How Important is Facebook to my Real Estate Business in Nampa Idaho?

I was reading blogs this morning and ran across Paula Hathaways blog on Facebook.

I have read many posts on whether or not Facebook is worth it and should a Realtor use it?

Here is my take on Facebook....I love Facebook on many levels. I also love Active Rain.....for some agents Facebook is a lot easier for them to use than a blog! I have agents in my office that would love to Blog...but they simply are not techy enough to get how to do it....but they do understand Facebook so they use that.   To each thier own....

Last year I connected with 3 or 4 clients who did buy homes through me. Most of these were former classmates of mine. I moved away from my home town for about 10 years but have been back for 17.....I had not been in contact with these aquaintances for over 25 years....so I wouldn't have had them on my sphere of influence contact sheet! So I wouldn't have connected with them any other way than through a Social Media site.

When I was first learning what the term Social Media even was ...I learned from Amy Chorew at a Women's Council of Realtors Summit a couple years ago....that you have to work Facebook....meaning 10 minutes a day!  10 minutes is not very long...and set a timer if you are afraid of spending to much time on the site.   I personally do not use Facebook for playing games...I don't have time for that.   Some days I spend 10 minutes some days I might spend an hour....or time throughout the day.   Every day is different.

I would say that my first piece of advice is to make it social...wish happy birthday to some one....add a comment to at least 5 other peoples postings. Then you can add in some real estate. Not necessarily a listing but what you are doing in Real Estate.   Some thing like  "Whew so busy showing homes in this market...it is a great time to buy" "giving the keys to a single mom on her first home purchase....my favorite type of a buyer to work with" "going to list the cutest home in xyz sub this afternoon....can't believe it is only $$$"

The above types of  posts along with personal posts are necessary on your Personal Page.  Add things like special quotes, "going to farmers market today"...."great afternoon to work in my yard",  " Whew glad I got my Christmas shopping done!"  If you only post Real Estate people will feel harrassed.   Occassionally I have posted listings....I never got negative feedback...but I interspersed the listings with other posts about life in general.   And I asked people questions!  In other words I Interacted with the Friends I had on there...and yes some of them I don't know...but I feel like I am getting to know them from the interaction.....you never know if they might turn out to be a potential client.

It is very important to let your personality show through. If you are ONLY posting for business then it doesn't work as well in my opinion...but if you are YOU on it and are just being friendly then you will get some b ouusiness out  of it!

Here is an idea for those that are still in your home town if you are not there...check to see if a Realtor from there on Facebook,..if you don't see a Realtor there...or even if you do.... get to know a Realtor who is still there.  Then on Facebook talk about how you know Realtors every where and can help people with a home purchase in any state.....then refer them out! On Facebook if you come at it from a purpose of helping others you will do fine.    But if it is from a direction of "how can these people help me?"   Well that doesn't work so well!

I should say that I just set up my business page about 2 weeks ago.... I was doing all of this type of posting on Facebook without a business page...just my personal page. I know that I will get a different type of business from Facebook with the business  pages.   Here are my 2 business pages

Things to do In and Around Nampa Idaho

Deborah Byron Leffler "the BzyBee Real Estate Lady in Nampa Idaho"

I am getting some of my many "friends" to like both of these pages....if you are so inclined I would love for you to "like" them.    I will be feeding my Active Rain posts into these pages....so in other words I am working them both ...but in different ways!

Facebook is like anything ....as much effort as you put into it is what you will get out of it.

For me ....I love catching up with friends of mine from High School, the people I knew in College and while I lived in California...as well as previous clients!   I also have linked up with a ton of Primitive Crafters....friends I only know online...who have become very dear to me!   

I genuinely care about the people I have connected to on Facebook.   I Love Facebook and will continue to use it in my business....if it isn't working for you ....then make a choice....vow to embrace it and continue to let it evolve...or don't go there.....For everyone it is different.   We all have the same amount of time....it is just that we all have to decide how to us the time!

Deborah Byron Leffler   SFR, PMN "The BZYBEE REALTOR"

Keller Williams Realty Boise

Serving All of Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Eagle, Caldwell, Marsing, Wilder, Homedale and Middleton