Real Estate Recruiting in a 2.0 World
July 22, 2008
I recently got a promotion that started on Twitter.
Most of you who know me, know I am still fairly new on the sales side of the business (my background is in real estate appraisal). In fact, on June 4th, 2008, I wasn’t even one full year into the business when an anonymous tweet came through my Twhirl feed.
I didn’t follow this person, didn’t even recognize her. Loved your video on ActiveRain! Opening a new office nearby. Want to chat? was her tweet…
She is a big ActiveRain fan. She found my winning video there. She hit up my profile and thankfully disregarded my absolutely pathetic excuse for “points”.
My ActiveRain profile links to my LinkedIn profile, my AIM account and practically every single way humanly possible to reach me online! She read my blogs.
We communicated on and off for 12 days with out speaking a word “live” to each other. We were obviously both very comfortable and adept at these social media methods so through IM, twitter, text, etc…we learned a lot about each other. I Googled her and her broker/owner. She did the same to me (and STILL wanted me to come in to interview! Imagine that?) Her office had a “secret announcement” coming up that she was extremely excited about but couldn’t tell me just yet. I wasn’t actively pursuing a change in scenery, but told her it never hurts to listen.
Nearly two weeks later I was sitting with the owner/broker of the office discussing an opportunity that was being presented to me based on my pioneering, progressive, Web 2.0 ways. Keep in mind, as a rookie REALTOR struggling to simply survive his first year in the biz, I had no “Top Producer” status, no big book of business and no money coming in the door with me on Day 1.
My resume was online. It was my social media presence. My “impressive” connections to industry “heavy weights”. It was the creativity shown in the property videos and websites I had created. It was a digital map of my past, present and in her eyes, my future.
My local twitter pal Aaron Strout wrote an awesome post about a similar non-real estate experience he had recently in the hiring process.
If I was a broker today, hiring a select staff of agents, I would:
- Google their name, alone, in quotes, with “real estate” on the end…try a bunch of combinations.
- Read their blog. Don’t have one? Next! (that’s just me…but if something like less than 5% of agents are actually blogging, there are certainly some success stories in the other 95%)
- Check their LinkedIn page. Any recommendation on there? From colleagues? From clients?
- Follow them on Twitter.
- Set up a google alert for them to see how often they are showing up online.
- Send them an e-mail that requires a response “ASAP”…see you quickly they respond. If not quickly, why?
- Send them a text message seeking a passive reply. How quickly do they text back?
I’m not saying that social media is changing the way all HR departments operate and hiring processes run, but for certain types of industries, there is definitely a new twist in the recruiting game.
So if you are in one of those industries that might be effected by the evolution of social media (um…in case you were wondering, YES, real estate is one of them), get yourself out there. I was pretty impressed on a recent Google search I did for Mike Lefebvre Real Estate.
If it seems a little overwhelming just trying to keep up with all the social networks and tools coming out on a daily basis, it is. I subscribe to the Dustin Luther strategy of social networking: Sign up and spend 5 minutes setting up a quick profile on the ones that look interesting. If it turns out to be a useful tool for making money, you’re all set. If it’s a flash in the pan, your profile with fade off into the sunset with the site.
Just by getting my name out there, making some connections within my industry, engaging in the online conversations going on and adding a healthy dose of shameless self-promotion, I was in a position someone with my limited production and experience perhaps should not have been in.
I got the job. Started officially today. And I’m very optimistic about where this turn will take me.
At the end of the day, real estate is still going to be about the time you are spending face-to-face with qualified buyers and sellers. But if a little social networking/blogging ultimately gives me the opportunity for a promotion that will get me more face-to-face time with these qualified buyers and sellers, I’d be crazy not to, right?
Oh, I’m also meeting with a local couple I connected with on Trulia Voices later this week to discuss helping them buy their first home. Haven’t spoken “live” yet, but we sure know a whole lot about each other.
If this is what Web 2.0 is delivering for REALTORS willing to put in the time, sign me up! PS- Connect with me here!
About the Author:
Mike Lefebvre, The "Uncommon Agent", is a Massachusetts licensed real estate agent with Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty in Hopkinton, MA. In addition, he is also a certified residential real estate appraiser and the owner/chief appraiser at MeetingHouse Appraisals. Mike wields a double-edged sword, combining his appraisal expertise with his sales and marketing prowess to maximize benefits and profits for both his buyer and seller clients.
A self-admitted marketing junkie, Mike loves exploring all things Web 2.0 and brings a refreshingly unique approach to real estate marketing. Last but not least, Mike is also a proud card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation.
Contact him at 617-828-4127 or 508-359-1465. You can reach Mike on the web at The "Uncommon Agent"
You can also email Mike at mike@theuncommonagent.com
Hey Mickey Fever..ya left me hanging in this post…what’s the “secret announcement” coming up …or was it you? Were you the secret???
Way to go MIke, way to show how it’s done in the new world! Keep rocking and now it’s money time! See ya in the Vineyard soon…or like I said that sweet townhouse in Beacon Hill!
Now we gotta get Hunter rocking and beat up on his MLS!
Congrats!
Sorry Barry,
The “secret” she couldn’t tell me at the time was that the office was about to convert from Hallmark Realty to Hallmark Sotheby’s International Realty. Big news out here in the Metrowest ‘Burbs of Boston.
We had our kick-off launch party yesterday and the materials Sotheby’s use for marketing and presentations are just unbelievable. As a marketing guy, you will really appreciate the way this brand presents themselves in the market.
Top notch all the way! Thanks for the kinds words. Time to kick it into gear!
Dude, the Vineyard place is the summer retreat, Beacon Hill is our city digs!
Mike
[...] Mike came on to discuss his change in brokerage as outline in his latest blog post titled, “Real Estate Recruiting in a 2.0 World“. He also stayed and chatted with us about the uproar his last appraisal post caused around [...]
[...] Mike came on to discuss his change in brokerage as outline in his latest blog post titled, “Real Estate Recruiting in a 2.0 World“. He also stayed and chatted with us about the uproar his last appraisal post caused around [...]
You really write some good stuff - but your sox will probably end up like your patriots - losers.
Best wishes from Yankee fan (Hey, i married in to it).
Dennis