You Have Facebook and Twitter Accounts - So You're Using Social Media, Right?
Maybe, but maybe not. The questions becomes - are you getting results? How you use social media is almost as important as whether or not you sign up for an account.
I've heard Social Media being compared to having a gym membership. Once you have a membership you've taken the first step to getting fit. But if you don't work out on a regular basis, you won't see the benefits. There are also strategies you can use to maximize your time at the gym and improve your results.
The same is true for social media.
Social media isn't a magic bullet and having profiles on all the sites won't make you an overnight success. The value of social media comes over time as you engage people who are interested in your message.
Here are some ways to improve your results with social media:
1.) Have a strategy that includes what you want to achieve with social media, what tools you will use, and how you will measure results. Make adjustments as necessary. Social media is more of an art than a science and each industry, business, and individual are different. You may need to make more than a few tweaks to find your stride.
2.) Choose the Right Tools - Do your research and determine which tools will work best for you and your business. Where are your customers online? You might not want or need to be on every site out there. Focus your efforts where you will get the best results.
3.)Listen First before you jump into any site, this will let you get a feel for what's acceptable and what's not, every community is different. Also, make sure you understand a site's Terms of Service as some have restrictions on how you can promote your business.
4.) Personalize and Humanize - No one wants to talk to a logo, social media is about people and interactions. Don't be afraid to share information that shows you are human, it will make you more approachable to your follows.
5.) Engage - Provide value and don't be spammy! You might be excited about your product or service but no one likes a non-stop sales ad. Provide relevant information but more importantly, interact and engage with your followers. Make sure your social media conversations are a Dialogue, and not a Monologue!
The main thing is to just get out there, ease into it if you need to but start working that social media muscle.
This article also appears on our Social Media Blog.
Kevin and Monica- Very nice written post about what is important in social networking. I like to add- be transparent, don't be fake, be yourself, pay it forward and reach out and help! Katerina
Katerina - Thank you, I appreciate your feedback - good points, I may have to add those :)
Awesome perspective... I was speaking to a group a few weeks ago and this popped out of my mouth, "When we do social media we aren't going to Mars." We don't leave earth, it's all apart of an expanding reality... just more resources. The earthly rules still apply. Relationships simply take time, and really good ones take a little more time.
Great post... thanks.
I like your point about choosing the right tools and having a good plan. If done right, you can show market knowledge while participating and providing value to the various platforms. All of the platforms can point back to (typically) one main place where you want people to end up. ie: your web site or blog.
You guys are doing it well. Every time I think of you I am reminded of how much I want to visit your beautiful part of Montana.
Kevin and Monica -
Great post. Very helpful points. I think some agents view social media as "keeping up with the Joneses". They gotta have it because other agent do. But, they don't have a plan beyond that.
Wow! Awesome post, you two! I do hope that you have an expanded form of this post on the Access SM site. You do have one there, right?? :-)
Kevin and Monica, I like what you said. "Don't be spammy" I think we are all a little guilty of this as we try these new tools on the internet. Thanks for the post.
I like the "choose your tools". If you get started by signing up for every known social media site and tool, it is easy to get overwhelmed and quit them all. Personally Tweetdeck and utilizing the Facebook Groups function have been the two tools that help me the most.
Great post. Social networking is like joining a gym. I see many agents sign up for everything and then do NOTHING with it.
Also, ENGAGE. I love that part of it the most. Very good post!!
My Broker asked me to teach a class on Social Media tomorrow. I think I know enough to be dangerous.
Her point is I'm doing it and they are not. Heck my Active Rain page isn't even branded (Have to work on that).
I really appreciate the points you make, especially the personalize and humanize. I'll be quoting you at the meeting! Thanks. Joy
I like your illustration of having a gym membership. It reminds me of a joke I make to my friends, because I love to buy cookbooks but don't like to cook. I tell them that I believe if I get enough cookbooks, when they reach 'critical mass' meals will just start popping out! :-)
These are all great points. I find myself posting so many links to articels on my Twitter that I realize I look like one of those 'bots' sometimes. I must remember to be personal!
Someone in AR recently wrote a blog about being personal or business oriented in social networking and I feel that both are needed. Some personality is essential.
Your point #1 - have a strategy - is missing for lots of people. I think after listening first, developing a strategy should follow next. That's what I'm working on, at least.
Agreed- just being "on" Twitter and Facebook doesn't do anything for you if you are not actively participating.
Excellent Post and great advise. I do not use my Facebook as well as I should, part of it is lack of time.
You're so right. I have a collection of the cookbooks, and Gym tips as well. All to no avail. To adapt the words of Saul Klein. The best program you can start is the one you will use. Thanks for the reminder.
Great advice! Well thought and put together.
I am just jumping into social media for real estate. I have used it successfully for another business but it feels very different with this one. All of your suggestions are good ones. The hard thing, like with anything, is putting them to good use. Great post! -Marian
Kevin and Monica I like your analogy to the gym...that is spot on!
Kevin & Monica - I attended a seminar today on the Power of owning your own Corporation, by Rich Dad's Robert Kiyosaki. It talked so much about having a belief, making a plan, and acting on that plan. You are talking about the same kind of strategy.
I like your comparison of it being similar to a gym membership. Using it correctly and not allowing it to become a time sucker is also important.
You made some really good points about social media. I cannot possibly keep up with all of the good social media options out there so I am settling for two or three and trying to concentrate on them, but I do spend most of my time on AR. I think I am addicted and I need to learn more about Twitter!
I liked your point about going to a website and "Listening" to how the media works, how people respond and react using the tool. I know I'm guilty of jumping into a couple sites that now I figure are not worth my blogging time. Thanks for the blog on this topic.
Exactly! Because I can't possibly work out on a regular basis at all these various sites -- Twitter, Facebook, ActiveRain, LinkedIn, Merchant Circle, etc. -- I have chosen to focus on ActiveRain because I love the lack of spam and the very Pleasant, Polite, Positive, Personable, and Professional people here.
I think social media might be making data base drip campaigns obsolete !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do only Active Rain, and I spend so much time on it, that it kills any idea of going outside of AR. But them, I get 70-75% of my business from AR, that I am not sure it even makes sense.
Do you really need to be everywhere or it is better to be very selective?
Good post. Great analagy. I guess I need to work out some more. Thanks for the shove.
Kevin and Monica,
Great tips and another well written post! Like Russell and Jon, I am mainly active on AR. It is the best gym for the mind! :)
I do like Activerain better than any other - I am also on Facebook and Twitter --- I hope I learn how to do more with them!
Monica & Kevin, great post! Excellent advice on the 'listening' tip. Kinda like jumping rope...catch your rhythm and then jump in!