Benefits of Social Networking sites?

[karicalder]

Hi, I am relatively new to online marketing and have heard huge raves about social networking sights becoming the next big thing on the internet. I know quite a bit about facebook and myspace but am curious how people are leveraging these sites to market themselves outside their group of already established contacts? I am always interested in learning new ways of marketing that exposes new opportunities to gain more clientele. I am curious what successes other people may have had and any recommendations people can make.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

[thedeallocator]

It realy depends on your demographic targeting. Facebook just unveiled a new PPC ads system. It will be interesting to see howmuch real estate related traffic one can get from there.

[Bigtoe]

All of these things are just more pieces to the puzzle. Try digg, squido, active rain and linkedin. Sign up for them and fill in the blanks.

[Dallas Broker]

Social Networking Sites are a must to promote yourself, your company, and products/services. I would also recommend article posts and pr sites. Here are a couple networking sites I've found useful.

Active Rain: Free Networking site for real estate professionals

Linkedin: Online community with 9 million+ business professionals

Ryze: 250,000+ members, special networks relevant to your specific industry

WannaNetwork: Network for Real Estate Professionals.

Delicious: Social Bookmarking Network

Technorati: Nework of National Blogs, 7 million+

The Real Estate Bloggers: National Real Estate Blog, spotlights news articles and video clips

Kazeli: Business Network

Squidoo: Create your own lens

[Tsena]

Social Networking Sites are a must to promote yourself, your company, and products/services. I would also recommend article posts and pr sites. Here are a couple networking sites I've found useful.

Active Rain: Free Networking site for real estate professionals

Linkedin: Online community with 9 million+ business professionals

Ryze: 250,000+ members, special networks relevant to your specific industry

WannaNetwork: Network for Real Estate Professionals.

Delicious: Social Bookmarking Network

Technorati: Nework of National Blogs, 7 million+

The Real Estate Bloggers: National Real Estate Blog, spotlights news articles and video clips

Kazeli: Business Network

Squidoo: Create your own lens

Don't forget Facebook.com

[Joesheikh]

I think Facebook has emerged on the top of all list. In facebook, business, realtors, etc not just average joes, can have a profile and join or form a network in there communities. For instance, if your in Denver, CO, you can join the network of Denver and have everyone seeing your profile. In your profile, you promote what you want. So you really have the ability to get a lot of exposure.

[Cleo]

I think that things are moving so fast that it's good to just keep learning as much of the new stuff as you can. You never know when the next big thing will come from.

[svrpaul]

Put yourself in the shoes of somebody serious about buying a home.

[RESteve]

I feel that by making your presence known on as many social networking sites possible, each tailored to what you your profession, helps increase the level of authority a visitor will inherit after seeing you "all over the place".

You're right; it's a shot in the dark with some of these sites but you never know where your next client will come from.

The real kicker is when you start holding your online lead generation efforts accountable, and track where you making the best dollar/hour. You can then focus on that social networking site that is most dollar productive per time spent blogging, comments, etc.

[licensedbrokers]

Self Promotion Removed.