I've been getting a bunch of feedback from agents recently about how they are using technology to drive business. I thought I would share with you.
Facebook
I just got off the phone with Ludwig Pulaski at Page Taft Realty in Guilford, CT. He tells me that he just got a listing because of Facebook. Seems that a guy he knows casually had friended him on Facebook. Ludwig makes it a habit that every time he lists or sells something, he posts it in his status updates on Facebook. (For those of us old enough to remember, this is like the Just Listed/Just Sold Postcards we used to send out all the time.)
So when it came time for this guy to sell, Ludwig was a natural choice. The guy told Ludwig that he picked him because he seemed to always be selling stuff. Not bad for taking what amounts to a scant few minutes each time (especially if you're using Ping.fm rather than trying to update each individual account separately) for your updates.
AutoResponders
Another agent I spoke to (who will remain nameless because I didn't get his permission to include it in my post) said that he had stopped using his autoresponders because as he put it "when I get put on someone else's autoresponder list I eventually just stop reading because I know it's not just for me". Instead, he puts people into a newsletter setup. I have mixed feelings on this one. Having had a moment or two to reflect on this thought, I agree with him that if I get an autoresponder for random stuff, that ultimately I do stop reading and eventually unsubscribe. But if I'm getting something relevant to me (like a class I signed up for or information I need), then even though I may not read each email, I keep them and eventually I start reading again. So I'm mixed bag on this one. I think that the best answer to this would be to have autoresponders that are specific to different people's needs and from different perspectives. Doing one for each of the stages of life I mentioned in my book would be a good start. Then, people are getting something that exactly meets their needs. And if they need something more specific, then they can call you (which is what you want them doing anyway).
Kelle, Good points about Facebook. I don't use that enough for property snippets. And ping.fm is great. Thanks!
I have heard that using Facebook to promote your business (unless it is a business page) is grounds for revocation of your membership. Does anyone know that to be true?
My personal preference is to use facebook as a personal networking tool, being aware that personal connections are the foundation of my business.
Hi Kelle, an excellent article about facebook, thank you for sharing it withus.
John Pusa
I do post my listigs and bloggs on facebook and use ping as well still waiting, haven't pick up any clients yet for doing it.
Holly - There are entire reams of virtual paper written on how to use Facebook to promote your business, so, no, it's not grounds for revokation of your membership - but spamming is. So it's not OK to randomly try to friend 1500 people just for the purposes of marketing to them. This is for communicating with people you already know.
Susan - You should also think about linking to your listing for each new home - asking in the status update for people to forward the link so that more people can know about it. Also ask the sellers to do the same - they likely have different networks than you do and it's also a tacit endorsement of you and a referral to their friends of your services.
John - You're Welcome!
Debbie - try the suggestions I just made to Susan above - you might find that those help. Although all of this is predicated on you being an active member of the Facebook community in general. If you're only using it for marketing, then you'll have problems because people will hide your feed.
I also use Facebook and have gotten very good feedback on property I have posted. Also FB allows people to see a little of your personality which makes you, as an agent, more real. You do have to be careful what you post if you are using FB for listings or the viewer may see a side of you that is not very professional.
I would be careful about FB also. Not only the stuff you post but what others put on as well. You would need to be more the professional on FB then you would otherwise want to be. To the world you are always a real estate agent.
I'm hoping to learn more about Facebook at the REBarCampRDU coming up in a couple of weeks.
Don't like autoresponders, unless like you said it's a specific course I signed up for.