RETSO 5.0 It’s for Doers
Real Estate Technology SOlutions – RETSO 5.0 – It’s for Doers….
For the last several years I have been hearing bits and pieces about RETSO and even dropped in via webcasts on some of the event sessions to see what this conference was all about. I have attended Inman Connect, NAR, REBarCamps all over the country. Another technology conference with the usual players and agendas is what I expected. At the urging of Brad Nix and Mike Pennington, cofounders, I finally anted up and made the trip south. What I found was more a culture than a conference.
I had the opportunity to meet several industry voices that I had only conversed with on line. I was able to reconnect with friends from New Hampshire to Queensland and numerous points in between. People active in the real estate space and people aligned with the industry. Some of the best and the brightest kicking back over good food and beverages as well as conversing in the halls and parking lots.
Probably the best way to describe the experience was, we weren’t pitched: By anyone. We were questioned, shown, and asked to examine and evaluate not only how we were interacting with out clients but also how we were using the tools that have become so popular over the the last 4-5 years. There were so many sessions I obviously did not get to everyone I wanted to but some of the highlights, in brief were:
- Jeff Turner’s opening asked us to look at Social Networking and the technologies it spawns. Are we getting lost in the toys instead of defining our strategy and using the tools properly to execute that strategy? How are we demonstrating value? Are we adding value or volume? Ae we improving or impeding?
- From a how to perspective, I listened to Heather Elias (www.LocoMusings.com) talk about FaceBook ads and how to target market more effectively. Bill Lublin (he doubled as the emcee for the event) talked about content curation strategies and Seek, Sense & Share. There were sessions on tools and techniques for mobility and blogging.
- I was privileged to attend a live Coffee With Krisstina breakfast session where Krisstina Wise of the Good Life Team from Austin, Tx shared her vision of where the industry is going and what the game is. Checkers or chess – what are you playing and and what are they playing……
- Matthew Shadbolt’s (Corcoran Group out of NYC) keynote On / Off: Why Social Media Is Making Us Miserable looked at SM and the cognitive dissonance it introduces.
Brad Nix, in his closing remarks talked about the RETSO Community of people who do – not just talk, and how to take it further. “From this moment forward, RETSO is committed to ensuring that the progress towards excellence that was made at our event continues perpetually. We will rely on the strength of you, the RETSO community, to continue sharing your deepest insights and your most meaningful inspirations so that everyone can benefit.” Idealistic? You bet. But with this community of committed people we can continue to work on making this space better for all who participate. Daniel Rothamel, RETSO’s new community manager ended with an incredible presentation on how to keep the flame alive.
I will be back next year. WE ARE RETSO!
Tony, It was great meeting you at RETSO this year. RETSO 5.0 was definitely the best of all the RETSO events so far! I can’t wait for RETSO 2013. See you there!