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Twitter is Stupid, I don't have the time for Twitter!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with AmazingVideoTours.com

That is a direct quote from a Realtor I met on Friday.

When I asked him how much time he spent on Twitter before making that generalization he told me that he signed up, typed in what he was doing, and no one ever responded and he NEVER got any leads from Twitter.  So I guess it must be true!

The reality is that Social Networking (including Twitter) is the best tool to come along for Realtors since the Website.  Do you remember the agents who said, "I don't need a website, this Internet thing won't last"!  When those agents snubbed their noses at websites and the Internet, the early adopters got all the good URLs, established themselves with the Search Engines, and reaped the benefits of good search engine rankings while the nay-sayers played catch up. 

For those that don't know, Twitter is like a bull horn on steroids.  A tool you can use to get your message out to the entire world, and all this for free.  Caveat that by saying that I DO NOT recommend you use it as a bull horn, but I've already beat that horse dead in my blog post, How in the heck do you use Twitter for business?

For this post, I want to go in a different direction and address what everyone WANTS to know.  How has Twitter translated directly into dollars and opportunities?  Well, here it is, as a DIRECT RESULT of using Twitter, I have benefited in the following ways:

  • I have been featured not once, but twice in local newspapers.  This resulted in free publicity that I would otherwise never have received, and I have 2 new clients because of it. These clients will continue to use my services well into the future.
  • I am completely in touch with business & networking events in my area that I would otherwise have never known about.  I have made excellent business alliances and some darn good new friends at these events.  
  • I am completely in the loop with most technology seminars that are occurring around the country.  Some of the greatest minds in using New and Social Media are speaking in your backyard and you don't know it because they don't have to advertise.  They get large audiences by getting the word out in Social Networking circles.
  • I have been approached by several business owners to partner in new endeavors that I would have never had the opportunity to meet, if it had not been for Twitter. 
  • Some people I know have been invited to speak about Twitter on NPR, they have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, television shows, and the like.  All this publicity, and all of it free.
  • Can you put a value on friendship?  Think the concept of a "Tweet-up" (a place where Twitter users meet in real life) is ridiculous?  I have met some wonderful people at these Tweet-ups.  All very intelligent, and most of them business owners - all congregating for the purpose of networking and finding new ways to help each other be even more successful.  Yeah - that's stupid!  NOT!

So, to those of you who say, I don't have the time for Twitter, and Twitter is stupid - You are entitled to your opinion, but I have to tell you - there's a (social) revolution going on, and a fundamental shift in how we market to the masses, and you just might be missing it.  If you want to learn how to use Twitter for Business, check out my Twitter Made Easy for Business Video series by clicking here  BTW - it won't cost you anything either.

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©2009 - AmazingVideoTours.com - All Rights Reserved. Amazing Video Tours offers photography and full motion video marketing solutions to Realtors, and other individuals with property to sell, lease, or rent. A departure from the old fashion 360 Virtual Tour, Amazing Video Tours takes online property marketing to the next level.

Comments(132)

Nelson Carrillo
Real Estate eBroker, Inc. - Phone: (619) 940-6560 - Bonita, CA
South San Diego, CA Homes For Sale

Steve-

Thanks for bringing that up.  It is a very good tool that I'm still learning how to use.  I'm reading your other blog right now about how to use it for business.  What I've been using is facebook and myspace.  I already sold a house from myspace.  Now, I want to do the twitter thing! 

Time to get my twitter up and running, thanks!

 

-Nelson

Oct 27, 2009 07:08 AM
Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow

Steve ~ You have nailed it on the head.  The people that snub their noses at it just really don't understand the magnitude and unfortunately will be left behind.

Oct 27, 2009 07:31 AM
David Krichmar
www.DaveYourMortgageGuy.com - Legend Lending - Sugar Land, TX
DaveYourMortgageGuy.com

Great Post.  Thank You for telling us.  This goes for any avenue to get your name out there, blogs, facebook, websites etc. 

Oct 27, 2009 07:50 AM
Gene perez
Greater Mortgage Solutions & Valley Hills Realty - Santa Maria, CA

I know twitter works that works this works but you cannot do everything

Oct 27, 2009 08:27 AM
Danny Shepard
Portland, OR

I have hopefully found my first online client strictly through tweets.  I will let everyone know if this prospect becomes a buyer.  Please feel welcome to follow me on Twitter.

Oct 27, 2009 08:38 AM
Jill Schmidt
Aurora, CO

Great thoughts - Now I just need to learn!  So, thanks for your link to the "how to use" post.  I'm visiting it next.

Oct 27, 2009 10:11 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Twitter is the communication tool of "now", never mind the "future".     In our time famine world, it's the lead in to any further communication, whether a traditional blog or face to face.    Thanks for sharing your important post.

Oct 27, 2009 10:44 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

Paying $500 for your photo to be published in a cowboy hat holding a dog in a publication nobody reads is stupid. 

Oct 27, 2009 11:16 AM
Linda K. Mayer
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Thanks for the info... I just downloaded Tweetdeck... so easy to use any easy to see what's up w/ everyone.  Too bad there's no app for blackberry... any ideas?

Oct 27, 2009 11:19 AM
Gregory Bain
Mezzina Real Estate & Insurance - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
For Homes on the Jersey Shore

Well, I don't remember our conversation - but, twitter is stupid. ;-)

I can send off an email with the same number of characters in the subject line and include a link or additional info in the body. Everyone who has twitter has mobile email. I have turned off almost all of the people I "follow" because I don't care for the shared information they think is important. Of course, I feel the same way about much of the facebook chatter about mafia this and game that - I just pull down the "hide" button.

Am I going to get every customer and client looking for a home? No. And neither is the guy using all the "social Media" networking. Balance. Wax on. Wax off.

Oct 27, 2009 12:03 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

I will follow you on twitter Steve. Twitter is time well spent in my  opinion. I keep kicking myself for not going to the Twitter hour at Re-bar Denver. I need more twitter followers and still am slow to use tweetdeck for posting.

 

ALL FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: Greencolorado

 

Oct 27, 2009 01:17 PM
Denise Toliver
Toliver Real Estate Solutions, LLC - Rowlett, TX
Rowlett Real Estate - www.TREShomes4U.com

Jason Crouch reports recruiting success using twitter;  I wonder what content he is offering that landed two new agents to his brokerage.  Jason, do you care to chime in and enlighten us?

Oct 27, 2009 01:55 PM
Randy Demming
Campbell Homes - Colorado Springs, CO

OH steve we are like two Twitter peas in a pod! I actually just got done teaching a Twitter class this morning. I hope you will visit my blog where I talk a TON about Twitter and other social networking sites. Its located at http://www.thecoloradogirlblog.com

I would be interested to hear what you think about my views on Twitter and Social media in general.

People are always telling me they do not have time for Twitter but if they use the tools I talk about in my training and in my blog then it really frees up your time while still using Twitter in a way to help grow your business.  

Oct 28, 2009 10:53 AM
Wayne L. Brown
Franklin Advantage Inc. - Alpine, CA

We are getting bombarded with all this social media a'fjas'lkfjsakfjsdajf.  If I were to get all the Tweets I hear about from others it would drive me nuts and Turn Me Off...........Big Time.

Just a new fad...............maybe I am wrong.

Oct 28, 2009 04:19 PM
Steve Schwartz
AmazingVideoTours.com - Charlotte, NC
Charlottenulls Premier Real Estate Videographer and Photographer

What a great mix of pro and con!  Thanks for all your comments.  Kelly - I'm gonna bookmark your site!

 

Oct 29, 2009 01:19 AM
Lexie Longstreet
Savvy + Co. Real Estate - Charlotte, NC

I twitter, but I really need to refine my list of followers.  That is the part that takes time... if you don't do it at the get go... just having lots of peeps... may not be all that. 

Nov 02, 2009 12:21 PM
Michael Myers
King-Rhodes & Associates - Cherokee Village, AR

Steve, you get it. However, I say don't yell too loud about why you should be involved in social media in the real estate business. Let the naysayers play catch up later. Meanwhile, we keep building and building, and that strong foundation will be hard to break when the masses finally decide to jump in.

Nov 16, 2009 03:41 AM
Darrell Backen
Darrell Backen 1.855.216.6010 - Vancouver, BC
Digital Marketing

Great info Thanks I'll reblog it as well.

Dec 19, 2009 03:33 PM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

I am on twitter but need to learn to use it more wisely.  I will b e looking at your other post and thanks for the tips:-)

Dec 22, 2009 03:18 AM
Marcia Hawken
WILLIAM RAVEIS - Naples, FL
Naples Luxury Specialist

Steve, I am going to call summer 2010 ,Twitter Summer.  In Florida we have lots and lots of rainy days and lots of time on our hands.  I am going to spend the summer reading about Twitter (all of your posts that I have bookmarked) .  No more whining.  Ignorance is NOT bliss! :-) When Fortune 500 companies tweet.....dah....there IS something to Twitter.  Thanks again for an excellent post.

Apr 18, 2010 11:34 PM