About this time last year, I found out from my neighbor Judy, who found out from her daughter, who found out from Facebook, which college my daughter decided to attend!
My daughter was planning to tell me, just hadn't seen me yet. I immediately went to my computer and figured out how to join Facebook, and joined. I have been a proud parental stalker ever since!
This past year, Facebook has opened an amazing world of contact with distant friends and relations, kids, siblings, and even clients and business associates. Like everything that I have found in ActiveRain, FACEBOOK has simply blown my mind!
My Facebook is mostly family and personal stuff, but I always am aware that business contacts are there too, and temper what I post. I post my blog and real estate related stuff there, as well as pictures of my granddaughters and personal goings on. It is a happy hodge podge of the passions in my life - family, faith, and real estate!
Last Thankful Thursday I expressed my thanks for two listings received as a referral from another ActiveRainer in another part of the state. My first real AR leads. They are now up and running, and I already have a strong buyer from a sign call, who will be buying a different property. This Thankful Thursday I am thrilled to report my first real business lead from Facebook. I get questions and comments, real estate related, all the time on Facebook. Lots of my Facebook friends are Realtors, after all. But there has been someone there, quietly observing in the background, that I BARELY know, who sent me a private note last night about his upcoming relocation, asking for a CMA and advice. Oh, and how much he knows he can trust me, even though he doesn't really know me.
YES! This is how everyone said it is supposed to work. To just be consistant and hang in, and it will pay off eventually. Now, I have found that to be true! Except for something that no one told me in the beginning. The benefits of my associations on ActiveRain and Facebook, and the knowledge and relationships and GOOD TIMES that they provide me, are worth every bit of time and energy I spend, in and of themselves. Any financial benefit that may come as a result is just gravy!
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence. Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!
Janna Rankin Scharf AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS 208.651.9700
Facebook has also been pretty interesting for me. It has allowed me to keep in touch easily with lots of people who I had not seen for quite a long time. Sadly, my own teenager will not accept me as his friend. Oh well . . . maybe in a few years.
I got a laugh out of the parental stalker comment. My college age son did not allow me to friend him for the first few months I was on Facebook. He was home for spring break with some of his friends who obviously thought I was very cool and he went back and accepted my friend request. To tell you the truth....seeing the spring break pix were more than I needed...hahaha
Watch what you ask for !!!
Happy Thursday!!
Lori
An inspiring post...thanks for sharing your experience, here.
Congrats Janna !!
That's Great that you got your first real lead from being on Facebook !
... I hope it's the first of many :o)
Cheers
Sheldon
Hi Janna, I love to hear these success stories, and I agree with you about the gravy!! Congratulations on your relo that is just wonderful!
Melissa- I made my teens accept me as a friend if they want computer privileges! I figure if they stop from doing one stupid thing for fear that their mom might see it, it's worth it! They tried to sneakily UNfriend me, but I made them put me back on their lists. I make sure not to post embarrassing things, or much of anything for that matter, on their walls. At this point, I don't think either of them care. My adult kids LOVE it, and it is a great way to stay in constant contact.
Lori - Yes, I know!
Sheldon - Me too! Cheers to you, too!
Mary - Always good to see you.
Janna, that is great news! I am on facebook, have only one measley friend, LOL. I have not done much with it at all. Perhaps I should look again, LOL.
I don't have teens, so no one to watch out for on Facebook. Perhaps I should have someone watching out for ME!
Way to go, thanks for sharing!
I can't imagine being on Facebook back when I was a teen and having my parents there too. Today, all generations are there and interact. I think it's great, I just find it so interesting that so many younger people are ok with it.