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Why Facebook's Graph Search Will Matter For You

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Fusion

If you're not a techy or haven't heard yet, Facebook is launching a new product within their platform called "Graph Search." Think web search (Google), with a personal twist. Want to look up old pictures of your friends? Search for "pictures of my friends before 1990." Want to find friends who enjoyed The Departed? Search for "friends who like The Departed." Want to find single girls who went to the University of Saskatchewan? "Search for "single girls who graduated from the University of Saskatchewan."

Now I know you're probably saying to yourself, how is this useful and how will this affect my life and business? Well, as we all know, the best business is referral business. Maybe a search for "friends who are Realtors"? "Friends of friends who are Realtors?" "Realtors my friends have bought a house with"? That sounds like a lot more trusting of a relationship already than a random Google search for "Saskatoon real estate agent." Facebook has two things over Google, they have more data and they have personalized and trusting ways to promote businesses. That is something that is envied by all businesses in the world, as there's no business in the world that can instill the trust in you that a recommendation from a friend does.

Now Facebook wants to use that trust to allow you to search the Internet and your network of friends, family and acquaintances to find the people, places, content and information that you want, from a source that you trust. They are not trying to overtake Google in web search, they are trying to build a new type of search, one that is not dependent on backlinks but rather on Likes. And trust me, Facebook has the data, the infrastructure and the know-how to make it work, and this is just the beginning.

Check out my SaskatoonRealty.com blog here.

Comments (6)

Mark Organek
And the United States of America - Mesa, AZ
It's not a game, it's your life.

Susan, thank you for taking the time to touch on this.  I was wondering how it would affect me and you have at least started my gears turning.

Jan 22, 2013 02:12 PM
Susan Zwarych
Century 21 Fusion - Saskatoon, SK

Mark, I see a big future in it. A new type of search, a personalized search. Will it kill Google? No. But I think it will be a complimentary service and gives us all an opportunity to generate leads and ultimately sales with our real estate businesses.

Jan 22, 2013 02:24 PM
Mike Warren
Real Estate - Colorado Springs, CO

Thanks for the information, Susan. Have a great day!

Jan 22, 2013 05:19 PM
Robert Rucker III
Fairbanks, AK

Hello Susan,

We are definitely living in the information age. I am not sure right now how much I will be using this one but thank you very much for the information.

Jan 22, 2013 06:49 PM
Peggy James
SAMSON PROPERTIES - Woodbridge, VA
Woodbridge Virginia Area Real Estate Specialist

Susan- ok, I just had a lightbulb moment! Now it all makes sense. Thanks for the great explanation.

Jan 22, 2013 07:56 PM
Susan Zwarych
Century 21 Fusion - Saskatoon, SK

Glad I could provide some insight, a lot of people are saying "I don't see how that would ever be used." Yeah, in it's infancy, maybe not, but as they grow it I see a ton of applicable business uses.

Jan 23, 2013 01:20 AM