Mario Levesque, Tampa Realtor (Advantage Avenue Real Estate) is referring you to ActiveRain. They will be credited if you signup.

Home : Blogs : Joe Spake : Joe Spake's Memphis Real Estate Blog

Does Social Media encourage Realtor Spammers?

Every day in my Facebook news stream, I am greeted with realtor updates of their new listings, listing appointments, closings and pending sales. If I click to their profiles, there is very little, if any "social" content, only postlets of listings, videos of listings, and updates about how many showing and listing appointments they have today. This is a segment of our industry that cannot let go of interruption marketing, and embrace the social in social media as a powerful vehicle for fostering permission marketing. It's hard to gauge the size ot this segment in relation to the overall real estate social community, but thank goodness for the Hide button in Facebook.

For the past few days real estate and tech blogs have been abuzz about a new Twitter app that will allow agents to automatically push out their listings on twitter continuously. I will not mention the app, because last night they RT'd me on Twitter and changed the content of my original message from something unfavorable to them, to make it look like I was endorsing them. They did not respond to my request to remove the tweet.

Body part enhancement, debt relief, and porn pitches have been supplanted in my email spam filters by Social media easy money making pitches. It's hard for some to avoid jumping on any bandwagon that shows some profit potential. Nobody can predict the future of Social Media or how Web 3.0 will look, but I hope we can somehow keep the power of engagement and permission marketing in the picture. Somehow, that just feels better to me than being slapped in the face with "Charming Tudor -$394,500"

Find Joe Spake on:

Twitter Facebook Facebook Fan Page

Memphis Real Estate Buzz Blog Joe Spake' Weblog

Posted by Joe Spake on 06/05/2009 06:50 PM

Comments (53)

social media, twitter, facebook

Generate short URL

Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: AR Lunatic Fringe
Post is included in group: Blogging & SEO
Post is included in group: Realtors®

53 Comments on Does Social Media encourage Realtor Spammers?

JUN

2009

You have hit it right on the nose. I wrote a post about this a few days back. I think that there needs to be balance when using social media outlets. It is after all, "Social" Media!

It is recommended that you use your PROFILE for your personal connections and that you create a PAGE for your business for your personal contacts. Once your page is set up for yoru business, you can also promote it through the Facebook ads, which are great because they are more targeted than through Google or Yahoo.

Billie Hillier
___________________
Practical Real Estate Marketing
The Internet Has Changed the Way Clients Find You - Let Us Help Them
www.PracticalRealEstateMarketing.com

Social networking is an art, and unfortunatly a lot of agents do not take the time to learn how to do it correctly.

There is a ton of great info right here in the A|R, and if I get enough interest, I am willing to put together a webinar/workshop, or "live" Ustream show, where you could interact live via Twitter, to help others succeed.

Thank you for putting a spotlight on an issue that might be hurting agents, not helping them

Have a Profitable Day Everyone!

~Harrison Painter

I think of it as Social Spam,

I do about 1 real estate related comment to every 4, 'I played in the floor with my grandson today' type messages. And the real estate message is subtle (at least I think so), such as 'got a list of foreclosure counselors from THDA today.'

My son called me one time when I submitted a listing and said that he was embarrassed that a girl he was trying to impress would see my real estate stuff. I took him off my friend list (but I have since put him back on :-)

Sarah in Nashville TN

You are right you can't be all business other wise people won't like you.

The connections we make online are much stronger when we let them see the person behind the agent. Sure, we can still share highlights of our business, but there has to be balance to keep others interested.

Joe, this is an extremely timely and current topic as many business owners (not just Realtors) are getting on the "social media" bandwagon. The way I look at is: In Facebook we have the option the create a page about our business and those who are our treasured friends on Facebook have the option to become a "fan." If you choose to become a fan, then you will receive the posts from that business. For instance, I have become a fan of some local restaurants and some local business people I network with in the Chamber of Commerce. The beauty in this approach is that I have the choice of picking and choosing the businesses I want to receive "business" updates from which, in my opinion, serves my desire for their informiaton well. I personally get really turned off by people who add me as a "friend" and then push their business on Facebook as a "friend". I don't mind it being sprinkled in the comments here and there with balance, but when every comment is a push for business it appears to be an act of desperation and does not leave a professional impression on me. This is a subject that can be taken to a complete higher level with discussion about "professionalism in social media.... how to promote your business the right way."

Thanks for the article. As you can tell, I am passionate about this topic.

While I like spam and rice once in awhile (very popular where I grew up in Hawai'i) I don't like being spammed with unsolicited emails. I notice that sometimes from my AR I get some spam emails. Not so much from Twitter. Not yet anyway and for those whom I follow I don't follow those who flood the system.

Thanks to eveyone for your comments. It sounds like we are on the same page. Billie, yes you are correct: it is "recommended", but that doesn't seem to slow the abusers down. What most of them don't know is that Facebook takes down profiles[eventually, when they find them] that are used for commercial purposes. Facebook was nice enough to let us have pages for business, and Fans are the ultimate in opt-in customers.

Here's a facebook tip (I will be posting more): buy a custom url (from godaddy, etc.) and point it at your FB profile. Get one for your page too... it is much easier to share the link. Check http://spakebook.com and http://joespakepage.com.

Ok, now I am hungry for some Spam and rice.

Hi Joe -- I couldn't agree more with you. Relevant content is king. Everything else gets quickly sniffed out for what is really is.

I like that tip you just put up... I wonder if I could do a sub-domain...

And I think that with our Social Media Breakfast coming in July, we'll hit this very subject.

I try to follow the rule that is 70% personal and 30% business. Otherwise it just gets annoying...and I try to be very cognizant of my readers...

Joe, I just ignore people who continuously shamlessly plug and promote themselves. They become invisible to me, while people like yourself I'll never forget and will always think of you first in Memphis. Unfortunately, the ones who need to read this are too busy spamming us!

Sharon

Chris, Lane, Christianne, and Sharon:

Thanks for your comments. I think we are all on the same page, here. It is up to our profession to police itself. When I teach social media courses, a large element is on etiquette and ethics.

Lane, I am seeing lots of folks using subdomains to point to FB pages.

See y'all in the social stream.

JUN

2009

Yes.

Excellent post. I was just talking about that with my colleagues today. While I have received quite a few leads from Facebook, they haven't come from hitting people over the head. They have come from just talking about my day and the things I'm doing and learning.

BTW, here is a brief "guesstimation" of what Web 3.0 will look like.http://bit.ly/iqwGs About the only thing the "experts" can agree on regarding Web 3.0 is that it will be more intuitive and interactive than anything we've seen. Microsoft's Project Natal is an excellent example, too. It's kind of scary actually. http://bit.ly/DtTPu.

Joe, I am with you. I have unfollowed people who say "just posted" or "just listed" all day long on Twitter and hide them on facebook. I do post sometimes, but only AFTER the personal stuff first! Thanks for bringing this to the forefront!

Hey Joe,

I agree and the worst part is that you get points for that blog. It is harder for me as a loan officer to create new relevant content to post onto my blog. Obviously this gives me more points and moves me up. Realtors that continuously post their listings have an unfair advantage in my mind. They should be allowed to put up listings, just not get any points for them.

Joe,

Thanks for bringing this to light. I just started intermixing the professional with the personal - and I needed that slap on the hand!

By the way, WHY is getting a URL to direct at my facebook page a good idea?

Julia

Joe -Thanks for bringing this to light. I just started intermixing the professional with the personal - and I needed that slap on the hand! By the way, WHY is getting a URL to direct at my facebook page a good idea? ~ Julia

Joe, This a great post and a good reminder that this is all about being social! It should be fun and interactive with a little bit of business thrown in. I think what is often forgotten is that networking (social or otherwise) is a two-way street. One-sided "transactions" are offensive. We wouldn't create friendships with people that treated us this way. So why in business would we expect to create a different result.

Love your posts!

Good luck with your newest cause, Joe. Here's the bottom line. Most Realtors don't know jack about what social media is all about other than the fact that Facebook and Twitter and others (including Acitve Rain) tout the fact that they have a gazillion or two or three users. Hint: they want to be sellable for a bazillion dollars or attract tons of advertisers.

When social media is positioned as a place where a trazilion users congregate it is no different from the "old school" newpapers and home buyer magazines saying they have a huge circulation number. "Old school" print media didn't care who advertised or what they said (within reason) as long as the money came in.

I think the huge myth of social media is that it's a place for "friends" to hang out online or that it's like a "cocktail party (see this Sellsius post - it's priceless).

How long did you really think it would take for app developers to come up with ways to push ads out to the masses. Heck, people are selling ways to get 10,000 folowers in three weeks and the like (for money). Why would you want to do that unless you were selling something ---- like a house or two?

When I think about social media I remind myself of the word of Jon-Luc Picard when the Enterprise needs to go into warp drive, "engage".

Joe, if that is ALL you post then YES it is spam.

I am a Realtor, social networking affords me the opportunity to get information out.

But it is a 80/20 rule.

I stopped feeding my AR posts to Twitter and my stat's went down. Folks obviously were going there to see the post.

Nope haven't signed up for that Twitter app.

Why are you befriending other Realtors on Facebook? If you don't have them as Facebook "friends", then you won't get their spam.

I have decided, with only a couple of exceptions, to not have any Realtors as Facebook friends. If they want to associate with me on a professional level, they can become my Associate on Active Rain, or they can become my Connection on Linkedin.

I dont think its that big of a deal. People get annoyed way to easily. I dont do it myself but thats part of what its for.

It is called growing pains. Use social networks first and foremost to stay connected to friends. Real Estate blogs and websites are for business. When I am on the social networks I can sort out the spam as quickly as I can the recipe cards and junk mail fellow agents send to their farm.

Does anybody see the irony? We all clamor for anti-spam laws in out electronic mailboxes when delete is only a click away but we all subsidize each other mass mailings to our farms (via postal service) including flyers and junk mail. It is all spam, get over it.

Thanks to all for your comments:

Emanual-we get points for our AR blogs and comments;we count our friends and followers and fans, and brag about our numbers. We love to keep score; it's in our nature. In a perfect world quality of content should be the standard of measurement.

Julia - most of my success on the interenet has been direct visits, as opposed to SEO. It seems logical to be able to publish a URL on all my materials and online presence to get clients and potential clients to the destination.

Ken - 100% agree

Missy -You are always one of my examples of someone who pulls it all together in the right way.

Bob - I have Realtor friends all over the world (and locally) IRL. Why shouldn't they be my friends on FB too? I have given the locals more restricted access, though.

Jeff - thanks for evangelizing on YEO!

Yes

Joe: Right on... I have several real estate agents in my Facebook. I enjoy their conversation, family, and pictures. I know they're in real estate... I enjoy hearing, "I got the listing!", and "I'll be at 123... for an open house this afternoon from 1 to 4, stop by if you're in the neighborhood." But I agree, when your just pumping product, I'm offended.

I share a few things about work on occassion, but for me (on Facebook) I keep the 'social' in social media... Everyone knows what I do. I don't need to always be selling all the time to everyone.

Rene'

Joe, You can see my take on having Realtors as Facebook friends at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1102329/do-you-befriend-other-real-estate-agents-on-facebook-.

You asked me, "Why shouldn't they be my friends on FB too?" Well, maybe so you won't be "slapped in the face with 'Charming Tudor -$394,500'". How much of the Realtor spamming you get on Facebook is entirely dependent on how many Realtor FB "friends" you have.

Basically, I prefer to think of my Facebook friends as a sphere of influence; and I don't have Realtors in my spere of influence. People in my Facebook cannot be just acquaintances, colleagues or casual friends. They must have been, at one time or another, an important or significant part of my life, as a real friend, or a member of a social group that is important to me.

But, that is the beauty of social networking: each of us can use any of the social sites however we please.

Bob, I read your post and don't have a problem with your position; however, I choose to keep my Realtor friends and use that powerful little HIDE button if their updates are over the top.

And it's not just Realtors, its other friends who like to announce the results of the latest dumb FB app they have found, or rant about their political positions, or invite me to Multi Level Marketing events.

You have to balance your social media use /marketing. Your different audiences want different levels of real estate info. Your friends don't want to be hit over the head with all your new listings, but clients might.

Joe,

Great post. Using it wisely and responsibly are two key factors in getting people to visit. A constant barrage of marketing turns people off.

Nice post! I think if your written word isn't strikingly similar to your spoken word you will miss the boat with connection. REALTORS are in an unusual position- they aren't selling a product for the lowest cost or with the best shipping. For whatever reason this culture evolved, they are really selling themselves- their personality, their expertise. I don't mean you should pretend to be someone who you aren't; just realize that the goal of this is to really allow potential clients to prequalify you. This can really shine through in social media, and works both ways. When someone calls you because of a connection in social media, that person is ready to work with you.

Probably too early to find stats concerning the close rate of a client found through social media, but I bet it's pretty high.

I use two Twitter accounts one business one personal. I was going to shift everthing to the personal one as many get turned off the real estate tweets eventhough I balance it generously with other posts. And I don't post 100s of tweets a day. But then I looked at the stats and we are starting to see more and more traffic from Twitter which tells me (like Missy above) that people are finding it and reading it. And the traffic that is coming in is very strong. Our website stats are climbing great. But balance is the key. I stopped feeding posts to facebook and keep it more laid back and personal. Right now we do not post Listings on LinkedIn but I do add posts that I feel are informative etc. ~Rita

I guess I still don't really "get it."

I use Twitter because it's fun and I get "acquainted" with new people. When I have the time, I follow links and learn interesting new information. I also post links to some of my sites, real estate e-books, etc.

I have a facebook account, but frankly have not figured out why. Also haven't taken the time to figure out the "how" of using it, so I only go there when someone emails me and asks me to.

But tell me this: Why do I need a social website to stay in touch with my friends? I have a telephone and e-mail.

JUN

2009

This topic certainly gets a buzz going, doesn't it? Initially, I connected to many realtor friends on FB, many of them local. Now I'm wondering what the purpose was. I really don't want to get their daily posts and see listings (after all, I have MLS access, don't I?)

At the heart of it all, we each have different goals. Mine is to stay connected to friends and family and I find FB fun to read now and then. For others, it's become an arm of their marketing approach. When I get those type of messages from my connections, I'm usually more annoyed than impressed.

Social Media is meant for social, sometimes agents need to learn to be a bit more clever in the way we advertise our listings. These overlyused of listing advertising can turn others off quickly!

Let me quote from Diane's comment, then I will move along to writing a new post.

"...just realize that the goal of this is to really allow potential clients to prequalify you."

The clients that come to me through social media are already comfortable with me, and feel like they know me, and that is my goal. It IS all about engagement - YEO (you engaging others). How you do that is up to you.

BTW, Diane is a brilliant blogger and social media figure we can all learn from. Look her up @heyamaretto.

As sort of a follow up to this I posted a tip for dealing with annoying FB users. Remember, annoying is YOUR definition, not mine.

I am afraid the loudest and most intrusive will when. It is a numbers game with them. They do not care about the 1,000,000 they might put off, it is about the 10 that they do not.

Gene, very well put! May I quote you on that?

I don't like hearing from people more than once a month. I they have a worthwhile newsletter that's fine. But, once a day is crazy. It is just spam.

I was new to Facebook last year and didn't think about not responding to friend requests from other Realtors, but I've learned my lesson after experience with a handful of them. I chuckle though, because it's similar to a guy buying a hot sportscar...he's making up for lack in another department. These people saying they take fifteen listings a day are out and out lying about it anyway, the same way I would laugh at them if they said they dated Cindy Crawford. Who are they trying to kid? They're certainly not kidding ME.

JUN

2009

Joe. Sorry. It's in our blood..."My name is Mark and I am a Realtor." Chime in...Hello Mark!

I agree with Rita. Have two social media accounts - one for business and one for personal. I have made one referece to real estate in my FB and Twitter accounts but I will not again in the future. Everyone else is talking about their personal lives and sharing their thoughts with me. I think it's incredibly rude to include a bunch of business stuff in a personal media venue - what kind of friend is that?

JUN

2009

Yes I think your right, It increases spam etc. on facebook and I guess Twitter. I don't twitter, I think its silly.... I'm at dinner, calling my girlfriend, shopping, etc. blah blah blah

Who cares

JUN

2009

I love to know that REALTORS are busy again and what deals they have!

One REALTOR just brought me a buyer after seeing one of my great deals on FACEBOOK!

I sell about 1 home per quarter from Facebook and 1 per month on craigslist!

Not bad for free!!!

JUN

2009

Joe,

Can you really blame most REALTORs for using Social Media incorrectly? Most of us have grown up in the age of radio and television. The lessons that we learned are that interrupt marketing is OK. When you first become a REALTOR they train you to plaster your face everywhere so you become "known."

Social Media is only about 5 years old. How do you really learn to do it if you don't have anyone showing you what's right. Most REALTORs hop on the social networks and start publishing their listings because they think this is just another website. Nobody is training them not to do that.

I propose that we (the ones's who realize these old tatcics don't work) stick together to get the message out to all REALTORs that this is wrong. If no one tells them or shows them, then how will they ever know?

Jonathan Rivera

The Real-TechGuy

Jonathan, if you look at the media we grew up with it is one-way - listen to the radio, watch TV. Gen-Ys, and to some extent Gen-x's learned to intereact with media (though not human interaction) through video games.

I totally agree with your thoughts on the mindset that most realtors are taught and are working from. I have been to a number of nationally sponsored courses in which social media was not mentioned, or misrepresented-the instructors just aren't on board. I don't think that realtors police themselves, and that the philosophy of "if it works, keep doing it" is pervasive.

There are still plenty of folks out there in our profession who are willing to annoy 1000 to get one sale, and unfortunately, there are consumers who are willing to deal with them, and no degree of "getting" social media will change that.

I agree Joe, no amount of "getting" will change that, however those who "get it" and are able to show real stats to back up their claims can lead a new mindset amongst the minions.

I'll be honest, I'm hell bent on showing REALTORs that what they're doing doesn't work. I had a conversation with some folks at NAR about this and they thought I was crazy. It's that same old attraction of "easy money." Everyone's is talking about social media, so that's the place to be to make the big bucks. People are running to get in so they can claim their share. They jump in with no game plan and make us all look bad.

The fact is that there is a window of opportunity for those of us that actually use this media correctly to get light years ahead of everyone. Most REALTORs are caught up in the old school techniques they don't realize the bigger picture of claiming their "social real estate." Social Media is not going anywhere. The future of Google and their newly patented "friend rank" system means that social media is here to stay.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?

Joe Spake

Memphis, TN

More about me…

InCity Realty

Address: 2109 Peabody Ave., Memphis, TN , 38104

Office Phone: (901) 725-7766

Cell Phone: (901) 214-5563

Email Me

Views on residential real estate with concentration on the Memphis, Tennessee market, from Memphis' leading Web 2.0 Realtor

Email Joe

Joe Spake on Facebook

Social Profile

Subscribe in a reader

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Listings

Links

Archives

Find TN real estate agents and Memphis real estate on ActiveRain.

Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.