Twitter is certainly one of the hottest things in the real estate and mortgage industry. Twitter is becoming the hotline for getting the latest real estate news, marketing tips, building relationships, and most importantly engaging customers. If you have figured it out yet, not sure where to start, or just hesitant lets take the next 10-15 minutes to get you started.
Here are 10 simple steps to get your Twitter started and productively giving you results:
1. Get a Twitter account
2. Watch this "What is Twitter?" video
3. Add a picture and fill out the bio (otherwise you look like the emerging spammers)
4. Make a few quick post to give it a try--What are you doing?
5. Find a few (10-20) people to follow (Use Twitter search to look people chatting about real estate or mortgage)--Follow me: @billrice
6. Listen for a little bit
7. Start engaging in the conversation
8. Now you are seeing people talking to other people--follow the interesting ones
9. Get you blog involved. Use Twitterfeed to alert your community to new blog or ActiveRain posts
10. Ask questions and give short tips you learn (adding value and being interesting gets you more followers)
Bonus:
11. Get a great Twitter desktop client like Twhirl or TweetDeck to make it easier to listen and converse
12. Don't forget to interact with your community--this is a social thing, a conversation don't forget that
13. Use TwitPic to show off pictures of your listings, your office, you helping a client
14. Talk about deals, rates, unique things you do for clients
15. Most importantly! Use Twitter to get people a good idea of what it is to work with you.
Enjoy your Twitter experience! If you have any questions send me a Tweet--@billrice.
Keller Williams Real Estate - Langhorne, PA
Realtor, -www.swainsells.com- Bucks County, Pa
I just set up a twitter account last week. Thanks for the ideas. I did not know there is a Twitter desktop. I will be gettting one of them.
Dec 14, 2008 09:48 PM
Tallahassee, FL
Bill, thanks for the step by step advice. This should be enough to get anyone well on their way.
Dec 14, 2008 09:58 PM
Kaleidico.com - Flat Rock, MI
Carol and Colleen,
My pleasure! Twitter is a great tool and there has developed an amazing community of real estate twitterers--come join the conversation!
Bill
Dec 14, 2008 10:12 PM
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA
It seems that a lot are moving to twitter because of the "quick" interaction!
Merry Christmas!
your friend in Charlottesville
Dec 14, 2008 10:53 PM
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production
I just joined twitter a couple of weeks ago. I really don't see the point or benefit, but I'm in...everyone says it's great, soooooo I'm patient as I learn to discover what makes it so good.
Dec 14, 2008 11:10 PM
Kaleidico.com - Flat Rock, MI
Larry,
It is a great way to listen to the market and your customers. However, you do (like anything) need to invest in it to get value back. That means engaging in the conversation. Talking to new connections, looking for interesting people, using search.twitter.com to find customers chattering about problems and challenges in the real estate and mortgage market.
If you just sign up and follow a couple of people--there is little value. There are so many great technologies out there to help with social marketing. You have to chose what to focus on. I chose Twitter. For you, it may be a very different strategy and there is nothing wrong with that.
I think that is the big misconception circulated by the sales letter marketers out there. It is not do step 1-10 and customers fall at your feet. Marketing is hard work and finding way to engage and add value to build an audience. Short of that, it will just be another failed experience.
I wish you the best in you real estate marketing Larry!
Bill
Dec 14, 2008 11:33 PM
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
I just signed up a couple of days ago and thus far, see absolutely no point in it, but thanks for the tips and I'll see if things progress from there.
Dec 15, 2008 01:14 AM
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate
Nice, well focused post. I don't entirely have the hang of twitter yet, but keep working on it. Will "follow" you. :)
Dec 15, 2008 01:39 AM
Home After Home - Baton Rouge, LA
Thanks for the info. I was just talking the other day with a friend about how cool it would be to be able to send a picture to my twitter page! And here you are talking about twitpic. Thanks! You may not know it but you have impeccable timing! Tweet me: netdrifter
Dec 15, 2008 01:40 AM
Kaleidico.com - Flat Rock, MI
Bridget,
Great to follow you--love your Minature Pinscher (great use of Twit Pic!).
Donna and Eileen,
Keep working with it--most don't get Twitter at first. And, to really see value you have to build up a good little community around you--the the value starts flowing back.
Good luck to everyone giveing it a try and thinks for reading my little tips!
Bill
Dec 15, 2008 02:02 AM
Samson Properties - Manassas, VA
DMVRealEstateChick
Which is easier to use tweet deck or twirl? If anyone has opinion let me know.
Dec 17, 2008 03:43 AM
Kaleidico.com - Flat Rock, MI
Dee Dee,
I have used both. I think Twhirl is less confusing at first. I use Twhirl still. If you have several communities within your Twitter followers you want to track separately or you track a lot of searches then TweetDeck makes more sense.
Tell me how it goes.
Bill
Dec 17, 2008 09:16 PM
Anonymous
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Nov 20, 2010 04:43 PM
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