I absolutely think you are right on in your original post – that we need to embrace new methods and respect how our clients prefer to be connected with.

What I take issue with (and you aren’t doing this but all too many others do) are those that try to tell me that such and such doesn’t work and the only way to do something is such and such way. Believe me, I see some of me in this, it’s nothing new.

But, I continually read it and hear it – direct mail is ‘the past’. It doesn’t work anymore. The web is the future. If you get on the web, you’ll dominate. Well, prior to getting on the web with our own website in 1995, we dominated our market (well, we were in the top 20 agents in our market). The web has had a huge impact on our business, but not in the way commonly preached. Instead, the web became a wonderful online, interactive ‘brochure’ of ‘inventory’ and services that supplemented our in person programs & presentations and supplemented our direct mail campaigns. Yes, we get clients from our web presence that have had no other contact from any other method we use. But, those are much smaller than one might think. What the web has done for us is legitimize us, made us stronger, made us more knowledgeable in the eyes of the prospective client.

This is my point. When websites started becoming all the rage, we were already there. We embraced it and gained business and presence for it. And we heard all of the ‘you don’t need anything else just the web’ people pontificating their beliefs. Thing is, most of those people didn’t do much with the business and aren’t even in the business anymore.

Jeff makes a huge point – yes, we need to watch, listen and learn from everyone no matter who they are or what they do. But, the people I will put more weight to their word are those that have a proven track record over a period of time. No matter what level my business is at, I am always watching others who are consistent and consistently growing their businesses (even some that are at a ‘lower’ level – for want of a better word – then I am). But, I apply more weight to those that have achieved more than me – they know what they are doing. They are doing something right and no matter what is new today, they’ve continued to achieve their success.

This is why I don’t really give much weight to those that say 50% or 80% or 100% of their business is from blogging. Why? Because their business is less than 20 (maybe 30) transactions a year. I’m not interested in 20 transactions a year. I’m interested in going up the ladder and breaking my ceiling. Blogging and the web alone will not do that for me. I need something stronger. With direct mail still continuing to increase my business, I will continue to use it. Perhaps at some point it will plateau, but it hasn’t yet. This tells me that all those who are saying ‘direct mail is dead or doesn’t work’ aren’t using it, or are not using it correctly and consistently. See, direct mail is boring. It’s not ‘new and exciting’. Funny thing, the tried and true methods often are boring.

I get the whole ‘help the environment’ idea. I get it, so when more people are reading and responding to my electronic marketing then I will consider the change. Until then, I will continue to add to my direct mail marketing every single month.

I think it comes with the investment territory – as much as I love my blog (and the leverage it brings me), at the end of the day we’re doing analysis with something called a pen, and on something called paper. Revolutionary!

>Who cares that you have a billion dollars in your checking account, or that you close hundreds of deals each year for the last 73 years.

I bet those dependent upon your income care.

The difference between Russ, Christina, me, and countless others who’ve been at it for various periods of time, is that we’re actually doing it, not talking about doing, not saying we’ll be doing pretty soon, or the rest of the whole talker vs doer rhetoric. We have a track record of long term success. And yes, we’ve learned to change with the times. The only reason you know me is ‘cuz I’m a fairly well known blogger.

I keep pounding home the point — Nick makes some pretty salient points. I think I can learn a bunch from guys like him.

Here’s the problem. When those new to the game start telling us we can’t do what we’ve already done, or we’re not doing it the way they want us to, we’re not amused. We’ve seen this before. Folks who say money isn’t important are those who don’t have it, and don’t earn much of it. I’ve worked very hard for my success. So don’t mistake having another viewpoint, one of empirical fact, as being defensive.

None of this is personal to folks like Christina, Russ, Me, or guys like Brian Brady, another huge doer.

That said, when we’ve been batting over .300 in the bigs for decades we think we might actually know a thing or two. Until you’ve been there and done that, how ’bout a little respect from those who’re still working their way up to getting their first major league at bat?

I listen to pretty much whatever Lani has to say, as I respect her knowledge. She also shows respect for my knowledge and experience. I’ll bet she’s learned less from me than I’ve learned from her.

And for the record — my main partner in crime is — a GenY. You don’t wanna know his thoughts on all this.