Real Estate Agent 2.0

Realtor Mag suggests a move to Real Estate 2.0. Realtors are using web sites, blogs, mashups, social networks, and videos to draw internet traffic and ultimately leads and conversions. Successful agent designed technologies can bring in hundreds of leads a month. Even the big brokerages are making use of web tools to generate business. Here are some pros and cons to dedicating time and money to these causes:

Pros

• Once established, leads just come in. People are ready in some cases to jump right in and buy or sell property.
• Tech savvy people can gain an edge over competition.
• Blogging and other activities force an agent to stay on top of the industry to remain current.
• Overall agent exposure can be significant.

Cons

• Know-how is required or a pile of cash to pay professional web guys.
• Results aren't immediate.
• Not all leads are alike. Some, like leads looking for "Las Vegas Real Estate", don't convert as easily as "Las Vegas Realtor".
• The web competition is becoming fierce. In Las Vegas thousands of agents are vying for the top 10 search engine positions for 5-10 key words.

Tools like Facebook, Blogger, ActiveRain, etc. help considerably. The real estate business is changing and will have a very different landscape over the next decade. Real estate agents who are up to the challenge will reap the benefits.