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Twitter and Real Estate? In a Word... BRILLIANT!

By
Real Estate Agent with Kline May Realty

Twitter is a (free) social networking platform where users can post 140-character texts updates. You can follow others, others can follow you, and you see the updates from those who you are following. Insert links if you like, or simply write about what you are doing or how you are feeling at the moment. It's called micro-blogging, and it is brilliant! Here is why real estate agents should use Twitter, and use it often!

Send updates to your followers. Short and sweet messages about what you are doing will usually interest your followers. They choose to follow you, so they want to hear from you! A good example would be "Just got my 5th lead today through my web site. Yes!!" It shows that you are a top notch agent who is getting business. A bad example would be "On the toilet. Back in 5." Nobody cares (or really wants to know) if you are using the facilities


Feed your blog posts into your Twitter account. When you write a blog post, you can set it up through a service like TwitterFeed to automatically update your Twitter status with the title of your post and a link to it. Active Rain gives you that option as well. You can accomplish this on your profile page.


Stay updated on whats happening in your community and/or industry. When you follow others, especially those in your community (aka locals) or industry (aka real estate agents), you will stay abreast of current issues, events, news, places, developments, the list goes on. You'll even know what people think of those things. It's quite insightful!


Keep in touch with your clients. Many of your past and present (and even future) clients are probably already using Twitter. Follow them! They will give you insight into their lives and whats going on with them. When you follow them, perhaps they'll follow you back, and that is fantastic. Then they will stay updated on what you are doing as well. So keep tweeting about how you are upping your marketing efforts, working with buyers and sellers, and post market statistics... not to mention your blog entries!


Feed your tweets into your blog. There is a way to do this, but since I currently feed my blog posts into my Twitter status, I don't feed my tweets into my blog. It seems silly, but if anyone has a reason for me to starting feeding my tweets into my blog, do tell! I'd love to hear why it is brilliant as well.

 

If you are new to Twitter, or haven't started using it yet, go sign up for an account now, and then go here to download a free (and short) online book by @Nik_Nik called "Twitter for Real Estate Twits." It will help you get started, and goes through everything you need to know about Twitter, including the lingo.

 

So, to sum it all up. Twitter and Real Estate work together in a BRILLIANT way. Why would anyone NOT tweet?!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

Delete Account
Clermont, FL

I am finally on Facebook, now I got to get on Twitter!

Mar 12, 2009 05:41 AM
Chris Rooker
Kline May Realty - Harrisonburg, VA

Facebook and Twitter are probably the most crucial social networking sites to be on right now. Stay on "top of mind" of you clients, friends, and family!

Mar 12, 2009 05:43 AM
Reba Haas
Team Reba of RE/MAX Metro Eastside www.TeamReba.com - Bellevue, WA
Team Reba, CDPE

I agree that you need to show updates that align with being a busy and top notch agent, but it's also a great way to show expertise in a particular field. Don't forget to pepper it with bits of info about your work and not just tidbits of what you do in your work all day.

One other tip: be careful how often you talk about your eating and drinking habits.  A few people that I'm following right now sound like alcoholics based on how often they tweet what they're doing and the frequency of wine, beer and other cocktail topics.

Mar 12, 2009 05:45 AM
Chris Rooker
Kline May Realty - Harrisonburg, VA

Reba - great tip! Yes, it is good to keep it interesting. Sometimes tweets about your personal life are good. Tweeting about expertise in a particular field is good, too. Also writing notes about specific neighborhoods is a great idea as well.

Mar 12, 2009 06:03 AM
Jackie DeShazer
Montana Country Real Estate - Libby, MT

I am not on Twitter but it sounds like something I should be doing. Thanks for the information.

Mar 12, 2009 06:20 AM
Irene Tron
Valparaiso, IN

Gee, maybe I should try Twitter.  Great information.  Thanks.

Mar 12, 2009 06:34 AM
Miranda Moser
Century 21 Bamber Realty - Calgary, AB
Calgary Real Estate Agent

I have recieved lots of referral so far through my facebook page.  But, have mixed reviews about Twitter. Maybe I just haven't given it enough of an effort yet. Here is a link to my facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=5894e62d64daa88ddd6093515ba22b9b&gid=50319507463

 

Mar 12, 2009 06:50 AM
Chris Rooker
Kline May Realty - Harrisonburg, VA

Jackie and Irene - Yes, you should definitely give it a try! It is free, and takes just minutes to set up. Once you are set up, you can take as much time as you want to tweet.

 

I might also suggest using a platform like TweetDeck to organize Tweets, those you are following, replies, etc. when you really get into it. It makes life a whole lot easier (and TweetDeck is free, too, by the way)!

Mar 12, 2009 07:02 AM
Kathy Toth
Ann Arbor Market Center Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Experts - Kathy Toth Team

When used properly, Twitter is truly a remarkable marketing avenue.  You just can't beat it and it really doesn't hurt that it is free!

Kathy

Mar 12, 2009 07:32 AM
Winston Westbrook
Westbrook National Real Estate Co - Victorville, CA

I'm still on the fence but seems everyone is jumping on Twitter train. I might have to board one of these days.

Mar 12, 2009 06:56 PM
Ben Martin, CAE - VA Assn of REALTORS®
Virginia Association of REALTORS® - Richmond, VA

Chris, one good reason to stream your tweets into your blog is that it provides more unique content for the site. And google loves unique content, or so I've been told.

Mar 13, 2009 01:18 AM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

I have found twiiter a lot more useful with the use of tweetdeck.

Mar 13, 2009 02:21 AM
Chris Rooker
Kline May Realty - Harrisonburg, VA

Winston - Yes, you should try it out! I think you will be amazed at how effective it can be, and how easy it is! Great marketing tool.

Ben - Thanks for the tip. Yes, Google (and other search engines) do love unique content!

Kevin - Hooray for the developer of TweetDeck! It is so much easier to sort through all those tweets than by just using the web. Amazing tool.

Mar 13, 2009 03:16 AM
The 1410 Group of Benchmark Realty, LLC
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN

The twitter feed is a great idea. I haven't tried that one yet.

Thanks

Mar 20, 2009 02:03 AM