Like it has done with so many aspects of our lives, the Internet has transformed that tiny little word that you and I have used probably 10,000 times without even thinking about it.

"Chat."

Let's chat about it. I heard them chatting behind closed doors. She sure loves to chitchat.

Chat is defined as small talk; it conjures up images of friends talking softly and laughing over coffee, or touching base over the phone.

Well, the definition of that little word has expanded, and is now a deeply ingrained part of the growing Internet lexicon. Today, "chat" also means the ability to communicate online with consumers. And with the overwhelming majority of consumers now beginning their search for home-buying and selling information online, "chatting" with them online is something you simply can't afford to skip.

Chatting online is surprisingly easy; there are several technologies for doing so, and, of course, a growing number of sites that can help you establish and maintain a dialog with potential customers. Jumping into the online "chat" world may sound lighthearted, but if taken seriously, it can help you build trust and position yourself as your market's online real estate expert.

The following are just a few of the popular methods people are using to chat online.

Blogging. It is an understatement to say blogging is a popular way for people to disseminate information and to communicate. In just a few short years, it has spread like the online equivalent of a prairie wildfire. A blog is simply a "Web log" that allows you to easily and quickly post neighborhood news, comments about the marketplace, information on new listings, portions of interesting real estate articles, etc. (A word of caution: Be sure to watch for copyright infringement; obtain permission and give credit to the author and publication!)

Most blogs have the ability for readers to post questions or comments -- and, most important, for you to then reply. You can set up a blog on your own website, which would make your blog more personal. The more information you post, the higher likelihood that your blog and it's content will organically be listed at the top of the search engines … just a simple way to get great exposure!

Instant messaging (IM). Many agents make sure they have IM on whenever they are online. It is a fast and easy way for you to engage in "conversation" with prospective clients; as its name implies, it enables you to IMMEDIATELY reply to a question or a contact.

Trulia Voices. If you've never checked out this site, make it a point to do so soon. The content-rich site let's people post questions and comments on a wide array of topics. It's a great site to use to respond to questions about real estate, in turn positioning yourself as the local real estate expert. It offers a comfortable way for Internet consumers to learn a little about you, and to help establish the trust and rapport essential to a transaction with consumers who may be inherently wary of agents.

Text messaging is the "chat" method of choice among Gen X and even Gen Y members. Lightning-fast response is a key success element when working with Internet consumers -- and text messaging delivers in that regard. And responding quickly is becoming increasingly important in our field. According to the California Association of Realtors, 44 percent of consumers expect a response in less than 30 minutes, while 69 percent of consumers said that a quick response is EXTREMELY important.

For traditional agents, these forms of communication may seem foreign. They believe (and rightly so, by the way), that face-to-face contact is still the best way to establish and maintain relationships with existing and potential customers. The second-best way is over the phone. For sure, nothing will ever replace the effectiveness of person-to-person (and by that I mean in person) communications.

However, keep this statistic in mind as you look for ways to broaden your base of prospects and increase your bottom line: Fully 80 percent of consumers are going online to begin their search for information, according to the NAR.

The communication methods listed above are just more ways you can open the door to establish a connection with someone you'd never meet otherwise.

Just some food for thought for you and your colleagues to chat about.