Tim Mancuso

Hey friends - check out this great little widget / app that Gary Hayes (@garyphayes) at Personalize Media created.

This shows just how FAST Social Media is advancing - WOW! Share this post with anyone that still thinks Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Blogs etc.) is 'Just a Fad' or isn't essential for their business!

JUMP IN! Don't let the world pass you by! Start today friends, Engage!

Great discussions are happening about RPR and the transition to enhanced data or parcel-based MLS systems.

Aggregators are looking for ways to integrate the myriad of information around a specific property record and present this to their end users; whether that is the REALTOR, consumer, service providers or a combination thereof.

An associate of mine (Thanks, Jon) pointed out that the big argument is whether real estate professionals are in the SERVICE business or the INFORMATION CONTROL business. I don't however think that the debate should really be about whether the REALTOR is in the Service business or the Data business.

The Real Estate Professional is *absolutely* in the service side of the transaction business.

In fact, the value added by a Broker/Agent is that of a trusted advisor - a more accurate description might be that of a transactional facilitation consultant. On the data or information side of the discussion, it's not the REALTOR that is at the center. That would be NAR and outside organizations. In the discussion of parcel-based MLS systems, at the end of the day the essential role of the REALTOR does not change. What may change is the access to readily avaialble information.

If you think about it, this is consistent with the 'normal' progression of the industry and technology over time. Think back to when we had the option to add the 'Agent Simple' product from REALTOR.com for example. What did this do for the REALTOR? For the Consumer? At the time there were doomsayers crying on every corner 'disintermediation is near!!', but what actually occured was a natural evolotion of the industry:

• The consumer matured
  
• Access to information increased - for all parties (this is the natural course of technology, business, and free society)
  
• The REALTOR's ability to more effectively and efficiently facilitate transactions increased
  
• Our relationship to the buyer / seller did not change

Rather than being 'put out' of the deal, the REALTOR instead found that they could more effectively measure, manage and close their pipeline of business - often increasing the number of clients and transactions they were able to handle at once.

This is what technology, information, and business tools can, and should, do for your business.

On the flip side, we also saw that with an increasingly informed consumer, the Real Estate Professional had to step up their game. Indeed the information was now available on every property, every REALTOR, every market - and there was an expectation which drove us all to get better at what we do.

Instead of debating the 'whether or nots' from a position of fear or nervousness, I encourage each of us to embrace the change for what it is - Simply stated: the next step in the ever-changing landscape of the Real Estate Business.

The good news is this: We all get to choose not only what we do, but also how we do it. Will you leverage the change to advance your business to new levels of service and reach? That is, as always, entirely up to you.

The great thing about the National Association of REALTORS is that they are working for us all regardless of those individual choices - to ensure that our position of Consumer Service and Trusted Advisor / Consulting remains strong and viable. . . both today and in the future of Real Estate. I for one am excited about the future!

A Great question came up the other day at one of our Business Networking Lunches: "Should I market my business on Facebook?"

Now, the simple answer is YES! ...But wait, there's more.

As it turns out, the owner of this particular company was concerned that his direct competition would work their 'Fan' (now 'Likes') list to take away their client base - via cold-calling and other social media prospecting activities.

Now there's one I hadn't heard before, and I was just about to discount their concern when I began to really think about it. I believe it's actually a valid concern. Imagine you are in a service industry - let's take something with a monthly subscription for example, say Insurance or Investing. If you were to create a FB page to aggregate your client base, you would be culling your entire book of business into a publicly visible page where your competition could swoop down and sic their telemarketing pros on your key revenue stream - significantly impacting renewals and/or upgrades.

Sound a bit paranoid? Perhaps. My response was that the vast majority of Real Estate professionals have embraced social media with their clientele - and that they are a largely disloyal bunch (that's us, the clients of the REALTORS). We are readily available for any other Broker / Agent to pursue, prospect, cold call, or pop-by (with a nice Apple Pie... thanks Mr. Buffini). So here's the $64 question: Do they (REALTORS) do it? - And if not, then why not?

Valid points all.

Rather than answering on my own, I present it here for the consensus. . . along with my '2 cents' as well.

Point #1: Your customers are ALWAYS available for your competition to prospect and recruit. If your industry is not contractual enough to protect your core business / revenue stream, then you are either stressed out beyond all hope already OR you have systems (read: Superior Customer Service / Loyalty Programs) in place to preserve and prolong your valuable relationships.

Point #2: If *you* don't show up there, rest assured that your competition WILL. That said, if your client is participating in Social Media (and they are) understand that they will find your competitor. Not only will they find them, they'll be all the more convinced that your competitor 'speaks their language' and is relatable to them - this is a dangerous situation for you, and potentially hazardous to your book of business.

Point #3: Think Abundance, not Scarcity. Stop focusing on the potential 'Loss' that Social Media could bring. The Social Media pie is WAY BIGGER than what you have access to without it. Even if you were to lose 10% of your client base, it is my belief that you would stand to gain another 20-30% of business over the next few quarters by 'showing up' where your clients, prospects, and referrals live - and that's Social Media.

Point #4: Check your referral volume. The #1 reason for engaging in Social Media is to leverage Referrals from existing 'Fans' - - your 'Key Influencers, your 'Raving Fans', your 'Happy Customers' can share, recommend, forward, suggest, and REFER you business unlike anywhere else.

Remember friends - we don't 'own' the customer. We are just 'stewards' with the wonderful opportunity to serve them, for as long as we bring superior value to them in the marketplace. Engage and Appreciate. Social Media is one of the very Best ways to Stay in Touch to Stay in Business.

Embrace the Change - Stay in Touch!

-Tim!

Tim Mancuso is a musician, public speaker and the former VP Sales & Marketing for Social Media startup ViewMyLife. He is focused on training and coaching business owners and entrepreneurs on leveraging traditional and new media to Stay in Touch with their clients, prospects, and key influencers. Follow On Twitter @TimMancuso or connect on Linkedin.com and Facebook.com

 

Okay, so I was looking around for the 'Top Gifts' for 2008, like I do every year.

- It's quite fun to see what 'everyone' thinks is best and what we end up with here at home, etc. (Gives you a good idea how much TV the kids are watching, too!)



So here's the challenge, this year it looks as if the retailers have figured out that they can leverage this info as a sales and marketing ploy - a full 95% of the articles I found are posted by the retailers themselves! - Needless to say, they do not agree on what's 'Tops' on our lists this year.

So I put it to you all - Techies, Old-Schoolers, Kids, Parents, and the rest of us - What is YOUR Top 5 gift list this year?

Thanks for sharing and have a Very Merry Christmas Indeed!!

In Service,
Tim Mancuso - District Manager
Ph: 303-596-9838
Tim Mancuso is serving as District Manager for Lawyers Title Insurance Corp., and was Co-Founder / VP Global Sales for MyREALTY.com and the GLS - Global Listing Service. Mr. Mancuso has over 20 years experience as a Technologist, Trainer, Coach, Recruiter and Speaker Tim Mancuso - Industry Expert and Global Director of Sales
'Where Market Knowledge, Solid Technology Implementation, and Great Service meet - you will undoubtedly find Success.' - T. Mancuso

The Federal bank, credit union, and thrift regulatory agencies yesterday posted their new Identity Theft information and it is available for you to review and share with your clients and sphere.

If you haven't yet known someone affected by this, the odds are that you will by the end of 2009. Each day, consumer identity theft grows at an alarming pace.

A few key excerpts from the recent release: (note: you can download the brochure in .pdf format via the link below)

You can fight identity theft - Here’s how:

• Never provide personal financial information, including your Social Security number, account numbers or passwords over the phone or the Internet, if you did not initiate the contact.

• Never click on the link provided in an e-mail you think is fraudulent. In addition to stealing your personal information, the link may contain a virus that can contaminate your computer.

• Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or caller who suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify financial information.

• If you are unsure whether a contact is legitimate, go to the company’s Website by typing in the site address or using a page you have previously book marked, instead of using a link provided by the e-mail.

• If you fall victim to identity theft, act immediately to protect yourself. Alert your financial institution. Place fraud alerts on your credit files. Monitor your credit files and account statements closely.

• Report suspicious e-mails or calls to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/ edu/microsites/idtheft/, or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). To learn more about keeping your money safe, visit the http://www.mymoney.gov/scams. shtml Website.

To download the new brochure click on the link below.
Download the Brochure Here
This is a great piece to share with your clients, incorporate into a direct mail campaign or website / newsletter update, and just share with as many people as you know.

The 'bad guys' are getting smarter and smarter about finding ways to 'steal' this information from YOU - make sure you take steps to protect yourself, the return on that little investment of time and prudence is excellent!

In Service,
Tim Mancuso - District Manager
Ph: 303-596-9838
Tim Mancuso is serving as District Manager for Lawyers Title Insurance Corp., and was Co-Founder / VP Global Sales for MyREALTY.com and the GLS - Global Listing Service. Mr. Mancuso has over 20 years experience as a Technologist, Trainer, Coach, Recruiter and Speaker Tim Mancuso - Industry Expert and Global Director of Sales
'Where Market Knowledge, Solid Technology Implementation, and Great Service meet - you will undoubtedly find Success.' - T. Mancuso