After taking a bite out of the Big Apple last week at Inman’s Real Estate Connect Conference, I was excited to come back to the area with some great information to share with you!
It’s no shocker that social media remained a main focus at the conference, but I particularly enjoyed Thomas Arnold’s Facebook fireside chat. As a partner of Facebook, Thomas did an excellent job relaying how real estate professionals can take full advantage of Facebook as a true business medium. Facebook news feed skimmers are hungry for photos – so give the people what they want! If you’re thinking you have already mastered this step, think again.
A photo isn’t just a photo, it’s an opportunity to engage with your potential clients. Having a photo description of “My new listing on 123 Main!” isn’t as strong as “What do you think of 123 Main Street’s quaint backyard?” Every Like, Share or Comment (even if they are negative!) is a potential lead. If someone comments that the backyard is too small for them, reply that you have a handful of other listings in the same area with bigger backyards. If you have the person’s cell phone number, give them a call.
See what just happened there? Engagement!
Two speakers at Real Estate Connect even went as far as to say that “2012 will be the year of social media ROI.” Now I’m not 100% sure if I agree with this statement because social media is such a revolving door, but definitely use that statement as words of encouragement! So keep up the blogging, Tweet and Facebook posts because you never know if one day’s “Like” could turn into tomorrow’s big lead!
I loved the session on Putting the Consumer first with MRIS CMO – John Heithaus – that guy really understands the role that MRIS plays in supporting brokers and agents provide world class services to buyers and sellers.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words & certainly the Internet is changing everything.
Most negatives can be turned into a positive.
Along the same line, the session on using video (at Inman) talked about taking a negative like a small backyard or a galley kitchen and making a video highlighting that area. Do a cooking demonstration from the galley kitchen. I liked the idea of countering negative feedback with a positive demonstration or humor.
I have to agree that "Connect" provided an incredible opportunity to see behind the curtain of the Internet, Facebook, and much more.
Here is a link to see that "Fireside Chat" that Katie Lance did Thomas Arnold: http://next.inman.com/2012/01/video-deep-insights…
I've always found that it is best to address the negative head on & then many times it's not as big of a deal. And Buyers always seem to appreciate it.
def works better to pose questions instead of just statements
I just saw a friend of mine do this on Facebook and she got good comments and many 'likes'