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How Facebook can get you *FREE* Television Advertising!

By
Real Estate Agent with Silvercreek Realty Group

I realize that the Internet is FULL of 'Social Media Gurus' , so I just want to preface this post with the following disclaimer:  

I am not a Social Media Guru, Expert, Ninja or (put in your catchy adjective of choice here)________.  

I am however, a Realtor, Wife, Mother, and Social Media addict who mostly goofs off on Facebook, Linkedin, and Active Rain, and passes it off to my husband as work!   

I do it because it's FuN!  I have experienced a fair amount of success via my social media outlets, but I really would be on Facebook wheather it generated business or not.  

facebook logo

That said, I would like to share a success story with you.  This is not to brag, but to share an idea that could possibly bring you business and possibly free advertising.  (Okay, maybe I'm bragging a little...)

On Facebook, in addition to adding the people I really know, I have also strategically added

 

  • People I went to High School with but never knew. (It was a graduating class of 600+)
  • Local media professionals including TV, Radio, and newspaper.
  • People who's names sounded familiar from college.
  • People that I don't know, but are located in the Greater Boise Idaho area and don't seem creepy.  

******Clarification..this is about my personal Facebook account...Fan Pages are managed differently******

I post status updates that are about my personal life, my family, and what I'm doing in my work

I DO NOT...

 

  • spam, harass, pester or otherwise try to SELL people Real Estate
  • send spammy messages to my contacts
  • post spammy links on their wall
  • post 10 status updates in one hour
  • play Farmville
  • suggest my contacts 'like' EVERYTHING
  • invite my friends to every event and/or multiple events in one day
  • and I absolutely don't talk ONLY about my latest 'darling' listing  

 

About 3 months ago I got a call from a Facebook Friend that is a cameraman for a local news station.  He was working with a reporter that needed a Realtor to interview about the end of the Home-Buyer Tax Credit.  He asked if I would mind being interviewed.  I said....."Well, I guess not....."  (haha) : )  Seriously, I said, "I would love to be interviewed; where and when?".  

The interview aired that day, and the next afternoon on the local NBC affiliate.  I of course PIMPED the hades out of the coverage by posting a link on my wall and probably making a couple status updates about it.  The next afternoon an old High School classmate (whom I didn't ever know) commented that he just saw it, and I did a good job.  He also gave me his number and asked me to call.  I called immediately, and he is now under contract on a custom home in Boise.  

I've had many other text messages, calls, and emails from friends, clients, and colleagues about the interview, so I know it was the most visible media I have ever participated in.....and the best part.....it was

F R E E!  

So, of course I'm going to PIMP the video again, and I'd like to invite you to share YOUR social media success stories!  

Show All Comments Sort:
Jason Potrzeba
Home Loan Investment Bank - Warwick, RI
Senior Account Executive

WTG. Keep on pimpin'that video:)

Jason

Aug 02, 2010 06:46 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

My social media success story is not nearly as rewarding in cash but made me feel good nevertheless.  I was quoted in REALTOR® magazine!  The quote was taken from a blog that I posted here on Active Rain! You can read that blog http://activerain.com/blogsview/1565365/i-never-dreamed-that-i-would-be-quoted-in-realtor-magazine if you like!

Aug 02, 2010 07:18 AM
Vince McEveety
Gilleran Griffin Realty - Sherman Oaks, CA

when did "pimp" become a word of acceptable or admirable connotation?

Aug 02, 2010 07:34 AM
Rhonda Burgess
Southern Living Realty Partners - Smyrna, TN
Moving to Nashville TN Real Estate Specialist

I'm definitely taking notes.  Thanks for the great ideas. 

Aug 02, 2010 07:46 AM
Speed Equity® Mortgage Acceleration System
Speed Equity® - Olympia, WA
We help your clients Own Their Homes Years Sooner

Meridian, what a GREAT success story and soooooooo well deserved. You just made my day. Thank you.

Aug 02, 2010 08:19 AM
Terrie Garza
DAYBREAK REAL ESTATE,TEXAS-AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO AREA - Wimberley, TX
(817) 371.2463

AWESOME POSITVE BLOG...WELL DONE!!!

Aug 02, 2010 08:41 AM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Very cool Pam,

good for you, it makes me realize that I better get facebooked

Aug 02, 2010 08:46 AM
Kim Dean
www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX
Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner

I am sharing this with my office today, to once again remind them about the power of facebook and social media! Congrats!

Aug 02, 2010 08:58 AM
Lesley Wagstaff
Re/Max Results Realty in Vancouver, BC - Coquitlam, BC
For Real Estate and Mortgages

Great story with a great result.  It made me laugh when you said you put people on you didn't even know, that didn't seem creepy.  Just how do you make that determination? Inquiring minds want to know. And hey, thanks for the great tips!! 

Aug 02, 2010 09:08 AM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

Don Corson~That books sounds like it fits in perfectly to what we do in RE.  Thanks for sharing; I can't wait to read it!  

Sybil Campbell~I read your post and that is a fantastic social media success story!!!  Make sure you get the mileage out of it by listing it in your Facebook, LinkedIn etc profiles!  Thanks for sharing it!  

Vince McEveety~Pimped sounds so much better than hoe'd out.  

Lesley Wagstaff~haha!  Here's my litmus test for creepy....If they are a male and they only have scantily clad women as friends, If they themselves are scantily clad, If their 'about me' sounds like a string of bad pick-up lines, If they are female and they are scantily clad in their photos, If they use large amounts of profanity in their posts (if they use profanity but it's used in a humorous way, then I can usually deal w/ it)....any of the above usually equals creepy for me.  Most of the time it's just a feeling I get from looking at their profile and seeing what type of content they put out there. Many times I have accepted people as friends, then I've unfriended them when I could look at their wall.  

 

Aug 02, 2010 10:19 AM
Gene Neal
Atlantic Home Capital "The Mortgage Richer" - Hauppauge, NY

Pam the Property Pimp.....I'll take 10% of all marketing now.....just playing but seriously thats a good look and a great way to network.

Aug 02, 2010 10:47 AM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

Now Gene, I'm the property pimp....so I will be taking 10% of YOUR sales!  : )  Thanks for the comment!  

Aug 02, 2010 11:07 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Where's the like button on your comments, Pam?  I am LOL at your response in #69!!!

p.s.  Keep pimpin' baby :)

Aug 02, 2010 05:18 PM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

Aw, thanks Lisa!  You know I will!!!  In fact, I'm thinking of changing my twitter name to @propertypimp.  What do you think?  : )  hehe

Aug 02, 2010 05:42 PM
Kevin McGourty
Realty ONE Group - Phoenix, AZ

Pam - Congrats. See...all that practice you put in trying out for Miss Meridian...Miss Idaho Teen...Miss Rodeo Idaho...one of those pageants...paid off as attested to your very polished PR skills. Nicely done. Plus, your post was fun to read.

Aug 05, 2010 09:40 AM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

Kevin~Thanks for reading!!  Yes, I know that my pageant experiences helped my interview skills!  

Glad you found it fun to read!  Hope you are staying cool down in AZ!  

Aug 05, 2010 11:18 AM
Elizabeth Cooper-Golden
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS

Pam-You do an awesome job with your FB page I think...heck, you're just awesome period :)  I'm with Lisa on your comment. LOL...love it you house pimp!

Aug 05, 2010 04:27 PM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate
Elizabeth! You are a doll! : )
Aug 09, 2010 07:22 AM
The Elise Bickel Team
ReMax Select Realty - Pittsburgh, PA
Leasing, Property Management and Sales

Congrats! Great ideas. I'll put that to work!

Aug 10, 2010 04:23 AM
Eugene Jones
Weichert Realtors - Somerville, NJ

Great post Pam. I love the interview...! I do use facebook as a way to stay in front of family, friends and friends of friends just to let them know I'm in real estate. I try not to be too preachy on real estate though and just be myself. 

Sep 05, 2010 02:13 PM