After reading Facebook: Why doesn't it feel good to be right? it got me to thinking about how we market ourselves GALORE all over the internet. I am restructuring my marketing and asking myself the one big question: AT WHAT COST? No, not money. It's how I present myself to the public.
Facebook may be another marketing tool but I fail to see the whole marketing thing when there is stuff like this Article about a teen that posed as a Woman and a Sex Scandal occurred.....Yeah, yeah, we put ourselves out there. But at this cost?
Do I want to be associated with the goings on there? Or other sites that prey on others? I have always believed that ActiveRain IS a professional site (regardless of our social side) and that it will continue to be so due to the monitoring by the staff as well as our members.
Our founders and staff also mingle with the members as well and welcome our input and suggestions. I don't know any other site that 'gets involved' with their members....which I believe is one of the important factors of our continued success.
I hope this is one thing that remains a priority for ActiveRain.
It just goes to show...that being 'transparent' about ourselves and our profession is one thing and to run around pretending to be something you're not is another. Who cares about how many transactions you've done or how much money you have...if you are not true to your written word? What I do care about is if you're real.
People aren't always as they appear in their writing...even here in the Rain. We would hope they would be but unrealistic to presume so. There may be signs you can pick up on like:
- They don't answer the phone when you call nor do they return your call as they are in fear of 'being found out'.
- And meet in person? Good luck.
- They roam around making as many friends as they can while serving up blown up profiles of themselves as teachers of the profession and so forth.
- They start soliciting you for money for their services and how they can improve your business or your placement on Google.
- They don't have a profile picture? Okay, so maybe they think their dog is a better profile picture to depict their professional side. Heck, they could be portraying another sex for all we know.
- They don't even have a license for anything and their business address is for Motel 6 in Malibu.
- They believe that money makes them a better professional and therefore can B.S. everyone into believing so.
But you see, there are some of us that see right through them and we can only hope that others don't get hurt by the oh -so -mischievious -cyberfakes. At what cost am I putting myself out there? How far do I stick my foot out there? I continue to ask myself questions each time I write something.
Be careful who you are "associating" with and beware of those broken cyber promises.
TLW is the person who originally wrote to get us to study and become a part of understanding the Psychology of Cyberspace and I subsequently joined the Psychology of Cyberspace Study Group where I really started getting into (and being more aware) of whom I was interacting with.
I do believe I have the choice of picking and choosing where I flaunt my "wares".
ActiveRain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
