For those of you who are still laboring under the assumption that social media is not a valid form of communication or worse, a passing phenom, let me gently correct you… it’s here to stay.
After many years of participating in the midstate social (media) scene and also observing the activities of those Real Estate agents “doing it right”, I can say with confidence that communication via social channels has taken its place alongside phone and email/text as a normal component of the process of buying a home. Not only do agents I know regularly communicate with clients and business prospects via social tools, they use this new media to include other parties such as mortgage and insurance pros and share things like home photos, tours or local content about the neighborhood.
Facebook Messenger is by far and away the most commonly used social tool for communication. While it does involve downloading that oft-maligned Messenger app onto your phone, the reality is that most everyone has done so by now. Also on Facebook, it’s not uncommon at all for me to see people commenting on an agent’s post or on our local Coldwell Banker Facebook page asking for info or asking the agent to meet regarding their home search. It happens. Also, I see Twitter conversations occurring using that channels direct message component. The short, 140-character tweets back and forth keep the dialogues mercifully simple – and when anything more in-depth is required, the phone call which is best anyway is pretty much required.
Social is the modern-day equivalent of a coffee gathering or a chamber mixer, with all the requisite rules for professional and proper behavior; something that any small businessperson is well advised to remember. But, when an agent stretches themself and jumps into social the rewards are usually well worth it. It’s where people are today.
Comments(3)