Stacey Harmon, who specializes in digital strategies for real estate professionals, will discuss how to manage your reputation and content online during an all-day Agent Reboot event in Los Angeles on Aug. 5.
The event, which will be held on the campus of University of California, Los Angeles, is the second in a series of 12 Agent Reboot events — which focus on the latest real estate-relevant technologies, social media strategies, and local housing market analyses — that are scheduled across the country through October.
Harmon, who is founder and CEO of Harmon Enterprises, based in Orange County, Calif., and is also founder and chief blogger for real estate marketing blog Agent Applause, responded to a set of questions posed by Inman News.
1. What is the most important business lesson you learned in the past year?
Content is king and good, unique content can be (really) hard to create. Successful social media marketing is based in a solid content strategy and plan.
2. What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
I’m passionate about modern marketing. This passion is an outcome of my career which began with a degree in communications, followed by 15 years of residential real estate experience where I worked with independent brokerages in a variety of roles, such as marketing strategist, director of information technology, and Realtor.
Fold in my master’s degree in business administration and I am uniquely poised for a career in social media marketing which integrates my experience in marketing, technology, communications, and strategy.
3. Share a personal experience or anecdote about buying, selling, owning or renting a home.
I no longer sell real estate, but the most stressful transaction of my sales career was a 14-day escrow on a $7 million home.
The transaction to-dos were about the same as a less pricey sale, but the financial consequences of not meeting timeframes added a very significant level of nail-biting to the transaction.
There were just too many things out of my control! The deal successfully closed, but I don’t miss that side of this business at all and am in awe of those who thrive in it.
4. What the coolest technology you’ve discovered this year, and how are you using it?
Mail Chimp: I use it for my e-mail marketing. It is one of the most clever and best designed Web services I’ve seen. E-mail marketing is a powerful tool in monetizing your marketing efforts, and Mail Chimp is my favorite find of the service providers in this area.
5. What is your advice for real estate industry professionals to thrive in this market?
Be constantly learning. This advice works in any market, but our business is forever changing and Realtors need to evolve in order to thrive.
6. What is your favorite non-work-related hobby?
Pilates — can’t miss it.
8. What do you view as the biggest problem facing the real estate industry today, and how would you fix it?
Our industry is so inefficient! If I could solve this one, I’d be really rich.
The Agent Reboot schedule:
- Los Angeles: Aug. 5
- Seattle: Aug. 18
- San Diego: Aug. 25
- Denver: Sept. 8
- Las Vegas: Sept. 15
- Portland: Sept. 22
- Houston: Sept. 28
- Chicago: Oct. 6
- Boston: Oct. 13
- Ft. Lauderdale: Oct. 20
- Washington, D.C.: Oct. 27
