How real estate agents can use twitter...

[RussReynolds]

When it comes to Twitter, most people including real estate agents scratch their heads and wonder how they can use it to help their business.

Here is one way...

If you are unsure what Twitter does, essentially it is like a very brief blogging tool. The idea was for friends to be able to quickly let each other know what they are doing. Twitter has evolved in such a way that many thought leaders use it to market their services quickly, easily and best of all, free.

So how does that help Real Estate Agents?

Well, they key here is that Twitter lets you receive updates as they are called from chosen people via SMS or text message.

If you are a buyers agent with a list of hungry buyers, have them 'follow' you on Twitter and make sure they set it to receive text messages. When a hot new property becomes available, you simply send one text message or an email to your Twitter account and you can instantly send this message to all of your buyer prospects phones!

Imagine this scenario...you come across a great deal on a house you know will sell quickly. You send out the following text message to your prospects via Twitter: "Just listed! 3 bedroom house in x part of town. Brand new kitchen and bathrooms! This will be gone quick. Want to see it? Call now - 555-1212"

The beauty here is speed and personal contact. When people get a text message they usually check it right away and it also feels more personal than email which many people are continually ignoring.

This method also keeps you front of mind for those buyers who have cooled off. They keep seeing your messages so when they are ready to buy, your the guy or gal they think of!

Next time...how sellers agents can use Twitter to grow their business.

Care to follow me? http://www.twitter.com/russellreynolds

[Philman]

Definitely some good information here. The only thing I would be really concerned about is the idea of using Twitter in that matter. Twitter was developed for people to keep in touch with the smaller and simpler things that happen in people's lives. I'm afraid that if you use it to blatantly market properties, the people who are following you will be less likely to keep themselves updated with what is going on in your lives.

How about this for an alternative: instead of just saying something like "Just listed! 3 bedroom house in x part of town. Brand new kitchen and bathrooms! This will be gone quick. Want to see it? Call now - 555-1212", maybe phrase it in a more personal manner like "Checking out this new 3 bedroom house in x part of town. Heard it looks amazing!". That way, it sounds more personal and goes along the lines of what Twitter is designed to work.

Then again, if you just have a ton of buyer agents that are following you, your Twitter message would probably work great. I'm just thinking of all the other non-buyer agents that may be interested in following you...

[The Koitz Group]

Twitter is a tough one but it's like every other social networking platform... IMHO you really have to want to be there; write what/how you're feeling (within reason!) - so people get to know your "authentic" you. How do you get to "know" someone using 150 characters is sometimes the challenge but what articles you link to -- be it your own blog or someone else's -- reflects a little more about "you". I wouldn't scream "I'm an agent" and I'm not sure how well linking to your listings would work (I guess it depends on your audience). But again, an interesting link to a real estate related blog or article can always play as that subtle reminder of what you do.

And the mistake I've made in my first few months playing with around with Twitter around is always updating and not engaging those who were crazy enough to follow me. That is, updates are fine as long as they're mixed in with questions/thoughts/insights directed at your "followers"...just like any other conversation. That's what I've picked up so far for whatever it's worth!
- Kevin

[KNOX]

I lover Twitter - it's micro blogging. I don't always want to write a post but still want to say something so I use twitter. My last few blurbs appear on my blog. So I feel I'm talking to people without writing a post about a tasty snack... or something just as arbitrary. Does it entertain them? I don't know, but since I started doing it I do get a few more repeat visits. I know, this doesn't directly answer "how does it help real estate agents?" but it can help with the web property.

[Mark Z]

Everybody is missing the whole point of "Social Networking" sites. They are to be used to socially engage people around you. You are not going to have a very enthusiastic following if all you are doing is updating people on new houses that have hit the market. Most of the people following you, do NOT care about every new deal that hits the market. Most of the people on social networking sites are NOT on there to be sold on a product or a service. The whole point to these social networking sites, is to keep yourself in front of people, so they don't forget you and to get strangers who don't know you, to like you and find you interesting. They will use your services, without you even asking them, if you do this correctly.

The whole point to social networking sites is for you to keep the conversation light and forget about the fact that you are on there to try to get someone to buy a house from you. People buy from people they like. If you create a following by just updating people on whats new in your life, what activities you're involved in, what you're about to do, etc. you will gather a following from friends, family, and even strangers who find your life interesting. (Imagine that, LOL)

Now when the time comes that one of your followers have a need for your service, and you are in their face everyday because they follow you, then guess who gets the sale? BINGO!!!

But to use these social networking sites as a sales tool, I'm sorry you are going to absolutely bore people to death. Take this example, every time you run into friends and family, imagine if you spent the first 10 minutes updating them on all the great deals on the MLS that week. You are seriously in disneyland if you really think they care. Unless that person is looking for a house that month and in that area, yea maybe you got their attention, but for the average person, they don't want to hear that crap.

Remember the best sales people, are selling people while they don't even know they are being sold. Think about that.

[The Koitz Group]

I lover Twitter - it's micro blogging. I don't always want to write a post but still want to say something so I use twitter. My last few blurbs appear on my blog. So I feel I'm talking to people without writing a post about a tasty snack... or something just as arbitrary. Does it entertain them? I don't know, but since I started doing it I do get a few more repeat visits. I know, this doesn't directly answer "how does it help real estate agents?" but it can help with the web property.

Knox, you hit the nail on the head. It's the balance between "what I do" and "who I am" - and how they converge. IMHO, it's okay to to put in the "arbitraries" because it's natural and authentic. Your blogs ground you as an authority and help shape "what you do" and the way you write posts builds ethos. And your updates (funny, arbitrary, maybe a good question here and there) feed further shape you. People want to know your hobbies etc...just in the right doses, right? All a balance I guess.

@ Mark - I would agree with the MLS piece unless and am with you with your "real life" encounters analogy. Exactly, behave as you would in a "real" conversation...in fact probably more subtle with the Realtor integration in an online social networking platform because people are already weary of the propaganda. The "I'm a Realtor" is in the subtleties...and should be a very small percentage of your interaction time. We on the same page?...think we are...

[Mark Z]

Yes Kevin, you got it!

[rmasse10]

I lover Twitter - it's micro blogging. I don't always want to write a post but still want to say something so I use twitter. My last few blurbs appear on my blog. So I feel I'm talking to people without writing a post about a tasty snack... or something just as arbitrary. Does it entertain them? I don't know, but since I started doing it I do get a few more repeat visits. I know, this doesn't directly answer "how does it help real estate agents?" but it can help with the web property.

I agree with Knox...whom I became aware of on Twitter and would now consider him a friend...all because of Twitter!

[The Koitz Group]

I agree with Knox...whom I became aware of on Twitter and would now consider him a friend...all because of Twitter!

Robert - I'm with you! About Twitter and Knox! Hope you've ready his latest stuff on SAR...brilliant...

Best...

[rmasse10]

Robert - I'm with you! About Twitter and Knox! Hope you've ready his latest stuff on SAR...brilliant...

Best...

I did not actualy, can you give me a link to it so I can take a look

thanks

rob