Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Where are you, technically speaking?

As I look around our industry these days, I am really taken with how technology continues to change and evolve. Personally, I struggle to keep up, but I try to learn something new as often as I can. The hard part for me is taking time to learn. However, I fear being one of these people who wake up some day to realize I am out of touch.

Do you know how to download a podcast whether you own an mp3 player or not? Do you know how to send automated text messages? Do you know how to set up an RSS feed to your homepage so that you can have the latest industry headlines right at your fingertips? These are just a few of the many, many ways that you can put technology to work for you.

Many agents today are turning to social networking sites to market themselves. Webpages such as postlets.com, youtube.com and craigslist.com are reinventing the way homes are being marketed. These sites are easy to use and can get you more free marketing for your listings.

I don't pretend to know everything there is to know about technology. It really is an effort for me to keep up with things and to learn new skills. The fact that you are reading this blog tells me that you are probably more tech savvy than most.

The challenge is this- Don't let the world pass you by. Don't wake up some day and regret that you didn't continue to learn new skills. Take time to learn something new each day, week or month. Put it in your business plan and hold yourself accountable.

The best example of an agent who exemplifies this is a gentleman who I have in my office. He has been licensed in the state of Texas for over 50 years and is nearly 80 years old. He has a laptop with a wireless card and a gps system and is constantly learning new technology! He is an inspiration to me and on top of all of that, he is a great agent!