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Add Social Media to Your 2009 Marketing Plan

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Services for Real Estate Pros with My Assistant

Are you rolling in marketing dollars this year? If you're like a lot of companies you are forced to give a hard look to your marketing plan and rule out what is working and what is not. Here's what I'm hearing.

Not working:

  • Newspapers
  • Homes & Lifestyles
  • Open Houses

Working (in our area and across the country)

  • Websites
  • Postcards
  • Twilight Open Houses
  • Social Media Marketing

Social Media is the NEW internet. Have you heard of Web 2.0? That's what it refers to - social networking online. While we're in winter, let's not hibernate but amp up our marketing plans and pull new ideas into them.

Not sure how to get started with Social Media Marketing? It can be a bit overwhelming if you're just starting out. Here's an intro to a couple of the major social media sites. You will also want to check out this article by David Wilson, owner of Braveheart Design on why you need a social media presence. I'll work on pulling together more information on ActiveRain and Broker Social Network. Those are both real estate specific networking sites.

Twitter- a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real time. Basically, you create a profile, find people to ‘follow'. You get updates from them about what they are doing/thinking and vice versa. I've made 5 real life friends from Twitter and received quite a bit of paying business. I've also connected with other VAs and learned valuable tips. View my Twitter profile.

 Facebook - Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. You can also connect your outside blog (short for web log) to Facebook and your Facebook profile will automatically be updated with your new posts (are you blogging your listings yet? If not, winter is a great time to learn how). Visit my Facebook profile.

I offer training and profile set up for those who want to get started but don't want to do the set up.

Show All Comments
David Width Jr.
Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Thanks for this post. Some things may work better in certain areas than in other, but as a whole I think you basically hit the nail on the head as far as what works and what doesn't.

Jan 08, 2009 02:34 AM
Paul Hockaday
Exit Homeplace Realty (Wilmington, NC) - Wilmington, NC

Renee, I think that social marketing is one of the best ways to market yourself fairly cheaply.  Thanks for the post.

Paul

"100 Days to Change"

Jan 08, 2009 02:43 AM
Lou Coco
Keller Williams Realty St. Louis - Webster Groves, MO
St. Louis, MO Real Estate 314-477-7642

Thanks for the post Renee.  I am going to work on my social media marketing.  I also might get a virtual assistant as business picks up.  I am glad that there is such a thing.  Have a great 2009!

Jan 08, 2009 02:55 AM
Renee Crabtree
My Assistant - South Bend, IN

David & Paul- People are looking for better content. Newspaper ads don't provide ALL of the homes for sale. They don't provide a personality for the agent. Social media is where people can get together and become friends - to learn more about what makes the person tick - to learn why they would want that person to sell their home or help them buy another. You can quickly become the expert by using social media to showcase your knowledge, help others, and make friends along the way. And in the end, don't most people pick a realtor based on who they know???

Jan 08, 2009 02:56 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Appreciated your post...I'm still in this hybrid phase between the old and the new, but am very interested in the marketing potentials of the social media options.

Jan 08, 2009 03:01 AM
Home Loan Search.Online
Home Loan Search Online - Newnan, GA

I'm a big fan of AR and Facebook. Most of my business is referral based, but I always like to stay "in front of" my clients.

Jan 08, 2009 03:08 AM
Herb Hamilton
RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors - Portland, OR
Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland

Renee,

You have just done what I have been trying to do for the last couple of days. Provide a link to my Facebook page.

So hear is what I am sturggling with. When I invite people to view my profile page, where in Facebook do I find that link?

Jan 08, 2009 03:08 AM
Renee Crabtree
My Assistant - South Bend, IN

Lou - Now is a great time to jump in. Even if you just take it a little at a time, adding a new network every few weeks. At least you are on Active Rain - that's a great step. If you blog on AR, I would suggest the next thing you do is get a Twitter account and update that with your blog links when you post them. Start finiding some friends to follow & they will start following you back.

Li - Phase it in. As I told Lou, take it one site at a time. When you are comfortably using that site then move on to the next. Wait until the first is a habit so you don't forget to keep going back to it.

Beware - it's addictive!

Jan 08, 2009 03:08 AM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Renee, I believe that you hit the nail on the head with what is working and what isn't.  I am going to have to look into having my blogs go directly to my facebook page.  Twitter is still a work in progress for me.  Thanks for the info!

Jan 08, 2009 03:20 AM
Renee Crabtree
My Assistant - South Bend, IN

Herb - what you can do is go to Facebook and click on your 'profile' tab. Copy the address in your browser window. I just added you as my friend so if you accept then I can pull the address and make a tinyurl for you - something like http://www.tinyurl.com/herbfacebook

Jan 08, 2009 03:23 AM
Renee Crabtree
My Assistant - South Bend, IN

Tony & Darcy - all you need to do in Facebook is go to the 'notes' link on the right-hand side of your page. Then there will be a link on the right-hand side to import your blog. All you need to do from there is enter in your blog url and it will automatically pull your posts. Easy as cake!

Jan 08, 2009 03:33 AM
Bruce & Mary Smith
Savannah Lakes Homes - McCormick, SC
REALTORS, Savannah Lakes Village McCormick SC

You're right and what works and what doesn't and especially about the statement that not many of us are rolling in marketing dollars!

Jan 11, 2009 01:54 PM
Ed Bisquera
Ed Bisquera Digital Marketing Consultant SEO (971) 266-0226 - Portland, OR

Good post.  There's so much to aggregate and keep up to date when using social media, but with so many tools online it's becoming much easier.

Has anyone thought of using a service like Ping.fm to help cut down on posting listings or other pages?

Just follow me on Twitter and Facebook and you'll see what I mean.  When you "PingThis" to a web a page (like your property website) you can have it sent as an update to Twitter, Facebook and dozens of other social media sites, in seconds!!

I'll be sure to post a video of how to do this in my blog later this weekend.

Thanks again for the post Renee!

Follow me on Activerain | Twitter

Jan 15, 2009 08:49 AM
Dom Naidoo
Westside Properties - Venice, CA
Malibu to the Marina Real Estate

great post! Excellent information. Thank you for the information. All the best!

Jan 15, 2009 01:30 PM
Tucson Real Estate Experts Anne McKechnie
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Previews Property Specialist

I totally agree, I just sent a referral to an agent that I met on facebook and she has sent me two  clients that are coming in the spring

Jan 17, 2009 12:38 PM
Terri Hayley
Legit Agents - Prosper, TX
Where Texas Charm Meets New Home Expertise

Renee,

Thanks for your post. I've gotten referrals off of Linked In (www.linkedin.com) and lots of useful contacts and information from Facebook. However, I've not gotten much out of Twitter. I'm wondering what you're doing that I'm not? I do have all the major news outlets following me from my posts on Twitter? Thanks.

Jan 18, 2009 09:33 AM
Renee Crabtree
My Assistant - South Bend, IN

Ed - I'm checking out Ping. I am sure that could be beneficial for some tweets and updates.

Terri - what is your twitter username? The most important thing to remember with Twitter is to not 'sell'. People are there to get to know you. Occassionally post a link to a blog post or AR post, real estate thoughts, etc. But don't forget to leave your personality in your tweets. That's what it's all about - you and your relationship with all other tweeple.

Jan 18, 2009 10:12 AM
Terri Hayley
Legit Agents - Prosper, TX
Where Texas Charm Meets New Home Expertise

Hi Renee,

I'm at http://twitter.com/realestatediva. I haven't used it to sell. I think you can see some of my postings if you go to that site. I can at least? Thanks!!

Jan 18, 2009 11:04 AM
Doris Barber
Doris Barber - Business Support Specialist - Gaithersburg, MD
Business Support Specialist

Your post was spot on.  It doesn't seem like a business can survive without some sort of social media marketing in their toolbox.

Jan 29, 2009 12:31 PM
Mark P. Felton
Front Porch Homes - Waco, TX
Waconulls Premiere Custom Builder

Very True.  I am moving more and more towards Social Media vs. Print.

Feb 11, 2009 07:42 AM
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