In response to Branson, MO

Would it not be wise to figure out what your hourly worth in production for real estate is as a basis for making a decision that is not only volatile but sometimes uselss - then figure out how many of those hours you are prepared to dedicate to building and maintaining your own web site?

Everything is relative to where your time is better spent. If building your site is recreation time that in the end builds your bottom line, then I say go for it, too.

Mostly agents will find out that this is not productive use of their time. There is so much more to know than how to build the site, and SEO has become a career within a career for the real web masters; another learning curve that is time intensive, especially since everything seems to change at a rapid pace.

How would an active, productive REALTOR fit this into their schedule? Part of success in real estate comes from being focused, just like in any other career. Three years after a major accident, I am only now beginning to get my focus back, so I can speak from experience - I rely on Doug to stay up to date on what is important in that arena.

After working 60 and more hours per week in real estate perhaps there is a little time left for family time, or refurbishing the brain for next week. I'm all for having a general understanding of what is going on, much like we need to keep an eye on the bookkeeper and the accountant; doesn't mean we need to, or can do, their jobs. Prioritizing seems to be the key.

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Carolyne - Brampton real estate = http://www.carolyne.com
"Where'd I put my stuff ?" Search Key words - Tech Organizer
C . . . I Am Organized = http://www.MyBackUpBook.com/
You can't practice time management till you get organized
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Small Company but we're BIG in Brampton. Relocation Transfer packages for anywhere in North America Homes For Sale All Sizes All Prices

Your points are well-taken. My argument is that YES, it is worth the time/effort it has taken me to get a handle on these things AND the time/effort necessary to stay relatively current. And, yes, I consider the Internet both recreational and professional, so I may be a rare bird. I actually write articles on a variety of subjects ranging from history and politics to outdoors sports and real estate. The Internet is a great leveraging tool for a writer. Articles that don't get published in traditional print media still get read by thousands of people...well-targeted readers if you know what you're doing.

In fact, I have a new set of articles I'm working on now on the REO subject. When they are finished, I will submit them to REALTOR magazine and possibly some other trades. If they don't get picked up, they'll still be published electronically. As the content on my website (and the others I write for) grows, so does my placement power with the search engines (because I optimize my on-line content myself). I already have companies calling me to try to secure positive reviews and major magazines asking me to write features for them. And I only got semi-serious about writing about 9 months ago as a NY's resolution. So, for me, it is well worth my time/effort/expense to stay on top of this game. These articles and reviews pay more than a few good BPO's do. One great article can pay as much as a small commission. But the exposure is the really valuable commodity.

Today, we live in an on-line world. Basic site design, maintenance, and optimization is nothing more than learning to communicate effectively via the Web. As sales professionals, COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY is the #1 thing we must do to succeed. So, while I agree that a cost-benefit analysis is in order and that there is a time/place for specialization, I think the answer for most of us in regard to THIS issue is that we must learn to look at it a bit differently. Sales is communications. And our #1 comms tool today is our website. Learning to comm effectively via the Web is no less important that learning to write good ad copy, take good photos, or speak properly via the phone. I contend it is a critical skill for REALTORS in the 21st Century.

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Ken&Wilma
Coldwell Banker, ABRR LLC
Branson, MO

[This message has been edited by Ken&Wilma (edited 10-10-2004).]