A mixture of business, public relations and motivational speaking, Wells Fargo and Houlihan Lawrence affiliate Thoroughbred Mortgage, LLC hosted its fifth consecutive “CineMeeting” nationwide this past Wednesday. Real estate professionals from New York to San Francisco visited their local cinemas to tune into the live broadcast, which offered insight about the improving state of the market, social media transforming the way we do business and how to remain motivated and proactive in 2012.

Brian Solis, principal analyst of Altimeter Group, and Wells Fargo Retail National Sales Vice President Brad Blackwell made an immediate splash with viewers, as both discussed the impact of social media in regards to selling real estate. Whereas many people view social media as an exclusive fad embraced solely by young people, Solis expressed the need to tailor business to Generation “C” for “Connected”—an all-inclusive group of all ages that calls for companies to “help” and not “sell” to them within the online community. Though Solis and Blackwell expressed an urgency to get started with social media, both agreed that agents should study, listen and search first, not jump in “canon-ball” style.

“Initiate, initiate, initiate.” Chairman and founder of Buffini Group Brian Buffini’s witty charm may have had most of the viewers doubled-over laughing, but his message was simple, clear and heartfelt: it’s the skills that pay the bills. Although it can be easy to get lost in a busy schedule, Buffini suggested that agents devote 1 hour of their day to sales and marketing to keep their presence known in the community, especially when it comes to past clients making future referrals.

From left: Thorougbred Mortgage Sales Manager Michael Reichman, Houlihan Lawrence COO Stephen Meyers, Thoroughbred Mortgage Branch Manager Mark Logue, and Houlihan Lawrence President and CEO Chris Meyers.

With the market becoming more stable and a bright future in sight, all speakers urged agents in attendance to remain positive and dedicate 2012 to “building business.”