Posted about 15 years ago

Expert Advice

Don't you love it when you can get expert advice from an expert, especially when the advice is free? If your answer is yes, then you are just like millions of other people. Included among those millions are people seeking real estate advice. I believe when people have questions, they want to come to a real estate professional. But (and it's a big one) they are afraid of you. The fear of being "SOLD" keeps them away. So, how do you combat that fear? By becoming an expert in their eyes, an expert that only wants to provide them with helpful information and advice for free.

Here are ways that you can establish yourself as an expert while giving the public what they want:

* Website

~ Allow website visitors to ask questions via a no obligation and free information "ASK ME" page.
~ Allow website visitors to ask questions via a "CHAT WITH ME" widget.

* Email Campaigns

~ Create a Buyer Tips email campaign with just one tip in each mailing.
~ Create a Seller Tips email campaign with just one tip in each mailing.
~ Create a Hot News email campaign and send your contacts the hottest and newest real estate news (just one per email).
~ Remember to ask at the end of each email if they have a particular real estate question or problem that you can help them with.
~ Remind them that you are always available by email and always respond within 24 hours. The sooner, the better.

* Blogs

~ End your blog with an invitation for users to submit questions regarding the subject of the blog or anything else that may be of importance to them.
~ Create an "ASK ME" page on your blog site (many sites allow you to create and customize pages).
~ Create a link from your blog site to your website "ASK ME" page.

* Articles and eBooks

~ Experts write articles. It is only a little more detailed than a blog, after all.
~ Experts write books. Create an eBooklet in a PDF format and place it on your website as a free download.

* Authority Sites

~ Posting on authority sites establishes you as an expert in your field and in the community you serve.
~ Posting on authority sites maximizes exposure.
~ Sites such as RealtyTimes.com need and want Realtors to post the current market conditions in their area.
   * RealtyTimes allows several Realtors to represent an area.
   * RealtyTimes allows you to post as often or as little as you like.
~ Sites such as Trulia and Zillow allow you to answer questions posted by their users.
   * Trulia introduces you as an expert. (Trulia quote: "Browse answers and get advice by thousands of locals and experts")
* Just answer one question and you are established as an expert.
   * The more you respond, the more you are viewed as an expert.
* The more you are viewed, the more likelihood that you will generate leads from your expert opinions.
   * A response to a question can result in hundreds of views and all those viewers view you as an expert. This question "Buying an as-is foreclosed home, needs repairs. FHA? What's the best negotiation method?" received 5 responses, only one of which was a real estate agent. The question received 101 views in less than 24 hours.

Answering questions and giving real estate advice comes naturally to real estate professionals. They are asked questions on a daily basis by their peers and by the public in their offline world, so it is only natural that a real estate professional should establish themselves as an expert online as well.

Ask me how you can become an expert in your field and I'll show you how I became an expert in mine.

Comments (3)

My comments are related to the comment by Amy. I have several thoughts. I will try to make them brief because I could almost do a blog myself, on this comment. I broke up the comment and responded to each point. Comment: If Realtors want to be experts, then they need to get out and know everything about their market...and everything going on in the area. Then and only then would they be a true expert. Posting a blog or forum post doesn't an expert make. . Response: 1. In order to practice in their field, they must present themselves as experts. They must believe they are able to meet their clients needs or they will soon find themselves out of business. 2. Real estate agents, like doctors, are expected to be experts as soon as they have a license in hand. 3. Real estate agents, like doctors must continually educate themselves in the various aspects of their business, as well as keeping up with the changes to their field 4. Real estate agents, like doctors know that from time to time they must refer their clients out to a specialist in order to give them the best service. However, most can respond to commonly asked questions. Comment: ...it should take more then just answering a question on Trulia or Zillow to become an expert Response: In the cyber world the more times your name appears and the more times you demonstrate your knowledge, the more you are perceived as an expert. Note: 1. In the past some agents, established themselves as experts by answering questions in a newspaper column. Yet these agents were no more knowledgeable than many of their peers. 2. Dear Abby won fame and fortune, with her advice column. She established herself as an expert, to a whole nation, just by answering questions. 3. a) When giving good helpful information that resolves a problem, the receipint perceives you as an "expert". b)When people get the help they need they usually return to that person when in need again. This applies to real estate, marriage advice, or what stocks to buy. c)If a real estate agent does not provide service and does not know their community, market or industry to answer questions and give reasonable advice, they need to be out of the business. Comment: These Authority sites Response: a) There are many authority sites of all types.The advantage of Trulia or Zillow is they offer a question and advice platfrom. Users simply click a tab and submit their "burning question". Anyone who reads the question, including the public may respond. Personally, I would want the advice of someone knowledgeable in the real estate field over advice from another user. b) Users access authority sites, Active Rain, Realtor.com, Zillow, (whoever) because they perceive these sites as being reliable and knowledgeable in the real estate industry. An authority site gives its participants authority and expert status by the very fact they exist. c) An authority site in the cyber world becomes an authority site when the public says so. Any site large or small can claim to be an authority site but what will that true in the cyber world is the number of users that not only access they site but return to it again and refer it to others. A lot of dollars can be spent to promote an authority site but it is the user that determines whether those dollars were wisely spent. In the cyber world, the user is in command.

Pat Mc, about 15 years ago
Amy - Thank you for your point of view. I absolutely agree that being an expert requires more than blogging and social networking. My post was not to diminish that important aspect in any way. My point is that we live in an age where social networking, blogs, article writing, etc. is a great way to promote yourself and your knowledge online; give away your best stuff and let the world beyond your local community know that you are the best choice for their real estate needs. That's how trust and confidence in you is built online. Thank you, again, for your post. I appreciate the exchange.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance, about 15 years ago
Don't you think it should take more then just answering a question on Trulia or Zillow to become an expert in a field? I guess I'm an "expert" because from time to time I answer questions here on BP. These Authority sites - you missed ActiveRain and BiggerPockets - ironic, since you posted your article on BP - are certainly great for recognition, but answering a few questions doesn't make someone an expert, not matter what those sites want you to think. If realtors want to be experts, then they need to get out and know everything about their market. They need to know every property that is available and everything that is going on in the area. Then and only then would they be a true expert. Posting a blog or forum post doesn't an expert make. The same applies for investors, but they need to know much more - particularly their field of "expertise" - be it buy and hold, wholesaling, etc..

Amy L., about 15 years ago