Twitter Tips for Real Estate Agents

Twitter is a Search Engine

For Real Estate Agents in particular, being searchable is paramount. I regularly see agents not including the city or region in which they work in their Twitter profile. They also fail to include their brokerage affiliation. Including both the city and the name of the brokerage will not only make it easier for potential clients to find you, but possibly more important, it will help other agents find and follow you as well - which is critical for potential referrals, if not for simple networking. So... don't be shy! When creating your Twitter profile, include one or two of the areas in which you practice real estate, and be sure to include your brokerage affiliation. (I do not have a brokerage association in my Twitter profile, since I haven't chosen a brokerage yet.)

Twitter is Conversational - Don't Wait for an Invitation

Many agents who use Twitter, don't know when it's "appropriate" to engage others; they're afraid of being rude, being ignored, or outright rejected. I too felt this way when I created my Twitter account in 2008. However, with time and by observing others, I learned to relax! In reality, and for most participants, Twitter is just a big "cocktail party." Particularly when establishing your Twitter presence, when you see a Tweet which resonates with you (even remotely), "reply" to them. I often use humor to break the Twitter ice, replying with something simple like "LOL... I agree completely!" Yes... it may seem at first that your sending text into cyberspace and utterly wasting your time, but it will pay off in the long run. So again... don't be shy. Jump in and join the conversation!

When Someone Mentions You - Tweet Something Back!

Okay... this is a biggy, and is one of my Twitter pet peeves - so this paragraph is a bit of a rant. Please... when someone sends a shout out (called a "Mention"), even if you are not following them, or vice versa, REPLY to them in some form! (The obvious exception being clearly spammy "mentions.") Time and time again, I see people on Twitter completely ignore their valuable Twitter mentions. This is not only poor Twitter etiquette, but in reality, it's very shortsighted. Visualize the "cocktail party." Would you literally ignore someone who said something to you in person? Of course not! So... don't wait months or years to eventually learn how coveted and important Twitter mentions are. Trust me... when someone shows a legitimate interest in you, say something back! Even a simple "Thank You" may suffice. Unless you're a celebrity or other public figure, regularly ignoring your mentions will likely insult others. With this said, if you are truly so busy that you do not have time to reply, then you likely don't need Twitter anyway. LOL...

Twitter is NOT for Real Estate Listings

Finally, don't make the mistake of repeatedly posting about your listings! This not only goes for Twitter, but any social medium. When you've listed a fabulous property, or have accomplished something that you're proud of, then it's completely okay to Tweet about it - but do so with some personality like... "Wow, just got this fab listing this morning! Look at their incredible yard... (link to listing or picture)". Don't just blurt out the listing and stats with a link to it; people will see through this and your followers will likely begin to abandon you. I've seen many Twitter accounts from agents and offices where they literally flood their Twitter stream with a slew of listings each morning. This is a complete waste of time - these folks are not understanding the purpose of Twitter. Reserve this type of posting for Craigslist.