Placing all your online focus on Google SEO today...is like betting on Yahoo! 5 years ago

Interesting approach, and I can see that Facebook is growing, when it comes to Facebook out pacing Google, it could be possible if Google, becomes lax.

With those charts alone, you support the theory that social networking is a no brainer in today's real estate market.  Or any market for that matter!

I think anyone who intends to stay in real estate needs to realize that social networking is the way to go.

Alex, you make some good points. I think we might reach the same conclusion for different reasons though. Yes, facebook might be a better place to spend your time and energy, but not because it will get more hits or visitors than google. It's powerful not because the number of people that are going there, but because it's a gathering of people that can opt in to hear your message and what you have to say. It's a back and forth discussion which your website (which google directs the consumer to) can't be. 

I just disagree that it's a direct comparison. Yahoo and google had almost identital business models. Facebook and google can (or should..) coexist peacefully. Yahoo and Google are looking to put eachother out of business.

Alex, didn't realize you were from Roost when I write my first post--- When is the Roost app for facebook pages going to be available in all areas and cities in the country (or more specifically Lancaster, PA?)

I still believe Google is the big gorilla that will be hard to beat.

This is a very interesting on-going debate.  Facebook is definitely more social, we might not be getting that much business from it in real estate right now, but look at the amount of targeted ads, the amount of causes and events being promoted, everything from TV shows to politicians are getting word out through Facebook. Google is still the search engine of choice and we can't ignore our SEO there, but believing Facebook is just for pics, family, friends and younger people can end up costing you.  In any case, it can only benefit you to be on as many social media and search engines as possible, you never know where you're next client is going to come from!

I think that you really just make the point well that you can not focus on one thing.  Facebook is getting to be huge and will continue to be.  We have to be on the crest of the wave or be surpassed.

I think this is a very good point that you are making. Facebook use is on the rise and so should our use of it.

I think some people missed your point, pay attention to Facebook who is moving upward like a Maserati in go cart festival.

Time will tell.  Needless to say the pace of change seems to continue to accelerate.  To borrow from a phrase I have heard a few times in the past.  There will be two types of businesses in the future...The quick and the dead.

I'm on both. I can point to Google with six figure commissions directly related to being found there. I have a lot of freinds and i am building friends and people who like my business pages. At this time the sites are functionally different for marketing. Google is for hunters, and Facebook is for farmers. Hunting gives you something to eat as soon as you shoot it. Farming takes patience until the crops are grown and harvested.

Alex, Good points to ponder.  I like Joe's analogy about hunting & farming.  Thanks!

Yes...Facebook does need to be taken seriously. Soooo I have a page. Wow....huge step.

Howdy and evenin there Alex

Untell Facebook is able to get their security issues under control, I sure can't see that site being the wave of the future. There are many fine sites out there to use, that folks don't have to worry if some low life is go-en to hack into the site and take over their info on it.

Have a good one
Dale

I think facebook is a good way to keep touch with people in your sphere but doesn't serve the same purpose as google.

Alex - I wanted to stop back by to mention that I respect the way that you handled your critics on this post (me included).  That is one sign of maturity in blogging.  Well done. 

I am in no way an expert in this field, I'm not even an amateur. But of the business I can source to Facebook last year is exactly the same as it was the previous year and so far this year. 0 Not saying that what you say isn't exactly true in terms of raw numbers. But in terms of the type of traffic, I'll take google hands down. But that is just my experience. I also happen to think of Google as being like Apple, companies will to explore, poke, and find new and different products and services outside the norm.