Just when we got comfortable with Facebook! That’s what we’ve been hearing a lot of lately from clients who feel like Google+ is yet another new-fangled social media tool to learn and use. So let us give you a leg up here with an overview of what Google+ is and how you might use it to connect with your clients, keep in touch with your sphere, and generate new leads.
Read on for details about what Google is calling the “Project” but I want to mention at the outset that one of the things I like best about Google+, from a marketing perspective, is that you can post links, photos, and thoughts privately – so only those in your network can see them (just like on Facebook or LinkedIn) or you can post publicly so everyone can see what you have to say. Pretty cool!
Ultimately, Google+ is another tool in your social media marketing toolbox. As with Twitter, Facebook, ActiveRain, LinkedIn, and all the others, the more you engage with other people – posting updates, asking questions, linking to blogs, sharing photos – the more leads you’ll generate (and clients you’ll convert).
Google+ Features
Circles. The “Circles” feature on Google+ allows you to group the people you’re connected with on Google+ into circles – typically into groups of people with the same common interest or with whom you want to share the same kinds of things. When you share – thoughts, photos, links – you can choose the circles you share with (and those you don’t).
That makes for a really easy way to do what you do in real life: selectively share certain things with certain people. For example, maybe you share photos of your newest listing with all of your circles, but keep photos from Friday night’s cocktail party in your Friends circle. My circles, for example, are:
- Circle #1: Family
- Circle#2: College Friends
- Circle #3: Other Friends
- Circle #4: Past Clients
- Circle #5: Current Clients
- Circle #6: Prospects
- Circle #7: Colleagues
- Circle #8: Acquaintances
Hangouts. A “Hangout” is like a virtual conference room (with video and audio) that you can create and have complete control over. You can let in specific friends, entire circles, or just see who just drops in. Use a “Hangout” when you need to have a quick meeting with the buyer’s agents, a chat with your business partners, or get your seller’s husband into the conversation to make an offer. (It’s like an impromptu phone conference, but more 2.0.)
Instant upload. Many of our clients take photos of their listings on their mobile phones (the photo quality on the latest Smartphones is pretty outstanding). When you have the Google+ app, those photos are automatically uploaded from your phone to your Google+ account (but not shared). You still have to actively go in and post the photos to your Stream (which is the equivalent of your Facebook News Feed).
Sparks. This works a lot like the Google search bar: type in a question or subject you’re interested in and Google+ pulls up a list of relevant websites, news articles, blog posts, etc. For example, I typed in “Las Vegas short sale” and the first thing that came up was the blog post The Las Vegas Short Sale Process: What Goes Into a “Short Sale Packet”?
Hint: Google+ is another place you’ll want to pay attention to when optimizing your content. Because the more your blog posts and web articles show up in Sparks listings, like Google search, the more traffic you’ll get to your website. We can help with our blog ghostwriting service.
Huddle. “Huddle” is essentially group IM (instant messaging) – “super fast” as Google puts it. I use Huddle when I’m coordinating a marketing strategy session with a group of clients (deciding on a day and time needn’t be that complicated!).
Learn more about the Google+ Project here. If you’re not yet on Google+, we’d love to invite you into our circle – send a note to christenehonomichl@gmail.com If you’re already on Google+, let’s connect!
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Website:www.CMRealEstateMarketing.com
E-mail:christenehonomichl@gmail.com
Telephone: 480–987–7958
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