Sacramento Appraisal Blog

Market trends and real estate appraisals for divorce, estate settlement, loans, property tax appeal, pre-listing and more. We cover Sacramento, Placer and Yolo County. We're professional, courteous and timely.

Internet

Why it took me so long to start a Facebook page as a Sacramento Appraiser

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Check it out. I started a Facebook page for my business last week. My rationale for taking the plunge is threefold: 1) I like Facebook and I use it all the time; 2) Facebook is a ripe arena for conversation; 3) I want to make sure to be available and able to connect with others in this simple (free) way. Click the image below (or here) to visit the page.

You may wonder, “well, Ryan, you are so into social media, so why did it take you so long to create a Facebook page?” Honestly, I felt conflicted for a while, so I needed time to really think this through. Facebook is so personal, and I just didn’t want to be “that guy” who looked and sounded like he was marketing to his friends. This was really a philosophical hurdle that I needed to sift through over time before rolling out in confidence with a page. It just took a bit of time for me to ultimately feel comfortable enough that starting a page was the best move, and that it’s acceptable and non-spammy to have a page for business (well, non-spammy depending on how you use it of course). And by the way, I am not “that guy”.

Do you have a Facebook page? Why? Why not?

How important is social media for your Sacramento area business?

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I wrote the other day about the importance of building an online business presence, and I was provoked further today about just how relevant social media truly is. It’s easy to think that newer mediums such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogging are a fad, but take a look at the Socialnomics video below (or here). I saw this today during a presentation by Chris Tellez at the Sacramento Association of Realtors YPC meeting.

What do you think? How does the video make you feel? Do stats like this bring pause about the way you do business or aim to do business in the future? 

Jeopardy and Building an Online Business Presence

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I remember stumbling upon an episode of Jeopardy in the early 90s and seeing that they too had jumped on the “bandwagon” of the world wide web. Yes, even Jeopardy now had a website just like everyone else. Do you remember those days?

It’s wild to think that just 15 years ago the idea of the “world wide web” seemed to be on the fringe, but it’s now a very significant part of our lives. Consider how the world has changed in the past several years with the advent of things like smart phones, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google, and blogosphere. The web has opened up opportunities for us to communicate, do business, be more efficient, waste time, shop, date, read the news, share videos, meet people, etc…

If you are in business, the truth is that people want to reach you online. They hope to find your website, understand more about your company, and see what others are saying about you too. They may even wish to connect with you on Twitter or Facebook. I know it can sound overwhelming to someone who is not a social media convert, but don’t worry because you don’t have to be a tween techie guru to be successful online, and you can certainly take small steps to further develop your web presence over time. The key is to find what is going to work for you and your business and then incorporate a realistic and doable social media rhythm into your life. Ask yourself the question: What facet of the web or social media right now will help you further connect and build relationships with people? 

Why do I spend time thinking about this stuff? Because it’s the wave of the future that is now here. My goal in business is to provide a great product and be relevant, resourceful, and focused on relationships with people (both online and in person). Just yesterday a local home owner googled me and ordered a pre-listing real estate appraisal for his house in the Rosemont area of Sacramento. After this man perused my website, he called me to connect for business. That’s how it works these days in many cases, and I plan for this scenario to only increase over time as our society continues to embrace an online lifestyle.

What do you think of all this?

Yellow Pages, Search Engines, and a Sacramento Appraisal Company

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The yellow pages used to be the go-to source for information, but nowadays we use search engines. Whether in need of directions, movie times, or a solution to fixing a leaky faucet, we go online to find the answers.

This is true for personal matters and also for business. I know many people find my website and blog because they’re looking for information on the real estate market in Greater Sacramento or they’re maybe in need of appraisal services. In fact, seconds ago I returned a phone call from an out-of-state Realtor hoping to ask me a question about FHA appraisal standards. Or last week a home owner found me online and then hired me to do a retrospective appraisal on his property for his estate settlement. The stories go on and on like this. It’s just the way that business (and life) happens these days, and I am constantly amazed at how quickly we can come by good information. 

As a compliment to this post, I made a “search story” on YouTube. This is one of Google’s latest free and interesting gadgets. Have you made a “story” yet?

With all that being said, I’m glad you’re here. By the way, what did you type into a search engine to make your way over? If you end up having any questions about real estate or anything you see me mention on my site, let’s talk. I’m available for you at 916-595-3735 or ryan@LundquistCompany.com.

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