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(Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) Social Media in Real Estate

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Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Alliance

If you have to take a class to use Social Media you don't get Social Media.  I recently had my chops busted by our "Social Media" guru for our company.  The funny part is I wasn't even there to get my chops busted.  That's what makes it great!  My office is one of 18 offices in the Century 21 Alliance company.  We have a training center for all 18 offices that is run by our "guru", who is also one of the brokers.  To give her credit she has embraced social media for the business which I think is important but may be missing the point.   

Today, several Realtors in my office went up to take a class with our "guru".  I feel I get social media better than most so hardly ever go to these classes.  I blog here on ActiveRain, on Google a little, on my new website and several other outlets.  I have a Facebook account and a business page.  I tweet and I am on Linkedin.  I actively make sure I have good reviews by my clients and friends online with Zillow, Stik, etc.  I read Tech Savvy Agents posts daily, enjoy Mashable and read up on my business every morning online.  I feel I have developed myself as a real expert.  I have learned how to do this by just doing it.  By socially interacting with people online and learning SEO on my own. I have gone hyper local and am starting to reap the benefits.  You don't just start creating content and expect business to roll in it takes time and I have put it in.

This is where it gets interesting.  At the end of the class, second hand info since I was not there, she brings up my name and how I am all over the web with different content and continues on to say that she doesn't know how I do this since I haven't attended any of her classes.  She goes on to mention that I am doing it wrong.  Mostly because I don't drive people to our websites.  One of the things I don't agree with is our company/agent websites.  I have had one since I started in the business but have come to learn that it is just too busy and unappealing.  I have created my own website which I drive people to with social media, qr codes, etc.  Occasionally I post links for Realtor.com, especially my Open Houses on Facebook.  Why?  I think the content is great and people can still get my info on the links I provide.  She tells everyone that I am driving people to where they can find someone else!  Hello!  Welcome to the web.  Content is king and if you are confident in what you present you are not affraid of people knowing there are other Realtors out there!

Now I'm sure most of you get the funny part now.......I'm so backwards in this Social Media stuff that I actually come up in a class.........

Thanks for following!

John Ryan

HavertownRealty.com

                             @HavertownRealty

Comments(11)

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Social Media Marketing Companies
Seattle, WA

HAHA I love it!  Everything you ever wanted to learn about social media is here at AR!  I love how your name got virally spread as being all over google...by a social media instructor...

Mar 02, 2011 04:13 PM
Jon Quist
COLDWELL BANKER Howard perry and Walston - Clayton, NC
THE BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Company web sites are usually good for one entity, the company. A lot of them aren't even cached with Google!

Mar 02, 2011 04:19 PM
Marilyn Boudreaux
Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty - Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor

John I work for Century 21 and no one in my city even knows what blogs or Active Rain is and they think social media is putting posts all over your personal Facebook page with listnigs and I sold this house or I need a listing blah blah.  Funny how they don't get it.  I notice Century 21 has alot of new things I think they are trying to educate agents on how to blog and be in social media.  I agree with what you said about the website, I just recently changed from the C21 template which was my own site but created a new WP site that is my name.  I want my phone to ring duh!

Mar 02, 2011 04:20 PM
Doug Anderson
Tucker Associates Real Estate Services - Danville, CA
Bay Area Real Estate Views

I personally think you are on the right track John (I think you already know that though). Personal branding and owning your own content is key and smart business IMHO.

Mar 02, 2011 04:26 PM
Janet McCarthy
San Diego Homes Guide - San Diego, CA
Broker Associate

Easy to see the rest of the story here.  Social media is a lot of work online but in this case you need to use the formula in person.  Good Luck.

Mar 02, 2011 04:36 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

John you know what you are doing, and doing it fully aware of it and why you're doing it that way. At most her point should be you should always point it to YOUR website!

Mar 02, 2011 04:57 PM
Doug Bullwinkel
E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA
Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

I point everything I do to my personal website.  I get a lot of grief from the company but 5 years later when you have left the company you are with now and your client tries to find you, you'll be glad they have your website on your old business card.  You might want to consider getting your own 800 number as well. Have all your calls forwarded from your 800 number to your current number or cell phone. If you change areas or area codes, just redirect from your 800 number to your new number.  I just got a call from a client I worked with over 10 years ago that found my old card from about 4 prior companies ago.  Promote your brand, not your company brand. 

Mar 02, 2011 06:44 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

LOL, this is ironic.  Good for you in putting together your own website.  That should serve you well.  Ironically, sending to C21 website also could result in them selecting a different realtor so her logic makes even less sense.

Mar 02, 2011 09:52 PM
John Ryan
Century 21 Alliance - Havertown, PA

My company website is actually JohnRyanHomes.com.  It is put together by birdview.  It is branded to me so I am good with that but there are links on it that will go to the Company website.  Whatever, I'm secure with that too.  What I don't like is that it is just too damn busy.  Our websites should make people feel comfortable with us as Realtors.  After that they will "talk" to us about how to procede. 

Mar 03, 2011 03:49 AM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

I've always believed an online presence should be agent-centric rather than company focused. As far as driving traffic to AR where the public can see other agents, I really don't think they navigate that way. Most probably just read the post they land on and then return to the Google results or go to another site.

Mar 03, 2011 04:10 AM
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

No doubt in my mind after reading this, that you would look better in Koolaide RED than Gold !!!*L* 

Mar 03, 2011 07:59 AM