER is not far behind.

WHY? TWITTER it is a completely FREE website which allows you to send & receive short 140 character MESSAGES to the WORLD.  Like TEXT messages from your phone, TWITTER is a simple way to get a message across to someone quickly & to the point. NO BULL…NO FRILLS…JUST the FACTS.

“Twitter to me is a “stock market ticker” of what’s on people’s minds

around the world in REAL TIME.”

Much like the tale of MIDAS whose secret was

whispered into a jar, the urge to TELL someone

your thoughts is overwhelming.

In today’s ECONOMY the public wants us to PROVE IT!  Everyone EXPECTS to get the best possible value for their money but honestly may not know what that is, leading to unreasonable expectations.  The SUPPLY of good quality #REALTOR s is dwindling. Lack of funds, due in part to loss of income stemming from the foreclosure CRISIS has forced many of us to go back to CORPORATE AMERICA in search of  VERIFIABLE income. #REALTOR s still in the market today are the best & the brightest, #SURVIVOR!  We have been able to adjust with this difficult  #MARKET by listening to our consumers & giving them what they really need: EDUCATED ADVICE from experienced professionals who have learned the answers the hard way, WE LIVE IT!

#REALTORS: PLEASE use informational websites like this to get FREE updates on Twitter & other social networking mediums.  BUILD on the STRONG foundation you already have by adding the internet to your marketing “TOOL KIT.“  *87% of Americans used the internet to find the home they purchased.  Shouldn’t your marketing be focused where your clients are looking for you?

“NAR 2008 President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said consumers rely heavily on the expertise of real estate agents to navigate the market. “This is the biggest transaction most people are ever involved in, so the qualities they’re looking for in a real estate agent include reputation, honesty, integrity and knowledge of the market,” he said. “Both buyers and sellers want agents to provide context, advice and know-how. The vast majority would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others.”

WANT TO READ THE FULL STORY? Visit the National Association of Realtors website http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/11/home_buyer_and_seller_survey_shows

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR #REALTORs ?

Want to add Twitter to your marketing “TOOL KIT?” Please e-mail Kim@kimberanna.com

#THANK YOU,

Kim Johnson
REALTOR, Watson Realty Corp.

Finance & Budget Committee Chair South Lake Women’s Council of REALTORS
Ambassador, South Lake Chamber of Commerce

Active member of Elks http://www.elks.org/

Kiwanis http://www.kiwanis.org/

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