Know your Market, Your Business Plan, Yourself

Know your Market, Your Business Plan, Yourself

Social Media – It’s crucial to know your market, & work what’s right for you within a business plan.

Chris Webb, Education & Training with Nova Home Loans, says that here in Tucson we can demographically subdivide into two main categories:  One by the University of Arizona which adheres primarily to Instagram and Twitter. Two: Tucsonans who are primarily on Facebook.

Social media outlets are constantly expounding on the latest and greatest technology for agents to use. Understanding what is out there is great, however implementing the latest trends in your local market may not be needed. Plus, I can guarantee you that you won’t always have the time!

Again, know your local market, and know your business plan. As Chris says and I agree wholeheartedly, our primary market here in Tucson is NOT on snapchat. Focusing on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Blogging….these may be what’s best for you.  But even more than knowing your market and your business plan…know yourself.

Personally, I am a writer.   If YOU are about meeting with people on a personal level, then have coffee with them, talk with them in the grocery line, network at meetings and within groups and activities.  Social Media may not need to be your primary focus at all.

The art of Blogging

Blogging is a great way to build a business online. Blogging is good because it indexes your keyword posts for future reference. What this means is when a search engine reads through the blog post, it measures keywords and files them away for users to review based on the search engines algorithm and the users inquiry. If you have multiple posts on a particular topic, for example, real estate for sale in Marana, your blog posts will begin to rank in the results.

As people review and share your posts your rankings will go up and down within the search results of online search engines such as Google.

The POWER of checking in, and liking, and posting on different social media sites – and having others tag and share and talk about you as well, is that it reinforces that this is where you live and work...and search engines begin to think of you as a person with authority.  I think of everything I do online as the spokes on a wagon wheel.

Overcoming fear:

I didn’t begin blogging for about 6 months after reading other blog posts.  I was afraid I didn’t know enough.  I wasn’t an “expert”.  I wasn’t good with market reports, or graphs, or ________ fill in the blank.  What I discovered by reading other blogs was, I don’t have to be.

I can share an opinion, an event, teach someone how to do something, talk to a local, do a restaurant review, share a news story in my own words, and so forth.  I can talk about my listings, where I like to market, and what’s changing in the communities around them.

How to fill the white space:

Google it…truly.  If you type in, ideas to blog about….you’ll get the idea

Are you about photos…use a lot or a little…be yourself.

Proofread, spell check, review your links.

Try online seminars for ideas on keywording, branding, linking, and growing your blog.

Carry your camera around.  Engage local businesses and talk about local activities.  Become an online cheerleader for your market focus.

The benefits of Blogging

I began blogging when at a slow time in my career.  Nothing much had been happening for a few weeks and so I began looking for a way to reinvent myself and my career.

Blogging opened my eyes to the communities around me and what was going on.  It brought me out of my own perspective and into a larger view of the Tucson area.

It taught me that at every event, every expo, every restaurant – there’s someone I can approach and share something of value.  You see, not everyone wants to talk about real estate, but they DO want to talk about their businesses and themselves.  It’s a HUGE door-opener.  Blogging about others lets me get emails, and make contacts I never ordinarily would.  I take a photo or two, write a blog, email it to them, and add them to my database!

Engage

So, in review, I implore you to know yourself, your communication styles, and then direct that to the social media styles that best fit your niche, market, and business plan.  The amount of time you wish to allocate to online social media should directly relate to your personality type.

Register online - fill out your profiles.  Even if you don't wish to spend a great deal of time -- be everywhere your clients are looking... Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Yelp, and so forth...  This lays the groundwork for your social media presence, sort of like a spider web.  Join communities and groups.  React and interact with others - this is crucial as you form business and personal relationships.  Don't be afraid to leave professional sounding reviews on Trip Advisor, Open Table, News Forums, Yelp, and others.  Above all, what you choose to do...ENJOY.  Your passion will shine through if you are true to yourself.