That’s right, a social network abuser. By this, I don’t mean someone who is spending four hours a day tweeting and posting photos to Facebook. What I mean is someone who is trying to use social network media purely as an advertising platform. I have a few REALTOR® acquaintances who fall into this category. It seems the only tweets and posts I see from them have something to do with a new listings or an Open House they are holding this weekend. Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe strongly in social networking as a business development tool, if it is used the correct way.
Here are some quick clues to help you see if you can be counted among the social network abusers most likely to be un-followed, un-friended, or de-linked:
- Is the information you are posting purely related your desire to get sales? In other words, your posts show you could care less about social networking if you can’t find a buyer for your listing.
- Do you post information that is solely about you and your business, or about your friends and followers and what they are interested in?
- Do you post stories and activities that add personality and color to your profile?
- When was the last time you asked a question to your followers?
- Is your profile complete or does it just have your name and phone number because you are too concerned about an internet predator stalking you?
- Do you combine your own thoughts along with links to others in your postings, or just post links?
- When you are inviting others to become friends, or connect with you, do you use the canned invitation or do you personalize the invite by referring to some common ground or a connection you have in common?
I think you probably know where this is going. Think about the old adage, “For people to like you, they have to know you, for people to trust you, they have to like you, and for people to do business with you, they have to trust you.” Examine your tweets and posts and ask yourself if you are giving your followers a reason to get to know you, like you, and trust you; or is your social networking page just a massive advertising canvas you feel compelled to fill because someone told you this was the wave of the future. Using these tools in this manner will lead to your friends and followers completely ignoring any of your posts, cutting you out of their network, and even the social network provider booting you off for using your social profile as a business platform.
Combining your personal experiences and thoughts with resources that a reader finds helpful is what will lead to people asking you questions and seeking you out. Think about it this way, if you went to an event where there were 50 people you didn’t know, or maybe even some you did know, would you just go around passing out flyers about your listing along with your business card? Or, would you move from group to group getting to know the other attendees a bit better and seeking out ways to make yourself a resource? How do you feel when others use the quick handshake, “here’s my card” approach? Aren’t you tempted to toss the card immediately? Social networks are big cocktail parties and you need to mingle and share stories and ideas that are useful if you want to be invited back for the next one. The only difference is that on a social network you don’t have to worry as much about photos circulating of you with a lampshade on your head, or do you?
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