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You’re getting “Hidden” in Facebook and it’s costing you money

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Roost

Too many of you out there are getting tuned out by your potential clients and prospects on Facebook.  People are hitting the “Hide” button on you every day.  You don’t know that it’s happening, but it is.  How do I know this?  Because I’m one of the ones doing it. 

Why?  Well before we get to that let’s establish some context…

My wife and I just sold our home in San Francisco about 2 months ago, and are now in a rental (small one…with 2 kids…don’t get me started) while we hunt for a new, more family friendly pad.  At any rate I am a real live consumer of real estate listings right now.  I have all kinds of alerts set up which I anxiously await each hour.  I use Roost.com to search for homes all the time and I’m out on the open house circuit most weekends. So let’s just say that I’m probably as interested in listing content as anyone could be.

Now let’s take it one step further – I love real estate brokers and agents.  These are my customers.  I enjoy working with them, I pay a ton of attention to what they’re doing online, and the last thing I want to do is miss out on something a client or prospective client has to say.

In short, I am the most attentive, interested and engaged friend & fan you are going to find on Facebook.  

But make no mistake, I too hit that “Hide” button as your auto-generated featured listing spam fills up my wall.  Day by day I watch one come down the stream, then two, then three.  Finally when I’ve had enough of homes that are not right for me…showing only your own listings…and worst of all I visit your fan page and realize this is the only type of content you publish (yes there are folks out there where this is 100% of the content they’ve published on Facebook) – you are getting “Hidden.”

And what’s scary is I try really hard not to do this, especially to clients.  I think you can bet that I’m the last one on Earth that “Hid” you.  Sorry, I hung in as long as I could.

Yes, I know you got that fancy App and are just getting your money’s worth from it (full disclosure: Roost has a very cool app that we love which does not create wanton Featured Listing Wall Spam).  I forgive you, and I'm sure those tools can be used well - but that doesn’t change the end result.

So I ask you this – if the value of a Facebook fan is $3.60 (and I think it’s much higher in Real Estate..more on that later)…what is the opportunity cost to you of a “Hide?” or worse yet, what is the cost of one hundred “Hides?”  

Hello out there!  A blitzkrieg of featured listing spam does not create engagement, and worse, it’s costing you money.

Comments (5)

Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

I tolerate a lot of spam from my friends, but I know most people will tire of it quicker than I do.

Apr 28, 2010 07:41 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

Interesting take on the value of a fan. What does a non realtor look for on a realtor page? And why, I guess, aren't you in an exclusive contract with a realtor so you can go about your business while she goes about hers for you, with efficiency?

I've just "allowed" roost. Now I'll look into it.

Apr 28, 2010 07:45 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Alex, I've hidden "farmville" and "bejeweled" and everything of that sort--not many friends yet.  But--if I find their page is nothing but self-promotion, I don't go back.

If you're planning to move to the Peninsula, I invite you to 'like' the page, Peninsula Living: San Mateo County and Silicon Valley Real Estate While I just posted a "coming soon-not yet on the market" piece, that's the rarity.

I'd love your comments on whether this is the type of page you like or not.

Best of luck in finding the right home,

Lottie

Apr 28, 2010 07:53 AM
Alex Chang
Roost - San Francisco, CA

Lottie - Very cool content!  I love the idea of giving people an inside scoop on what's coming.  Great call.  Super engaging.

Apr 28, 2010 08:24 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Alex, I hide all the games. Don't have time for them ~ I'm busy enough keeping up with the changes in SEO and now Edge-Rank! lol I totally agree. I would hide anyone who just spammed me. In fact, there is one Realtor® who is borderline spamming FB this week with her class.

May 23, 2010 06:31 PM