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Trends for 2011: No More Chasing Social Media Rainbows

By
Real Estate Agent with Myrtle Beach Homes Blog

Rainbow

I am regularly asked by clients what is the next newest, latest & greatest social network to be coming down the pike.  They want the jumpstart on the next hot thing so they can beat their competition on getting set up there before everyone else.  They feel if they are the first there, they can be an expert and have a leg up on everyone else.  Also, they are looking for the "next big thing" or as I call it the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  So, I decided that today I am going to share with you my predictions for 2011 and what I feel is going to be the next greatest things to get your business connected into.  Some of you probably have heard of these before, but others of you may not.  For those looking to get a leg up on the competition, here's what I feel will help you to accomplish this in the new year.

Social Media Trends for 2011So what is hot for 2011?

Surprisingly this is very simple to answer.  I think that what's hot for 2011 is the same things that were for 2010.  Too many times we spend hours and hours searching for the next shiny object instead of figuring out the best ways to optimize the things that are already there.  The key is going to be optimizing our efforts better than our competition in each.  If half the time we spent looking for new and better ways to get the prize were spent on using the tools we already know are working, we would be so much closer to the actual prize we are pursuing.

Here are three things that you need to strive to perfect for 2011.

1. Fully Optimized Site

Just like the past several years, the absolute most important thing you can focus your time on for 2011 is your site.  If you do not have a successful site first and foremost everything else you do online is futile.  Make sure this next year you place plenty of time into your schedule to work on your site.

Each week you need to focus on writing high quality blog posts, optimizing your static pages, and focusing on things to increase your SEO. (new pages of content, more back links, etc).  This needs to be the main focus of everything you do for your online marketing this next year.  Also, do not forget the visual appeal of your site.  It's important too. I am a big believer that WordPress is one of the best options available for your new site.  In the middle of this year we switched our site from a standard static website to a Custom WordPress Site and our search engine rankings, traffic to the site, and business all increased exponentially when we did so.

If you set your site and blogging as your main priority in 2011 I can almost guarantee you will see an increase in leads and business this coming year.

2.  Stop Fighting the 800 lb. Gorilla.

As 2010 comes to an end, the reports say that Facebook currently has over 500 million members with half of them logging on daily. They also say that the average person has over 135 friends on Facebook.  That being said, every business needs to develop their strategy for using Facebook for business. It's time to stop fighting Facebook and giving the excuse that it is not a good means of generating business because it is just a bunch of people talking about what they did last night.

A Facebook page that is operated properly can generate a major increase in business and traffic to your site.  A good friend of mine has a page with over 12,000 fans and sees almost 45% of all the traffic into his site coming directly from their Facebook page.  On average, this site is seeing over 64,000 visitors to their site each month.  That means that Facebook is responsible for sending 28,000 people to the site each month.  Obviously, it's no longer just about what you did last night, but instead is a great marketplace to generate new business.

The two big mistakes I see in Facebook pages that most of the content shared on Facebook pages are directing the traffic away from your brand and off to other websites, YouTube videos, and places other than their home base.  What this does is pushes all your consumer base off of your Facebook page and to other places that do not help increase your business or drive traffic to you.  Instead do what you can to keep the conversation either on your page or drive it over to your website.  The second issue I encounter a lot is that the page is about you the business and not about the consumers.  If you start asking questions and giving good quality content, the consumers will be more inclined to interact and participate on your site.

3,  She's No Longer Your Red Headed Stepchild.

I've heard Twitter called the red headed stepchild too many times over the past year.  Too many people do not understand Twitter and due to this lack of knowledge, they never start using it.  Ignorance is no longer an excuse.  Other businesses and consumers are on Twitter daily looking to make connections and build networks.  If you continue to ignore Twitter you are passing up many opportunities for business.

My advice is that you need to just take the time to set up an account and dive right in.  The potential inside Twitter is endless.  What is missed by so many is that Twitter needs to be used as a means of conversation and engagement.  If you focus just 5-10 minutes each day on communicating with others on Twitter, your sphere will grow.  If you spend another 5-10 minutes working searching for others to connect with you will be well on your way to success on Twitter.  If you are not sure how to use Twitter, I have a few resources for you.

So there's my predictions for 2011.  Simply focus on the things that are proven successes and using each platforms to the best of your ability.  If you focus the time you would spend searching for the next shiny object on these three things, I can all but guarantee that 2011 will be your best year ever!  Here's to a great 2011!

Originally Posted at: 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors

Comments (93)

Keith Jeppson - Salt Lake City Real Estate
Everest Realty Group - Holladay, UT

Jeremy, how many AR agents really see major business from their site and blogging efforts? I know in my state, none of the top AR accounts do much real business? I've checked them on the MLS...Zilch! Is it really worth the effort...or should we go back to the phones and making contacts?

Jan 02, 2011 11:08 AM
Jeremy Blanton
Myrtle Beach Homes Blog - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach REALTOR®- myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

Keith- I think first off you have to look at what is being blogged about on the AR site.  If you are not writing about real estate, then you aren't going to get much business from it.  As Lenn & a few others have already mentioned, the quality of content matters just as much as the number of posts.

I know many that don't blog here on AR & they have had great production from their sites.  I also know many here on AR that have produced business.  Points don't equal production.  The content matters 1,000 times more.

Jan 02, 2011 11:13 AM
Jessica Harwick
Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer - Wadsworth, OH

Thanks for the info! Love your posts!

Jan 02, 2011 01:08 PM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Well, I did set up a business FB page and have done some work on it, but how did your friend get over 12000 fans to his page? That one secret would be worth learning.

Jan 02, 2011 01:16 PM
Monica Foster
Monica Foster Team of eXp Realty - League City, TX
Broker, CRS, ABR, SRS, CHMS, CNE, CNHS

Jeremy,

This is an excellent post! For several years I have been focusing on my website and it has served me well.  Best wishes to you in 2011!

Jan 02, 2011 01:54 PM
Mahesh Mike Patel
First Team Real Estate - Anaheim Hills, CA
Call Me And Consider It Done!

Nice information Jeremy. Great to do list. I need to start implementing more on the social media side. Thanks for the tips

Jan 02, 2011 02:30 PM
Christine McDaniel
Christine McDaniel Realty, LLC - Avon, IN
Broker Associate

Thanks Jeremy, good info.  What do you think of two facebook pages, one professional and one personal? 

Jan 02, 2011 03:47 PM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

Very disappointing article.  You didn't tell us what the next big thing to focus on was. :)

Jan 02, 2011 05:48 PM
Lynn M. Bower
John R Wood Realtors - Naples, FL
PA, ABR, GRI, RSPS, AHWD, PMN, CNE

Jeremy~ you made my day. After the Florida Realtors convention in August in Orlando, I totally started engaging in all I learned from that time. The writing was on the wall, I could see it and decided to make huge changes in my marketing. You have reaffirmed my choices & efforts put forth and I appreciate that. I am looking forward to a great 2011 because once in my life I jumped on the band wagon early instead of waiting. I look forward to more of your blogs.

Jan 02, 2011 10:16 PM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Thank you Jeremy, I too have bookmarked this.  I've got to learn to use these tools more wisely!

Jan 03, 2011 02:00 AM
Jeremy Blanton
Myrtle Beach Homes Blog - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach REALTOR®- myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

Christine- Everyone has to have a personal profile in order to make their business page.  The only way you can log into Facebook is with a personal profile.

Thanks everyone for the comments!  They have been overwhelming!

Jan 03, 2011 02:13 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Jeremy, nice post.  I become overwhelemed with everything I could do or should be doing and instead am now just focusing on accomplishing a few things at a time.

Jan 03, 2011 03:26 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Your right Jeremy..."Proven successes and using each platform to the best of your ability is the way to go." Great Reminder!

Jan 03, 2011 08:11 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

I am going to bookmark this also and come back and read this. But Social Media is in my Business Plan for 2011. If I need help,I am going to call you:-). Happy New Year to you Jeremy. Great post.

Jan 03, 2011 05:03 PM
Jan Laurie
JL Residential Styling & Staging - Nanaimo, BC

This is a great post Jeremy. It is good to be reminded of the bigger picture and what the basics are. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the choices and to forget the important aspects of being solidly present in the social media. 

Jan 04, 2011 05:31 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Red Headed Stepchild? I still don't like Twitter.

Jan 04, 2011 10:28 AM
Spencer Frazier
SpencerFrazier.com, SoCal Properties, Canyon Lake, CA - Canyon Lake, CA

sounds exactly like what i preach to people too .. very nice post

Jan 04, 2011 12:47 PM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Remarkably on target about not chasing the end of the rainbow. The rainbow has colors for blogging, Facebook and Twitter. The key is to work the gifts in 2011. The only thing I would add is how video will be integrated into all three of these new platforms as we change how we communicate. Great post!

Jan 16, 2011 01:14 PM
Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson Realty Group - Fayetteville, NC
Fort Bragg Military Relocation Services, Fayettevi

Jeremy, very nice post.  I'm glad I found it..

Jan 16, 2011 03:43 PM
Margie Kopp Sorrell
Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty and Lake Country - Greensboro, GA
Lake Oconee Real Estate

Jeremy-my parents have Facebook pages and they are 60+. It's time for people who aren't computer savvy to quit being scared of it and just do it! If you can figure out Activerain, you can figure out Facebook!

Margie Kopp

 

Jan 20, 2011 12:59 AM