Notorious R.O.B.

So my post about Twitter is generating a fair amount of commentary from readers.  The general tone appears to be that while one shouldn’t Twitter just to generate additional business, it’s still worth doing for a variety of reasons, such as being Web 2.0 savvy, being in-touch with non-client business associates, and personal pleasure.

Here’s a followup question:

Is it better for your business as a realtor to spend 10 hours a week at your local Starbucks, or 10 hours a week Twittering?

On a percentage of the population basis, it seems that Starbucks can safely claim 8% of Americans as at least a once-weekly customer, and as high as 22% of Americans if you include the “occasional” visitor.  That’s compared to the maximum of 6% of Americans that Forrester Research claimed use Twitter (and which people dispute).

Of course, you can Twitter at Starbucks, killing two birds with one stone.

But the following would be a great experiment for someone to conduct.

Spend a month Twittering 10 hours a week (2 hours a day).  Count # of leads, transactions, and $$ earned as a result from that month of Twittering.

Then spend a month hanging out at the local Starbucks 10 hours a week (2 hours a day), with a sign that says, “Local Expert” or “Realtor” or whatever on your laptop, your bag, your jacket, whatever.  Get into conversations.  Count # of leads, transactions, and $$ earned as a result from hanging out at Starbucks.

Let us know the result?

-rsh