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How Real Estate Agents Fail At Social Media

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executive Realty 91362

Real Estate social mediaThe concept of social media unfortunately goes right over a lot of peoples heads. Most Real Estate agents have been en-grained into thinking that everything they do surrounding their business should be about marketing and advertising. Many in the industry take this thought process and translate it to social media.

If you want to make social media really work for you then you really need to remove the bulliten board mentality from your social media efforts. Social media is not about advertising or personal promotion. Social media is about building relationships!

I think you would agree the best of the best here at Active Rain are successful and well recognized in blogging circles because of how social they are. A successful blogger not only shares good information but they also reciprocate and communicate well with others.

This same kind of interaction should also take place at other networks as well whether it is Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter or Linkedin. In many of these social media venues there are unwritten rules that should be followed. Most of the time these things are just general common sense. There are however far to many real estate social media blunders taking place that make our industry look silly in front of consumers. I would recommend that you click the previous link and read the article. If you agree and would love to see improvements in our industry please share this article across your social media networks.

You will find a discussion about social media mistakes on each of the most popular social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Linkedin. I hope this article stimulates some thought and if you make these mistakes maybe you will reconsider your social media strategy.

Posted by

With three decades of experience, Bill Gassett is an authority in the real estate sector. Bill writes informative articles for numerous prestigious real estate sites to help buyers, sellers, and fellow real estate agents. His work has been featured on RIS Media, the National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, Realty Biz News, Credit Sesame, and his own authority resource, Maximum Real Estate Exposure. Reach out to Bill Gassett for his real estate, mortgage, and financial expertise.

Comments(109)

Michael Blue
Home Smart Realty West - Encinitas, CA
REALTOR - 760-889-8877, Encinitas/Carlsbad
I just read the link, sending invites to groups that match is smart. I think i may flunk twitter and goole+. Have some work to do.
Apr 03, 2013 01:23 PM
Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Independent architectural histor'n - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

Bill--The linked article was well written and to the point. The comments here are all over the map and show the diversity of opinion on AR. A real learning experience reading all this!

Apr 04, 2013 01:06 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Bill, we agree.  We think the two major blunders are too much real estate on their personal page and too much wasted time on social media.

Apr 04, 2013 02:05 AM
Debby Singleton
Springer Realty Group - Limerick, PA
Top Producer since 1993

Amen!  I have recently "unfollowed" several local agents who bombard me (and their other friends) with 7-10 listing related blurbs a day!   Too much.  I go onto social media to see how everyone is doing, what their kids are up to, etc. and then I can connect and stay in touch socially.   Business doesn't have to overshadow every aspect of your life and you can still be successful.    Great articles and links.

Apr 04, 2013 04:31 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Bill  I admit I am somewhere between a participant and a loser - closer to the loser side

Apr 04, 2013 07:50 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Karen K:  If someone like you is called a "loser"... then I want to be a loser, too.  Hope you are well... have a great weekend!

Apr 04, 2013 09:58 AM
Pat & Steve Pribisko
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West - Westlake, OH

Bill, great blog.  I agree that social media is about making relationships.  But, I also think it is good for marketing and advertising.

Apr 05, 2013 02:04 AM
George P. Cruz Sr.
Premier Brokers International - Port St Lucie, FL
PSL FL CDPE, TRC, CIPS

Great post everyday I think more and more about social media its become a part of our business...

 

 

 

 

 

Apr 05, 2013 03:30 AM
Jason Anderson
Mercury Properties - Rio Rancho, NM
Realtor®

Great article. I was going to cover a similiar topic-and still may. I am sick of some of these self-professed real estate rock stars to talk up a game and brag about their business, only for me to research and find that they are not doing anywhere close to what they say. So, besides the lies, the 20 posts a day about their listings or sales or how they are the best also drive me crazy. I have disassociated my self with these people and have more on my list to do the same.

Apr 05, 2013 07:20 AM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Thanks Bill for enlightening us. I suppose I need to go to social media school or something because I get nonw of this. Most all my friends are IE FB are old high school class mates and ex co - workers who I didn't really talk to anyway.

I do not understand the circles and groupie thing either can you recommend a book or class.

Apr 09, 2013 12:14 PM
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Bill, I read your link.  Great information thanks for sharing all the knowledge with us on activerain. Ok I am done with open house, blogging, time for some windsurfing. Have a great day.

Steve Maui

Apr 12, 2013 08:24 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Steve - that sounds a heck of a lot better than anything to do with social media:)

Apr 12, 2013 08:47 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Bill  I am still learning to climb aboard the social media bandwagon, but I think I'm improving

Apr 16, 2013 11:50 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Karen I am sure you are doing just fine. Would love to see you interacting over at Google Plus!

Apr 17, 2013 12:35 AM
Jane Chaulklin-Schott
TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL
TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Thanks Bill, for all the info on the full article - the importance of social media and building good relationship. Neat to know about the Zillow widget...won't do.:)

Apr 30, 2013 12:49 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Sure thing Jane! Yes many Realtors do not understand that it is not a good thing to be linking out to Zillow and others as it beefs up their rank in search results!

Apr 30, 2013 01:06 AM
Kela Caspillo
Kauai Dreams Realty - Kapaa, HI
Kela Caspillo

This is so true Bill. Instead of advertising myself as a real estate agent 24/7 on my personal FB which can be annoying. Now I try to message or talk to a friend on FB just to reconnect with them and let them know Im still here.

May 15, 2013 05:29 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Very good move Kela! Social media for Real Estate does not have to be hard:)

May 15, 2013 06:07 AM
Shapna Riyan
Brax Homes
http://www.braxhomes.com

Informative blog! Social media has been always a very best tool for promoting all kinds of businesses include real estate business, because the visitors flow and engagement rate of social media is much higher, when compared to other available media channels like TV, Newspaper or Radio.

Jan 27, 2015 01:20 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I agree, social media is not for selling, it is for creating relationships= fans. 

Jan 07, 2016 05:16 PM