Stop it Realtors. QR Codes, Social Media and Ethics.

[mrfrenik]

Great video, great advice, and as a small business owner myself, I'm kinda happy that most people seem to not agree with you. :) Guess that means I'll have a leg up on competition, eh?

[McBrown83]

BTW, anyone ever mentioned you look like Angus Macfadyen (imdb.com/name/nm0005171/)

[MrAlancurrall]

Not being a religious person, I have found that my local church has got this social thing (not spouting their business/beliefs/church) down. They listen & chat on a social level.

Thanks.

[binkleygold]

Nice video that helps agents understand more about qr codes. I developed Rapid QR Codes and have several real estate specific qr code genearators. Agents should link to the specific property to get the best use. But they should go ahead and allow users to save their contact info into their smart device too. Rapid Qr Codes developed some qr code creators that are free to use that does just that, Thanks for the video. I'm gonna post on my blog if that is ok with you.

[makeiteasyable]

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[MillersConcepts]

How about they use Augmented reality for their business. See sample videos on millers concepts channel or "Augmented reality Real Estate signage and Brochure Aurasma" Tell me what you think?

[SEODojo]

Scott... many years in Real estate and been an online marketer for about 17 yrs. Worked for one of the biggest homebuilders in Toronto. I disagree with some of what you say. For instance a stream of just listings..useless... announcing new listings, open houses and sales, dropping tips on showing homes and preparing for a showing are gold assuming people in your stream are clients and or interested in RE. I mean why else would they follow you?

[scan2save]

Thank you for saying this so well. I'm sending this to all my realtor clients.

[CJC1967ish]

I want that T-shirt Scott! the Awesome meter!

[theservman]

I see she hasn't changed any...

[deedeeriley]

Great input! Thank you Scott!

[sstateham]

I love this video - amen Scott!

[4theconnector]

Viewers: It's apparent Scott is fairly involved in SocMed / Mrktg via the tools of technology most of us use. w/sooo many forms of SocMed outreach, many indvdls & companies A) mis-use these tools, or B) not aware of how their overall usage is lacking or NOT hitting target audience. Scott has insights & examples. He does not rant. With primarily "Business INFOrmational" YTube video postings....try....really try....to discern the imparted essence of posting, not comment on an inferred 'attitude'

[itsallaboutyoubaby]

How do you feel about using a QR Code to send people directly to the "Like" button on a FB Fan Page using one of the QR Code generators that does that?

[whitneypannell]

Spot on!

[nonymoos]

I recently saw a large QR code on a sign offering commercial property for lease. The sign was on a road with heavy traffic and nowhere to pull over to grab the code. If you're challenged by scanning a code in the newspaper, imagine aiming your smartphone out your window while driving 45mph in heavy traffic!

[fitmomuv3]

Always so inspiring Scott. Without naming names, there are some agents in this town who are EXTREMELY successful, and have Twitter accounts that are still just posting listings and not talking. There are also agents here who are some of the most engaging people on Twitter, and who I suspect will rule the world as the younger and hipper population begins to get out there and start spending their money on houses!

I love the way you just say it like it is. Hows the lawn? s

[HOTPROPERTYCHICAGO]

Could not find anything I disagreed with.

[AnthonyatStages]

Scott,

As a real estate agent, I could not agree more! I find in the real estate industry it is common place for the "metroagent" to jump all over any new media channels overlaying them with their archaic marketing philosophies-jumping on another media bandwagon!

As a rookie social medaite, I applaud you for stand against real estate agents shoving their listings over the scoialnet and take heed of your advice to use the media for it's namesake..social!

[therealtorc21]

Love the approach about using the technology the right way or don't use it at all!

[monrovian21]

Love this and it's right on-line with what I've been preaching to our REALTORS for so many years.

I first heard of you on the Social Hour a few weeks ago and I was thrilled to see this come through Twitter just a few minutes ago. I quickly re-posted to contacts to get their input.

Social Media is a game changer for our profession (and anyone in sales for that matter) and there are so many "Gurus" out there who claim to have a panacea or quick answers. That's just not true!

Great post!

[TheAnneCraft]

QR codes can be effective in some instances, but require the user to have a smartphone and know how to use the bar code scanner. While this is second nature to some of us, not everyone is there yet. However, almost everyone has a cell phone. Using a texting a keyword to a short code that replies with both the information you are seeking, either in plain text or SMS is more accessible. And as a marketer, you gain access to the user's number, which can be used for follow up with a potential client

[kwgainey]

Love it Scott. I scanned to the QR code and it took me to a site where I could buy a pair of ladies shorts for $105. I thought they REALLY don't get it. So I'll chalk it up to scanning a video.

[indliving]

Amen!

[AndreMcKayATX]

you did an excellent job with the introductory video on how people are using social media and qr codes the wrong way. These people think social media as their answer to selling and its not, its another marketing vehicle except heres your chance to take your traditional marketing and switch it up by engaging in conversations, becoming an expert in your industry, building relationships and turning them into communities. Some will never get it ... @AndreMcKayATX "spam me & i'll block you"

[jaygraygraphics]

I just scanned a video of a newspaper of a QR Code. Mr. Stratten, you just blew my mind!

[loofah65]

My 2 cents: Anyone, realtor or not, who follows me on Twitter will not get a follow-back if all I see in their feed is advertising. If that's all they've got to contribute, they're wasting time and effort. As for QR codes... I think they're also a waste of time if all they do is bring me to a web site, even if it is mobile-friendly. Use them for giving me all of your contact info so I can store it in my phone in case I want to contact you. If I want to visit your web site, I'll do that on my PC.

[emilybinder]

@loofah65 Agreed about Twitter being a turn-off when used for auto generated listings in every tweet with shortlinks and nothing human. @stratola you're right, realtors (and everyone) must stop thinking Twitter is another blast service for a one-way promotion of your brand.

[mds304]

I think this video is excellent. For every set of "do's", there is a corresponding set of "dont's". A lot of marketing thought leaders focus on the "do's", so we need people like Scott to be straight-forward and frank about the "don'ts". Sometimes that's what is needed to make the lesson stick. We learn from mistakes, not successes. If his style of delivery doesn't work for you, there are many other wonderful marketing thought leaders you can follow and learn from.

[SenseiKrush]

Wow! 3 people actually disliked this! ...why? lol

[josephdelise]

Love the video! It's about time that Realtors wise up.

[wordbrd]

"Minus-one font" - LOL. I need to find a QR code reader now.

[PhoenixREGuy]

Best Realtor-related social media video. Ever.

[rantingincr]

@gettysburgGerry who made Scott the Moses of Social Media? Those of us who listened and applied what he has taught, that's who! I listened to Scott do a keynote address at a Social Media conference in Victoria, read his book, and applied what I learned. I am now one of the most recognized social media people in my region. I taught it to a DJ in my community and he now has people across North America listening to him and traveling to this community to see for themselves why he loves it so much.

[rantingincr]

@denastevens I don't think you were listening. It's about being "social". Are home sales the ONLY thing that is going on where you live? Are you only involved in selling homes? And if you ARE having a great weather day, wouldn't you want a potential buyer, who is from out of town, to know that? I have heard realtors say a thousand times that the community a home is in is just as important as the home itself. That is what you should be talking about. THAT is Social Media.

[jasoninlancaster]

You are my new hero! Thank you, great vlog!

[cmorriskingston]

I'm a realtor in Kingston and I think everything you've said is 100% correct. Well done, and thank you.

[denastevens]

OK, heard and understood. What would you like us to talk about on Social Media Sites? The weather?

[stratola]

@denastevens actually, yes. I've talked a lot about the tornado's we had and the hurricane :)

[taryneast]

@denastevens Heaps of stuff. Off the top of my head (and I'm not in real estate) how about erm.. "whether to go for the extra bedroom or for a better location", "how to tell if a listed property is worth the extra 10-20K", "easy pitfalls to look out for when searching"

I'm sure if you thought about it you could come up with heaps of useful, interesting stuff to talk about that involves real estate.... but isn't just listings.

[GettysburgGerry]

Point taken

[TheRealEstateStation]

I "efin" love the video. Thanks for putting that together...even though my social media game pretty much sucks I completely get what you're saying. I don't use QR codes personally for the exact reasons you pointed out. But I am guilty of posting listings a lot. trying to break myself of the habit.

[SteveHuntLesage]

Thanks Scott, but a s a Realtor I resent the fact that you're pointing out other agents misuse of social media. You are 100% correct in all you're comments about how agents misuse these media tools, but as an agent that understands what "to do", I actually prefer proper use of the tools being kept a secret (makes me look better). Thanks again, good analysis...

[GettysburgGerry]

Isn't the whole point of putting your opinion out on a public forum to solicit and engage? Even differing opinions

[stratola]

@GettysburgGerry Sure, discuss what I'm saying. I never asked for your opinion on how I say it.

[GettysburgGerry]

@stratola point taken, my apologies



[GettysburgGerry]

Scott love your redirect on who put you in charge, lol. Your title, "misuse of social media" should include "as interpreted by Scott Stratton" While I agree with some of your points, I completely disagree with the manner of delivery. I'm not a big mean rant kind of guy. Your supervisor taught me better. Touche

[stratola]

@GettysburgGerry ""as interpreted by Scott Stratton" Wait, what? It's a video of my opinion. That goes without saying. And I apologize for the miscommunication. Apparently you thought I asked for your opinion on how I give mine. That's my fault. Won't happen again.

[10myown]

@GettysburgGerry I like this guy .. he is at least honest.

[freshinspiration]

Highly recommend advertisers and marketers really listen to this impassioned video by Scott Stratten, friend and UNmarketer. Worth the 5 minutes and hard look at how you're using social media right now.

[benjaminbach]

Great stuff Scott :)

[zoomjer]

Great message, Scott. I know Rina-she's really cool.

We can look at this from 2 different perspectives. From those who know, she's way off. It's offensive that she uses these thigns we love so much and work so hard at to use properly in a way that is so robotic and unsocial. To those who don't know, it makes her look well-branded, with it, and able to 'use' all of these 'tools' to market their house to the fullest. Any chance I get, I tell my colleagues to stay far away from this spammy stuff.

[mmpartee]

I am not a Realtor. I am an online community builder, and have been doing that since 2001. I like to be social online. Yet I am hearing no proof for any of the assertions you are making in this video beyond that you say them very, very intensely. Also, you mention something about ethics in the title of this video. I heard no discussion about ethics other than the apostrophe example, with the warning not to be "*that* guy" or "*that* real estate agent."

[stratola]

@mmpartee I'm not sure what you're asking for when it comes to proof? You want me to prove that QR codes should lead to a page that can be read on a mobile phone, or prove that people want to be social on social networks?

And the ethics example is the ethics part of the video....

[TheSarasotaRealtor]

@mmpartee -- I *am* a Realtor and I *am* a community builder as well. All this should be common sense, so I'm shocked you don't get it. Ethics doesn't require a dissertation - the one example with the asterisk is enough for most people.

[BrendonWalker]

My what a nice looking channel you have! :P

Hey, do you ever think realtors will ever listen? I had a conversation with one recently about using Social to push content rather than be...you know..."sociable".

Even came up with the idea of Realtors using something like You Tube to interview the people departing the house (with their permission of course) about the stuff they loved best about that house. Not every situation would play to this, but for the ones that do...dynamite! Was too hard :(

[GettysburgGerry]

Another social media snob, do it my way or the hiway. Dude, back off, get a life, who made you the social media moses handing down your commandments?

[stratola]

@GettysburgGerry Jesus in HR did. Didn't you get the memo? I'll have them send another copy.

[TheSarasotaRealtor]

@GettysburgGerry -- How possibly can you refer to this guy as a "social media snob?" Instead, you should be thanking him for the CLEAR, direct help he's handing you on a silver platter. He's not bashing anyone. He's not just TELLING you what's wrong; he's SHOWING you what's wrong. Better, he's showing you HOW to improve. If someone is willing to help me improve, I gladly will be "Rena." I KNOW my marketing is not as effective as I'd like. Who doesn't want to IMPROVE....

[mayaREguru]

OMG it was like a Godzilla movie! =)

[guardiansorder]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Scott. I am evangelising this video to all my REALTOR® friends and co-workers. QR codes are too often the tool of the devil! :)

[dakruz4]

That was great - now if only the agents who needed to hear it would FIND YOU! :)

[jmichaelmanley]

great video just keep in mind 50% of the people didn't watch past 72 seconds. Just saying.

[aaronhallrealestate]

My friend posted this on her twitter feed and it made me laugh a bunch of times (in a good way)... Love it. Thanks for spreading the good word.

[joec0914]

What you say about QR codes needing to link to mobile-friendly web pages is SO true!

However, the bit about it being easier to type in rina. ca on your phone vs scanning a code? That's because you're a BlackBerry user! Blackberries have crappy QR code readers and they have a physical keyboard. If you have an iphone or a droid, it's MUCH easier to scan a code than type on a soft keyboard.

[thisiswilson2]

hahaha he said scroll when reading a newspaper page. I <3 nerds.

[jschlicke]

zomg...required viewing for all my students!

[hpiChicagoChannel]

GREAT!

[LisaASullivan01]

What I love about this is that you are providing valuable insight to real estate agents, a lesson to be learned if you will. It's the first video I've seen that speaks directly to RE agents about this topic without it being from someone in the field of real estate. Validation. Thank you!

[MrDrewLarison]

Great video, Scott. It's really frustrating when I see people put QR codes on their website. It would be so much simpler for the company and the user to just have a link. It's not about just having the new technology it's about using it correctly.

[TinyPinkTampon]

awesome i like your way of posting a video whenever you got something really good to say.

not just trying to post something everyday, just sticking to quality.

[TinyPinkTampon]

@TinyPinkTampon am the 1st one look at that high conversion too!