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Marketing Your Real Estate Services Via Forums. Part 2

By RealtyTech Inc.

Real Estate Technology with Real Estate Technology and Marketing

February 07, 2011 04:25 AM

We wrote in our last post about why participating in real estate forums where potential homebuyers and sellers hang out can be a great way to market your real estate services.

This post will talk about the best way to do so.

Aim to post to the forums you've chosen at least two or three times a week. The more you post, the more your posts' readers will see your signature and the better chance you have of getting the link to your website or blog clicked upon (and the more people will visit your website/blog).

The most important thing you can do (or, in this case not do) is "sell" on these forums. For one thing, forums usually don't allow this. For another, blatantly offering your services, or claiming you can sell a home at full price in 30 days in a down market, or even just coming across as "I'm here only because I want to get clients," will brand you as a forum spammer. It may even get you banned from the forum.

Instead, read posts by others that ask questions. If you can give an answer that adds to the conversation, one that is thoughtful and which offers good information, then answer it. Give solid advice, great tips, useful anecdotes, be helpful. People who read the forums will soon look upon you as a stand-up kind of person, one who knows his or her "stuff." You'll be seen as someone who can be trusted. They will click in your signature to your website/blog; you will start getting people asking you if you can help them buy or sell a home.

In addition to answering questions, you also can start your own forum conversations. Start a conversation by stating your opinion on something (whether housing in your area is poised for a comeback, for example), and then asking forum members for their opinion. Or you could ask if anyone has any experience in home staging, and ask for tips.

The reason you want to start conversations is simple -- you have a better chance of getting your posts read than if you just reply to someone else's post.

Posts sometimes can have upwards of 10, 25, 50 or even more replies. Not everyone will read all replies, but they almost always will read the original post. In addition, you should comment on other members' replies to your original post -- again, this gives you even more opportunities to get your signature seen.

In addition, as the person who starts a thread, you'll soon be seen as an authority and a leader in real estate. You'll really know you've become such when someone starts a thread by asking "Hello [your name]. Wondering what you think about the new housing start stats."

Read your forum regularly. If possible, try to be one of the first people to respond to someone else's thread/question.

If you're ready to start a forum marketing campaign, contact RealtyTech.com. We can help you find real estate forums that cover your areas of expertise, as well as those that focus on your selling area. Contact us today.