First without question DO COMPETITIVE RESEARCH

One of my favorite ways is GOOGLE of course

Use Google Trends  to identify major trends in your industry http://www.google.com/trends

Then set-up Google alerts to monitor the latest news in OTHER cities http://www.google.com/alerts

By doing this kind of research and bringing your new ideas and techniques to your local market before your competitors do.   Plan the work and work the plan!  That’s what my sister always says:)  Thanks Teri

Perform searches on the major social media networks like YouTube, Facebook, & Twitter.  I also strongly recommend LinkedIn and research what your competion is doing in REAL Time!

With Twitter and other accounts use TWEETDECK i’m socially addicted to mine!  And here’s the best it’s FREE!  http://www.tweetdeck.com/ Use TWEETDECK to organize tweets and other profiles related to your industry.  This is a great way to keep yourself efficient and disciplined socially speaking.    

Careful with TWEETDECK it can be socially distracting in a good way, just remember to logout otherwise you  may be hearing the tweets go off in the weeeee hours of the night.  Twitters are 24/7

When setting up your profile use a human image to attract more followers statistically proven more people engage in YOU rather than a Corporate Brand Image.   Have 2-3 pictures on-hand and change them every now and then, socialties love this!  First impressions are important!  And make sure you use custom backgrounds and layouts that are consistent with your brand.

A kewl group of Social Media Photographers, I met through YES, Social Media networking and I am diggen their work so much I plan to use them for my next photo shoot (cuz i need some updates) is Vancouver based Nordica Photography click on the link to get an idea of their stuff.  http://nordicaphotography.com/social-media-photography-basic-package/ and BOOK em!

As I continue to say and thanks Teri-Lyn Conrad @TLCHOME for the tweet on this  “Social Media is a Business”

okay enough i gotta change my profile picture and get customizing myself.

 This is your FUTURE!  Personally, I get the real estate social media part; where it is really about business to business networking and building a client base for future sales. It really isn’t as much about socializing as many in the industry may think. That is just the ‘fad’ or the ‘perception’ part of social media.

I prefer to talk about the productivity part of it and what it can do for your real estate business. It’s not just about social fun (or addiction in my case)  it is verifiably effective IF you do it right and make the connection!

I view real estate whether it is in a bricks and mortar or a virtual setting as a profession and a career. Although I never acquired my license to sell, I’ve worn many ‘hats’ in the real estate space, i choose to help Realtors with their business.  It is also my livelihood! All efforts Blogging at some point should be a productive exercise and have a purpose, otherwise what is the point? In my opinion, there has to be a purpose to a posting something on Twitter other than “I just walked my dog,” or “I’m at the airport waiting for baggage!” As much as many defend this, I do not see how that enhances a professional career or image. What would be much more appealing to me… as result of my online efforts – that I were viewed as a source of information, or advice. If we can demonstrate our knowledge and real estate experience – that alone should raise the bar on why clients need to seek us out for our superior service. On the other hand, if my online image and presence is so poor, mundane or so colloquial, I’d assume that the reader or viewer will just move on very quickly! “Next”

So YOU need to be found and be someone people like to see and hear about! This is where I have served many;  is the ideal fact that a realtor or real estate company can’t be everything to everyone but connections and authenticity help even when in a virtual world.

 In the real estate industry it has been accepted and factual that even in good times there is an 80% turnover of real estate agents every two years. So here’s my question… “Is real estate social media the new “Gathering around the water cooler crowd at the office?”   The reason that I say this is that most people in the industry will not make it. They have always been time wasters and complainers in the Tuesday morning realtor meetings. This large industry turnover really magnifies the 80/20 rule or the 93/7% rule in this business. What it is really saying is that although many persons are licensed in real estate, but very few actually produce. The sad reality is that a few people in real estate produce while others talk about production, and then they move on. So how does this apply online where the conversations, comments and opinions are now online? Is real estate social media the new office hangout around a virtual coffee pot for senseless conversations, bad jokes, political rants and more?  NOT!

In my opinion, I am social, my business is social, I engage in people and conversations, I utilize the tools of technology and the internet to attract people and THIS is the future of Real Estate Marketing. More and more people are online searching for properties and if your not participating socially by virtually networking you may as well consider yourself a MLS ‘knocker’ and NOT a ROCKER! I’m seeking the MLS rockers in my business of Social Media Marketing and Consulting, ha ha just a plug-in for me:) 

Happy tweeting realtors!