Up until recently, we have been promoting social media as a means of making connections, building relationships, and connecting with your community. That’s still the fundamental purpose of a social media presence, but now, thanks to the brand new “+1” button from Google and Bing’s integration with Facebook, it’s clear to us that search engines are hopping on the social networking train, as well. This is great news for you as real estate agents, because now having a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ account can serve a purpose that goes beyond just making connections. Now, having a strong presence on these sites can boost your SEO, as well.
Many of you, while searching the web, might have seen the “+1” icon come up on various websites you use, or next to each website on your 
Google search results page. There’s a reason for that. The “+1” button, which has become integrated in Google’s brand new social networking site, Google+, is a prime example of how search is starting to go social. When you are logged in to your Google account and start searching for news, services, or entertainment, if you like something, you can click the “+1” button as a recommendation. Then, if a friend starts searching for a great movie to see, an awesome real estate agent, or even someone to do their landscaping within Google, they will most likely see the page that you recommended before other pages. They will see that the website was given a “+1”, and they’ll also see your picture and name underneath the website, showing that you’re the one that recommended that movie, real estate agent, or landscaping service.
Just think about how powerful that could be for your business. If your past clients, friends, and online community all click the “+1” button on your website, or next to where your website shows up on Google, then their Google chat, Gmail contacts, or Google+ circle would see that they recommend you when they search for real estate services in your area. This is an incredibly powerful way of getting new business, because think about it: people trust their friends and contacts when it comes to recommendations. You’re more likely to get an interested lead if they heard your name from someone else. This new integration of search and social media will prove to be integral to your SEO.
Online search engine Bing has also begun to jump on the social media train by integrating with Facebook. They’ll be offering a new Facebook plugin that will allow people to see which websites their Facebook friends favor. What will ultimately come out of these new additions to Google and Bing is this: your placement within the social graph will start to affect where you show up on the search engine results page. The more people recommend you, whether it be by Facebook or “+1”, the higher up your website will be on the Google or Bing rankings.
The way that search is going suggests one thing: if you’re not on social networking sites, it’s time to get on them. They’re becoming increasingly more important to marketing your business, and now that you’re going to seeing a stronger SEO from social media, it’s become even more imperative to get social. Setting up your Facebook business page, Twitter account, LinkedIn page, or Google+ profile might sound like a lot to deal with, but your real estate virtual assistants are always here to help! We can set up your profile, make your information keyword-rich and search engine-friendly, and maintain all of your sites for you. The sooner you start getting involved in that social sphere, the sooner you will see it boost your SEO!
Have a great day!
Sarah Kay
Social Media Specialist
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