As mentioned above, Localism.com presents the realtor as the community market expert. My greatest frustration with the real estate field is the great waste of energy and effort in proving my expertise to a potential client. Before the client will often consider working with me, I have to display an inordinate amount of expertise. As the market becomes more and more heavily oriented toward the internet, making oneself known online seems like drowning in the abyss. How can I be differentiated? How can the consumer in my area come to know and see me as the expert that I am?
Localism provides the realtor with optimum search ranking and traffic, and the only limit to how much of an expert the realtor wishes to portray oneself as is up to the realtor to decide. When consumers read my articles and view my pictures, I gain instant credibility without having to say one word. They become more committed to working with me from an initial stance (without having yet spoken to me), and I can feel inspired and further rewarded for pursuing even greater levels of community and real estate expertise, which will then turn around and bless me again!
Bill Leider asked what will that new relationship look like under new and changing market conditions? Localism, powered by ActiveRain, takes relationship to another meaning. It preserves the personal while providing a service to the consumer. This is far better than any passive advertising could ever do, to those you have not met. Some one may read your local area blog posts, while searching for this and that around their community, and because you are meeting that need, a relationship is already starting to take shape. A positive association is being made with you, even though they haven't met you. This sure beats them tossing that postcard in the recycling bin.
Once they've worked with you on a transaction, they feel comforted to see that you are continuing to be a source of top notch community expertise. Your regular participation on Localism.com will show that you are committed to the cause of the community, that you know its pulse, and that you will be there in the future as a source to continue to meet their quality of life needs.
I am very, very excited about this. I am excited about this for my personal sales. I am excited about how I feel this will elevate the satisfaction I receive while merely doing my work. I plan on mastering the opportunities provided through this venue and finding new ways to grow and adapt through it. ActiveRain and Localism will continue to grow and adapt. The realtor will become a redefined force in the community, and one that will not fade into the sunset, but become a stronger pillar in the community. I hope you will join me in this fascinating journey!
I love the idea on Localism and always worry about properties bought or sold in my area by out of area REALTORS. Local knowledge is everything.
And so far the search engine results are quite remarkable.
Sara,
Thanks for the post. The potential created by the Localism platform is absolutely phenomenal. The inquiries from the consumers are already pouring in and it has yet to be officially launched! This is exciting and well worth the journey!