Special offer

Are you using FaceBook Correctly?

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Facebook Tips Part 1

Facebook Tips Part 2

With all the social media for us to mingle and utilize, sometimes it is important to remember that it is a 'social' media website, and not a place for one to email blast listings or always discuss real estate business.

 Chinese Speaking Real Estate agents

I believe in socializing in different social media to connect with old friends from high school, college, ex-colleagues, employers, past clients, current clients (maybe) and some future clients. Since I have sign onto Facebook, I have seen many realtors have signed on

and I sometimes hesitate if I should befriend them because I do not know if they will be interested in getting to know me and be a friend, or just so I will be bombarded with their listings and property information. 

 

 

 

Here are some tips etiquettes I believe will help you define those fine lines...

  • Have a informal photo of yourself: This is a social media site, people want to get to know who you are and perhaps what you look like when you are not working.  It maybe a good idea to have a photo of yourself in casual environment instead of in suit and tie as a sales person, at the same time, it may be a good idea to keep all your clothes on. A bathing suit photo may not be appropriate.
  • Upload additional photos of yourself: Are you a golfer, a runner, or a dedicated father? Why not show off those photos and express who you are.
  • Brief description of who you are: The section where you can fill out information about yourself, fill them out as complete as possible, your friends wants to get to know you, if you are a big movie buff, name those movies and perhaps your future client and you have those favorite movies in common!

  • That status sentence: (Eileen is...). I often like to write somethings random, not always about Real Estate, I have befriended with many realtors on my facebook profiles, but time after time, I just kept on receiving their listing information without any interesting thoughts or comments on their end.  I believe if you are going to advertise or get the words out on your listing, there is arts to that. You can sometimes post a link, or post a photo, or write a note about it on Facebook, but if you are always writing in your status section about Real Estate, you may not have real friends after few months on facebook... If they want to know all about Real Estate, they will sign on another website.
  • Post interesting articles in regards to Real Estate on Facebook. Articles about first time home buyer credit, or mortgage refinancing, or home of the week in your town. Find interesting articles online and post them on your profile.

Having a social media profile is great, updating your profile a little bit everyday is manageable. The main thing is to have fun, enjoy the process, and connect with people who have common interests as yourself. We as Real Estate agents have to really let people know who we are as person, as much homework we do before we meet a potential client (seller or buyer), they are also doing homework on us.  Why not let them find us on Facebook and get to know who we are first, so we are all familiarize with each other?

Enjoy the Facebook process!

Facebook Tips Part 2

Posted by

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 

Eileen Hsu 許雅嵐 (email: EHSU(@)elliman.com)

Our team specialize in Manhattan New York Condominiums, townhouses, and condops.

We are condominium residents ourselves so we understand the Manhattan New York condominium community. We also enjoy all Manhattan neighborhoods, especially Upper West Side, Lincoln Square, Midtown East, Murray Hill, Financial District, Chelsea, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Nolita and etc just to name a few. If you or you know someone that may be interested in selling, buying or leasing their Manhattan New York condo, call us today (917)837-8869 or (646)644-6929 and we can discuss your specific Real Estate goals.

Manhattan New York Condo Specialists or Chinese Speaking Real Estate Agent

 

Comments(24)

Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

This is the exact reason why I keep my Facebook in a very different way as I do on Facebook. I use it to connect with people, be it my former classmates, friends or clients. I want them to see me as a person. I guess you can call it a strategy.

I posted a very personal photo of me on my facebook.

Feb 06, 2009 01:57 PM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I love hunting people down and looking at every minute detail of what they say and do.

Feb 06, 2009 02:34 PM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

My picture looks semi-casual not overly professional.  I keep my comments friendly and try to avoid throwing my profession in their faces.  It works and hopefully to my advantage too.

Feb 06, 2009 02:36 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Eileen- These are great suggestions. You need to be connecting, not pushing your wares, on any social network site, the goal is in building relationships no matter what your business is. Katerina

Feb 06, 2009 03:13 PM
Jon Wnoroski
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor

Hi Eileen - Thanks for the information about "facebook."  I'm sure I'm not using it to its fullest extent; I need to look at that more extensively.

Feb 06, 2009 11:36 PM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

Jon - You will be able to find some more of my helpful tips in the near future to come. I think it is good for us to maximize the connection with others! Business and personal level!

Feb 07, 2009 11:35 AM
Jay Williams
Greenville, NC - Greenville, NC
Mortgage Loan Officer - Getting You The Right Loan

Eileen, I think facebook is a great place to merge the personal and business. Your real friends enjoy knowing about what you do. Your business associates enjoying learning more about your personal side.

Jay

Feb 07, 2009 12:15 PM
D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

These  are great tips here.  I have done as you suggested, an informal picture so they can see I am a person outside of Real Estate.

Thanks

Don

Feb 08, 2009 07:37 AM
Antonio M. Cardenas Broker Associate
RE eBroker Group - San Leandro, CA. - San Leandro, CA
"The Realtors In Motion"

Great tips Eileen, as you can see, I come back here from your other post, I just wanted to see if you had other tips that could help my presence on facebook more fullfilling and profitable, I'll look you up in that group.

Antonio

Feb 08, 2009 02:16 PM
Dan Weis
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Cincinnati, OH
Cincy Real Estate Advisor

Hi Eileen,

Great points!  I do not have local Realtors on my FB page.  I will soon set up a group page, where I will gladly accept them and anything they want to share. 

Feb 09, 2009 06:17 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Broker/Short Sale & Staging Specialist - Crosby, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Thank you for your opinion on FB and tips to utilize - I will check out part 2. I agree with the informal photo.

Feb 09, 2009 12:31 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

thank you so much for this! I posted a blog yesterday asking how to maximize my facebook page - this is PERFECT! Thank you so much!

Feb 09, 2009 01:13 PM
Christopher Johnston
The Johnston Team - Metairie, LA

I think that there is no right or wrong way to use Facebook. In fact the purpose of Facebook has changed many times since Zuckerberg created while he was at Harvard. I think that everybody has to determine how they want to use any of the various social networks that exist.

You may want to use it to keep in touch with old friends, current friends, or as a marketing tool. Each of these uses could dictate a different strategy but ultimately it is up to you HOW you choose to use it.

Feb 13, 2009 11:45 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Eileen, thanks for this very thought provoking topic on Facebook. I have yet to dive into this area based on my time but now I know what to do in order to be the most effective.

Feb 15, 2009 09:08 AM
Robert Hammerstein
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Eileen -  thanks for these tips. I try to do these on a consitent basis. It's a delicate balance between business and socializing. You must be careful what you post out there in the public light. 

Feb 15, 2009 10:48 AM
Monica Bourgeau
Portland, OR
Business Coaching

We love Facebook too, thanks for the tips.

Feb 15, 2009 12:06 PM
Harold "Hal" Benz
Transformative Action Coaching & Consulting, LLC - Westfield, NJ
Business & Life Coach For Agents & Entrepreneurs

Eileen,

Some good tips. I need to come up with a more informal FB picture (currently using my business photo). My friends think I come off looking too stiff... I'm looking forward to Part 2!

Feb 15, 2009 01:59 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I got on strictly to network.  Why not get my info. out there right?  So I didn't put much personal info. on there, didn't feel it was necessary.  Since, my old classmates have found me, and one said I needed more pics on there.  And I'm thinking, but this is for business, not my personal life, now is all convoluted.

Feb 20, 2009 03:43 PM
Brenda Carus
Century 21 Zwygart Real Estate - Monroe, WI

Great idea on posting RE related articles to FB.  Doing it occasionally will keep my job in mind for people.

Mar 05, 2009 03:55 AM
Dana Emerson
Keller Williams Realty Livingston Partners - Denham Springs, LA

Hey Eileen, I found part 1 :)  Great suggestions  , I need to change my picture and add a few more.  I will also need to add to my profile.  Good night :) 

Apr 25, 2009 01:38 PM