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A perpetual learner, Pat Williams discovered a passion for marketing homes when Realtors from across the USA began to depend on her expertise while creating and maintaining their print and online marketing campaigns. She carried that passion one step further and acquired her Real Estate License and now works with Century 21 Today in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Being intimately aware of the local and national markets offers Pat a unique perspective and a greatly expanded marketing network.

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Real Estate Bar Camp Ohio

August 22nd, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
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I attended my first bar camp last Thursday, I was more than a little psyched to be going, I’d heard such great things about these un-conferences.

Real Estate Bar Camps are an opportunity for agents to meet and learn from one another in a casual, discussion oriented environment.

I continue to be in awe of the organizers and how much work they must have done to pull an event like this off. All the volunteer hours they must have invested. I have the utmost respect and admiration for people who plan and manage an event that benefits others more than it benefits themselves. So thank you Toby Boyce, Gloria Cannon, David Childress, Sarah Cooper, Danielle Daniels, Tony DeLuke, Mark Ryan, and Rocky VanBrimmer!

I sat in on Bill Lublin’s session on making Whuffie (discussing social Capital), and picked up some good tips from Bobby Dakno and Sarah Cooper on Photo Blogging. I also enjoyed watching Toby discuss blogging tips.

I realized something at RE Bar Camp OHIO; I’m an advanced social media user. In the future, I’d like to see sessions that discuss additional topics such as:

  • Ways to track how SM is benefitting site traffic and SEO
  • Using blogging on Ning and Group sites to benefit personal blogs and social capital
  • Creative ways to use FaceBook Fan Pages. How to drive traffic through them to your site.
  • Recommended applications to make your social media lives easier
  • ActiveRain or a personal blog; which is more effective short and long term
  • Benefits and best practices when blogging on Active Rain and Group Sites

And although not advanced, the following ought to be covered because in the real estate business it should be key:

  • How to turn social media relationships into face to face introductions.

I’m still learning about the culture, so if the purpose of the camp is for casual discussion and to introduce new Realtors into the social media fold, I apologize. But if not, I might consider offering to facilitate some of these discussions now that I’ve got my feet wet! Actually, it was more like being thrown into the deep end of the pool! Never having attended bar camp I got the opportunity to run a first session without notice and without preparation. Before I do it again, I’ll hit up the more experienced campers for tips and tricks on redirecting personal agendas and adversarial personalities first!

The memorable line of the day was from Bill Lublin: “At the risk of getting back to the point…”

The point I wanted to make was the biggest benefit of Real Estate Bar Camp was the people I met and the new relationships I formed. Truly SOCIAL media at its finest.

My RE Bar Camp Photos on Flickr

  • tobyboyce
    Pat - Thanks for the great comments and giving us some great topics to discuss in the future. We ran into a unique dichotomy of beginner vs. advanced SM users. During the discussion phase, I found that everyone was "average" -- those brand new to SM would make themselves sound more advanced and the advanced didn't realize how advanced they were.

    Have a great day!
    Toby
  • I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
  • eleanorthorne
    WOW! We've had these conversations, meaning the need for "Advanced" sessions in addition to "Newbie" sessions as we plan the REBCRDU. Please call me at your convenience to discuss... I want to be sure we are holding the kind of conference ALL of the attendees are looking for! Did Terry Westbrook get there? Talked to him, and he would like to have one in Grand Rapids... THANKS! 919-649-5057
  • Really interesting and well written article.
  • I love reading posts from folks first time at a REBC! Sounds like you had a great time, wish I could have been there.

    " In the future, I’d like to see sessions that discuss additional topics such as..."

    Therein lies the beauty of the Bar Camp format. If you'd like to see those sessions, lead them!
  • Exactly! Which is why I also said:
    "I might consider offering to facilitate some of these discussions now that I’ve got my feet wet!"

    I got the feeling bar camp was an environment in which attendees share and learn from each other, where criticism without the benefit of a doubt shouldn't be welcome. That makes for an ideal event and one I would happily be a part of.
  • Great post, Pat. Ohio was my 4th in the last three months and each one is different with its own character and flavor. One of the beauties of RE BarCamp is the user definition of what is covered/discussed and learned. At your next one - Indy?, Miami? - check your schedule - sign up to host a topic of your choice. I did that in San Francisco earlier this month on SM Etiquette which just happened t follow Hal Lublins session on Reputation. There was a bit of overlap so in Ohio we talked that morning and combined the topics and did the session in the afternoon. Welcome to the culture! As you said, great people and relationships are made here.
    (BTW - there is a photo pool on Flickr for RE BarCamp - Ohio. It would be cool to include yours there too.)
  • I continue to get a better idea of the whole bar camp culture days after the event. IT really is a very cool concept because subjects continue to evolve and change and each location would result in the unique character and flavor you describe. Are rebar camps like M&M's? Bet ya can't have just one! ;)
  • Wow Pat, you are a very good writer! I am so glad I met you and can follow all you are doing now. You make some excellent suggestions for improving our experiance next year. I was thinking about some of those things also. Were more experienced social media types turned off or disappointed? Could we have done some things differently? I say, sure. But I have talked to all from my area that went and they were very happy with that day. So far, so good.
    I wonder if just the experiance, as Bobby states above, was all they wanted or expected for the first BarCamp in our area? Of course, the mid-west is always last to catch on to anything new, so I am sure many actually learned some very good things in C-Bus. But, I would like to see some more advanced rooms myself to engage in the points you made so well in your post. I would like it so much if you could be involved next year. We are already discussing ways to add and improve on this experiance. For one, I did not like the location as much, as it could have been more enjoyable in the short North area. Toby is discussing these items and much more. Thank you so much for your observations.
    I am still pumped at all the fine pros I met IRL after so much time exchanging thoughts in the many ways we have for us these exciting days! Take care and more importantly, please stay in touch with me. Nite!
  • Thank you for your kind comments!

    There were so many people I have been following on Twitter for a year+ that I finally got to meet in person! That was the highlight of the event for me.

    It was a very different experience than what I expected, but at the same time, I wasn't quite sure what to expect! I thought there would be more advanced discussions but I realize so many people are just learning and could easily be overwhelmed. I like that bar camps are what we make them - and part of making them what we want - is by getting involved. I drove down to Columbus with Debra Drummond and on the way home she suggested we organize a RE Bar Camp for Detroit. Tempting, but I don't have the free time right now; which is why I appreciate all that the volunteers must have done to make Columbus a success.
  • Pat - Awesome meeting you at RE BarCamp Ohio! The great thing about real estate barcamps is you can guide discussions in breakout sessions, attend those to help you learn about social media or rediscover the fire of social media and maybe experience your own personal "ah-ha" moment in another session. The point being, you make RE BarCamp what YOU want it to be. The "frosting on the cake" is walking away from the event having met others you may have interacted with online, made new friends and expanded your network in a very valuable way!
  • That explains why I love frosting so much!

    Was great to meet you and to listen to your ideas. Very cool you streamed the event and I apologize for my camera shyness at the end of the event when you asked for comments.
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