In the ever evolving world of online marketing and social media, Facebook has proven to be an invaluable asset for small businesses all over the world. With the ability to create pages, to build and foster networks and to find leads for your growing business, the possibilities are endless. This is especially good for real estate agents who would like to use Facebook as a means to market and promote their business. Here’s a list of the top 10 tips for real estate agents using Facebook to promote and grow their business
Create a Facebook page instead of using your personal profile- This gives you more of a professional look that you want your clients to see. Another great reason to create a Facebook page for this purpose is you can customize it and put only relevant information that is directly related to your business. You don’t need to worry about your friends tagging you in a drunken photo and having potential buyers or sellers seeing it.
Customize your page- Put relevant information, pictures, and contact details so your customers can really know what you are all about. Make the Facebook page somewhat of a catalogue for your clients to refer to. You should also look at setting up a dedicated landing page.
Use Analytics to measure traffic- You can add applications to your page like Google analytics to analyze those who frequent your page and where they come from. This is a great way to help you come up with strategies for social media optimization.
Create groups– By creating groups, you are zeroing in on customers and potential customers. This makes it more intimate for you and your prospective clients to communicate. You can create groups about renovating for those who like to flip properties for example. Also look at pages about your area where you can share information about schools, shops and sporting teams.
Create discussion posts – One great way to ensure communication and interaction with your clients is by posting polls or questions. This is great to encourage activity on the page but also for market research. Join in discussions posted and be active.
Use the like it button on your Web page and blog--This is a great way to get more people to your page and seeing your message. Add the like it button in your blogs to drive people back to your Facebook page. There are also some plug ins that you can use that mean any comments made on your blog will appear on your Facebook page and vice versa
Market your Facebook page- You can use your personal profile to post a link of your Facebook page to get the people in your personal profile’s network to like it. You can also post links of your Facebook page in other sites like twitter or your website. You may also want to put your Facebook page on your business card and email signature.
Be active and participate- Your Facebook page will not work by itself. You need to at least have one post a day for you to be noticed. You need to get people to become Fans of your page and then you need to encourage them to participate. Updates and posts in your Facebook page will be visible to the walls of the people who liked your page but only if Facebook’s algorithms deem that your page is important to a particular user. Encourage them to participate and do it regularly.
Keep personal things away from your Facebook page-Do not confuse your Facebook page with your personal one. This page is for business purposes. As much as it can help you in your business, a wrong post can be disastrous as well. Don’t say something stupid and don’t get into a fight!
Know what you are doing– You need to have a plan and you need to dedicate time to your Facebook page. Set goals. If you don’t set goals how will you know if you have been successful with your online activities?
Social media has changed internet marketing but, more importantly, it has changed business networking. It’s easy to make a profile and start making pages. The best part in this all is that it’s free. Don’t forget that you can integrate other social networking sites and your website in to your Facebook page to make it even more effective.
If you are a Real Estate Agent who wants to learn more about how Social Media can help you grow and develop your client base make sure you get in touch.
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