Ok, so you’ve come around to the idea that online marketing is here to stay. You understand that your reach grows exponentially when you create a strong online presence for yourself - and you’re 100% correct. But online marketing is still a fairly new platform, and if you’re not optimizing your use of it, you won’t see the results you’re hoping for.
Here are 8 common mistakes a lot of people make when they first add online marketing and social media to their strategy.
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Omitting Mobile Devices
Of the nearly 2.3 billion people currently active on social media, almost 2 billion of them have social media on their phone, iPad or tablet. Try as best you can to ensure that all of the posts to your social media are mobile-compatible so that people can enjoy your content wherever they go.
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Lack Of SEO Content
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is always a key part of your online presence. It determines how easily people can find you online. 93% of people use search engines (68% using Google). The first 5 results in Google generate 67% of all clicks. In other words, you’ll really want to move into one of those top 5 spots so people can find you.
“SEO remains - and will remain - one of the building blocks of a technology sound and competitive web presence,” says Neil Patel -- cofounder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics and a contributor for Forbes.com. “Without an understanding of SEO, your marketing presence will falter and fail.”
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Content Marketing
Deliver content on home buying/selling that caters specifically to your clients’ interests and questions. This is about them, not you. If you’re providing valuable information to them from the jump, you’re already building that relationship.
Social Media
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You’re Coming Off As Impersonal, Arrogant Or Unrelatable
With social media, like I said above, it’s about them, not you. Your audience doesn’t want to hear you boast about your business and how you’re the number 1 agent in your neighborhood. Provide value to your clients. Show appreciation for them. It’s also important to show off a little of your great personality so they know that you’re fun to work with.
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Promoting Your Business Too Often
Promoting listings you have sold, or listings you have is great - on occasion. Too many posts like this can make your social media presence stale or even annoying to some people. Mix it up a little. Blog posts, infographics, promotional and personal messages are all great things to work into your social media posting.
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Publishing Too Frequently Or Infrequently
The biggest thing here is to be consistent. You don’t want to be overbearing with your posts, instead you have to find the fine line between being overbearing and too passive. Keep track of which posts get the most engagement, which times of the day are most successful. The optimal posting times for social media are: Facebook - 1-4 pm, Twitter - 1-3 pm, LinkedIn - 7-9 am and 5-6 pm.
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Deleting Comments Or Responding Negatively
Comments are a great way to get feedback from clients and instantly engage with them. Everyone gets negative comments so there’s no need to panic. Instead take the opportunity to learn from that client and improve your service. The commitment to improvement will make an impression on anyone who reads it.
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You Have Unrealistic Expectations
Too many people expect that social media will transform their business overnight. That is simply just not the case. Research your market and audience, develop a plan and be patient with your campaign. This is going to take more than 1 or 2 weeks. Many businesses make the mistake of never settling and jumping around between strategies.
“‘Build it and they will come’ only works in the movies,” says Seth Godin, author of Permission Marketing. “Social Media is a ‘build it, nurture it, engage them, and they may come stay.’”
Time To Go Virtual
Online marketing gives you a great platform to reach a much broader group of people, provide them with value and engage with them directly to start building your relationships. But you’re holding yourself back if you’re making these common mistakes. Take full advantage of what online marketing can do for your business and you’ll be on the highway to success.
Want to check if you’re making any other crucial marketing mistakes? Here are 3 Huge Marketing Mistakes Agents and Brokers Make Online.
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