Many real estate pros that I talk to in the course of a week are reluctant social media users. This reluctance winds up as a self-fulfilling prophecy: By not putting proper effort into social media, results are poor or nonexistent, which reinforces the belief that social media marketing is a waste of time.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind with regard to social media:
1. Don't allow yourself to become overwhelmed. You don't need everything. One social media forum that you're actually using is better than having 5 that you don't take the time for. No matter which one(s) you're using, you know someone who will tell you that you should be using another. And another.
2. Your social media should be connected. For crying out loud, I don't like having to login too many different places, either. Your major social media are easy to connect (i.e. if you post on one, the post automatically appears on your other social media forums)...and if you find they're not, try HootSuite.
3. All roads lead to Rome...Rome being your website. Social media marketing should direct people to your website through thought-provoking content. Problem is, there are too many provokers and not enough thinkers.
4. Social media warms people up to you...if you allow it to. It's marketing that doesn't feel like marketing because it doesn't directly deal with business. It deals with the very root purpose of business: People helping people. It's just that now people want to know something about who is helping them. Doesn't have to be your life story or your most private thoughts...they just need to know you're human. And you care.
You've probably noticed by now that the headline of this post doesn't match the angle of the post at all. In fact, it's completely opposite.
As always, there's a reason.
We are more immediately attracted to the negatively controversial than we are to the kind truth. Hey, I don't like admitting it any more than you do, but if it weren't true then "Reality TV" would have disappeared several years ago.
I believe that in cases like this, the negatively controversial is telling many of us what we want to hear...because we don't want to be bothered with ONE MORE media outlet to take up our time. While the kind truth is that trust has been watered down over the past 30 years of business to the point where consumers now have these protective barriers for us to navigate if we want to earn their business.
If you're in disagreement about the negatively controversial, ask yourself "Would I have read this post if the title had been 'Helpful Tips To Improve Your Social Media Marketing'?" Undoubtedly, some would...but I believe most of us would have moved on to the next headline.
That is the true challenge of effective long-term traditional and Internet marketing...addressing true needs with positive provocation.
For more marqeting advice, consulting, and assistance with style, visit me at www.marqeteer.com. Cheers!
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