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It's Called Social Networking For A Reason...You Have To Be Social Silly! by Leander McClain Realtor

By
Real Estate Agent

It's Called Social Networking For A Reason

You Have To Be Social!

 

Social Networking logosI have spent the last 4-5 years learning about social networks.  Most people know me as a Realtor, but I am also a musician.  Some years ago, my business partner and I were learning the ins and outs of writing press releases when he told me to check out this new website called MySpace.  Since we were working on getting our music out to the masses, we figured this would be a great place to start.   Every time a new site comes along, we check it you.  You Tube, last.fm, Plurk, Flickr, Blogger, etc.  Many social networking sites have come and gone.  Yes I still have an account on Plurk, but Twitter is king right now.  Of course I am on Facebook and write several blogs.   But there is one key point that SOME....not ALL, but some Realtors miss

SOCIAL NETWORKING WORKS BEST WHEN YOU ARE SOCIAL!

When I have a client relocating to another market, I turn to my networking sphere of influence for help.  When I am going to a vacation spot, my Twitter peeps hook me up with the inside scoop.  When I am looking to find the real deal on a restaurant, my Facebook family helps me out.   But how did I develop this huge international sphere of influence?

BY BEING SOCIABLE

Little Girl In Big ShoesPeople new to Twitter always ask.....what do I tweet about and who really cares.  Being sociable means finding people who like the things you like or think like  you think.  Once you find them, have a  conversation.  It's really that simple.  I have met so many cool people.  Some look and sound like me and many who dont.  The biggest lesson you have to learn.....

SHARE

As Realtors, we have to learn to share. I recently contacted a Realtor in another market.  The first response I received was "can you refer buyers to me".  Refer buyers to you? 

I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU!

And worse than that, you didn't even take the time to say hello or ask me how MY day was going or what MY needs were.  Right away it was about ME, ME, ME.  Now this Realtor is one of the tops in his market and I am sure that he gets plenty of business by being aggressive, but that was the wrong way to approach me. 

 
Many Realtors approach social marketing the same way.  They sign up for Facebook and Twitter and their posts look like this:

***NEW LISTING 123 MAIN STREET ****

***SEND YOUR BUYERS TO ME****

***I AM THE GREATEST REALTOR***

***OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY***

***NEW LISTING 456 SPRUCE ST***

***NEW LISTING 9378 JACKSON AVE***

*** I AM A MEMBER OF THE MILLION DOLLAR CLUB***

In the social networking world, you might as well be sayin "wha wha wha whamp wha wha" (like the teacher Leander Mcclain musicianfrom the Peanuts).  Everyone hears that you are saying something, but no one is listening to you.

On the networking sites, talk about what is exciting to you besides business.  I am a musician, I love gardening, I love music, I love food, I love to travel, I love cars, I love racing, I am a techno geek, I like rap music, I like fishing and of course I love real estate.  MY list goes on and on.  I am sure you have a similar list. 

Those are the things you talk about!

This is how YOU can be social.  Do the people I tweet to know that I sell Real Estate...of course.  Do they know I have listings...YES!.  Because I post about them....just not all the time. 

Being social is not that difficult.  Making social networks work for you is also not that difficult.  I would suggest that you read All I Ever Really Needed To Know, I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum.

So be social, Tweet, Blog and have fun.  The business will follow. 

  

Have Another Great Day

Make This Your Best Year Ever

Your Friend In The Real Estate Business


Leander McClain, Camden & Burlington Township Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Atlantic & Pacific Real Estate, 103 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540 856-438-0399 (direct)

lee@njsouthrealestate.com, @leemack912, www.facebook.com/Leander.NJRealtor

Recent Posts

Top 3 Things Home Sellers Should Do Before Calling A Realtor

How To Buy A Home Part 1

Top Reason To Price Your Home Below Your Neighbors

Follow Me on Twitter @leemack912

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Comments (35)

Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Leander- Very well written post and very factual about social networking. I really believe that when you learn it with another business such as - you as a musician- it really helps. Realtors are conditioned to think about properties instead of people. The best training for any marketing is to learn it outside of the real estate arena and then bring that back into your real estate business. Excellent tips too! Katerina

Jul 19, 2010 03:46 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Leander you make some excellent points here and frankly I do better at some social networking sites than others though AR is still my site of choice.

I have to disagree with N&K because for mr real estate has not just been about properties, it's about people!

Jul 19, 2010 03:50 PM
Michele Sims
Affinity Real Estate, LLC - Alamogordo, NM

Leander, I like your post and you made some great points. And a good reminder to me about why I am out their using online networking. 

Jul 19, 2010 04:06 PM
Scott Hayes
(512) 786-8300 - Austin, TX
Realty Austin, Broker Associate

I am a member of the million dollar club- priceless.

We as realtors have to realize that when we are social networking, we are speaking to the general public, and not our fellow agents. They can care less about sales volume and certifications. Nice post Leander

Jul 19, 2010 04:23 PM
Linda Hinson
S & L Properties - Calabash, NC

Leander, you are so right.  When I read the local real estate ads, I wonder if all these agents who lists a long string of designations and a list of their accomplishment realize that most buyers and sellers will recognize how smart they are but wouldn't you think...they want someone approachable.  Reminds me of my son's first pediatrician...he was a brilliant doctor but he had the worst bedside manner and kids hated him. Mothers dreaded office visits on his rotation.  He finally quit and he became a pediatric researcher.  I'm sure that was perfect place for him.  I love social media and like you, I participate in several.

Jul 19, 2010 04:32 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Leander, you really struck a chord here. You stated so clearly and well what we might instinctively know, but don't alway practice. Once you get the hang of it, being social is FUN!

Jul 19, 2010 04:33 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Leander, oh so true! Aren't we beyond bragging about ourselves all the time? I want to get to know people on social networks and that can include some business stuff, but not exclusively! There is a formula I have read/heard about and I think it's FORD? Family, Occupation, R - can't remember that one and Dreams. Someone else can fill inR :) Anyway, if you balance your comments/interaction that will help.

I really agree with John because I have sent DMs to some tweets and never heard back - rude! I mean, I'm not the most faithful at tweeting, but when I comment it's relevant, not just a hi ya.

Jul 19, 2010 04:38 PM
Leslie Ebersole
Swanepoel T3 Group - Saint Charles, IL
I help brokers build businesses they love.

I am wildly social and intensely private, admittedly an odd combination. But as I dearly love words and chatting and writing and communicating, I have fallen for blogging. I have always been "just" a professional in business, sticking to marketing plans. data, and schedules. Now I need to find some sort of a blend of the public/private that makes sense for my business. Thanks for sharing your views that help me continue to work this out.

Jul 19, 2010 05:00 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

@Russell comment #17- I am talking about the marketing aspect. Every single agent I coach is marketing properties, the bedrooms and bath stuff. They are really not that used to having a conversation that revolves around anything else with their contacts or prospects. I teach this to agents all over the country and 97% of them do not market themselves and connect with people through their marketing. When you go to a networking event and ask a realtor what they do, wow, you get an earful about real estate! But not much else. The few who do 'get it' will really be successful. Katerina

Jul 19, 2010 06:08 PM
Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-PRO®, SFR
Century 21 Belk Realtors Dalton GA - Dalton, GA

You're so right - people want to see what you're all about! I'm a musician too - church pianist/piano teacher. I see you're playing a digital - I've always been acoustic all the way but now I'm looking at an 88-key Korg.

Jul 20, 2010 12:50 AM
Leander McClain
North East, MD
Cecil & Harford County Realtor

WOW - What a difference a day makes.  I closed AR yesterday with 5 comments. I woke up this morning with a feature and 25 comments.  Thanks guys and thanks to whoever suggested this post for a feature.  I hope that this posts helps a few people. 

Just one more example.  I met John Cannataonline.   He is a mortgage guy from Texas.  I work in NJ.  John and I have had many conversations online.  But for the most part, I don't think we talked about mortgages or real estate (even though he is a guy I know I can go to if I have questions).  John tweets about what he is doing, how his day is going, what's going on with the family, he posts pictures, etc.  Because of that, I feel like I know John personally.  In when I refer to him in a conversation, I say "my buddy John from Texas" .  Recently his daughter was raising money for an animal shelter.  He reached out to his online family.  I sent a donation.  Why because John is a nice guy, his daughter is a cute kid and she was doing a good thing.

Did I send the donation because John is going to send all of his NJ referral business to me?  No.  He may never have clients that are going to move to NJ.  But if he does?  Who is the first person he will think of?  Me of course. 

Here is the kicker......our conversations online are not just between John & I.  Others are reading.  Other potential clients.  When potential clients see you as a person, they have an easier time contacting you.  This is because they see you as a person and not as a salesman.  I recently contacted a Realtor because I loved her sense of humor.  How did I know she had a sense of humor?  I read her posts.

Lottie hit the nail on the head...... social media is FUN!

Post your twitter ID and I will follow you.  Let's chat and have fun.  

Remember, if you build it, they will come

Have a great day

 

Jul 20, 2010 01:49 AM
Leander McClain
North East, MD
Cecil & Harford County Realtor

ps - Jason...you look great buddy. 

I know he is doing sit ups and push ups because he tweeted about it and listed the iphone app that he was using. I checked out the app and may purchase it myself.  Jason is a social media guy, but we both have another common goal to get in shape

Jul 20, 2010 01:53 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Leander-Wow! All this time I didn't know you are the Jimmy Jam of Active Rain. I am going to need you to help me make beats for my Independent movie hopefully in about three years from now. Since I am not really involved in music that much anymore,(Always wanted to be a A&R for a music label and possibly start my own Independent record label),I am now trying to get back in Film. I am a aspiring screenwriter who also wants to do Film. I just shared something about me that probably a lot of people didn't know. Congratulations on the feature post. Great to read a blog from you again. Great post.

Jul 20, 2010 03:31 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Congratulations on the Feature Leander, it was well deserved!

Jul 20, 2010 03:59 AM
Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified
Dilbeck Real Estate - Burbank, CA

Leander,

Great post. First of all I want to shout out to Charita, I have been following AR since May and I see your vivacious smile and I DON'T picture you as a Non-Social. I see bubbly and raring to go go go. You are so all over AR all the time. Unless I like the same posts you do.

Anyway, Leander this emphasizes so much to me. I have been so cognizant that I need to make a great impact on my social media skills if I want to progress in today's society and my challenge to make a living I need to do a better job. It comes down to time management.

I joined Linked-in in 2006. Put up my profile and did nothing after that. Lazy is probably what describes my efforts. I knew it was important but did not take advantage.

I joined My Space and it was not for me.

I joined Facebook last year. Only because someone way back from High School asked me to join and I was hooked. I tried it out on the social side, I love music too I used to sing. I did a few things work related but heard from someone that it was not a good idea on that platform to direct real estate related verbiage. I totally disagree but I have backed off. Everyone has a friend of a friend looking at some point. As to a business page I have not done that yet or an ad. I don't have the funds, I am not even sure of the costs but I did not pursue. I have not been on FB for sometime now as I have concentrated so heavily on AR. Again, time management.

I joined AR in 2008. I did nothing. I picked it back up this year in May and now I am going at a much faster pace. I am blogging which has been a goal of mine for sometime. I am getting it out to local-ism.

I have a twitter account but I do nothing with it. I have not wanted to hear when people are brushing their teeth, combing their hair, making dinner etc... I am not THAT social.

So after all this said, I probably should have blogged my comment, I feel I am just venting. I am the maker of my own destiny and I appreciate the blogs such as yours that gives e that extra boost in the derriere to get a move on on Social Media

So sorry to all for such length it just kept rollling.

Jul 20, 2010 04:52 AM
Danielle Pierce
Platinum Realty and Preservation - Chicago, IL
ADPR

My broker and I continue to go back and forth over this. He is of the opinion, like many others, that social media is a fad, in much the same way as the "low-fat diet" and "low-carb craze." I, on the other hand, am a believer because I have gotten business as a DIRECT result of social media. I just need to continue to tweak it some more to make the process more streamlined because although social media is huge, I still don't think it FULLY replaces everything else!

Again, great post!

Jul 20, 2010 06:29 AM
Bill Burchard
3B Realty: 951-347-3818, CA - Murrieta, CA
Broker, Realtor, Representing Buyers and Sellers

Thanks for the insights and encouragement, Leander. I'm new to social networking (just became active on AR a couple of weeks ago, have yet to tweet, or join FB) and I sincerely appreciate your advice.

Jul 20, 2010 08:28 AM
Leander McClain
North East, MD
Cecil & Harford County Realtor

Danielle - either you are wrong or your broker is wrong.  I would bet that you are right.  I also have gotten business and my current posittion as a direct result of social media.  Keep up the good work.

Bill - I have posted links to a few of my articles for newbies. If you have ANY questions, feel free to call or email me.  I will gladly help you get started.  You can do it.  I was where you are once.....and a lot of people helped me to get where I am today.  I will be waiting for your call

Have a great day

Jul 20, 2010 08:42 AM
Sandi Bishop
Prudential Nichols Real Estate - Daphne, AL

This is great advice. I really appreciate it. I have to learn to take time to do this!

Jul 20, 2010 08:56 AM
Sal Poliandro - Helping People Win
RE/MAX Properties - Ridgewood, NJ
Broker Associate

Leander,

    This is why you are the man! I hope I'm not being un"social" when I send you a referral for South Jersey. Looking forward to doing more business together.

Sal

 

Jul 23, 2010 02:52 AM