RealTown's RealTalk

I use Facebook quite a bit. I don't know how much it is helping yet but it is getting things out there.

If you have a blog, I use blogspot, you can have this update your Facebook notes automatically when you update your blog. The instructions on online if you Google Facebook and blogger.

If you use Twitter, which I use somewhat, you can have this update your Facebook datafeed immediately. So you are only doing one not both.

You can check out mine at:

www.RobinMcCoyRealty.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/RobinMcCoyTexas

I am still searching for my Facebook URL but you can find me by my email, RobinMcCoy@kw.com

I hope that helps...

Robin

This is in response to socal networking:

I use Facebook.com as a primary networking site. I have found many realtors and friends from all time periods of my life. Recent news said that FB was signing up 700,000 people a day and even has integrated with twitter.com. I don't really have time to run to each different site and then learn how they all work and connect with people.

Facebook has wonderful feature and you set up one account for personal and business together. There are several privacy features that allow you to only show photos and personal things to friends and not to professionals. I have have not gotten any closed sales off of it yet but everyone connected with me knows that I am a realtor and they see that every day. Neighbors, Highschool friends and family and business contacts. A good number of my 700+ contacts are on very often. I have some referrals already being cultivated through various connections.

Facebook is friendly, fun, and a great common meeting place. I love it!

Amy

Amy S. Myers, e-PRO
REALTOR, Sales Associate
Century21 American Heritage
21 Towne Center, Allegheny Twp, PA 15656
amy.myers@century21.com
(724)-845-4700 X 1330 Office (Cell 724-448-0085)
(724) 339-2831 Fax (E-Fax 1-866-269-0675)
http://www.century21ahr.com/
Blog: www.amysmyers.com

I am just jumping on this "band wagon" myself.

Linked in has been pretty good for getting my name to the top of search engines. Give it a try!

Anne Barrington

What application are you using that allows updates from Twitter to
Facebook... I have only found the one that goes from FB to Twitter... please
advise...
 

Also, I can't seem to locate the application I think Saul mentioned, that
allows Point2 sites to update FB... anyone know where to find that?
 

Have a great day!
 

Best regards,
 

Paul Silver
Focus Professionals, Inc.

Editor's Note
The application name is ‘Neighborhoods’ -- One needs to add this application to their profile and then choose ‘browse real estate’ once in the application.This is the URL http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2364094024&ref=s&ref=sJohn

My suggestion: pick a few; the biggest ones, and do a good job there. It is better to have a good presence with a large following on the right ones to target your market, than to have a bunch of dead profiles. I heartily recommend creating and promoting a group here; MyBlogLog.com is a good place to make your blog available by RSS for subscription, Technorati is another.

Do a good job on your blog here, feed it to your facebook and myspace, concentrate on having a real presence somewhere, rather than a false presence all over.

I have a nearly 700 person group on Active Rain, but active rain is mostly Realtors, which may not be your target market. I get more leads from Realtown now than from any other source. You are only going to blog so much, no matter how thin you spread yourself.

I put testimonials and case studies on my own blog, Real Estate industry opinion pieces and tech tips here and on active rain; use Associated Content and PR.com for press releases and promotional pieces, and link building...

If you build a following, a subscription base for your RSS feed, every time you post, your audience gets the message instantly: very powerful marketing!

I think that you are not looking for Social Networking if you are looking
for somewhere to put your listings . I belong to several social
networking/communities including my own group on espn.com . People want to
get to know you personally on social networking/communities before you go
pushing ANYTHING at them . Believe me,anyone thats a member of my group on
espn knows that I am a REALTOR because I have a link to my website right on
my profile page . Also it doesn't hurt to bring up something that involves
Real Estate from time to time in casual conversations . Espn.com is just one
of the online communities that I frequent on a daily basis and participate
in on-line discussions . There are 65 members in my group that are all over
the United States and I would bet that if any of them or a family member
would ever need to Buy Real Estate in Virginia.....I would be the first to
know . Build the relationships First and the Rest will come .
Julious Evans

---

I agree 100% Julious! There are many sites for posting listings, such as
Trulia, and the rest, but the SocNet sites are not of that sort... marketing
is still possible without pushing a listing on these sites, and I think most
members do not like that sort of selling... At least that is what I hear
when I listen on conversations about guys who just constantly post their
'products" and do not engage anyone in dialog... I have no data other than
anecdotal... but it seems true enough...

Have a great day!

Best regards,

Paul Silver
Focus Professionals, Inc.

Social Networking is where it's at!

I fealt ahead of the curve at our latest Coldwell Banker Seminar that discussed Social Networking. I've already had closed sales from Social Networking.

Prior to becoming a Realtor, I've always been a member of various Car related forums. I've got gasoline in my veins and can talk about cars from when i wake to I sleep, and then I'll dream about them! When i became a Realtor, I had a 4 month old daughter and found my social activities dwindling. When things calmed down and I was able to refocus on growing my sphere of influence, I knew that fellow gearheads was a good place to turn. I increased my appearances at local events and get togethers, and started to really get to know a few of the members. Since then I have sold three homes, placed a few referrals for other parts of town, and received a number of referrals to member's friends (working with two right now )as well as I've placed a large number of rentals. Nowadays when anyone has a housing question on the board, the other board members e-mail me and tell the person with a question to contact me.

I resisted myspace (and still do) feeling that it was too young for me, or what I need. I joined Facebook a couple months ago when my wife made me. Since then I've seen a direct impact. I've closed on a sale from an old Facebook friend, on my way to close on another, Listing for a friend this weekend, and got another friend started looking last week!

I will not put listings on Facebook, although I see many other agents do so. I don't think it's the right place. In my opinion, there is a slim chance that someone is searching through facebook to find a home!

I do make sure to talk about work. With comments like, I'm sitting an open house at xxx, anyone feel like bringing some company and COFFEE!, or Wow, did I have a good time showing 1st time buyers home today... subtle things. I also try to keep friends up to date with family and personal updates... But won't forget that I'm on facebook to network not play!

Hopefully a little testimony will help some of you on the fence to Jump down and get to Work!