Social media is huge, and it is absolutely here to stay. Something that used to be a bit of a niche has now expanded to the point that almost everyone uses it if they have Internet access. This has opened up a huge new market for advertising, but it is also important to think about the ways that you can use it for more indirect advertising in the real estate industry. This means going above and beyond just putting ads on social media sites and hoping for hits. Here are some ways that you can use social media effectively.
Connect with Interested Parties
First and foremost, it is important to make sure that you use social media to connect with people. This is about more than just ads and spreading information; it is about a back-and-forth style of communication. People will turn to social media instead of calling you or emailing you, and you must treat it as such. If they ask questions about what condos you have for sale, for example, you need to promptly answer them and begin working to find them the right place. Remember that social media is a very real way to communicate for people in the modern day, and so failing to answer questions right away and failing to connect with people is going to push them away.
Make Use of Images
The heart of social media is based in text: You can post status updates, write comments, and the like. However, as this post from Forbes shows, images are crucial to success when using social media for any business. This is especially true in real estate. The main thing that people want is a picture of the home so that they can see if they would be interested. Often, the curb appeal of the house is going to draw them in more than all of the statistics about floor space and the like. Professional photos can generate interest in a hurry when they are shared online.
Ignore Those Who are Trolling
Now, one of the big problems with social media is that people feel anonymous, so they are prone to do what is known as “trolling.” This is the posting of insults, unrelated details, “witty” barbs, and things of this nature. They’re just trying to rile you up. In many cases, they are more prone to do this to businesses than actual people that they know. Make sure that you ignore these people. Never respond to them, as it can be very bad for your image. Just delete the posts, block the trolls, and move on.
Be Consistent
Finally, there is the impact of consistency. The more you use social media, the more of a following you can get. This is also true for blogs. If your account is stagnant, people will forget about it. Many social media sites, like Facebook, are based around a newsfeed. The more often you post, the more often you appear at the top of this feed, staying fresh in fans’ minds.