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Do You Have a "Social Media Strategy?" ... It's Kind of a BIG DEAL!

By
Real Estate Agent with Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty

All of us are being bombarded with advice, seminars, etc. about the importance of having a presence on the important social media platforms.  Great advice.... not very helpful, though, without also giving some advice about developing a strategy for using your presence on all of these sites! social media strategy

When I first started posting our team's profile and information on sites like:  ACTIVE RAIN, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND MYSPACE... I wasn't quite certain how I was going to use these profiles to market our business and to generate buzz, interest and leads.  In hind sight... I now realize that developing the STRATEGY is the first step that you should take in this effort... not the last!  You must use the strategy that you develop to generate the keywords, titles & the content that you write for your profiles on all of these social media sites.  It is much harder to do this in reverse, because you waste a lot of time rewriting and optimizing after the fact if you don't do it right the first time!  Here are a 6 questions to ask yourself BEFORE you create profiles or content for any social media site:

 

creating social media buzz

 

  1. Who is my audience?  OR even more important... who do I WANT my audience to be?
  2. What information will the audience that I am trying to attract be looking for and how can I   supply that information in an engaging, interactive way?
  3. Who is my competition?  AND how can I be unique enough to stand out?  EX:  Determine the direction that everyone else is swimming in and "dog paddle" in the opposite direction!
  4. What search optimization techniques do I want to use within the "social community" capabilities & guidelines that I can apply to be found by my chosen audience?
  5. What type of personality do I want to portray for my business?  EX:  professionally casual, humorous, professionally formal, etc.
  6. What kind of result am I looking to produce in direct relation to my presence on this social site?

Once you've answered these questions... YOU HAVE YOUR STRATEGY!  Now... have fun, be creative, & (since this way of communicating with the masses is relatively new) enjoy the rush that you used to get as a child... learning, exploring, experimenting... with fresh & new experiences!  Gotta love that! explore social media

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.TheSerenaGroup.com

BRADENTON REALTOR

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Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

This is really something to think about.. I'm one who may need to go back and make changes and update.

 

Jun 24, 2009 04:01 PM
Kathryn Gorham
Green Key Realty - Emerald Isle, NC
Emerald Isle NC Crystal Coast

Yes, very good advice. I believe I am learning and improving as I go. I am grateful for posts like this that HELP!

Jun 24, 2009 04:10 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

I wish I'd known I needed a strategy when I got started on all of this ; ) This is the second time today I've heard very similar information; I bet there's something to it.

Jun 24, 2009 04:41 PM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Gary - Yes, it helps to identify & relate... in order to connect!

 

Sara - It's really interesting to see what strategies others are using... thanks for sharing yours!

 

Loreena - Good goal to have... connecting... but how do you do that?  THAT is the strategy!

 

Joan - "Tweaking" is good... less "tweeking" will be necessary with a good plan in advance, though.

 

Donna - Blogging IS key... we were ALL aftraid of doing it at first, but now ... those of us who do it, love it, don't we?  And... I LOVE the icing!

 

Georgina - I think the "shot gun strategy" is on that a LOT of people are using, however, with this approach...a lot of AMMO is wasted, don't you think?

 

Ronda - Where you WANT to go... that's the idea!  A vision of the END result!

 

An - Clarity is hard to achieve... these types of discussions always help me though, how about you?  Thanks for your contribution!

 

bradenton realtor

Jun 25, 2009 12:21 AM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Sabrina - I agree!  Thanks for commenting!

 

Christopher & Stephanie - Having a strategy is worth the effort!

 

Russ - personalizing your public persona!  THAT is a strategy!

 

Dora  & Vincent - I agree, something rather than nothing is the lesser of 2 evils... but why not put some thought into it first?

 

Jason - AHHH!  The devil's advocate.... bound to appear!  Writing for the sake of writing is fine... if you enjoy it & you have no particular agenda for doing it.  But brain work IS needed, in advance, to achieve a targeted result!

 

Frank & Sharon - I think we all get better at something that we do a lot... and that includes strategic planning!

 

Rhonda - You're welcome!  thanks to everyone here for helping me "write" this post!  Social media IS key right now for a LOT of reasons:  It's a cost effective, personal, far reaching way to network & connect!

 

Steve - Thank you!  Individualism is VERY important and, sometimes, under rated!  It IS the thing that will get you noticed!

 

Regina - I'm with you on that!

 

Marie - Good for you!  And... yes... your strategy will evolve along the way, but take a moment to visualize the end... FIRST... then you will have a clearer view of the path you need to follow!  Good Luck!

 

Chris - I agree!  We don't take enough time to determine who will be observing our online activities... or target our activities towards the people we WANT to see us!

 

Roland - Good for you!  Let us know how it helps you!

 

Kathryn - Thanks!  I learn a LOT... every day on Active Rain!

 

Christine - Maybe this post will shed some light for the "new participants"... the rest of us will just have to play "catch up!"

bradenton realtor

Jun 25, 2009 01:01 AM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Thanks for the reminder. I would have to say my social media strategy is to build my brand and position  myself as the go-to guy for honest advice. I really don't expect business online (in fact, I've never received any). Rather it allows me another way to be visible in this wired world. Thanks for the post!

Jun 25, 2009 02:19 AM
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

My strategy is that I'm adding my 18 year old daughter to our team !!! She'll make us "rock & roll"

Jun 25, 2009 02:46 AM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Paul - good goal... but again, how do you intend to achieve it?  That will be your strategy!  And, if you are spending time connecting online... you SHOULD expect to get business!  and you will!

 

Michael - YOUTH... always brings a fresh perspective and is truly inspiring!

 

BRADENTON REALTOR

Jun 25, 2009 03:08 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

There is a lot to do with Social Media.  Other than AR I am on 3 sites.  I will not add other sites until I have the 3 I am using working as I want.  There is always more to do in a day than is possible.

Jun 25, 2009 03:23 AM
The Kasey Group
Stratford, CT

Great Post - We have a strategy for how to use all these different sites to help us sell homes too.

Jun 25, 2009 04:08 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

I still disagree, frankly.  I have coached dozens of agents and small businesses on this, and the first step is usually to just DO IT.  I am not advocating writing completely blindly, but the more planning you do on the front end to "prepare" to blog, the less likely you are to be truly creative.  I'm okay with agreeing to disagree.  :) 

Jun 25, 2009 05:01 AM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Gene - I agree... wouldn't you like to be able to clone yourself sometimes!  Time challenges make strategic moves even more important, don't you think?

 

Kasey Group... Bravo!

 

Jason - I defer to your experience, and agree with you that you shouldn't fall prey to "paralysis of the analysis" and that is NOT what I am suggesting.  Just a little thoughful planning.   Creativity is not stiffled by strategy, in my opinion, ... it is further enhanced by it due to exploration of the ENTIRE scope of the project at hand.  I'm not only OK with disagreeing... I am energized by discussion with someone on the opposite side... thanks for that! 

BRADENTON REALTOR

Jun 25, 2009 05:21 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Wendy - I think that's really what I was cautioning against ("the paralysis of analysis").  If you read my latest post, you will see a question that I hear all the time, "What should I blog about?".  I have seen too many people get tied up worrying about their target audience, or the SEO value, or offending someone with their opinions.  The key to becoming a good blogger is to read a lot and write a lot.  Writing skills are like anything else - they improve with experience.  Thanks for being a good sport and allowing me to disagree a bit with you here.

Jun 25, 2009 07:44 AM
Jimmy Mulhern
Capital Foundation Realty Group - Gainesville, VA
Expert Representation at a Reasonable Cost!

I am the number one sufferer of Paralysis of Analysis - I constantly suffer from inaction due to over analyzation - I am the figurehead for the "Jack of all trades, master of none" - Each day I try to learn something new, but fret about the time I am wasting on something that is not making my business any better.  Today I spent about two hours just reading blog posts, learning what people had to say and what their thoughts on succeeding in this business takes.  I have come to the realization that there are a ton of different people out there and no one strategy will make you attractive to everyone!  You have to focus on doing business with people you like.  Social media is here to stay - why would anyone think that an entire industry devoted to gossip and providing people a platform to give their opinions not last?  I personally think that there are more negatives than positives with web 2.0 (more social issues like sex-ting and platforms to express insults) but also think that the absorption rate of the consumer will reach overload, much like caller id to avoid telemarketers and pop-up blockers.  Your post is dead on - you have to have a plan and stick to it.  Part of that plan is you have to focus on people you want to work with and ignore the people you don't.  At the end of the day, your happiness in this business will be more important than any dollar you have ever made!  Now if I could only find that silver bullet to dominate my market...

Jimmy Mulhern

Jun 25, 2009 08:06 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Shameless David above! But he is right on his perspective you must have a strategy on how you want to project yourself to others.  It is also all about professionalism as you want to be perceived as an expert in your field.  After all, a letter written to your client with a crayon comes across as totally different from a typed piece on letterhead!

There are so many different venues you must have a strategy or you can be wasting your time and also not tracking (or knowing!) your results!

Jun 26, 2009 03:55 AM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Jason - I have checked out your profile and blog... if your "mentees" are as good at blogging as you are after you've coached them... they should be proud!  Practice and persistence are the keys to the kingdom for everything...I agree!

 

Jimmy - That's a great goal... do business with people you like & be happy!  What's your strategy for accomplishing that?   Good luck finding the silver bullet!

 

Lyn - I agree... and David's display was a very eloquent visual for all of us!

BRADENTON REALTOR

Jun 26, 2009 05:17 AM
Tatyana Sturm
Exit Realty DTC - Aurora, CO
Denver Realtor, GRI, Denver/ Aurora CO Relocation

Great tips I am trying so hard to get on this social media stuff, but there is so much to know and to do. It can definitely be a full time job doing all that needs to be done.

Jun 26, 2009 09:31 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Wendy,

Good points. I'm OK until I come to #6. That's where I'm having difficulty.

Brian

Jun 27, 2009 06:21 AM
Bradenton, Sarasota, Real Estate ~ The Serena Group
Bradenton-Homes, Experts - Keller Williams Realty - Bradenton, FL
Selling Real Life Dreams in Paradise!

Tatyana - What I try to do is choose one platform to focus on per week for optimization, etc. and just do regular short posts to the others weekly.  That way each site gets my full attention at least once a month for additions/ revisions to content, seo, etc.  Never enough hours... yadda, yadda.. I agree!

Brian - Then you need to put more of your focus on analysis of your goals... I know... don't over-analyze!  But there has to be some planning to produce an above average result.

 

BRADENTON REALTOR

Jun 29, 2009 07:30 AM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Great post. Many people are simply online to be online. They confuse activity with RESULTS.

Jul 07, 2009 07:00 PM