The real estate business … what could be less online oriented? Sure you can look at photos, but your clients have to see the house, walk, feel the place. How can Social Marketing tools help you? What does Facebook or Twitter have to do with property sales?

Lots!

Every real estate professional knows that selling homes isn’t about buildings, it’s about people. And between advertising and networking, professionals spend 50-75% of their time trying to reach and interact with them. Current clients, prospects, and past clients form the core of a real estate agent’s social network. Naturally, every active agent wants that network to grow.

But how?

Even at the most basic level, a site like Facebook allows you to reach, contact, and interact with far more people than you could ever meet face to face. It just has a wider range even than your phone. Something as simple as creating a Facebook page instantly puts you in the pool where you can swim with many others.

Expand your web presence and create an online community through Twitter and Facebook pages for your business. Then get in touch. Explain what you do and do it in a way that shows fans of your Facebook page how you can help them. It’s not about you, it’s about your customers.

Hit that topic in a lot of ways. Create a survey to find out your biggest complaints when buying a home. Post relevant news, offer photos, use the discussion forum to generate buzz. Inform everyone about upcoming events.

However, there is nothing wrong with self-promotion if it is done the right way. Tell fans on your Facebook page how you just closed a deal and made a young newlywed couple ecstatic about having their first home. Talk about your city, about how it has unique characteristics. If it’s included in the list of Best Places to Live, even better. Tell everyone!

Social Marketing Ideas To Promote Your Real Estate Business Now – Take It To The Next Level With Twitter. Twitter is much more focused on real-time interaction.

You are in the middle of an exciting deal. A family has just moved to your area and you show them some of the unusual properties that are recently on the market at historically low prices. Send your enthusiasm to everyone. Passion begets passion.

Invite all your online friends to visit us at the earliest opportunity. Give free tips on how to find a great carpenter, gardener, or plumber. Open house information list. Inform everyone about local market trends. Today, everyone is interested in how the economy impacts real estate and vice versa. Be the go-to guru on Twitter to gain that insight.

Real estate professionals can stay in touch with their current client list and expand it considerably by taking advantage of the latest social media tools. Real life, meet virtual reality. See how one improves the other.

Both Facebook and Twitter pages are places where you can:

  • Build a community around your business and gain additional exposure

  • Share valuable content on DIY ideas and resources. What’s new in the realm of “green homes”? What are the biggest benefits of using a real estate agent instead of doing it all yourself?

  • Inform fans of what is happening in the real estate industry. Are Home Prices Rising? Under? Is it a buyers or sellers market? Tell them the best way to go about finding a home in today’s market. How can you best stretch your dollar? Don’t Forget About Sellers – Let them know the top 10 things they can do to increase their chances of selling your home in today’s market. Or what to expect when they put their home on the market for the first time.

  • Ask fans for their opinions and comments on their home search experiences. What have been the biggest obstacles and how did you overcome them? Could you list the best resources you used for your renovation projects?

  • Create contests and special offers

  • Get a little crazy and creative – relax and have a little fun

  • Announce your upcoming events, such as open houses, etc.

  • Upload your videos and images of the houses you are selling. Encourage your Facebook fans to upload photos and videos of the “Before and After” renewal.

  • Advertise your new products / services

  • What is happening in your city and nearby areas? Get people excited about moving to your city. Think of the different ways you can do it. Explore what the different neighborhoods are doing for fun and excitement. Why not share them with your social media visitors?

  • What about other related topics that interest your audience? Could you please provide information on: home decorating tips, green home project ideas, flooring options, DIY resources, ROI for typical renovation projects, how to recycle your old material from renovation projects, both inside and out outside in the garden? The list goes on and on when it comes to home and garden related topics.