I do. Ted Demopoulus does. It’s simple business intelligence.
- If I’m in a meeting with my laptop open and my phone rings with number I do not recognize, I’ll quickly Google the number (it’s amazing how many Realtors’ cell phone numbers aren’t found via Google) - if it’s a client and it’s important, I’ll likely leave the meeting* to take the call.
- If the “person” calling shows up on whocalled.us or whocallsme.com - there is a very small chance that I will answer.
- Frequently I’ll Google someone’s email address - and it’s amazing how effective this can be.
Google me - with or without quotes.
I expect to be Googled.
*I love volunteering and working on various Realtor committees - they bring value to my business in a variety of ways - but if a client calls while I am in Strategic Planning for the Virginia Association of Realtors, my and my clients’ Strategic Plans come first.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Charles Woodall 05.01.08 at 9:15 am
Hi Jim,
Didn’t know you were a CENTURY 21 guy until I hit the Google link above. I enjoy your blog!
Ben Martin, Va Assn of REALTORS 05.01.08 at 10:59 am
I google lots of different kinds of people. Job applicants, contractors, freelancers, co-presenters, etc. If I can’t find you online, I get a little weirded out. You need to be “on the grid” or it’s almost as if you don’t really exist in my mind.
Pavel 05.01.08 at 12:59 pm
Do you also check how many websites link to your blog by typing: link:www.realcentralva.com Here’s a quick look:
CAAR.com - 32
RealCentralVA - 1,570
Realtor.org - 7,400
Realtor.com - 14,500
Very impressive.
Jim Duncan 05.01.08 at 2:08 pm
Thanks, Pavel. I hadn’t done that in a while.
Noticed you’re blogging now, too - the cville re blog world grows …
As Ben said - “If I can’t find you online, I get a little weirded out.”
Ricardo Bueno 05.02.08 at 12:00 am
See, I’m not the only one who does it… When my phone rings and I don’t recognize the number, I quickly type a search on the computer to see where the call is coming from. If it’s a place I recognize and am expecting a call, I answer it. Otherwise I’m sorry to say that I let it go to voice-mail (I’m sorry but when you have many profiles online we get our fair share of solicitations).
And yes I google people I’m going to meet. I try to learn as much about them as I can
It’s just good business.