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Is Facebook In Your Business Plan?

Facebook screenshot 'Mariana Wagner has thrown a sheep at you.'

That was one of the notifications waiting for me a couple of weeks ago when I logged into Facebook. I quickly searched my memory to figure out what I had done to deserve this. Had I left an inappropriate comment on her blog? Did she think one of my recent posts was just rubbish? How exactly should I respond ... or retaliate?? :)

While many perceive Facebook as a 'MySpace for 20-somethings', the site has some very compelling statistics:

Over 55 million users
The fastest growing demographic in the 25+ age range
#6 U.S. site in terms of traffic
#1 photo sharing site on the web

Facebook recently added Business Pages to help businesses connect with consumers in the same way friends connect with each other. The Business Solutions section has details on using social ads, polls and more. Here is the business page for (RED)™

Long before she was hurling small woolly animals, Mariana wrote a fantastic featured post titled "The Secret Life of a "Generation X" Consumer ... My Story." Pay attention to the NAR statistics she mentions on home buyers, and think of the impact that Gen X and Gen Y will have on the housing markets over the next 10-15 years.

Now ... considering the statistics, having seen the Business Pages, and looking at the huge buying power of Gen X and Gen Y ... is Facebook in your business plan?

Added 11/25 from the comments:
Join the Facebook Tips group on ActiveRain.

Posted by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate on 11/24/2007 10:15 PM

Comments (95)

Facebook in the Online Marketing Channel

blogging, online marketing, social networking

Originally posted at: Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas Real Estate: Is Facebook In Your Business Plan?

Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: Domus Consulting Group Social Media Series I
Post is included in group: Facebook Tips
Post is included in group: Keller Williams 'Rainers
Post is included in group: WEB 2.0 Marketing on Steroids for Real Estate

95 Comments on Is Facebook In Your Business Plan?

NOV

2007

Hi John, I am so far behind on this stuff and falling behinder every day!!

Thanks for letting us know about the business page aspect of Facebook, sounds like something to really look into.

Lisa - It definitely takes a systematic plan to keep up with all of the social networking sites, but I think it's worth it for what it will do to help us build our online presence and our businesses. Thanks for your comment!

NOV

2007

John - This is an interesting post and (as you said) these are some compelling statistics. I haven't really enjoyed my time spent on Facebook - it seems a bit unwieldy to me right now. I may need to give it another look.

Jason - It's easy to get distracted by flying sheep or other 'social' activities because those apps are so viral and so easy to find. Try searching for groups that match your interests and you should be able to make some good connections. For example 'Austin real estate' has 192 members, 'Real Estate Marketing Professionals' has 241.

Oh, dear! Another one to go look at... John, it's a good thing I have you to keep me up-to-date on all these sites and tech tools. Technically I am Gen-X, but I'm having trouble keeping up! Keep it up, please, so I don't fall farther behind. :)

John-

Thrown a sheep at you? Uum...

I (obviously) haven't joined the ranks of Facebook yet. It's on my to-do list for my Implementation Hour, though!

A sheep, though? That's a little too college-days flashback for me...

What did you do, anyway? And what does it mean? It is like being thrown a warm fuzzy pillow???

~Emily

The San Diego Real Estate Expert

John,

With more than 10 sites for my staff and myself to upkeep now, you make me feel compelled to take another look.........and I will....thanks for writing this post......

John - Your post convince me That I should at least take a look.

John, yes it is my business plan for 2008, I use livePads, Cribfinder and Market Place to add my listings to.

You should join the new facebook group here on activerain and post this there.

Marlene - One of the nice things about the Rain is that we can build a kind of 'group momentum' on something like this. It will be a lot of fun seeing how each of us leverages Facebook. Thanks for commenting!

Emily - It was all in good fun! Once you get past some of the 'social' apps on Facebook there are a lot of intriguing possibilities. Thanks for stopping by!

Julie - Keeping multiple sites up to date is definitely an issue. As more of us use social networking sites and share our experiences we'll come to know how to optimally use them for our business. Thanks for your input!

Jennifer - I'll be writing more on Facebook in December as I try to figure out how it fits with all of the other pieces. Thanks for stopping by!

I'm there but haven't made the most of it. Thanks for the nudge! As far as social networking, my favorite has become Twitter. I love things simple.

Missy - Thanks for the tip on the Facebook group; I've added a link at the end of my post as well. LivePads, Cribfinder and Market Place are three new ones to me. It's like putting together the pieces of a social networking puzzle but not quite knowing what the finished picture will look like! I'm looking forward to sharing tips and ideas with you as we move into 2008.

Linda - I really like the directness (140 character limit) of Twitter, but it's more of a B2B tool. Facebook has some huge B2C opportunities and there will probably be even more in 2008 now that they've opened it up to developers. Thanks for your comment!

SO much to do, so much to do. I'll be checking out the groups on Facebook, John. I haven't checked out the business side of it yet. Thanks, Missy for the pointer to the facebook group.

John, I will be giving Facebook a look. Thanks for your good points about how important this type of site can be for reaching the Gen X consumer (Snowboarders?, for us here in ski country!)

NOV

2007

The Developer's Description

Why just poke when you can pinch, hug, tickle, pwn or even throw sheep?

More Information about SuperPoke! Afraid of abuse by this application? Block SuperPoke!

I just don't get it....

It is in my business plan but I really don't get it..

NOV

2007

I am a member of facebook but I don't keep up. I get poked all the time and I don't know how comfortable I am with that!

NOV

2007

John - For as much as I LIKE these social networks, I dont get Facebook - Dont understand it, actually. But throwing a sheep at my friend seems like a logical way to get referrals. Right?

Thank YOU for the mention, and for accepting the small wooly animal that I flung in your direction. At least it wasn't a pumpkin (because apparantly that wasn't a good idea ...).

(Renee - I, too, feel odd about the poking function, so that would be why I decided to throw a sheep at John instead ...)

wow in a way I am kind of relieved that Mariana doesn't get Facebook... that it is not just us older people who are befuddled by flinging punkins and sheep at one another in hopes of real estate business... I must have read Lenderama recently.. she flung a pumpkin at Todd? Yet if Mariana doesn't get Facebook, who on ActiveRain does? Who is going to help us understand it? Who can translate what flinging a sheep really means?

NOV

2007

Elaine - There are some good business, real estate and blogging groups on Facebook, plus you can join the network for your local area - all places where you can grow your database. Thanks for your comment!

Rolando - Gen X will have a lot of buying power over the next 10-15 years, and I'm sure you can connect to a lot of them in your area through snowboarding. Thanks for reading my blog!

Maureen - I read that the developers of SuperPoke, Slide.com, could make over a million dollars this year from that application. Amazing how quickly it adds up when you hit the right viral idea! Aside from that, there are some great business uses on Facebook, but they're a little tougher to locate. I'll keep writing as I find them.

DEC

2007

It is in my business plan as of yesterday. there are many applications that can be added to your page that have real estate application, Cribfinder and business cards are a couple I have used.

DEC

2007

Facebook is definitely in my marketing plan, I do need to spend more time developing it as a resource though. -cem

John-- I'm a MOM! I loving selling to parents and college students and am known as a cool mom to my college daughters' friends---both my daughters have accounts. Is this a media someone of my age can make work for them?

DEC

2007

John,

I just recently signed up for a Facebook account and started posting some of my listings there. I started thinking about the uptapped potential this venue can provide. Those young folks are going to looking to buy and and we need to be there to help them!

Hey Happy New Year to you and your family from Toledo, Ohio!

JAN

2008

John,

I did look at Facebook and joined.....when I tried to download my Active Rain blog with the rss feed I realized it posted my members only posts as well as my localism post. Do you have any advice on how to correct this?

Thank you, John, I know that I need to spend a lot more time learning about Facebook and how to include it in my business plan for 2008. Thanks for all the great information, and thanks to all of you that have added information and encouragement in your comments.

I don't have one either. I just managed to work my way through MySpace so bear with me on this one please.

APR

2008

Wow...I am really slow! I just signed up with Facebook and from the looks of it, I have A LOT to learn!! Thank you for pointing out the business section...I did not know about it. Looks like I need to spend some time getting to know Facebook more!

This has been one of my best tools ever!!

APR

2008

Wow, I didn't know about the #1 photo sharing site. I always thought flickr that had cornered.

How can it NOT be a part of your business plan?! Being a Gen Yer myself, I *hate* when people say "tsk those Gen Yers." Internet and online presence is really wave of the future. Look at classified, Craig's List has almost single handedly replace it. Same thing with Britannica. Who still has encyclopedia sitting in their homes? Googling is so much quicker and faster!

LOVE this blog. Feel free to add me on your FB! http://tinyurl.com/3jryvf

Cheers,

Cindy

JUN

2008

John,

Joined Facebook recently and am still trying to figure out what to do there for a mortgage guy. The info here is definitely going to help me out. Thanks for sharing.

JUN

2008

Facebook was one of my first internet leads. I started a group called South Sound Real Estate Hot Topics and within a couple days had a client who went on to close on a purchase. There are only 12 members in the group, but my experiment paid off. You just never know where that next client will come from.

I'm on MySpace and a few other social networking sites but yet to join facebook. I've been having too much fun on AR

In my opinion there is WAY TOO MUCH spam (comments and friend request, etc.) that is generated from both Facebook and MySpace. I guess if you have enough patience and persistence there might be some gold in them hills. There are many other activities that will yield better results for the time invested such as LinkedIn, Flickr, StumbleUpon and del.icio.us.

JUN

2008

I have been on Myspace for several years but just joined Facebook last week. Time will tell how effective it is. If nothing else, it provides another way for potential clients to contact me and that is good. I have just referenced this post in a post I just did. And of course joined the AR Facebook group!

JUN

2008

Hey John- At Christmas I was talking to some of my college-aged cousins. I asked them how much they used Facebook. They shrugged and causally said, "oh about 3-4 hours a day". I about fell out of my chair! A DAY!!! I think it is so important to be on this site. Once you start getting engaged in it, it is addictive.

Question- Do you have one account and co-mingle your personal and professional relationships? I do, and am not sure this is the right approach. I heard Facebook will let you separate them now, but haven't played around with it enough to know how to do it yet.

JUL

2008

John- good info. I've been using Facebook a lot lately and appreciated this additional info. Always looking for ways to improve. Thanks for sharing.

AUG

2008

I just joined facebook two days ago and amazed how many old classmates and friends are using it. My little sister has something like 550 friends.

Do you think our target market will peruse the business section? I have no idea what to expect from Facebook as I find it difficult enough to blog on my outside blog, www.fuellingkaty.com, and comment on great Active Rain posts.

I need to continue to remind myself that posting my blogs on all of my social networking sites will increase my business. People don't just walk through the door anymore...God Bless you for posting this blog so long ago...Jason

AUG

2008

Well I joined, we will see. A Savvy Prospector suggested it, and someone in my office is also raving about it.

John, like many I am new to facebook, just joined a few days ago, still attempting to learn the site, other than real estate networking, I am not sure what it will yield regarding consumers, perhaps when I get a better understanding on how to reach out to others that are non realtors.

Last Monday I received another Facebook lead. One of my Facebook "friends" emailed on Facebook about wanting to buy a townhouse. We met two days later, got the buyer pre-approved, looked at townhouses and wrote up an offer on Friday, which was mutually accepted today. This buyer would not have contacted me without Facebook. So glad Facebook is in my business plan.

AUG

2008

I definitely recommend Facebook for networking. I have close to 1000 friends now and most of them are realtors. I am a mortgage loan officer in Tennessee and have had good luck with referrals off of Facebook. I get e-mails from realtors in other cities and I try to help them find an agent in other markets to refer business to which in turn they send me referrals for Tennessee mortgage loans. It's a win-win for everyone. I always make sure I send them greetings on birthdays and chat with them whenever possible. It takes alot of time but in my business we have time to cultivate business and Facebook is the most fun way I have found to market.

AUG

2008

Wayne - I'd love to hear some of your tips for Facebook success. I joined last week and am trying to find my way. Thanks

OCT

2008

i do have a face book, just finding the time to keep updated, my first priority is the rain, but facebook brings people out of the woodwork that I just would never have come across if it wasn't for facebook.

OCT

2008

Just joined Facebook and dont know too much about it. Thank you for the great tips. Did not know about the Business pages. Going to go look into that now.

OCT

2008

I have closed three transactions this year as a direct result of my Facebook presance. Just being there increases your chance for leads, prospects, and closings!

I quess its time for me to jump in as well. The numbers make sense. Thanks for the information.

OCT

2008

wow some good information here, thanks for sharing....

I joined Facebook about a year ago and just added my Business page about two months ago. I haven't had any direct leads, but with time, I know it will pay off. Great post though! I didn't realize they had 55 million users -- that is truly amazing!

OCT

2008

Thanks John, It's in my business plan now, thanks for the push, you didn't even have to throw anything more than the facts. Money is a pretty good motivator!''

OCT

2008

I am having a field day marketing on facebook both through free networking and the cheap pay per clicks ads. People are finding me left and right and getting in touch about my business, and I'm lining up the all important 6-18 month prospects that are what keeps my business steady and ready to grow!!

I also want to note that the age limits are done! There is no excuse anymore...my 68 year old uncle is on their everyday!!

NOV

2008

It does help to know where your buyers come from and keeping up with Gen X & Y is a challenge in itself.

Thanks for all the good "food for thought"!

Now I am ogg to learn more about your "MyBlogLog"

Debbie

Hey John,

I had read and enjoyed your blog, but then I got hung up on your widget...MyBlogLog...

I tried to get one but not sure if I am doing it right....the linking part.

Yeah I am a Newbie..can you tell?

Would love it if you would have the time to teach me, maybe with a blog? I have subscribed to your blog.

Thanks,

Debbie

NOV

2008

Yes, but I am still trying to figure it all out!

NOV

2008

Hi John, Very cool post. I joined FaceB not long ago at my hip Team Leaders suggestion. It's a blast getting connected w/ so many people all around the country and internationally too. I've sub. to your blog. As a new ARer I'm trying to figure out my bloglog & widgets.

NOV

2008

John I'm a newbie on Active Rain but I'm looking forward to coming back to this post.

I love Facebook, both for personal and professional networking. You see, I have a split personality on FB. I have 2 profiles, one is personal (friends and family), the other is professional (work friends). It has been invaluable in connectig me with prospects and clients!

JAN

I am just getting up and running with Facebook - thanks for sharing!

JAN

Even if you think you're behind, get started now and get your friends hooked. It will keep you in front of them. If you're not there now, you need to be; if you're not there by the end of the year, you'll be way behind.

JAN

Great tool !!!! I work on a team concept and our team "captain" Nancy Minor got us hooked on it. She gets on there everyday and tells everyone what she is doing personally and professionally. That way people connect with her as a" real "person and as a Real Estate Agent at the same time. She has gotten many of her clients to become her friend on the facebook.

JAN

Hi John - thanks for the business link! Still learning Facebook myself and how to apply it for business purposes.

JAN

This can be a great tool, but I have heard to keep it social and not push the business aspects. Thanks for sharing.

JAN

Love, Love, Love Facebook. Have been using it for about 6 months. For me it is a bit more social, but a great way to remind my friends both old and new that I sell real estate.

JAN

It is now. It has become a great tool for me. Thanks for sharing!!!

JAN

thanks for helping me with some ideas on making this all work together with my business plan.

JAN

So is Facebook better than Kinked in or Plaxo, do you think?

FEB

Thanks for the info. I am just a beginner but have enjoyed it so far.

Shelton

FEB

John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate-This is a remainder to me that I really need to redeem my facebook coupon so that I can advertise on facebook for free. Great post John.

FEB

Thank you for the info. I have difficulty locating items on Facebook that I see others using. Still trying to master it.

FEB

I also am still having difficulty locating the different aspects of facebook others use. Thanks for the information regarding the Business section. What I enjoy about facebook is the ability to keep up with so many friends/family/etc simultaneously - some from the present and some from the past. Their daily happenings are there to check on my wall, all across the country, and spanning many years of time and relationships developed in those years. But, I do not open my facebook page to the public. I feel I am violating the privacy of my friends/family by doing so, and keep my viewing to just those in my network. Any thoughts on that?

I have to admit I have a facebook page for fun. I am thinking of turning it a little more professional, but not sure how...

FEB

This is a medium we can't ignore. And you know us Baby Boomers may take it over. Seriously, it can never replace the face to face but it's subliminal value will only grow.

Great posts here.

Margaret Dabbs

Team Honeycutt

FEB

Thanks for the great post. I am versatile both in print media and local networking with people who don't use the internet much but I recognized the value of the internet a long time ago and my persistence has finally started to take off. I am fairly new on AR and haven't really been receiving any feedback on this site but I am through Twitter, My Space, facebook, LinkedIn and other venues. The internet is definitely a focus in my business plan, and I love meeting all these great people...both business associates as well as some good friends! The internet is amazing for networking and has been great for business!

Visit me at My Space and follow me:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=394209998

Nice to meet everyone!

Wendy Svoboda

Prudential Nevada Realty

http://www.prunevada.com/svoboda/default.aspx

FEB

Poking makes me crazy - every time I try to do it facebook takes me into pages and pages of stuff that I really don't want to mess with! I am working hard to connect to buyers thee and think it's definitely one of the ways of the future!

MAR

Hi John, I just found this thread, and as you might have gussed, I just recently joined FB. I was skeptical, but once I got my feet wet, there's no turning back, I love it! There are still a lot to learn and that's how I found this thread. AR has been instrumental with what I have accomplished thus far and I wlll continue on...thanks for your post.

Emily

MAR

Thanks John for the info on the business pages on Facebook! Never knew! Always thought Facebook was for "down-time" and just a social page. Once in awhile we tried uploading house pics, now though, with your insight, we will take it more serious, and like you said, if we all do it as a group it will be intersting to see what happens!

Thanks again!

http://www.TheHousePeople.com

APR

I have just joined face book- I have lots of "Community friends" and "old high school friends" also many "Realtors. I recently found a way to use post lets to post my listing to Facebook and My space also linkedin. I `m not sure how effective it is other than everyone know`s I`m a Realtor and active in my job.

APR

Thanks for sharing this great information. It seems like the more we dig, the more we find useful tools to help us.

APR

I have been on Facebook for some time. I do have my business and personal together. I found that so many of my clients enjoy seeing the personal side of my world. My family from out of town also enjoys seeing the activity that I have in business.

PS.....I have been hit with some stuff too. In fact, I can't keep up with the things tossed, kisses, and an occasional wink or nod.

APR

I really have to be more business minded about facebook. Right now I am just enjoying catching up with old friends!

MAY

In under 2 years since this post FB now has over 250 million users with the majority being persons aged 35 - 50. WOW!

MAY

John,

Thanks for your post. I am new to the industry and will definitely look into a business page for my team.

Matt

JUN

I find facebook to be a terrific way to implement a very subtle conversation style marketing strategy.

facebook pages are AMAZING. The analytics you get for page interactions is amazing. You can almost

see your pages "social health."

Right now I'm playing with the theory that you can actually use a page as your new RE website.

Think about it, you can share photos and videos of your properties. Using some HTML plugin

you can capture names and email addresses of interested parties. The events feature is perfect

for open houses, and the updates allow you to be in the feed. What could be better?

Jonathan Rivera

Real-TechGuy

AUG

Hi, I just subscribed to your blog, sometimes I wished the day has more hours to keep up with all SEO and Social Media. I will take it step by step :-)

OCT

Yes, i have found just in using it socially that facebook is a great way to get a little closer with your clients. Instead of sending them a recipe postcard you can actually connect witht hem and have conversations. It's great and I plan on using it more and more.

NOV

Yes, it's a part of my plan. I can see the value of consistency there.

NOV

I'm going to write a 3.5 hr. MCE class on "New Age Prospecting" .It will be based on using primarily AR and FB as your Lead Generation tools !!! For years I've harassed my agents to enter their S.O.I. into a database(still important). Many have said they've lost touch or would almost be embarassed, or wouldn't KNOW WHAT TO SAY(after all this time)!!! I'm asking all of them to go thru all the settled files they can find(I'm talkin 20+ yrs. for some) and ATTEMPT to befriend them all !!! The same for any old yearbooks, old membership lists etc. !!!!

Facebook saves an old LOST real estate art !!!! In the earlier days of sales/marketing we were taught about a concept of "Telling 20". The idea behind it was those 20 might just tell another 20, who have the ability to tell (you've got the picture) ....... Fast forward to 2010, EVERY Open House should be POSTED on every agents FB(I'm talkin the entire office)- talk about potential market saturation !!!!!!!

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