Special offer

"Only a few people in my town are on Twitter".

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com

I realize I'm risking typecasting myself as a "Twitter fanatic" by posting this, but oh well -- I am, so here it is...

A blogging friend informed me they signed up for Twitter, but only saw a few people from their area on TwitterLocal "worth following".  She further clarified that even those people weren't talking about anything even remotely related to her or real estate.  As I wrote out my response, I decided it might also be a helpful blog post. 

Hi ________,

Good for you for signing up!!! What's your "handle"? 

Twitter is like a party. As far as conversations "about you" or "about real estate" think of it this way: If you go to a party with 100 people, 20 of them are statistically likely to be moving within the next year.  HOWEVER, the odds of actually overhearing them talking about real estate are slim to none.  (And the odds of them talking about YOU are even slimmer.)  Try to direct their conversations in the way of how you can help them with all of their real estate needs, and you'd be an outcast.  Engage in ongoing conversations, however, and interject that you are a Realtor ONLY when appropriate -- and you'll get plenty of business.

Entering Twitter conversations is the exact same thing.  If they're talking about local happenings, enter into those conversations, then follow them, and get to know them.  If you like knitting, search for conversations about knitting with people (whether from your area or not). By talking with people around the world about things that YOU are passionate about, the people in your network who share those passions WILL take notice, and they'll want to do business with you when the time is right.  (Some of those people live in your town, but many of them live elsewhere but know someone in your town, and others live elsewhere but will be moving to your town someday.) For what it's worth, I wrote a 3-part series on how to find discussions going on right now that you might be able to jump in on - further expanding your network.

The power is in the network.  The power of any social network isn't necessarily in the conversations you have with people striking up a deal.  It's with people OVERHEARING you talk about things that you are passionate about, and then either taking action and getting to know you more or better yet - reach out to THEIR network and get THEIR friends in touch with you...

Last week, we had a DenverTweetup, and someone from SPAIN who is following me saw the announcement.  She knew she had a few followers on HER list from the Denver area, so without even being asked, she "retweeted" my announcement to her list.  I barely know her, but she was willing to help out becauase she saw value in my tweet that she could contribute to.  That's the power of social networking.

As another example: I see people in my network mention that they're moving somewhere, or getting a job in that area almost daily.  In those cases, I REGULARLY tell them to get in touch with my twitter friends who I know work in that area.  In fact, I make it a daily effort to do that for SOMEONE in my network.  If you were to "recommend" yourself without already knowing them, you'd be a twitter spammer (and possibly get blocked), but if I recommend them, they just might listen because a non self-serving recommendation from someone else carries a lot more credibility. (Besides, it costs me nothing to do so. Why wouldn't I help a fellow Twitterer out?) The point isn't "follow Joel so he recommends me", but that there are other people on twitter who will certainly do that for you once they've gotten to know you, and once you have friends like that, there is no limit to how much business you might get.

Help one, be seen by many.  Just like Realtors who host talk-radio shows about real estate love it when someone calls in and they get a deal out of it -- that's not why they do the radio show.  They do it so they can share their knowledge with that one person, and have 10,000 or 20,000 OTHER people benefit from that knowledge.  By helping one or two people during the phone call, thousands of others establish them as an expert in that area, and then when the time is right for them, they just might do business with them.

Comments (23)

Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

Thanks for the comment Layla.  I agree.  I've been all about advertising (and doing a LOT of it) for the past 14 years.  Twitter is a tool I firmly believe can be used to 1) leverage my advertising efforts even more by building a better rapport with my prospects, 2) bring in additional business, and have fun while doing it!

Thank you very much Heather!  I'm glad you found it helpful!  (I was worried it might be a little long winded, and come off as a rant.)

Dec 16, 2008 08:49 AM
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

Thanks Steve - I've enjoyed chatting with you on Twitter, and now enjoy interacting on AR!

Dec 16, 2008 08:53 AM
Jane Wallace
HomeSmart Realty - Denver, CO
CRS | SRES, Denver Real Estate

Hi Joel,

I'm Following You

Dec 16, 2008 08:59 AM
Chris & Karen Highland
eXp Realty - Frederick, MD
Integrity, Experience, Enthusiasm!

Great Explanation of social networking.  I don't have many in my town on twitter, but, I figure, when they do, I'll be there waiting.

Dec 16, 2008 09:12 AM
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

Jane, Chris & Karen -- this is like a twitter reunion!  Thanks for dropping by ;-)

Dec 16, 2008 09:17 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Joel--I checked my area in the north metro and had to go to about 20 miles south into Minneapolis before any others on Twitter showed up on TwitterLocal.

Dec 16, 2008 09:19 AM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Joel are you using Brightkite. It will tell you where people are and let other know you location. It is a must use app and or tool for Twitterites like you and me.

Bo

Dec 16, 2008 09:31 AM
Cecily Parks
iMove Group, Knipe Realty NW, Inc. - Salem, OR

I love the paragraph about "the power is in the network". It's difficult to explain to other Realtor's the power of social media networking and your post does this extremely well. I'm going to forward it on to some "nonbeliever's" I know. FYI...I enjoy reading your posts.

Dec 16, 2008 09:51 AM
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

Teri - My guess is that "locals" will only represent a small percent of the potential business you could generate.  As I mentioned in the post - the power is in the network - and what other people (who you didn't even know could help you) can do for you.

Bo - I haven't used britekite - but intend to check it out.

Cecily - yes, the power of the netowork is very difficult to explain, but ain't it grand for those of us who use it?  Thank you for your compliment!  I've enjoyed interacting with you and reading your posts as well.

 

Dec 16, 2008 09:59 AM
Tami Vroma
West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate - Grand Haven, MI
Realtor, Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Joel -loved your post and it seems like it is a lot like Facebook, only a different platform.  What I don't get, and don't get on Facebook either, is why would someone who I don't even know (not even here on AR) want to be my friend?  I don't let anyone on my Facebook I don't know.  But Twitter is different, I get that.  You know from reading my post that you commented on that I am new to Twitter.  What I don't understand is why are all those people following me on Twitter, what do they see in me. 

Did they like how I wrote the post and that is why they are following me? I have 25 people following me but I only follow 6 people . . .people that I have had some contact with and kind of "know" like yourself.

Honestly I get the party thing, in fact I wrote a post about something similar on Facebook.  My client is on there and he and I were talking on FB about his house.  Someone else chimed in because they couldn't belive how much he paid for it.  It was cool.

But why would these people want to follow me?  You said to find a topic that you like and find others on twitter.  I am a horse nut . . I have 3 and I love my horses.  They give me peace.  So I should do a search on conversations about horses?

Well this comment is getting really long, I want to go check out the other ones your referenced

Dec 16, 2008 11:19 AM
Tami Vroma
West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate - Grand Haven, MI
Realtor, Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Ok I think something just clicked.  By real time, you mean that someone has to be tweeting AT THAT MOMENT that I follow or I am the only one at the party at the moment . . right?  So its like going to watch TV only with Twitter you are going to go see if there is a party at that moment that you can join. . . .right?

Dec 16, 2008 12:08 PM
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

Tami - You're getting it!  Why limit yourself to sharing your passion about horses with people in the Grand Rapids area?  I just did a search on twitter, and there were about 5 people who have mentioned their horses in the last 15 minutes!  Why talk about real estate stuff when you could chat about your passion about horses with people around the country?  Non-productive?  I think not...

  • When people with horse property in the Grand Rapids area see that you're a horse lover, guess who they'll start following
  • When people moving to your area who are "horse people" find you on twitter, they'll not only start following you, but...
  • ...when you post your blog posts about horse properties, or analogies about how how finding the right horse is like ____ they'll be the ones reading every word, and passing your stories along to THEIR friends.
  • Besides - when you think of it that way -- it's not work. It's therapy that has an occasional bi-product of producing business for you.

I'm even more excited to read your tweets & blog posts now ;-)

Dec 16, 2008 01:39 PM
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com - Castle Pines North, CO

PS - I never know exactly WHY people follow me, but I don't really worry about it.  I operate under the assumption that they want me to follow them back so they can eventually get referrals from me, or they want to sell something to me, and that's perfectly fine.  By giving them that opportunity by following, I usually get the same in return. 

If they ever get to spammy about it, unfollowing them is a click away.  THAT'S the beauty of Twitter!

Dec 16, 2008 01:45 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Joel, Thanks for this post.  I have been thinking about Twitter so I may give it a try now.  Why not?  :-)

Dec 17, 2008 02:18 AM
Tami Vroma
West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate - Grand Haven, MI
Realtor, Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

You rock Joel - thank you!

Dec 17, 2008 01:03 PM
Julie Beall
Irongate Realtors - Springboro, OH
CRS

Thanks I finally get it!

Dec 18, 2008 01:41 PM
Karen Cooper
Karen Cooper | Sr Mortgage Loan Originator ! NMLS # 223305 | First Federal Bank of Florida, Ocala, FL - The Villages, FL
Helping Homeowners w/Home Loans in 27 US States

Joel - I think you have helped me finally "get it" with this explanation of Twitter. Thank you! See you out there.

Dec 19, 2008 03:30 AM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Joel- Thank you,  I was realy grasping for the purpose.  It is still hard to explain, but I can see promise.

Great insight.  Thanks again.

Dec 28, 2008 07:45 AM
Nannette Turner
eXp Realty LLC - Lynchburg, VA
Online Marketing Home Ownership Advocate Specialis

Joel you said it in a way folks can understand.  I twitter and I find the ROI AMAZING! Thanks for making this easier for some folks to understand.

Dec 30, 2008 09:54 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

Great post and advice. Worthy of re-blogging to my blog for my Marketing & Business Clients.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- make it a good start.

Jan 04, 2009 08:06 PM