Inside Inman Connect San Francisco 2015

Produced by Inman, Inman Connect is the premier real estate technology event for everyone who cares about the real estate industry and where it is going. Each year, thousands of influential real estate leaders gather at Inman Connect to network, make deals, explore current trends and technology, and to learn how to embrace and leverage the change that surrounds our industry (source).

Several SWMLS board members, along with GAAR staff members, made the trip to San Francisco to ensure that our organization was staying on top of the latest trends coming to real estate.

Photo: Inman Connect San Francisco 2015 Panel

There was a lot of discussion regarding hot topics like the new Broker Portal and Zillow purchasing Dotloop. Below are a couple of other main takeaways staff got from the conference.

The power of video is real

Many of the panelists throughout the week stressed to REALTORS® the importance of including video in their marketing plan. According to the experts like Steve Pacinelli (VP of Strategic Marketing at BombBomb), it’s more important to be yourself on film than getting it completely polished and perfect right out of the gate.

Video is a great way to get in front of your audience and show off your expertise. Learn to get comfortable in front of the camera, even if you don’t have all of the fancy equipment starting out.

Technology can't replace relationships

Another recurring theme of the conference was the power of real, face-to-face relationships. Technology is a tool used as a means to strengthen the relationships REALTORS® have with their clients. Millennials in particular value the relationship they have with their agent, especially when communicating in ways that feel comfortable to them (like texting and social media).

While face-to-face is still crucial, it is important to put forth the effort on digital platforms like Facebook so that you can build up to that relationship. As speaker Katie Lance put it, “you can’t outsource relationships.”

Don't be afraid to ask for digital marketing help

There is constantly new technology and terminology being thrown at real estate professionals, so it can be hard to keep up. It’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses as a marketer and reach out for help when you are able. There’s nothing wrong with getting help from experts when necessary; REALTORS® can’t be a master at everything related to digital marketing.

Additional Reading

Inman News has several articles posted that highlight some of the main discussions:

Couldn't make it to Inman Connect?

Be sure to attend our first-ever Xplode conference on October 14th at Embassy Suites. Xplode is a power-packed full day conference that gives you all the critical tech/marketing updates you need to drive your business forward through 2015.

Xplode Conference features top speakers and key tech providers from all over the US and brings it all to your city for one powerful day! You won’t want to miss it. Click here for the details and registration.