An Expo in Strange Times

Well, we all know 2020 was a strange year. COVID-19, social distancing, and Zoom became regular features of our vocabulary. In the title world, it also brought about many changes, including curbside closings. As the year came to a close, we all longed for new beginnings. And while 2021 in many ways started the same as 2020, hope is on the horizon.

Real estate as a community had to adapt quickly to all the changes COVID-19 brought. How do we get together? Open houses — are they safe? Marketing in these times has proven tricky as well.

Last week, the Saint Louis Realtors Association held a virtual version of one of their biggest annual events: the Business and Economic Forecast Expo. When they first said we were going to have a virtual expo, I was nervous. I have to make a booth for people to visit virtually? How is this even going to work?

As I look back at the two-day event, all I can say is, “Wow! That was great!” Over the course of two days, I was able to reconnect with some top industry professionals and meet new agents that I look forward to growing our business with. Between sessions, agents were able to “enter” into our booths and, in a way, connect more than we would have in person. They could print off much of the informative downloadable content that Continental Title provides to their agents; watch videos of who we are, what we do, and what we believe in as a company; and even live chat through text or video. I was able to spend more one-on-one time with the agents after they had already viewed my spiel, opening up more chances to really get to know them.

Overall, while it was a different type of expo, I’m so happy that we stuck through the trainings and doubts. I truly believe it helped to build new relationships that will hopefully transform into partnerships. A big thanks goes out to the Saint Louis Realtors Association and everyone who helped to put on a great event, and to all of the agents and affiliates that attended.

Laura McBride
Business Development Representative