Are You For Real?

I’m not sure what’s happened in the last year, but I’m noticing that there’s a new Social Media Guru popping up around every dark corner of the internet.  The next time one of them pops up on your screen you should ask them, “Are you for Real?”

There are too many people out there who are not what they claim to be.  Before you make a choice on who to listen to, who to follow, or who to hire as a social media consultant you should do a little research.

  • How did you hear about them?

Was it through their endless barrage of self promotion?  Don’t get me wrong, self promotion can be OK, but if that’s the only things they’re doing chances are they don’t really get it.  Who’s more likely to list their house with you, the person that found your ad in the local Pennysaver, or the person who was referred to you by a past client?

  • What have they done?

Talk is cheap, especially in the world of social media.  Here’s what most people still don’t get, resumes are dead.  Why?  Because they’re a 2 dimensional representation of what a person says they can do.  Today’s resume is an aggregate of what you’ve done online.  Conversations, blog posts and photos give a real time look at who you are, what you’re passionate about and what you’re capable of.  If a so called “Social Media Guru” can’t show you anything they’ve done online, there may be a problem.

  • Where are they?

If you want to learn how to buy foreclosures would you go to a relocation specialist?  Hell No!  When you’re looking for a social media consultant you have to research their overall social presence.  Are they using the networks that you use?  Are they successful on these networks?  Just having a profile isn’t enough.  Some things you should be looking for are:

  1. Facebook:  Do they have a Facebook Fan Page?  Is anyone interacting with them or is the wall covered in just their posts? What kind of information are they sharing?
  2. Twitter:  Are they tweeting regularly?  Are they being retweeted? What are they tweeting about?
  3. You Tube:  Is their channel specialized?  How many “upload video views” do they have?  What are their videos about?
  4. Linked In:  Is their profile complete?  Do they have any recommendations?  Do they have any “Best Answers?”  What industry are they in?

Another thing you should take into consideration is the value proposition.  When you’re doing research make sure to look at the content they’re providing across the platforms.  Are they adding value to the conversation, or are they taking value?

The New world of Social Media allows us to quickly an easily sniff out the real people from the fakes.  If a persons message is not consistent across the entire space there’s a problem.  There’s only one true you, so which profile is it?

Are you REALLY for Real?

I feel like I would have let you down if I didn’t add a little twist.  Now that you’ve read the entire post I want you to go back an replace “Social Media” with the words “Real Estate” and “Guru” with the word “Professional.”

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I’ll give you a minute to re-read the post with the new words

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Is you message clear online?  Are you for real?

We are in the middle of a fundamental shift in marketing.  The hunters have become the hunted.  If your message is not clear  prospects can easily move on to someone else.

Now that you realized how important your social presence is, what are you going to do to make sure that your message is on target?  Leave a comment below.

  • davevandewalle

    Good post, Jonathan. I happen to find “Guru,” “Rockstar,” and “Ninja” to be the three most annoying, overused, and useless words in Social Media Marketing.

  • Yeah Dave, that's true. So what are you doing to separate yourself from those cliché's?

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Pros http://bit.ly/4thSOR (via @Real_TechGuy)

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://bit.ly/6lniSb

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://bit.ly/6lniSb: Are Yo.. http://bit.ly/765mNN
    #socialmedia

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://ow.ly/Ocoi

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://ow.ly/Ocot

  • davevandewalle

    I'm separating myself from those cliches through, as you say, “an aggregate of everything (I've done) online.”

    I think value-for-value will always win out. If it's a “guru” who charges you thousands for a bunch of crap, word will eventually spread. But if, as a Realtor, as a Marketing Executive, or, darnit, in any line of business, you make a habit of under-promising and over-delivering, that word eventually spreads too.

    Cheers!

    Dave

  • Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Pros http://bit.ly/4thSOR (via @Real_TechGuy) #realtors

  • RT @Real_TechGuy: Are You For Real?| A Social Media Test for RE Professionals http://bit.ly/7mfz3m <great!thought- and action-provoking!>

  • Let me tell you, I had 95% complete on my LinkedIn profile for the longest time. I overlooked the reason. I needed just 1 more recommendation! LOL It was one of my goals this year to learn more & use this network. I need to write a blog post about what I learned this year for that particular network. My goal for next year is to learn more about posterous. 🙂

  • I'll admit, I haven't spent as much time as I should on Linked In. There's a different vide to that community. I'm interested to read your post, shoot me an email when you write it.

  • RT @Real_TechGuy: Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://ow.ly/Oc5O

  • RT @Real_TechGuy: Are You For Real? | A Social Media Test for Real Estate Professionals http://bit.ly/7mfz3m

  • Nice post that puts marketing into perspective. I consider myself above average, but not a “Guru” at social media…definitely not a Ninja! After reading this, I'm going back to check all of my sites. Thanks for the constant advice!

  • To tell you the truth Randall, I hate the word Guru. It's so over used and abused that I find it to be a negative. The idea here was really to get readers to think about what they're doing online.

    My choice to use the little twist was more about getting some of my friends in the business fired up, which worked on Facebook (You can check out that discussion here http://www.facebook.com/notes/jonathan-rivera/a…)

    I'm glad that you found this post helpful, if you know anyone else that may find it helpful please share it, thanks!

  • Nice post that puts marketing into perspective. I consider myself above average, but not a “Guru” at social media…definitely not a Ninja! After reading this, I'm going back to check all of my sites. Thanks for the constant advice!

  • To tell you the truth Randall, I hate the word Guru. It's so over used and abused that I find it to be a negative. The idea here was really to get readers to think about what they're doing online.

    My choice to use the little twist was more about getting some of my friends in the business fired up, which worked on Facebook (You can check out that discussion here http://www.facebook.com/notes/jonathan-rivera/a…)

    I'm glad that you found this post helpful, if you know anyone else that may find it helpful please share it, thanks!

  • Good article on evaluating social media 'gurus' by @Real_TechGuy – http://tinyurl.com/yg2w5a8

  • Shannon Brown

    Well put! After re-reading the post with the replacement words, I'm wowed!!! Thank you for sharing and please keep em coming. Great day!

  • That is so cool Shannon. I wasn't sure how it would go over, but your comment makes me feel like I got it right…thanks a bunch for reading this post and even bigger thanks for the encouraging comment!

  • Hi Jonathan, my old LinkedIn review/recommendation of you is spot on then, right? The fact that you walk the talk and share your results in an open format is what really attracts me to you. A Guru, Expert, Social Media Ninja is none of these things to me if they can’t show me the social proof, not accidental proof, but proof that is predictable, repeatable, and systematic. Specialization and transparency, that’s what it’s all about for me.

  • Gina Kay Landis

    I’m so frustrated with agents thinking they are involved in social media only because they post listings (whether on their page or not). Real estate in the social sphere is so much more than just listings, and I plan to speak about that at a local PodCamp soon. I’m not a social media star (though some have called me that locally) but I am one of the few agents who are not one-dimensional (read: I don’t only post listings). Not a fan of people trying to find “fame” via social media, or *trying* to be “rockstars” – if it’s gonna happen, it’ll be organic. But some of the best people in social media don’t speak at conferences, don’t sell social media “stuff” – they are simply “there” and interacting with people. Love that!

  • “But some of the best people in social media don’t speak at conferences, don’t sell social media “stuff” – they are simply “there” and interacting with people.”

    Love that Gina!

    The world is changing and if agents don’t adapt they’ll be relics.  You “Get It” – so that puts you ahead of your competition.

    PS- Where’s the Podcamp?