I love the visual you get when you observe the life cycle of a dandelion.
It perfectly demonstrates a very important aspect of social media marketing.
The asynchronous conversation.

Regardless if you blog, tweet, facebook, or email, you are participating in asynchronous conversation.
When we participate online in communities (like Active Rain) by joining in the conversation we’re very much like the dandelion. A seed of thought occurs and takes root. The idea grows and blossoms into a conversation we articulate to the community. Like the single dandelion blossom that randomly scatters its hundreds of seeds to wherever the wind shall take them, our conversations online do likewise.
This is very different from the conversation we have that I may or may not remember from yesterday, last week, or last month by phone or in person. As time forgives no one, that conversation died the moment I forgot.
The asynchronous online conversation, however, is like the ubiquitous dandelion seeds cast upon the electronic breeze that is cyberspace. They quietly reside dormant in the search engine index until the right conditions exist and they are called upon. We don’t know exactly when, where, or how that will happen. Yet we do know if Google, Bing, and Yahoo consider that seed on topic and a relevant conversation from an authority on the subject, they will deliver that seed right up and the dandelion will blossom once again. It only takes one seed to start the whole amazing cycle over again.
That is why online communication is such a powerful medium. When we have topical online conversation we create dynamic opportunity. When we search online we are finding the dandelion seeds of the asynchronous conversation that are waiting for us.
René Fabre is well known for his innovative marketing programs. He is a sought after speaker and motivator known for his knowledge, keen interest, and insightful approach to contemporary marketing ideas and technologies. His obvious passion for the subject is well known and contagious. He frequently gives workshops and round table conversations on Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Lead Generation.
| Residential Transaction Study | 8/21/2009 |
| Project description: Renton, WA - Condominiums | |
| yearly market | Most recent transaction: 8/14/2009 | Market (homes): 4215 |
| year | sales | mrkt% | $/sqft | avg price | median |
| 2009 | 86 | 2% | $169 | $175,531 | $161,000 |
| 2008 | 212 | 5% | $196 | $209,131 | $202,000 |
| 2007 | 405 | 10% | $225 | $218,670 | $210,000 |
| 2006 | 444 | 11% | $191 | $191,278 | $180,000 |
| 2005 | 515 | 12% | $168 | $167,173 | $164,900 |
| 2004 | 321 | 8% | $145 | $150,516 | $149,490 |
| market by assessed value ranges |
| Assessed Value Range | # | mrkt % | last 12mo | avg sale $ | median sale $ |
| $50,000-$99,999 | 82 | 2% | 5 | $87,500 | $87,500 |
| $100,000-$149,999 | 1,134 | 27% | 54 | $137,200 | $134,000 |
| $150,000-$199,999 | 1,288 | 31% | 65 | $160,925 | $158,500 |
| $200,000-$249,999 | 981 | 23% | 53 | $209,194 | $211,500 |
| $250,000-$299,999 | 469 | 11% | 29 | $227,863 | $240,000 |
| $300,000-$349,999 | 183 | 4% | 9 | $260,948 | $255,738 |
| $350,000-$399,999 | 49 | 1% | 3 | $440,000 | $440,000 |
| $400,000 and up | 11 | % | 1 | $445,000 | $445,000 |
| property characteristics |
| 1 story | 329 | avg bldg sqft | 1,029 | avg site sqft | 305,530 |
| 2 story | 1732 | avg year built | 1988 | avg % imprvd | 87% |
| 3 story | 2048 | avg # beds | 2 | w/ garage | |
| 4+ story | 98 | avg # baths | 2 | avg garage sqft |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The data used in this report is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. © 2009 ARFCO MEDIA... Renton WA 98055 |
|
I was hosting an internet marketing roundtable yesterday with Kari Carson in Puyallup, Washington at Toscanos Café and Wine Bar. (An awesome place by the way!) |
|
We were talking about young people, technology, and how the rules of communication have changed. The subject came around to cell phones. Now I know we’ve all had this conversation... |
|
“Young people never answer their phones.” True, but they will respond almost instantly to a text message. More and more, clients are doing the same. Synchronicity always amazes me. All this talk about cell phones and I, just last week, lost my old BlackBerry in a washing machine while it was running. (another story...) |
|
OMG, you’d a thought that my brain short circuited. My BlackBerry is my office! It's my life. I was disoriented, I was numb. It happened too fast to panic... I was instantly, without any warning unplugged from the Matrix and flushed down the tubes to oblivion! But, then a couple of days later, it was like the anticipation of Christmas. My shiny new BlackBerry “Curve” 8330 showed up. "Oh yah." I’m still fumbling a little learning what keys go with what functions. They moved a lot of them around in six years. But, hey, this is a nice phone. |
|
One of the guys at the roundtable told a great story. It so reminded me of what happened to me the day before yesterday... |
|
2:00 PM My friend Dave calls: “Hi, it’s Dave. Just checking in. How’s it going man? Let’s get together for coffee or something soon and catch up. I’m free tomorrow afternoon and Saturday morning until about 11:30 AM. Give me a call.” I’m in a meeting until 2:30 PM, it goes to voicemail. 2:40 PM Out of meeting, call Dave, get voicemail. “Hey man, how’s it going? Sorry I missed your call. I was in a meeting. Yah, coffee sounds great. Let’s get together and connect the dots. Okay, talk to you later. Give me a call.” 3:05 PM I’m at a client’s office talking about social media marketing, phone is on silent mode. I have voicemail, Dave called. 3:30 PM Leave client’s office, sitting in truck, check voicemail, listen to Dave’s message. I call back. It goes to voicemail. “Hi Dave... I guess tag you’re it again. Hope all is going well. I’m headed back to the office. Call me. I’ll be there until about 5:30 PM. I’ll be home tonight. Let’s try to hook up around 7:00 PM if I don’t hear from you.” 4:10 PM Back at the office and IT guys call. It turns into a conference call with them and my guys about issues moving the website. Cell phone rings, it’s Dave, it goes to voicemail. 4:45 PM Call voicemail. “Hey, Dave here again. Sounds good, give me a call around seven. 7:05 PM Call Dave, get voicemail. |
|
Okay... we’ve all been here before. I have a stupiphany, “you definitely need to update your cell phone etiquette!” |
|
Duh! No wonder kids text! |
|
... new thread |
|
7:15:20 PM Text Message from daughter Tawnya: Just an FYI Jake took his permit test today and passed and now has his permit ;) 7:15:55 PM Text to daughter Tawnya: KOOL!!! Way to go Jake! |
|
... end thread |
|
Time for a new habit! It’s just so practical to call your family/friend network and not leave a message if it’s just a touching base call. They’ll see it on their phone. They know you called. In fact, it's probably smarter just to text in the first place. |
“Hey, What’s up?” |
![]() | View Newcastle, Washington in a larger map |
| Residential Transaction Study | 8/12/2009 |
| Project description: Newcastle, WA 98056... single family dwellings (non-waterfront) | |
| monthly market | Most recent transaction: 8/3/2009 | Market (homes): 1876 |
| month | year | sales | mrkt% | $/sqft | avg price | median |
| Aug | 2009 | |||||
| Jul | 2009 | 5 | 0.3% | $170 | $494,375 | $515,000 |
| Jun | 2009 | 5 | 0.3% | $193 | $541,040 | $432,250 |
| May | 2009 | 8 | 0.4% | $197 | $498,244 | $417,500 |
| Apr | 2009 | 7 | 0.4% | $166 | $512,429 | $500,000 |
| Mar | 2009 | 1 | 0.1% | $213 | $285,000 | $285,000 |
| property characteristics |
| 1 story | 881 | w/ bsmt | 715 | platted | 1,838 |
| 1.5 story | 40 | avg bsmt sqft | 1,139 | avg lot sqft1 | 13,942 |
| 2 story | 950 | w/ garage | 1,544 | unplatted | 38 |
| 3+ story | 1 | avg garage sqft | 538 | avg lot sqft2 | 34,396 |
| avg % imprvd | 60% | avg year built | 1981 | avg bldg sqft | 2,443 |
| avg # beds | 4 | avg # baths | 2 |
| 1avg lot sqft of all platted properties | 2avg lot sqft of all unplatted properties | |
| The data used in this report is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. © 2009 ARFCO MEDIA... Renton WA 98055 |
| Residential Transaction Study | 8/12/2009 |
| Project description: Newcastle, WA 98059... single family dwellings (non-waterfront) | |
| monthly market | Most recent transaction: 7/31/2009 | Market (homes): 1104 |
| month | year | sales | mrkt% | $/sqft | avg price | median |
| Jul | 2009 | 6 | 0.5% | $227 | $835,792 | $705,000 |
| Jun | 2009 | 12 | 1.1% | $199 | $787,502 | $652,500 |
| May | 2009 | 5 | 0.5% | $207 | $837,243 | $800,000 |
| Apr | 2009 | 4 | 0.4% | $196 | $770,000 | $737,500 |
| Mar | 2009 | 5 | 0.5% | $246 | $920,220 | $1,012,500 |
| Feb | 2009 | 3 | 0.3% | $249 | $1,158,333 | $1,175,000 |
| property characteristics |
| 1 story | 125 | w/ bsmt | 294 | platted | 1,058 |
| 1.5 story | 9 | avg bsmt sqft | 1,195 | avg lot sqft1 | 11,626 |
| 2 story | 938 | w/ garage | 1,026 | unplatted | 46 |
| 3+ story | 8 | avg garage sqft | 678 | avg lot sqft2 | 106,176 |
| avg % imprvd | 65% | avg year built | 1995 | avg bldg sqft | 3,431 |
| avg # beds | 4 | avg # baths | 3 |
| 1avg lot sqft of all platted properties | 2avg lot sqft of all unplatted properties | |
| The data used in this report is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. © 2009 ARFCO MEDIA... Renton WA 98055 |
There’s a group of extremely bright and tech-savvy young people coming up in the world that will be first time homebuyers in the very near future. Will you be ready for them?
Your next potential client, soon to arrive, will in all likelihood be a young person in their 20’s. They grew up with technology, and they have some rather sophisticated expectations about anyone they will work with.
Will you know how to work with them? Will you know how to talk to them?

My daughter (#2) will be 22 this month. She’s going to college, lives on her own, and one of the many things she does is work in the Geek Squad at Best Buy. I call her today’s normal. She didn’t go to school for computers or technology, it was just part of her everyday ‘normal’ upbringing.
Shannon doesn’t remember a time when there wasn’t a computer or the internet around. She had her own PC, as did her brother and sister, from a very early age. When she was in high school they did their social studies, math, science, history, and English assignments using word, excel, power point, etc.
She’s always had a fascination for computers and exploring the net. She has a wide spectrum of interests and a deep passion for music, theater, and acting. Shannon doesn’t look at technology like its something extraordinary or outside her realm. It just is, and her attitude cracks me up because it’s so, “doesn’t everybody know this stuff?”
Shannon still has some school to go and like most students is somewhat starving, but not for long. She attends investment seminars and is busy formulating her strategies to meet her goals. One of which is to own real estate.
She does her homework when she wants something and knows how and where to get the answers. She’ll check you out very thoroughly and make choices as to whom she will use to represent her with great scrutiny.
Like a lot of young people today; when she moved back up to Washington from Southern California last year, she handled almost everything online except driving the car. She’s a good judge of character. You can’t BS your way around her and go for a close. She wants to see your value, judge your character, check your motives and will discuss these things with her friends.
Shannon is not bashful; she’s a better negotiator than I am, and a stickler for detail.
Her preferred method of communication is texting then email then maybe Facebook (that is if you’ve made your way into her circle of friends).
She’s an awesome daughter and it’s probably very obvious that I am a proud father. Yet, I say this because she and all of her friends are very much alike in this certain way. They’re smart, hip, investigative, transparent, authentic, street smart, and a little shy at first until they develop some trust for you. They expect you to be honest and know what you’re talking about. They won’t tolerate any pushy sales tactics. You'll have to earn their trust and their business.
They are, “Your next potential client, soon to arrive.”
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved