Maybe it’s my age, but I find most of social media depressing.
Even more sadly, I’ve been told by our team and Nick, my business partner, that I need to get back to being active on the usual platforms, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to push the Ethical Agent Network.
Part of my problem with social media is that everyone I know who is or has been successful, ‘gone clear’ to use a favourite phrase, isn’t on it or doesn’t do it much. I think that’s because a) they’re too busy doing the business, b) they’ve achieved what they want and have nothing to promote/prove.
It goes back to what I was saying years ago about some people being high-profile but not high performing.
We can all list five people in the estate agency industry who have done a James Corden/Steven Bartlett and overexposed themselves. People have gotten tired of their voices and seeing their faces. Their message is lost.
Even writing this, I’m thinking, does the world need more opinions and hot takes?
Nah, it doesn’t, but it does need more honesty (not fake vulnerability). More realness and fewer agendas, if that last bit is even humanly possible.
If you took too much notice of LinkedIn, for example, you’d be convinced that everyone is ‘smashing it’ (lies – the economy is tough for everyone, especially estate agents and suppliers) or ‘passionately caring’ about the industry when really, they’re just selling partner agent models.
I preferred the approach of a speaker at a networking event I went to a few years ago – she started by saying, ‘I’m going to share 25 minutes of stuff I’ve learned that will help you, ‘ then at the end of this session, I’ll take five minutes explaining why it might be a good idea to use my services.’ The room appreciated the approach.
I feel like The Grinch when it comes to industry events and how social media stalks them.
Too many people see these get-togethers like filling up sticker books – “how many selfies can I take with other ‘legends’ to attract more attention to me by tagging in people today?”
To quote one of the greatest rappers of all time, KRS-One: “it lacks creativity and intelligence, but they don’t care cos they’re openly selling it.”
Which is my conundrum over the next week as we create the Come Back strategy for the EAN’s social media – how do we do things intelligently and creatively that promote what we’re doing in the most honest way…….
We’ll try our best.
Jerry
