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3 Groups Of People To Incorporate Into Your Online Marketing Plan

I was at RE Bar Camp San Fran today. In one of many social media discussions we had today, a light bulb went off for me to help people plan their online marketing.

Basically, you have 3 buckets of people you always have to be thinking about to make sure that you are always working your funnel or pipeline of clients.

Current Friends
Acquaintances
People you don't know

Current friends - These are people that you already that would likely search you out by name. For example, on Facebook, they would know to type in your name if they wanted to get in touch with you. In my opinion, this is the ‘fun' group to manage because you actually care to see all the latest pictures of their kids or read all of their posts out of genuine interest for the person.

Acquaintances - You have some weak or low level bond with this group. How do you strengthen that to move them to a more serious relationship so that they think of you when they need real estate services.? Using Facebook again, you'll probably find this bucket in groups and keyword searches. For example, search your alumni groups, previous companies, etc. These are people you wouldn't have actively connected with by name, but now have a chance to promote the relationship because of association. But you have some creditability to leverage because of some weak connection, how can you now strengthen that?

Strangers - Your content is the big hook here. People are attracted to what you are saying, verses who you are. As you build relationship with content you can move them into that stronger ‘friend' bucket.

There is a lot of opportunities in each of these catagories. If you incorporate each of these buckets in your online plan, it can help to keep a robust funnel of clients.

Details of social media marketing plan.

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Posted by Sara Bonert {Real Estate Internet Marketing} on 08/05/2009 11:38 AM

Comments (41)

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41 Comments on 3 Groups Of People To Incorporate Into Your Online Marketing Plan

AUG

Boy -- I wish I could be there in SF. Thanks for sharing some of the things that are hitting home for you. These are great tips!

thanks Sara on the great tips - heading over the the detail post now... Sounds like REBCSan Fran was a huge success. We're getting exciting organizing RE BarCamp RDU scheduled for November!

Well, how about narrowing it down to two groups. People you know and people you don't know. :-)

Hi Sara. I was contacted by a sales rep for your company yesterday. Seemed like a nice enough fellow.

I told him when my budget allows, I will be excited to ad zillow into my paid ad campaign...

Ken

Good idea. Could I add you as an associate and perhaps you could keep me in the loop about forthcoming seminars, trainings, etc on internet marketing, blogging, etc. I'm a 64 year old newbie to this whole computor and blogging thing and would like to get up to speed ASAP. I don't mind traveling or spending the necessary money for worthy programs so please keep me in the loop?

Thanks,

John

onthelevelcontractors.com

I wish I could have made it there. I had planned to and then the usual - I let work get in the way. I hope there will be another in Northern California - maybe Sacramento...I could day trip down there.

I will follow the link and read your social media marketing plan. Thanks for sharing!

I like this three tier approach to our contact base...thanks for the post.

Thanks, gives me something to think about. Keeping in touch.

Sara,

Excellent post, and thanks for the link. I followed it and I am thrilled. I flagged it for feature. You deserve two.

Great ideas. Thanks for sharing about the seminar. I'm trying to learn the incorporation of the Social media networks.

Congrats on the feature! I prefer to keep my friends out of it if possible...

Hope you're having fun at REBAR. I'm all about adding strangers to my FB page - I know some don't like to, but I usually will scan their wall and if they are in my profession or my area, what's to lose?

Yes, Real Estate Bar Camp was great yesterday and so far today I have taken pages of notes at Blogger's Connect in SFO. If you can't be here, you can follow what's going on at #icsf and #rebcsf on twitter.

Kim- I totally agree with you. Espicially because the Facebook Groups feature makes it so easy to manage any 'noise' that may come from these strangers.

Good day,

I am a businessman with ethics and wish to use this medium to reach you for a business co-operation.

Ensure you include your direct phone number i can call you for clarifications and aquaintance which is very necessary in this matter.
You can reach me with my private email; sambou_clark@yahoo.com

I look forward for your quick response,

Sambou,

I have my data base set up to include { HAVE MET } and {Have NOT met }

I hope you all are having fun in SF, and learning a lot....and posting info like this to the members that could not attend.

Sara, This sound a lot like what Jennifer Allen says in her Sell With Soul programs, which focuses on our sphere of influence. Sometimes we forget whats right in front of us.

I guess that covers just about EVERYBODY

Thanks for the links on Twitter! I am heading to San Diego this weekend for the Buffini MasterMind Summit. Couldn't do both, so, I am thrilled that you are offering details!

It's a Good Life!

Fran, Ct Broker

Sara what great ideas. Thanks

Sara,

What a great blog. I am new to all of this, but know the value. I am feeling a little overwhelmed and need to figure out a way to prioritize all of the activities. Your blog was most helpful! Thanks!

I've emphasized the sphere of influence in my marketing along with other techniques. My sphere has always done better. Good suggestion.

Hi Sara, this is what I am trying to do with my web pages and blogs now.....target differeny buying segments all at the same time. It is interesting reading what others are doing that might actually work.

woot, I read this on Twitter #rebsf last night.

That is good stuff, glad you went into more detail.

Sara, great thoughts on engaging the various circles of your sphere and those further out from you. Good luck from RESF

REBar camp sounds like great fun. It's important to keep a mix of all these people in your pipeline.

Thanks for the info Sara!!

thank you - I really enjoyed the detailed marketing plan link.

GOod definition of the groups we should be looking to attract Sara --- great...

Sara,

You're right and it's important to focus on each group.

Brian

It's interesting how you break it down...its common sense but we dont normally think about it. The trick is getting those "People you don't know". Im trying out Twitter now for that purpose.

Great Post!

Hi Sara,

Facebook, Twiiter, I'm working them all. Thanks for the reminder, it isn't always about friends or family, many sales contacts are made outside of our comfort zones.

Kathy B

Hi Sara -- Excellent advice, one that requires work, but a very solid strategy.

I guess REBCsf is proving to be well worth it... as expected.

I am tryingt o work with each of these groups.

AUG

Thanks Sara. Let's not forget referral partners, like mortgage brokers, title companies, atorneys, ect. Great post evidenced by all the comments.

especially strangers.

Sara,

Thanks for sharing. What's your take on how many facebook profiles you should have. The stuff I share with friends sometimes may not be what I want strangers to see.

Missed REbar but this is a constant topic by Inman presenters. Hopw to use Facebook and Twitter to do this has been facinating.

Brian- "What's your take on how many facebook profiles you should have?". Good questions and something that has been heavily debated this week at Bar Camp and Inman. (this could be a whole post!)

My personal take- If you are an individual agent, you don't need a fan or business page. Set those up, just so you are getting the SEO juice and is there just in case someone stumbles by it. But all communication should come thru your main FB page.

Actually, it is against FB's terms to have more than one profile. Say you set up two (one personal, one buz). A competitor could flag your buz profile and FB would take it down immediately and you would lose anything you had built up.

However, I feel two profiles splits the conversations and splits your personality in a negative way. If you don't want certain groups of people to see certain pieces of info, FB has all sorts of filters and security measures you can use. Figure out how to use Groups. If you already have a lot of friends, this can take some time to set up, but once the system is in place, it is so easy to manage. If you are new to FB, learn how to set this up right from the start and save yourself a lot of time. You can broadcast certain things to certain groups then. You can hide pictures from certain people/groups.

In a nutshell- one profile, learn to use groups. Hope that is helpful. Maybe I should do a whole post on this....