Special offer

Using Facebook to become the "local expert".

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

facebook

I recently completed my goal of building 33 neighborhood Facebook pages for subdivisions in and around Naperville.  My "farm areas"...

Home in the Historic District, Naperville 
-The Historic District, Naperville is one of my many farm areas

My goal is to become the "local expert" for these neighborhoods.  Facebook, with over 500 million users, is the place to get established as the expert. 

Just two years ago, I would have gobbled up domain names for my neighborhoods, buying them over at GoDaddy for $9.95 each...

But today, I would rather build a page on Facebook.  Pages are better, and they are FREE...

Pages are interactive.  They communicate directly with the audience, and the audience can communicate back.  The audience can ask questions, post pictures and links, and start discussions.

Websites are static, while pages are alive...

So if you hope to become  the "local expert" for a neighborhood, you better get over to Facebook and build your own neighborhood page.

Become the local expert, before someone else does...

Ken

 

Comments (62)

Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Ken- It is a good idea however I would not put all my focus and energy in any project ever again, where you are the tenant and the landlord has the ability to change the locks. You don't own Facebook and they are the ones who can change the rules at any time. SO while working on Facebook pages for communities is good you still need to have your own sites and wordpress sites to mimic those pages in case the locks do get changed. 

Also, make sure you don't set them up in the community area but in your real estate business area in the form fields to choose from in Facebook pages. Katerina

Sep 27, 2010 07:57 AM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Ken- It is a good idea however I would not put all my focus and energy in any project ever again, where you are the tenant and the landlord has the ability to change the locks. You don't own Facebook and they are the ones who can change the rules at any time. SO while working on Facebook pages for communities is good you still need to have your own sites and wordpress sites to mimic those pages in case the locks do get changed. 

Also, make sure you don't set them up in the community area but in your real estate business area in the form fields to choose from in Facebook pages. Katerina

Sep 27, 2010 07:57 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Margaret, Mitchell, Jeana, Veronica, Don, Erica, Ryan, Vickie, Michael, and Sharon.  Thanks for reading.

I don't post daily to them.  I try and post something twice a week or so (unless I have more to say).

I think working w/ the HOA is probably a great idea.  Haven't done that yet.

I don't think the city of Naperville has any claim to certain subdivisions...

Michael, most of the information on the pages is mine.  They are blog post/market reports...

Ryan, Get on Facebook!  It is fun and a great way to network.

Again, 33 pages is too many.  I have been writing market reports for these neighborhoods all year, so most of the content is already there.  I add info where appropriate.

Thanks again,

Ken

 

Sep 27, 2010 08:00 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Katerina.  Good points.

I don't use the community page.  I set them up as an Official Real Estate page.

I also wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket.  I obviously blog here on AR, on Trulia, and do a whole bunch of traditional marketing.

Thanks for reading!

Ken

Sep 27, 2010 08:06 AM
Brent Wells
The LivingWell Team - Prosper, TX
Dallas - Fort Worth

Ken,

In software we talk about scalability and while your setup is impressive its not scalable. I can't see how you can be an active agent and keep all those pages current and maintained. You have much more skill than I if you can pull it off. I give your concept an A+ though...

-Brent

Sep 27, 2010 08:20 AM
Robert Lei
Century 21 (SUNNYVALE, CA) - (408) 893-2410 - Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale Cupertino Santa Clara, Palo Alto Mountain View Saratoga Campbell

33 is going to take a superhuman effort to stay on top of those.

Sep 27, 2010 08:43 AM
Robert Lei
Century 21 (SUNNYVALE, CA) - (408) 893-2410 - Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale Cupertino Santa Clara, Palo Alto Mountain View Saratoga Campbell

Also, if someone is interested in 1 of the 33 communities and sees you as the specialist in that 1 community, then you would have to hope they don't find out you are an expert in the 32 other communities.  I think you already understand this because I see you put double quotes around "local expert" in your blog  :-)

Sep 27, 2010 08:47 AM
Robert Lei
Century 21 (SUNNYVALE, CA) - (408) 893-2410 - Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale Cupertino Santa Clara, Palo Alto Mountain View Saratoga Campbell

But overall, you are doing great by taking action.  Doing something is better than doing nothing.  At the very least, you REALLY will become an EXPERT at Facebook Fan Pages...and that experience can only help you.

Sep 27, 2010 08:49 AM
Lorraine or Loretta Kratz
Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions. - San Marcos, CA
Certified Negotiation Consultants

Ken:

Wow, how industrious of you to cover 33 neighborhoods, I hope the time your invested will pay off.

Sep 27, 2010 09:07 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Ken:  You have your work cut out for you ... just staying on top of these Facebook pages.  But I think you're on to something by doing it.  Please let us know how your efforts are paying off ... I for one will be interested to see the progress ...

Gene

Sep 27, 2010 11:10 AM
Barb Van Stensel
Chicago, IL

Ken, great idea and good luck keeping on top of all of them.  This is an awesome way of connecting with people in the community.

Sep 27, 2010 12:28 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Brent, Robert Cubed, L+L, Gene, and Barb.  Thanks everyone...

I didn't mean to make this about my 33 new pages.  I know it is a lot.

I already was building the content for those neighborhoods, so I wanted a landing pad for it.

If some don't develop, I am sure they will fade away.

Thanks again,

Ken

Sep 27, 2010 12:41 PM
Elizabeth Cooper-Golden
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS

Ken, I love this idea.  I just went to your blog that features the pages and then to FB to check them out.  You are doing a fabulous job!  This is amazing.  I'm going to do this as well, but on a smaller scale of course.

Couldn't you hire a virtual assitant to check stats once a week to load on the pages?  I think that would work just fine?  You could always go back in and make it a bit more personal if needed, but the right VA should be able to handle it.

Sep 27, 2010 01:01 PM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Ken congratulations to you on the 33 neighborhoods and Gold Star. Hope you are able to maintain all of it by giving your viewers what they want all the time. Much success to you. Great post.

Sep 27, 2010 02:33 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Elizabeth and Lanre.  Thanks for reading.

"The Real Estate Farmer"?  Is that in the traditional sense, or the real estate sense?

Elizabeth, good idea w/ the virtual assistant.  I see you became a fan of Huntington Hills!  Thanks.  That one needs some more development...

It actually doesn't take that long.  In one hour, I can post something to every page.  I do that once or twice a week, unless something needs posted sooner.

Thanks again guys!

Ken

Sep 28, 2010 12:45 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results
Ken - wow you certainly bit off a huge workload ..... I hope you have someone who can prep your stats if you are not posting direct from your board stats.
Oct 02, 2010 03:33 AM
John Walters
Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA
Licensed in Louisiana

Ken congratulations on the featured blog.  I think we need to save and spend every dollar very wisely these days and Facebook is a great way to save money and get good exposure.

Oct 02, 2010 05:28 AM
Pam Dent
Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. - Charlottesville, VA
REALTOR® - Charlottesville Virginia Homes / Horse

Ken - This is an interesting idea.  Please keep us updated on how this works for you.  Without an assistant I cant imagine keeping up with so many sites.  As I have gotten busier this year it has been a challenge to keep up with what I am already doing much less add additional sites.

Oct 02, 2010 01:03 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Pam, John, and Kathy.  Thanks!

It certainly takes a little bit of time...

I had been collecting pictures and writing market reports all year.  The pages are a nice place to put the content...

Thanks again,

Ken

Oct 03, 2010 02:52 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

That is alot of work and time, like the others I can barely keep up, and feel like I'm on the computer too much already.  Sounds like a great venture for you...good luck!

Oct 07, 2010 05:22 PM