Meeting Potato Chip Entrepreneur Sarah Cohen at her factory in Virginia.
Where you reading blogs back in 2008?
Back then, most blogs had a different vibe than they have today. They were much more conversational.
The majority of blog posts had an authentic tone where writer was thinking out loud, trying to work through problem they faced in their business or in their life.
Entrepreneurs were working out issues, sharing experiences and asking for creative ideas.
Readers would get to know the author, sympathize, give creative or helpful advice and then develop friendships. Really.
Inspired by that #podcast
Well, this morning, while drinking a cup of coffee and listening to a podcast about smart website strategy and lead-capture rates, I realized that I needed to get back to my blogging roots.
I started blogging when the real estate market tanked in late 2008 and I literally had to rebuild, retool, rebrand and reinvent my business after my core group of clients moved away. That meant putting on my start-up hat back on and building new skills on the valuable foundation of my experience.
Reading blogs gave me the encouragement to teach readers about my experiences in the Vienna real estate market, use photos that I had taken, produce videos, and embrace the new spirit of Web 2.0 inspired entrepreneurism.
So, it’s time to go retro ~ and blog a little like I did in 2009.
Lead Conversion strategists have taken over blogging
You see, the sales guys are now leading the conversation creating a murky world of landing pages optimized for lead capture and conversion.
And one line in that podcast set me off because it underscored the strategy of manipulating the consumer with an eight word, totally manipulative email sent “to your 1,000 dead-end email leads.”
The website lead-capture, landing page, close-the-sale sales focus just isn’t for me.
So, I am going to write a series about what I learned last week in the real estate business.
Short. Insightful. Educational.
A paragraph or two on real estate topics, like this…
On Monday, when I was reviewing an offer that someone’s buyer agent sent over to me, I noticed that the offer did not included a Settlement Date.
The blank was blank.
Selecting a Settlement Date is essential because it is gives the buyer and seller a deadline. It’s when papers are signed, and the keys get handed over.
It did raise an issue about training, or the need for more of it in the real estate business. The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors designs our standard forms with attorneys and licensed real estate brokers. These contracts are complex. Realtors are not attorneys, and it is critical that every agent thoroughly understands how to perform their role when completing the sales contract for a client.
Classes are important, but hands on training is critical too. Agents need mentors to spend time with them explaining scenarios, answering questions and adding insight.
So, on Tuesday, I sat down with a newer agent in my office for a half hour to review the other agent’s mistake. I just couldn’t let her do the same thing with a future client and looking at an actual offer from an agent at (another agency) was a valuable learning opportunity.
I always ask my clients when they want to close? If their apartment runs out at the end of May then their Settlement Date should happen just before that date. Or if it is July, then pick July!
When is your best case scenario? It’s kinda important.
Back to that agent’s offer on my client’s listing… there were multiple offers on the home and there was another glaring mistake she had made involving the amount financed. That type of sloppiness does not build confidence that the next 45 days before Settlement are going to go smoothly. So, her client is back looking at Zillow for a nice home to buy.
I hope you are interested and will follow me on this retro series of articles ~ follow me on Twitter.
[bctt tweet=”I’m following Doug’s series about his real estate biz” username=”dougfrancis”]
