Real Estate Agents and Social Media

In one of my recent posts, I asked if anyone had a question on any of the topics in the below pic.

Thank you to Christopher Chapman for asking this question, "What would you suggest is relevant content for a real estate agent with Linkedin and Facebook posts?"

My view is that you should be utlising LinkedIn and Facebook to broaden your social reach, given not all of your Facebook followers would be on LinkedIn and visa versa.

Let's look at why people use Facebook. They are seeking information (education), news, updates on their friends or favourite business/celebrities and they want to be entertained (motivated and inspired) whilst doing it.

Real Estate agents need to ensure they are ticking the above boxes with the perfect amount of consistency and timing.

Let's look at what this can look like across Facebook.

People want to know who you are and what your business can do for them, so allow posts to capture this with posting pics of your business on a more personal level. No, I don't mean you with you kids swimming at the beach, what I mean by this is pictures of inside your business. These can range from a special morning tea in your office, a staff members birthday, a success with a client (always good to ask the client's permission before posting) and even sharing what you can do different than other agents in your area.

Become a specialist in your area and share your knowledge on market trends, property updates and successes that you have achieved all in a story telling type of way. A great way of doing this is using the Facebook live feature and schedule in a weekly show where you can share the highlights of the week. You may want to include client testimonials, new listings, successes and pitfalls that have occurred. Keeping the show at the same time every week when the majority of your followers have the time to chill on the couch and watch. A great night to do this is Sunday night at approx 8pm (most people have finished dinner, put the kids to bed and will be relaxing with a glass of Shiraz watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory) but trial and error over time will prevail.

With the Facebook Live feature, allow people the opportunity to ask questions. You might want to have a main feature every week, such as What's Hot in Your Area or How to Get More From Your Listing. Keep these broadcasts to no more than 20 minutes and ensure to promote it throughout the week on LinkedIn and as an event on Facebook, create some hype and get people interested in you, as you are the business!

Never forget the power of inspiration. People love to be inspired as well as motivated, a quick and easy way of doing this is putting your favourite pick me quotes beside a pic of you in action at work. Your followers are interested in what you have to say, otherwise why are the following you?

Giving information and sharing your knowledge in a genuine engaging manner can be done via LinkedIn publisher, which can then be shared to your Facebook page (as well as your website and Twitter account). This is an simple way in expanding your social reach across both platforms.

Moving onto LinkedIn, ideally a more professional networking site but seems to be slowly creeping into the Facebook realm.

Using the new native feature on LinkedIn, in conjuction with your weekly Facebook Live segments, is one way to summarise your highlights from your FB broadcast. Keep your LinkedIn videos short, suggestions are under 5 minutes are performing better but I'd say under 3 minutes (max is 10 mins so don't bother pasting across your Facebook broadcast).

LinkedIn is a great platform to help your followers get in touch with people you may know, for business related purposed (might be a conveyancer, settlement agent, insurance broker etc) but they don't have a connection with (this means they'd be a 2nd degree connection to that person). You can complete a warm introduction via LinkedIn messaging, value add boom!

Consistency is key with both platforms, min once a day should be doing the trick but don't forget social media means social. Ensure that you engage your followers, respond back, like comments, direct them to other businesses if you can't assist. So basically look at who you follow on social media and ask yourself, why?

The more honest and genuine value you add the quicker your social following will grow

Thanks again to Chris for the question and hopefully this has provided some starting points. Don't forget there is so much more to social media than simply posting.

Wishing you all the best.

Regards

Dino Pacella

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Founder of National Finance Brokers Day

Disclaimer:

This content has been prepared for general information purposes only, all views expressed are my own and is not (and cannot be construed or relied upon as) personal advice, as it does not take into account your personal, financial situation or market conditions.