Social Media: Expanding Your Sphere and Business
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What is all the chatter about "twitter, tweets, fans and friends?" Or as I often hear (and used to ask myself), "Who cares what someone is eating for lunch?"
The answer is self evident; to stay competitive in real estate, we need to be comfortable with and knowledgeable about changes, trends, tools and technology in our industry and marketplace. By doing so, these social media platforms will help us identify opportunities to expand our sphere of influence and ultimately generate leads and future business.
It's easy to get started in social media, with free tools that you can start using within minutes of joining. For added convenience, some of the most popular platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, also have easy mobile applications so you can participate on the go. Let's take a look at those three now and how they can be utilized to grow your real estate business.
Facebook
For REALTORS®, Facebook is the most popular social network, according to NAR’s 2009 Technology Report. Seventy-six percent of REALTORS® are Facebook members. Through Facebook, we connect with friends, family, clients and everyone else, and share everything from baby pics and updates on our travels to birthday greetings and even what we’re doing right this minute.
As it continues to evolve, we all want to know how to use Facebook and similar networks more effectively to promote our businesses and generate leads. Women’s Council’s fan page is an example of how organizations are using it to stay in touch with members, connect with prospective members and be a content-rich resource and dynamic benefit.
As REALTORS®, we can think of and build our social networking presence the same way. We can use our networks to provide tools and relevant news for clients and potential clients in our area—making us their go-to expert for real estate. NAR’s public awareness campaigns and new houselogic.com Web site are among the free tools that REALTORS® can utilize to keep prospects informed about their real estate options and to maintain meaningful, longterm relationships with existing clients.
Twitter and LinkedIn
At one time I would've been offended to be called a "twit," but now I refer to myself as one. Twitter is a microblog where you may publish a maximum of 140 characters to share your insight and tips, which gives your audience a brief window into your unique skills and perspective.
I started using Twitter because it was easy to use and it was a great introduction to social media. It's also where our National Recording Secretary Bobbie Nelson shared a link to a free ebook that helped me tremendously, "Twitter for Real Estate Twits."
I also use Twitter to get quick bits of info while I'm on the go: traffic updates and road closures from the Department of Transportation, tech tips from Amy Chorew and Joeann Fossland, as well as industry news and views from Women's Council, NAR and Inman News.
Search for individuals to follow on Twitter, and you will find the likes of Oprah, Bill Gates and Suze Orman, as well as your local business contacts and national thought leaders in real estate. This is an easy first step to integrate social media into your marketing, branding and lead generation plan.
The difference with LinkedIn is that it is strictly a business platform for connecting with other professionals. It is a great tool for building and promoting your business because your clients and colleagues can add testimonials to your profile.
It is increasingly important for us as REALTORS® to utilize social media as effectively as possible to stay in contact with clients while making new connections and expanding our influence. This is why you should attend Women's Council's "The New Rules of Real Estate – Trends, Technology, and Social Media" Summit in Chicago, March 19-21, 2010. Whether you are a novice or advanced user of social media, there will be training, labs and Q&A to help you. There is still time to register. This is your personal invitation. I hope to see you there.
Margo Wheeler Willis, GREEN, GRI, PMN, SRES
National WCR President-elect
Crescent Realty, Inc.
Spanaway, WA
margo@margowillis.com
P.S. Please share your social networking experience with us—which sites have been most effective and how you're using them. WCR members, log in to post your comments below.