What if NAR get’s it right?
I wasn’t completely candid in my lenderama post about what I would do If I were NAR’s Social Media Manager. The fact of the matter is, moving from Denver would be a colossal challenge to my sanity. Would I do it for the job I described? Yes. Would I do it for the job NAR is hiring for? I guess I’d need to know more first. It’s entirely likely that the job NAR wants filled, is not one that I would love, or even one that I’d be particularly equipped to excel at. Now let me be clear on this one point.
I believe Hilary Marsh has a better grip on who needs to fill this position than anyone else in RE.net. I will not be second guessing NAR’s pic.
I first connected to Hilary a couple months ago. She visited the REBlogWorld site. I know because she is a member of MyBlogLog. When her unfamiliar avatar graced our MBL widget, I investigated. I thought to myself, “wow, Hilary is in charge of content for realtor.org, what a great connection to have.” I followed her on Twitter, she followed back.
Then, just a couple weeks ago, a friend of mine DM’s me (through Twitter) a link to Daniel’s post about the new Social Media Position being created by NAR. Most of RE.net was bearish, but I’m always the bull. I think to myself, “who was it that I met that worked at NAR?”. Hilary Marsh of course. Now, here’s the kicker. It didn’t take any time for RE.net to bash NAR for posting an ad for the job on Monster.com. How web1.0 right? What they should have done is reached out by social media right?
Hilary did exactly that. I wonder how many “S.M. aware” RE.net pundits even noticed? I set up a phone call with her through Twitter. It was a great call in my eyes.
Most people think I’m crazy for wanting that job. Not everyone will say it publicly. But trust me, that’s the overall opinion I received by phone, DM and email. However, one person really did get where my head was. Someone whom I have the ultimate respect for. He told me, “everyone seems possessed with how NAR’s Social Media Manager will fail. What if NAR get’s it right”. Hmmm, exactly how I felt.
Why on Earth would I want that job? Because what if it it worked?
October 29th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I disagree that everyone is possessed or convinced that the SMM will fail. Granted there are a lot of negative waves, but not everyone senses failure. I get a lot of “cautiously optimistic” feedback in my private conversations.
It’s an opportunity, if the right things are in place, to affect some amazing change. That seems pretty appealing…
October 29th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Todd… you and I have talked about this already, but I feel like I must say it again here. From my conversations with Hilary, it seems clear that she and NAR are interested in making this position work. Of course there will be constraints, as there would be with any corporate SMM position, but they are not doing this as a stunt. I’ll also say this again. I don’t think anyone in the current RE.net pantheon has to get on the train for the train to get to it’s destination. Of course, I reserve the right to be wrong.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I’m an eternal optimist too. And I truly believe that this is a step in the right direction for NAR, whether their intended purpose is to engage and teach the vast majority of the RE community that hasn’t made their way into the social media blogosphere, or to engage those of us that are already here. (or both!)
No matter what the initial guidelines and goals are for this job..it’s going to need to be flexible and adapt to keep up…
(and Todd…you’d be an excellent choice. Just sayin’.)
~Heather
October 29th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Hi Todd,
I’d hire you in a heart beat if you really wanted to move to Chicago (we’d miss you!). It would be just the right thing for NAR to do to hire someone who knows SM, who’s sort of inside the RE space, but a little outside it too.
I think Jeff and Heather are right - if RE net peeps aren’t on the train because they’re skeptical it may not matter. There are over one million NAR members and new people enter the RE net space every day.
~ Gretchen
October 30th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Todd, I guess I have been one of the people that have said openly that I’m not sure if this position will be successful for NAR. My reasons were based on the fact of control. With some of the language used in the Monstor.com job posting (Maintain, evolve, and enforce NAR’s social media policies and guidelines), it sounded like the position would lean more to the policing side rather than just good old social networking.
I personally can’t think of a better person for the job than you. But I say that with the caveat that you would be able to be @tcar and not Todd Carpenter, NAR Social Media Manager. This is because we all know social media is not about forcing your policies and ideas down the throats of others, but about listening, interacting and sharing ideas, thoughts and information with a community that does the same.
If they can allow you to be and do what you have done over the last several years, I wouldn’t have a doubt in my head that this would be successful.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:11 am
Derek..interesting point, “social media manager” is kind of a misnomer, I’m not sure that ‘manager’ is the best terminology.. Very difficult to ‘enforce’ and ‘manage’ in the web 2.0 environment. Better to ‘engage’ and ‘interact’…
October 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am
Heather, I knew there was a reason I liked you! Great minds think alike!
November 1st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
My beef with the NAR in respect to social media, the internet and technology in general is that is always seems to be behind the curb instead of ahead of the game. A year or more after web 2.0 was a generally excepted concept they feature it in their magazine as if it’s a brand new thing. I realize that there are some agents who are also behind the game, but they should be leading the pack not sitting back and following. Social media can be a useful tool for agents…the NAR has so far ignored this media for the most part and remains in the stone ages. I wish the new SMM best of luck, they’ll have an up hill battle ahead of them.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
ditto JeffTurner.
NAR has a chance to be fashionably late to the RE.net party. It just better bring some good beer and avoid being ‘that guy’ passed out in the corner so everyone can draw on him.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Re-reading this months down the road. Very insightful.
And may I say congratulations! Or is it, be careful what you wish for, you just may get it?!
I really don’t think they could have picked anyone better Todd. But I think a lot of us are still wondering, what are NAR’s policies and more importantly, vision, on social media? I realize you are probably still adjusting to the move & transition, but some of us are watching carefully.
I know that I personally, have goals to help the NC Association, and local associations embrace social media as a tool for their membership. These sites and tools are a wonderful communication avenue too >>> truly reaching the masses quickly & effectively.
I am very aware of the E&O and liability concerns and would love to be part of the conversation that addresses these obstacles too.
Congratulations again, and please let me know how I can help. I think rather than being afraid & waiting to criticize NAR for their expected failures, I would rather HELP be a part of their success!