Comments on: Takeaways from a gathering in Dallas http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html Turn On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:08:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Marc http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4768 Marc Fri, 15 May 2009 00:05:58 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4768 Having just returned from a tour of Zappos, one of the takeway's Brian and I shared was how similar the cultures are between Z and @. Different but still cut from the same cloth of honesty. Having just returned from a tour of Zappos, one of the takeway’s Brian and I shared was how similar the cultures are between Z and @. Different but still cut from the same cloth of honesty.

]]> By: Spencer Rascoff http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4764 Spencer Rascoff Thu, 14 May 2009 21:14:49 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4764 The biggest takeaway that I had from the @properties presentation was that they're creating a very special culture from scratch, the type of brokerage that agents are proud to be a part of. Corporate culture is a very important and often overlooked thing, especially among real estate brokerages since agents are independent contractors (except at ZIPR where they're FTEs). @properties struck me as the type of brokerage I'd personally want to work at. The biggest takeaway that I had from the @properties presentation was that they’re creating a very special culture from scratch, the type of brokerage that agents are proud to be a part of.

Corporate culture is a very important and often overlooked thing, especially among real estate brokerages since agents are independent contractors (except at ZIPR where they’re FTEs).

@properties struck me as the type of brokerage I’d personally want to work at.

]]> By: Marc http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4763 Marc Thu, 14 May 2009 20:06:42 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4763 Good thought Matt. Yes. Well, I think for many real estate folks, they went on Facebook as part of the tide and figured heck, there's not much wrong with drifting. But now, through these examples, people are starting to see where it all can lead. But also, beyond that, there is so much @properties and Zip are doing that I found far more fascinating that the Facebook result. Good call. Good thought Matt. Yes. Well, I think for many real estate folks, they went on Facebook as part of the tide and figured heck, there’s not much wrong with drifting. But now, through these examples, people are starting to see where it all can lead.

But also, beyond that, there is so much @properties and Zip are doing that I found far more fascinating that the Facebook result.

Good call.

]]> By: Matt Dollinger http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4762 Matt Dollinger Thu, 14 May 2009 20:01:27 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4762 Marc, Great post and glad that you and others are continually impressed with our company @properties. We work pretty hard at it (and hire the right people to lead us in the right direction). What strikes me however about the comments is that of the 12, 50% are focused on the Facebook comment. Not What is Zip doing right? or What does this 8 year old company from Chicago offer that's so special? It's "2 Million Dollars? I gotta get on Facebook!" I refer to this often as "silver bullet syndrome" and what's hard to understand is that if that broker wasn't a killer brand and killer agent, I'm sure that lead wouldn't have come to fruition. Just a thought... Marc,

Great post and glad that you and others are continually impressed with our company @properties. We work pretty hard at it (and hire the right people to lead us in the right direction).

What strikes me however about the comments is that of the 12, 50% are focused on the Facebook comment. Not What is Zip doing right? or What does this 8 year old company from Chicago offer that’s so special? It’s “2 Million Dollars? I gotta get on Facebook!”

I refer to this often as “silver bullet syndrome” and what’s hard to understand is that if that broker wasn’t a killer brand and killer agent, I’m sure that lead wouldn’t have come to fruition. Just a thought…

]]> By: Marc http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4760 Marc Thu, 14 May 2009 05:08:14 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4760 Funny you should say that. Just booked a two-day trip to Sarasota. I plan to pack light. And leave my skin at home. Funny you should say that. Just booked a two-day trip to Sarasota. I plan to pack light. And leave my skin at home.

]]> By: Jeremy http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4759 Jeremy Thu, 14 May 2009 05:04:49 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4759 I'm in Dallas the last few weeks, you call this humidity? This is nothing. Go to South Florida. I’m in Dallas the last few weeks, you call this humidity? This is nothing. Go to South Florida.

]]> By: Rebecca Levinson http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4758 Rebecca Levinson Wed, 13 May 2009 21:15:13 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4758 Brokers and agents maintain relationships with real estate vendors because these same vendors tease and taunt their sales based on the old give and take away method...."I'll just give it to your competition if you won't take it". Less of a demand in the marketplace for redundant, underskilled, undervalued products from multiple vendors should make vendors pressed to offer best in class, cutting edge solutions, but few still do and brokers and agents still buy..... But many are getting wise to this, it is only a matter of time. Brokers and agents maintain relationships with real estate vendors because these same vendors tease and taunt their sales based on the old give and take away method….”I’ll just give it to your competition if you won’t take it”.

Less of a demand in the marketplace for redundant, underskilled, undervalued products from multiple vendors should make vendors pressed to offer best in class, cutting edge solutions, but few still do and brokers and agents still buy…..

But many are getting wise to this, it is only a matter of time.

]]> By: Spencer Rascoff http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4757 Spencer Rascoff Wed, 13 May 2009 20:54:34 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4757 Marc, In addition to sharing your dislike of humidity, I share the conclusions that you drew from the Gathering of Eagles. I too was impressed by @properties and Zip Realty. Marc,
In addition to sharing your dislike of humidity, I share the conclusions that you drew from the Gathering of Eagles. I too was impressed by @properties and Zip Realty.

]]> By: Louis Cammarosano http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4754 Louis Cammarosano Wed, 13 May 2009 17:48:57 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4754 I think much too much is being made of the anecdotal hire or deal derived from facebook or twitter. While social media outlets CAN result in business, their primary functions are social. Mixing business with pleasure is generally best avoided and it takes a fine art to pull off both. Poorly handled the two are a toxic combo. Unfortunately, when some one gets business from a social media contact they get excited redouble their efforts and time spent on twitter or Facebook in effect, perhaps wasting time. Marketing in many respects needs to be systematic. Do so on Twitter or Facebook would amount to spam. Creating a formal referral network, engaging in pay per click advertising, holding regularly scheduled client events will reap more rewards than spending one's days on twitter. Social media in my opinion should be a supplement not a substitution for other types of marketing. Social media is also great to use to keep in touch with current customers. I think much too much is being made of the anecdotal hire or deal derived from facebook or twitter.

While social media outlets CAN result in business, their primary functions are social.

Mixing business with pleasure is generally best avoided and it takes a fine art to pull off both.

Poorly handled the two are a toxic combo.

Unfortunately, when some one gets business from a social media contact they get excited redouble their efforts and time spent on twitter or Facebook in effect, perhaps wasting time.

Marketing in many respects needs to be systematic. Do so on Twitter or Facebook would amount to spam.

Creating a formal referral network, engaging in pay per click advertising, holding regularly scheduled client events will reap more rewards than spending one’s days on twitter.

Social media in my opinion should be a supplement not a substitution for other types of marketing.

Social media is also great to use to keep in touch with current customers.

]]> By: Marc http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/takeaways-from-a-gathering-in-dallas.html/comment-page-1#comment-4753 Marc Wed, 13 May 2009 17:34:15 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=1913#comment-4753 I am not sure there is a pure strategy for Facebook other than maybe accepting it as the Schwab's Pharmacy of the Web. Not everyone will have Lana Turners luck, get discovered and land a $2,000,000 deal. But the odds are good that just by being there, connections will happen. I am not sure there is a pure strategy for Facebook other than maybe accepting it as the Schwab’s Pharmacy of the Web. Not everyone will have Lana Turners luck, get discovered and land a $2,000,000 deal.

But the odds are good that just by being there, connections will happen.

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