Realtors – Be Careful Whom you Follow On Twitter

by Jim Duncan on October 15, 2008

Not everyone wants to be followed. Sometimes a little bit of discretion is called for.

Do-not-follow-everyone-on-twitter.jpg

I’m @JimDuncan if you’re curious. :)

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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

Jay Thompson October 15, 2008 at 23:56

Can’t say I blame Mr. Durr one bit. The often relentless (and uninvited) pursuit of business that some agents engage in is quite sad. And understandably irritating to many, if not most.

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Jeff Turner October 16, 2008 at 00:07

Jim… I’ve been waiting to see a tweet like this, and wondering how a consumer would deal with a volume of real estate agents descending on them. Loren Nason’s response to seeing this post is classic. Clearly, “real world” social discretion metaphors are not being translated into “virtual world” social exchanges. There’s a lot to learn.

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Ted Mackel October 16, 2008 at 00:43

I have had a few lenders and agents looking for business (referrals) give me the used car salesman approach……….That does not work.

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Geordie Romer October 16, 2008 at 10:30

There’s an agent I follow who tweets regularly about 30% referrals. Talk about being needy.

@geordieromer

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Jim Duncan October 16, 2008 at 10:58

Geordie –

I stopped following that agent. I don’t need spam in my Twitter-stream.

Jeff – Agreed. There are more desperate agents out there who need to understand that not everyone wants to be followed/gotten/sold.

Jay – notchasing is a sure-fire way to differentiate. :)

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Loren Nason October 16, 2008 at 22:29

Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me!
Mine?! Mine?!

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ARDELL October 21, 2008 at 19:12

I teach a blog class gratis once in a blue moon. As soon as I get to the part where it’s not about getting business, I see the eyes glaze over. Social Networking is big…but many just don’t “get it”.

I’m thinking of twittering that I’m thinking of buying a car, a refrigerator and some new shoes. I wonder who will twit me back if I do that ?

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Robert Masse November 30, 2008 at 22:07

I agree with Ardell. I often teach classes and try to teach the selling real estate by not selling real estate…and I often get the deer in the headlights reaction. Most agents are so programmed to decend on people like vultures that they don’t know how to simply talk to people anymore.

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Los Angeles lofts April 14, 2009 at 08:11

Twitter is justtaking it one step too far. I long for the days when I did not need my cell phone at my hip. When will we have a moment to ourselves again.

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Jim Duncan April 14, 2009 at 09:57

LA Lofts – I empathize with you – the need, or at least perceived need, of being connected at all times is quite overwhelming sometimes.

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Jeff Turner April 14, 2009 at 10:44

My fear is that if the tools don’t develop quickly that make it easier to focus on the conversation, rather than the numbers, Twitter may simply become septic with the crap of spammers. It’s way to easy to game the Twitter system.

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Jim Duncan April 14, 2009 at 12:15

Jeff –

Amen. I am so, so, so sick of the “get more followers” crap that’s out there. The focus needs to be on quality rather than quantity. It’s a cultural shift more than a systematic one, in my opinion.

More is absolutely not always better.

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Jeff Turner April 14, 2009 at 12:21

I’m going to be showing two fake accounts I set up last Thursday and what I was able to do without engaging in a single real conversation. It’s stupid. I’ll be writing about it this Thursday.

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Jay Thompson April 14, 2009 at 13:52

I saw some “pyramid scheme” on Twitter yesterday, designed by a “real estate coach”. It was a pure gaming of the system in order to “get more followers”. He even had the gall to call it “building your buyers list on Twitter” and agents were falling all over themselves to join.

It made me want to puke.

I’ll be looking for your post Jeff! Should be very interesting!

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Jim Duncan April 14, 2009 at 15:04

Jeff -

Please include something about the lemming mentality of Realtors – and people in general – who are seeking a quick fix. Twitter is about engagement and interaction and relationships and trust (IMHO) – not sheer numbers.

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Jeff Turner April 14, 2009 at 16:32

Jim… I will.

Jay, can you send me a link to that? If you can find it.

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