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Social Media Networks: Are You Attending a Party of Strangers?

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

4 Ways To Decide Which Social Media Networks Are Best For Your Business

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram are the most popular social networking tools for millions of online marketers.  They are an excellent way to gain exposure for your brand, drive traffic to your website, and build trust with prospective clients.  However, if you don't know which social media networks your target market is on, you're taking a shot in the dark that your market is being reached.  

 

Here are 4 ways to decide which social media networks are best for you business:  

 

What are Your Ultimate Goals?  Social media marketing takes a lot of time and effort.  The ultimate goal is to increase your bottom line.  What other goals do you want to achieve while getting to your end goal?  Brand recognition?  Authority?  Trust?  Knowing what your ultimate goals are will help you decide which network is best for you.

 

Who's Your Target Audience? In order to make the most impact on your social media marketing efforts, you need to know who your target market is.  This will help you determine which networks they're more likely to participate in.  People between the ages of 18 and 27 can be found on Pinterest and Instagram.  Twitter, Facebook, and Google + are used more by people ages 25 and above.  If you're targeting seniors, Instagram and Pinterest are probably not your best choices.

 

What Does Your Target Audience Want? Invest your social media networking time connecting with your target audience by providing information they can relate to.  For instance, a younger audience will not be interested in senior living.  They will, however, be interested in relevant information on videos and Instagram.

 

What Do You Have Time For?  Starting and participating in conversations is essential for social media marketing success.  It's better to participate in one network well than to be scattered among several networks that you don't have time for.  Social media marketing is time-consuming.  If you're limited on time, consider participating in only one network or outsource your social media marketing.

 

These four tips will help you choose the best social media channel and target audience for your business.  Choose the social media network that will help you achieve your business goals, build confidence and trust, and target people who will increase your bottom line. 

 

Other Social Media Posts You Might Like to Read:

 

Digital Marketing Techniques: How to Increase Consumer Engagement

 

5 Ways to Test Your Client Engagement

 

 

 

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Pamela- excellent way to determine what social media is best for you. I've been guilty of jumping in on every one that emerged and mastering none of them. 

Apr 10, 2018 05:52 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Kathy Streib - Sometimes you have to jump into different social media networks to see which one(s) work best for your market.  Thank you for your comments.

Apr 12, 2018 09:29 AM
Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Independent architectural histor'n - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

Pamela--You are right. You have to choose your battles!

Apr 10, 2018 06:32 PM
Earl White
House Heroes LLC - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
Real estate investor in South Florida.

As you're thinking through the issue on which social media outlets to use, don't forget about Google+ & GoogleMyBusiness. Since Google owns them, even just having some face time, can help increase the organic rank of your personal site.

Since the Google search engine can really be make or break for any business nowadays, skipping a Google product is a bit of a risk.

Apr 10, 2018 07:20 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Great comments, Earl White   Some people think G+ is losing its power.  I disagree.  It's Google!  It's not going anywhere soon.  If anything, there will be improvements.  GoogleMyBusiness.com is only available to businesses with a brick and mortar presence.  If you are a Realtor without your own business address, you won't be able to use GoogleMyBusiness.com.  You can use your home address, but I wouldn't suggest it.  I appreciate your thoughts on this subject. 

Apr 12, 2018 09:34 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks, Pamela, for the guidance on social media and issues to consider before we find ourselves wasting time.

Jeff

Apr 10, 2018 11:00 PM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Pamela,

The social media networks are intensely complex and diverse. Instagram for example has many older folks like myself that you would never know about unless you were in the same "interest thread".  Things like botany, carpentry, welding, has a group from the mid thirties to 70 years old.  It is a huge diverse pool of which we see only a fraction.  

Facebook on the other-hand sends you the feed it thinks you need. Unless you shop around it will put you in the demographic it thinks you belong in..   I need to stop here because FB is out of control.  

Apr 11, 2018 05:28 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Dana Basiliere - Knowing where your target market hangs out is key for a successful social media marketing plan.  


"FB is out of control"...We've been followed around for decades.  I remember being uncomfortable about the grocery stores knowing what I bought, how often I shopped, and what I spent.  Now, look where it's gone.  We gave up privacy a long time ago.  


Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Apr 12, 2018 09:38 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                 

                                              Thank you Pamela.

Apr 14, 2018 06:27 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Kathy Streib - Thank you for featuring my post.  I appreciate you and all you do for the AR community.

Apr 15, 2018 11:08 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the great tips. I will bookmark this post 

Apr 15, 2018 04:05 AM
Khash Saghafi NMLS
Liberty Home Mortgage Corporation - Cleveland, OH
Mortgage Loan Officer, Cleveland OH NMLS 1114762

Great post Pamela. Very organized plan of action.  Thank you for the information and thank you Kathy Streib for sharing this so that I could find it!!

Apr 15, 2018 04:25 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Happy to help, Khash Saghafi . Many thanks to Kathy Streib for featuring the post.

Apr 15, 2018 11:10 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Pamela. This is really good. I like your analysis and agree with it too.

Apr 15, 2018 05:39 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

After several years of engaging in social media I conclude that is another way to get your name out in cyberspace.  There are just way more agents.  Having a presence is one thing. Get your name on top is another. We have over 150,000 + realtors in this area. County has 30,000 active agents. 

Apr 15, 2018 06:29 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Sam Shueh - You're right.  It's a crowded playing field.  Social media lets people get to know and trust you.   

Apr 15, 2018 11:12 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I'm like Kathy Streib  . I set up accounts and jumped in to all of them and then lost interest. They are a lot of work. I'd just as soon work with strangers, LOL, and I do.

Although I have had people bookmark my website from something I wrote. I hear from them many years later to say yes, when time came to sell, they knew who they would choose.

Apr 15, 2018 10:09 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents - Social media isn't the only way to meet prospects. It's just another tool in the arsenal.

Apr 15, 2018 11:13 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Pamela, this makes the affirmation so much easier to come to terms with. Here via Kathy Streib

Apr 15, 2018 10:23 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Hi Pamela. Great advice - we can't hope to be all things to all people, and on all sites. Might as well focus our attentions on the right target - and on the social media sites they frequents...otherwise....

Apr 15, 2018 10:41 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD - I created a social media presentation for a real estate office in New Jersey.  I pointed out just what you said.  "Focus our attention on the right target".  You just need to know which target your prospects live in.

Apr 15, 2018 11:15 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I tried to outsource it once, but I was very unhappy with the result and I'll never do it again.  Even if it's not as consistant as I would like it's authentic me and I think in the end for my business model that's more important.

Apr 15, 2018 12:34 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

      I am down to a handful of social media sites.   I tried them all; I found the ones that work for me.

Apr 15, 2018 02:39 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Fred Griffin - Good for you!  Find what works for your target market.  Have a great week.

Apr 16, 2018 09:49 AM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Thanks for sharing, Pamela Cendejas. Very well written and helpful post. I'm not comfortable with social media as a whole, but your help is appreciated.
Bruce

 

Apr 15, 2018 07:06 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Bruce Kunz - If you're thinking about dipping your big toe into social media, start with the network for your target market's demographics or the one you're most comfortable using.  Have a great week.

Apr 16, 2018 09:51 AM
Corey Martin
Martin Presence Group - Ruston, LA
Real Estate and Management Solutions

It is as I have said before, everything boils down to strict planning. Having a plan for everything makes life much simpler. Thank you for sharing.

Apr 18, 2018 12:09 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Corey Martin - Planning is step #1 for sure.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Apr 18, 2018 01:00 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Thanks for the clarity on being focused with social media. As with all we do it should fit our goals and time.

Apr 30, 2018 09:01 AM
Pamela Cendejas

John Wiley - Always good to read your comments.  Have a great week.

Apr 30, 2018 11:49 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

The average U.S. adult spends 11 hours each day in front of a screen. This number is increasing year-over-year, and with every rising generation.So, we should pay attention where our clients spend the most of their online time and, at least, be find-able there:) 

Sep 03, 2018 11:04 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Inna Ivchenko - Very true.  Otherwise, we're wasting our time.  Thank you for commenting.

Sep 04, 2018 04:38 PM