It’s just a matter of time…
Great post over at Realblogging today by Richard Nacht where he asks the right question in response to a new report from NAR on Realtors and their use of the Internet. Richard asks, "Where are da blogs?"
My response would be, just wait. Give it another year, or two at the latest.
For those of us on board the Cluetrain
Everett Rogers' 1962 diffusion of innovations theory brilliantly states that the adoption of any new idea can be characterized by a bell curve of innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority and laggards.
This theory was further expanded by Geoffrey A. Moore in his 1991 classic high tech marketing book, Crossing the Chasm
I would argue that Web 2.0 (blogs, podcasts, wikis etc.) is teetering on the edge of this chasm right now.
But we'll find the bridge soon.
Microsoft's next operating system Vista is slated to come out in Q1 2007. The next version of Internet Explorer, which is included, has RSS feed handling built right in. I believe this, along with other factors, is going to throw open the door to the masses and help propel across the chasm. This shake up going to have a huge impact on any professional who is not looking to Web 2.0 to help their business.
Those of us who "get it" will have a huge headstart when this all plays out. Those who don't are going to be running to catch up. Mark my words.
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Technorati Tags: Web 2.0, Real Estate Marketing, Real Estate Blogging, Real Estate Blog, Real Estate Blogs, Real Estate, Realty Blogging
9 Comment(s)
2 Trackback(s)
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Jay Thompson | May 20, 2006 | Reply
I started my real estate blog a little over a year ago. People said I was nuts, said it was a fad, said it was a waste of time.
People don’t say that now…
Great blog here! Mind if I link to you?
JT
A Samuel | May 20, 2006 | Reply
Those of us who have been early adopters of the Blog, should prepare ourselves for the masses flooding the market in years to come. Developing a plan to stay ahead of the game and using the time advantage is imperative for survival.
Great Blog…will be on my reading list!!
Luke Walsh | May 22, 2006 | Reply
Nice, concise, business case analysis in support of blogging.
This applies to realtors, but also to many niche players within the real estate market. There’s a tremendous opportunity here for niche players to establish credibility within their area of expertise.
Jerry P | May 23, 2006 | Reply
I’ve posted on the ‘Where are da blogs’ topic before. And you do make the case for blogging for business. But I think that you’ll find that most of the ‘old school’ realtors out there will not adjust to the change. And they will not bridge that ‘chasm’ when they get to it. The are simply not equipt to handle web 2.0. I see this in my area all the time. Realtors hiring young techies to do the dirty work for them because they either won’t or can’t make the computer adjustment necessary in todays market. I’m just starting to get into the blog world myself and I’m trying to make an effort to move through the waters without drowning. The ‘old school’ group of Realtors rely on the old addage, ‘if it aint broke, don’t fix it’. I don’t see them blogging anytime in the future because they are sticking to what works for them. If its anybody who will bridge this ‘chasm’ it will be the new crop of Realtors out there who are under the age of 30. They will adjust more rapidly because they are the computer generation. Even if new technology makes it easier for the ‘old school’ crowd to join in, they will be way behind the curve as far as blogging is concerned. I’m just starting out myself and I feel that curve every day.
I’m putting this site on my list and I’ll be back. Great reading.
Richard Nacht | May 28, 2006 | Reply
Joel – no question it’s a matter of time. It’s also a matter of implementation. The industry needs to understand that blogs aren’t just “blogs.” They are a unique marketing tool that can be used in a wide variety of ways. The unique architecture of blogs enable do easy link building and fresh content eager for search engine spiders, but one of our approaches has been to focus on the non-technical/non-online advantages which we suggest can be the hidden marketing power of blogs. This approach resonates with the non-technologically advanced Realtors because they understand the networking benefit that a community blog can provide to them. Combine the tech knowledgeable early adopters coming on board with the Realtors we are working with who will use a blog not as a “blog” but as a supercharged marketing tool to enhance their networking benefits, I’d suggest that top of the curve is closer than we all think.
Tim O'Keefe | May 30, 2006 | Reply
I look at websites& blogs with a bit less excitement than most in my business. As an SEO specialist, I use blogs, and websites to market my clients real estate marketing businesses.
So I am interested in the best approach to causing an action to occur on a website. That desired action is usually a phone call or registered lead.
In my opinion, that is all that matters. How we get there is irrelevant in the end.
Call it being in front of a computer too long or whatever, but in the end, a page is a page is a page.
Weather it be from a website, or a blog. And in 90% of the cases your reader does not know the diferrence.
So I am not here by any means to belittle the blog, but I don’t think we can use a tool,unless we understand where it fits in the big picture.
It is a tool that some use with the precision of a surgeon and others will wonder, like they did/do with their traditional website, what is the big deal?
The key into their failings may very well be, traditional. As doing whatever everyone else is doing is a sure path to failure.
The blog works in the engines, and in the creating thought leaders for very precise reasons. To know and use those reasons is to succeed.
Chris Dowell | Jul 30, 2006 | Reply
I love blogging. What blog service do realtors like to blog on? I have tried many and they have pluses and minues. I like something easy for people to comment. Right now I’m using blogger.
REBlogGirl | Nov 18, 2006 | Reply
Wow. I was just quoting Moore this morning in another post. It is amazing how fast technology advances and blogging is no exception. Those that hop on this crazy blog train now will benefit most. One of my primary concerns for those that do not begin blogging before the release of Microsoft Vista is that consumers will experience RSS feed overload and become descencitized to new blogs because of the integrated RSS reader in Vista.
Jason Brown Premier Realty Group | Jan 7, 2007 | Reply
I have not put the effort into blogging, thinking it was just a fad. Maybe it’s because I found very few blogs interesting. The quality of the blogging is obviously important. I’d hate to be wrong and fall behind.