by Larry Hotz, Denver real estate
This week I am at Webmaster World’s Pubcon in Las Vegas. I am one of less than a dozen real estate brokers among 3000 internet experts gathered to improve their websites and their skills at gathering search engine results.
Most work on websites full time. I, of course, spend most of my time selling homes but want to improve this website. I am a fish out of water. Not only are there fewer Realtors than usual. Most of those attending are in their 20’s and early 30’s. I am the old man here.
Where are the Realtors this year? I am amazed that many literally couldn’t afford the trip and the tuition for the week long annual conference. Certainly, that is in part due to less income this year than last. I guess that is more fallout from the real estate downturn.
So what am I learning? I want to make this website better and easier to find in the vast world of the web. Also, I find it fascinating that the future of the Internet search is top priority. Mobile search on cell phones and Blackberrys is important. So is search for videos. But the overwhelming question is will “social media” like Digg, U-Tube and Facebook replace actual search engines.
Social media are sites where a community is formed of voluntary participants. They make contributions such as articles, videos or websites and usually can participate by “voting” or reviewing submitted content. Even blogs are social media. Anything that creates multiple conversations is social media. So, if you comment choose to comment on this blog, you are helping to create social media.
“Conversations” is the new buzz word for websites. One-way presentations are the old way to show material. Dialogs, or conversations, is the new way. Why? The search engines believe that it is more democratic, transparent and ultimately more informative to have more diverse facts and opinions presented on the same website.
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| Realtors Glenn Ginsberg from Naples (grey beard), Matt Pellerin of Phoenix (3rd from left) and I (right) talk to the Internet gurus at dinner. |
Most of the speakers think the future of internet search will be a combination of traditional search and social media. Maybe. But, I suspect social media is less likely to have a major impact in the near future. Even my grown children have only a couple profiles on social media sites and they are in the group that likes and uses social media. There are thousands of such sites. And, usually members have to fill out a profile page or at least register to participate. But, you don’t have to do anything like that on this blog to comment.
More than that, not everyone is educated and literate enough to be involved social media let alone “nurdy” enough. I suspect folks who work everyday in the Internet are simply more likely to be using social media themselves. So, they tend to think everyone will be doing the same soon. I doubt that.
Changes in Internet search are inevitable. But, video and interactive searches such as voice searches seem more likely for us pedestrians to be using in the near future. For example, imagine using your cell phone to ask for a search of nearby restaurants. Then, the results are shown on the display of the cellphone. That type of science fiction seems more likely than everyone signing up for profiles on social media. Whew, that would be a lot of work.
For the present, I am happy just to improve this site and make it easier to find on the search engines. Your suggestions and criticisms help me do that. So, don’t be shy. I would like to find out what you like and dislike about this site so that we can serve your needs better. Thanks for commenting below.
6 Comments
Make to share with us all the new secrets you learned.
It was nice to chat with you again. I have to agree about the importance of social media. Really, its nothing new. Social groups have been around for a long time, some good, some not. Now its easier to “be” in a group and be accepted into that group than it was before. As to whether or not they will be beneficial for business, that’s a mixed bag. Some will, especially for word of mouth and promotion, but not all. There will always be users that want something specific and they want it now. So the search engines will always have a place, but I’m all for giving them a run for their money. Its never in anyone’s interest to have one entity be able to decide the fate of your online presence. Some of us learned that the hard way this past March.
Larry,
Thanks for not posting any other photos.
It was really good seeing you again, for the second time this year. Thanks for the invite to The Foundation room, the ride there and sorry they almost didn’t let us in because of my shoes…
Larry good seeing you again this year. I was amazed at how many real estate agents said they would love to go but couldn’t afford to, this isn’t that expensive of a trip. Guess that shows the state of most real estate agents these days. The public needs to be careful to work with agents that are still doing business…not the desperate ones.
You might have been an “old man” at this conference, but it shows your commitment to personal growth, learning, and meeting your clients needs.
The real estate business is not without its share of scams. I feel choosing a real estate agent is a process that has to be done very carefully. Nobody wants to be taken on a run for their money. The best way to screen out ‘fake’ real estate agents is to check up on their credentials and affiliations. We make sure our agents know what they are all about. They explore and invest in each new market before recommending it to buyers. That way we do not send out our buyers into unknown territory.
Hello Larry,
What separates your website, and your real estate skills, from the ordinary, is that, you realize that education increases revenue, whether the education is in the field of real estate, or webmastering.
Unfortunately, for the many throughout the society, that connection hasn’t been made. In a bull market they float upwards (and can afford a conference, or two), in a bear, their fighting for survival wondering, “what happened?”
Those persons will not be assisted in expanding their business with, or without, online social networks, or search engines.
Happily, there has arisen an educational company such as the one with which I am affiliated that has combined comprehensive real estate investment training, after education tools to put that training into practice, and has a community of like minded investors who assist and mentor each other on the path of real estate investment success. Overwhelmingly, we are not realtors, some have barely completed high school. Yet, because of the foundation of education we have, our incomes, and the quantity of property we own, runs circles around the realtors whose services we use!
(edited)
BTW, we’re probably around the same age, so I know the feeling of being “the old guy” in a sea of young whippersnappers;-)