Build Your Online Social Network & Your Business. 87% of homebuyers used the Internet to research their options

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Geoffrey Mosley
8 years ago
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1 Are You Building Your Social Network Online? Your Clients and Competitors Are! Consider This: 87% of homebuyers used the Internet to research their options 90% of Internet homebuyers found their REALTOR online 77% of active Internet users read blogs 53% of home buyers use an agent they know personally or was referred to them through their social network 4.4 million unique monthly visitors to Twitter 200 million active Facebook users 30.1 million people use LinkedIn 123,000 members use Active Rain the largest and most active social network in the real estate space 100,000 members are on real estate forum Real Town

2 Top 3 Benefits of Online Social Media Networking for REALTORS 1 Social networking has very wide reach. Social media networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, ActiveRain and Twitter allow you to expand your sphere of influence exponentially. Not only can you build up a network of direct friends and followers, you can gain access to their networks as well. and vice versa. The more people you become friends with and the more people you follow, the more those same people will reciprocate. 2 Social networks allow you to start and spread conversations (and your influence) in high-speed. Post a message, link or photo on a social network, and your friends and followers can view, comment or share it- almost immediately. 3 Online social networking is free. There s often no or little cost to participate.

3 10 Tips to Grow Your Online Social Network 1. Start with the basics. Many agents are overwhelmed by the large number of social networking tools and sites that they could use. Instead of spreading yourself too thin, get started with just a few of the more popular social media tools. Many agents get fantastic results with these basics: a) Create a blog to start and join online conversations. Post short articles that clients, prospects and other agents might find interesting, such as recent sales and listings, market updates, community news and events, and upcoming open houses. Use a scanning tool like Google Alerts to find relevant real estate conversations. Comment on those blog post and point readers to related content on your own blog. b) Establish a Facebook presence. Create an account and personal profile on Facebook and invite your network to join. Grow your network by joining real estate groups and pages, such as Top Producer s Facebook Page. c) Get involved in Active Rain. Create an account and personal profile and network with real estate agents across the country to gain clients and referrals. Once you feel comfortable with these networks, you can expand your participation to other popular social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and RealTown 2. Approach online social networking as you would building relationships in the real world. It takes time to develop new relationships- for you to get to know your network, and for them to get to know you. Ask yourself how you would make friends, build trust, establish rapport and gain business in the real world, and apply those same principles in your social networking endeavors.

4 3. Create a friendly, professional online profile. Upload a professional photo of yourself, and information about your real estate expertise and areas. Include contact information to make it easy for people to get hold of you in the real world, including your website, address and office phone number. And make sure that any personal photos and details you share are items that you re comfortable sharing with potential referrals and clients. It s okay to have your personal as well as professional worlds blend into one another over social media. In fact, you should be prepared to share a details of your personal life while social networking. Potential clients want to know you as a person before they enlist your services. 4. Aim to spend at least 30 minutes per day online social networking. Update your online networks on personal or professional news, send personal messages, share tips, and stay up-to-date on people s lives. It s important to be consistent in your updates- better to update two or three times a week than to update every day for one week, then post nothing for four weeks. Remember to comment on the posts of others, as everyone appreciates their thoughts being acknowledged. Commenting on your clients and prospects Facebook posts is a great way to check in and let them know you re part of their world. 5. Focus on delivering value and participating in conversation. Nobody wants to be friends with someone who s just going to aggressively sell and market to them. Help the people in your network advance their goals share their goals with others, introduce them to helpful contacts, and make public recommendations if you honestly believe in what they have to offer. Help them reach their goals first, and they ll be more likely to call you when it s time to make a move. 6. Take the time to read other comments before posting your own. Commenting on blogs, Facebook pages, and other social media platforms is an easy way to network if you re pressed for time. However, make sure you take a minute or two to read the other posts so yours doesn t look haphazard and off-topic. It s easy to spot the person who just posted and left the conversation! Engage with the dialogue by reviewing the other comments.

5 7. Meet the influencers. Take time to get to know the influencers in a network. These might be the group s organizers, long time members, or people who make regular contributions. Share your experiences with them about the group. Ask questions, as they will understand how you can become established within the network. 8. Post links frequently and position yourself as a resource for market information. Facebook and Twitter are great platforms for posting quick links and starting a conversation. If you come across an excellent article with current, local market information, post the link where your peers and prospects can access it. Not only do quality links keep your page engaging, they help you supply your clients with their own resources for educating themselves on the market, rather than presenting a hard sell. They ll remember who the information came from! 9. Promote social media channels on your website and in signatures. To encourage clients and prospects to participate in your social media channels, include links to your different social media accounts from your website and in your signatures. For example, your signature could include links to your blog, Facebook or Active Rain page, along with your name, address and phone number. Make sure you set up a unique url to your Facebook page by registering a username. Selecting one that is short and easy to distribute will go a long way in helping to promote your page, as you can list it on business cards, signatures, and ads. Go to facebook.com/username to create yours. 10. Measure growth of your social media efforts. Keep a regular eye on unique blog page views, number of Facebook friends/twitter followers/linkedin group members, and any leads or business generated from your social media channels so that you can figure out what works for your business.

6 FREE Tools to Grow Your Social Network with Top Producer Free Top Producer Blog Every Top Producer Website comes with a free, easy-to-use real estate website blog. Create your blog in minutes, and customize its look and layout. You ll increase web traffic, and keep visitors coming back. Call 1 (866) for more information. Top Producer Facebook Page Become a Top Producer Facebook Fan and build your network with Top Producer agents across the U.S. and Canada, and to receive FREE marketing and sales tips proven to improve your real estate sales. Click here and become a Top Producer Facebook Fan

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