The use of social media in real estate is an extremely hot topic. Just 2 years ago, however, using social media for real estate was almost unheard of. So what’s changed over the past 24 months that’s resulted in the social media craze.
- I think the major catalyst to the use of social media in real estate has to be the slumping economy. From 2003-2007 many people flocked to real estate to make some “easy money.” For a while it was just that, people with little experience and expertise entered the field and began closing deals. Now that we are in a recession economy, agents need to do everything they can to get a leg up on the competition. That includes maximizing exposure, while limiting overhead. Social media allows you to do just that.
- Twitter has become mainstream. Twitter is no longer for techies and social media geeks, everyone from celebrities to Congressmen are on Twitter. Moreover, the largest demographic of Twitter users are 35-42. This age range is prime home-buying age. Agents can easily reach, and begin building a relationship with potential clients.
- Facebook has reached 200 million users thanks to the influx of women ages 45-55. Facebook is no longer just for college kids, large corporations as well as small companies are using Facebook to reach their target audience. Agents are quickly making their presence known and Facebook and using it to build their business. Like Twitter, they can easily reach potential clients.
Social media and real estate are certainly a match made in heaven. However, with everyone telling you to rush to social media quickly sign up for Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn before it’s too late, where does one turn for quality information on to best utilize these sites for real estate. With is so much content out there, much of it conflicting, how do people determine what to believe?
I was recently faced with this same question as I started my own LinkedIn group, Social Media for Real Estate. In a short time the group has reached 180 members and I want to make sure I provide them with quality resources to promote conversation and make the group a valuable community. That being said, I want to review a few of my favorite sites that discuss the use of social media in real estate.
MyTechOpinion
MyTechOpinion covers a wide range of topics within real estate technology including social media, blogging, software, hardware, events, and marketing. The blog authors are Nicole Nicolay (@Nik_Nik), Reggie Nicolay (@cyberhomes), and Chad Johnson (@chadajohnson), all of whom are well-known and respected within the social media community. They frequently speak at conferences including RETechSouth and Real Estate BarCamps. I recommend you periodically check their site for updates, as they are at the forefront of technology and real estate.
Transparent Real Estate
Transparent Real Estate is run by Pat Kitano (@pkitano), who is also a co-founder of the social media consulting firm Domus Consulting Group. His blog covers more than just the use of social media in real estate, he frequently covers topics affecting the economy. He is an authority on the use of social media in real estate and often speaks at real estate tech conferences. His blog is updated frequently and each write-up garners interesting comments.
Dakno TV and Blog
Dakno TV post videos from real estate conferences (they had a live stream of REBarCamp LA) as well as hosting a weekly series called Swiftblog Training, which offers blog tips and tips on the use of social media in real estate. The Dakno blog covers much of the same topics. It’s run by @dakno and @rewebcoach. They have an archive of videos on their site, I recommend you check out videos of particular interest.
Other Sites I Like
Ribeezie – Good insights into the use of social media in real estate (@ribeezie)
AreWeConnected – Covers more than just real estate (@mikemueller)
These are just some of my favorites. There are countless others out there that provide quality content. A note of caution: do not believe everything you read about social media, there is a lot of bad advice out there. Keep in mind, there are no shortcuts, take the time to build your tribe and get to know your followers. What are your favorite sites that discuss the use of social media in real estate?
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