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How To Follow the Elite on Twitter & Are you One?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Showcase Homes

Finally embracing Twitter (part 1) there is a Following to be built.  With a lot of ways to find people and businesses, first you have to decide on WHY you want to Twitter.  For me it started as being about business.  Always looking for ways to promote my business, it was about promoting listings, local communities and to encourage people to choose me to assist them with their Real Estate needs.  I have found it is that and so much more.

twitter bird Following people from ActiveRain was the first step.  I listened to RainRadio(already knew about @bradandersohn) and heard about @kimwood, @pchaney and @myrtlebeachblog.  Once they followed me back, I could see the Twitter names of those they follow.  I started clicking on their addresses, looked at the mini profile and some of their posts and started following many of them.  And it grows from there.  Their followers would do the same when they happened to catch my updates and follow me and I, in turn, follow them.  This in itself gets you started. 

Bill Gassett just posted about Twellowhoodwhich is a good place to find local people.  After all, we want to engage in a local conversation.  I have heard reference to "Tweetups" where someone tweet about getting together and invite Tweeters to show up - what a great way to meet new friends and network.  While Twellowhood is for top locals, Twellow is for top Twitters in categories of interest to you. 

Their are so many twitter tools out there for almost anything.  So here are a couple to find the Top/Elite/Popular people on Twitter - locally or nationally.  Mr. Tweet is your assistant and will search your extended network and recommend who you should be following and who of your follows should you follow back.  Another is Twittergrader.  I ran across this early when my score was like 4 and now I am considered a TwitterElite for Metro Detroit--great surprise.  The cool thing is that I clicked on the Elite button after my name and found I was #5 and a list of all others in my Metro Detroit area and followed some.  As you scroll down there is a lot more information on the page - didn't notice before as there was none as a beginner.  There are Tabs at the top of the TwitterGrader for other searches:  TwitterElite and Search (for terms) and TwitSnip where it will not only shorten a URL but shorten a post in what is called "twitabulary"-twitter short vocabulary.  You can also check the status of others you know on Twitter.  Also check out another post about Twitter alerts.

This should create a lot of Twitter people to follow and don't forget to Follow Me on Twitter--I'll follow back.

Royal Oak Realtor selling Real Estate in Southeastern Michigan.  TishHouse sells Houses - selling Oakland County Real Estate with RE/MAX Showcase Homes in Birmingham, Michigan. Helping People in a challenging market by specializing in Short Sales. See what my clients have to say about my extraordinary customer service

Comments(49)

JJ Hannah
Keller Williams Realty Northern Colorado - Fort Collins, CO

Mr. Tweet sounds very interesting.  I love learning some new like that.  Thanks,

Dec 16, 2008 05:51 AM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Great post, Cathy!  I'm just getting into Twitter now myself.  I did read that Twellowhood post the other day, that is a neat tool.  Good luck and see you in Tweetville!

Dec 16, 2008 05:56 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

OK, I just don't get this. I signed up on Twiiter, why would anyone care what I am doing? I searched my town- a few mentions, mostly from days ago, one person I don't know from my town. I searched AZ and AZ real estate and just real estate. Is it just people basically having conversations about whatever? I spend too much time now having conversations on the phone and with walk-ins and by email. I don't have time to chat for fun.
How do you use Twitter for business? Does it get you business? Or is it just socializing, and maybe the relationships MIGHT turn into business?

Dec 16, 2008 07:08 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Cathy thanks for the mention of my post about Twellowhood!

Dec 16, 2008 07:51 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Cathy, my simple question is where do you find the time to Twitter? I am so glad though that it is working for you.

Dec 16, 2008 08:04 AM
The Somers Team
The Somers Team at KW Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Delivering Real Estate Happiness

Cathy, awesome info for Twitter !  Cutting edge - love it ! p.s Just followed you on Twitter : )

Dec 16, 2008 11:48 AM
Jodi Bakst
Team Jodi Realty - Chapel Hill, NC
Team Jodi - Chapel Hill Real Estate, Durham Real E

Cathy,

This is a great post.  You learn something new everyday.  I use HubSpot all the time and has not seen or been told about this tool.  Thanks.  I looked at my grade and it is an 82.  Not bad.  Now I need to really learn what I am doing.  Please follow me at jbakst.

Do you know where you get the follow me on twitter widgets?

Dec 16, 2008 12:42 PM
Cathy Tishhouse
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Royal Oak, MI
Royal Oak Real Estate

Bo:   Thanks for the follow &, of course, I'm following back.

Lane Baily - I am now following you - I would put a link on your Blog saying "Follow Me on Twitter"--would make you easier to find.

Bridget:  I'm still finding more Twitter applications - & following you

Larry:  good time of year to network - at least in my neck of the woods - slow time of year.

Cristal:  I'm addicted - so surprised as it seemed way overwhelming when I didn't understand what it was and avoided it.

Catina:  You are Welcome

Trunda:  Once you understand, I think you will love it.

Jeff Belonger:  You are Welcome - I am sure you will be successful as you are a great contribution of AR.

Dec 19, 2008 03:03 AM
Cathy Tishhouse
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Royal Oak, MI
Royal Oak Real Estate

Regina:  I posted about Twitter Alerts and talked about how Twitter applies to and can create business.

John:  I totally agree - I have embraced it by really "jumping in"

Best Spot Realty - glad you could sort it out.

Ann:  I'm still finding cool tools and it has paid off in my enthusiasm and having things to blog about.

Dec 19, 2008 01:11 PM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

HI EVERYONE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE OFFICIAL ACTIVE RAIN MEMBERS ON TWITTER CHECKLIST

We've added everyone's @acounts we saw posted above.

Dec 20, 2008 09:39 AM
Keisha Hosea- KASIHomes.com
KASI Homes - Chino Hills, CA
Real Estate Solutions For Real People

Just signed up on twitter. I can't say that I fully get i yet. But we'll see.

Dec 20, 2008 09:47 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Keisha what's your @name?

Dec 20, 2008 09:55 AM
Eileen Begley
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate

Thank you Cathy for all the good info on Twitter. I am going to try twillowhood to find more local people. Good tips and links.

Dec 27, 2008 02:52 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I need to go over there and spend some time.  I have connected my ar posts to twitter but that's about me.  I think all the little names are so cute...

Dec 28, 2008 01:24 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Ok, I spent about 15 minutes clicking on your links above and so far I have:

  1. Found out my rating is 63 out of 100
  2. Follow Mr. Tweet
  3. Visited Twillowhood
  4. Followed several people in Elkhart

NOW, I feel like I am getting somewhere!  thanks for the great post!

Dec 28, 2008 01:55 AM
Tim Hart
VanDyk Mortgage-Branch Manager - Fort Myers, FL

This is on my list to do in 2009! Thanks for the good post and i have it bookmarked.

Dec 28, 2008 11:57 AM
Keisha Hosea- KASIHomes.com
KASI Homes - Chino Hills, CA
Real Estate Solutions For Real People

Great info, thanks.

Dec 28, 2008 04:58 PM
Cathy Tishhouse
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Royal Oak, MI
Royal Oak Real Estate

Diane & Cindy:  Mor3e online work and confusing is what I thought as well that had me keep putting it off - now I love it and really wish I had embraced it earlier - but we do it when we do it.

Russell - OK it's the holidays - I hopeyou have learned more about it - so many great posts on the Twitter group.

Jon:  It is great that our blogs automatically show up on Twitter.  ActiveRain is great.

Jason:  @kimwood helped me get started as well.

Sonya:  So glad to be connected - I love finding local Twitterers and the possible networking.  They say that people who Twitter will choose a local Realtor just because they Twitter - that's how "in" being on Twitter is.  I look forward to reading your posts.  I put everyone "local" on a separate group in Tweetdeck.

Dec 29, 2008 01:24 AM
Cathy Tishhouse
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Royal Oak, MI
Royal Oak Real Estate

James:  It is work - but the "real time" conversation is about what is cuttting edge in the world.  I follow a lot of SEO, Twitter tips and social media "gurus" - most of which are not on AR and I would never find them otherwise.  Well worth the work.

Kim:  Glad it was useful

Mike:  You are in my ActiveRain group in Tweetdeck.

Lauren:  I find new people every day by checking out who the top people tweet to etc.

JJ Hanah:  You are Welcome.

Kris:  Glad we are in Tweetville together.

Leslie:  I follow a lot of people in the fields of SEO and social media and find a lot of tips on many things including how to use Twitter for business.  I have found a lot of local people and create a group in Tweetdeck.  I listen watch the conversations and jump in from time to time.  I don't talk that much about Real Estate but they can look at my profile.  Plus all my AR posts are Tweeted including market reports etc.

Jan 01, 2009 04:26 PM
George W. Jordan
Red Soil Real Estate Inc. - Murray Harbour, PE
Owner/Broker, Red Soil Real Estate Inc.

Thanks for the comments on Twitter; I hope to get PEI Real Estate known a little bit more on it...

Mar 14, 2009 05:24 AM