Drew Burks

By Drew Burks

Are You Distracted?

In today’s world most of us are overwhelmed with information, new products, and services, most of which provide little more than distraction to the average person.

As a REALTOR®, it is definitely easy to get caught up in the hype of the latest technologies; after all, most of them are very appealing with the promises of making our lives easier and more profitable.  Last week I attended the CAR Tech Tuesday event in Anaheim, Calif. and while there I had many great conversations with REALTORS®, but one really stood out in my mind …

“How does one cut through all of the noise that we are bombarded with to get to the dollar-producing activities?”

CAR added a fun twist to the event this year, they had a “meet the speakers” during a “speed networking” session.  This was by far the best part of the day for me.  Those of us who spoke at the event got the chance to do 4-minute sessions with approx 25-30 groups of approximately 30 people.  The common questions asked by the REALTOR® attendees in these different groups were things like:

• Facebook or Twitter?
• What is a Facebook page?
• Which blogging platform should I use?
• Do I really need a blog?
• iPhone or Android?
• How do I go mobile?
• What are QR codes and is this something I need to have?
• What apps do I need for my iPhone/Android?

Very few, if any, asked questions about how to close more business or become more profitable.  I guess there is the underlying assumption that the answer to their above question is going to make them more profitable?

Unfortunately, that is not the case!

It seems that most of us are easily distracted, some even paralyzed, by all of the information available to us.  So the struggle for most isn’t which cool new app or technology to use, but finding a way to cut through all of the noise and distraction being thrown at us so that we can focus on our primary goals.

To name a few of the technologies, products and services I am frequently asked about …

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Coaching programs
• Contact Management Systems
• QR codes
• Mobile marketing
• Branch out
• Social media
• SEO / PPC
• Video marketing
• iPhone vs. Android and don’t forget the apps
• Mac vs. PC
• Being Green
• Going Paperless
• Youtube videos
• Cloud Computing
• Google Apps
• iPad
• Gist
• Skype

And those are just the ones I can rattle off the top of my head at 10:30 p.m.  Everyday there is a new opportunity to chase another rabbit down the hole!  A new expert or guru telling you what to do and what to buy, but rarely do they tell us “how to” use the technology effectively and become more profitable.

Do you struggle with information overload?

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Click here to read part-2 of this blog post where I reveal some thoughts, tips and strategies to cut through the noise and remain focused on your primary “profitable” goals.

Drew Burks has built a brokerage in San Diego, Dream Design Realty, with a unique twist on an old business model. His Web site is devoted to helping real estate pros succeed with technology: www.WebRealEstateTools.com.