Kansas City North Real Estate Blog

Using Facebook to Sell Real Estate (part 2)

My last article told you one of the ways I can post my listings on Facebook buy using a service that allows me to create a real estate "tab" on my Facebook profile, but there are other strategies I use as well. 

I use a tool created by Postlets.com to create a single property website for all my listings. Once the "postlet" is created, I can then post a link directly to my Facebook wall and let my entire network of friends, family, past clients, and other Realtors know about my new listing. The beauty of doing this is I can get immediate feedback when people "comment" below the FB post. Sometimes no one comments about the home, but I still know they're clicking through to the website to view more photos and information. FYI, I don't suggest doing this more than one listing per month, maybe two at most. You'll run the risk of alienating

Another way to let people know I'm in real estate is to post what I call "little hints of real estate" here and there on my wall or on other people's wall too.  For example, I noticed a friend at Church posted on her wall that she was considering painting their kitchen this weekend and wanted to get some color suggestions. I posted to that link and let her know that I have color swatches in my glove compartment that I give to my clients and I would be more than happy to bring them over to her. She seemed to really appreciate that and after I got over there I could tell she really had no clue what to do.

I also like to recommend some of my vendors (A/C, painters, electricians, etc) on my wall from time to time. This serves several purposes. One, the vendors LOVE it. Two, it gives me the opportunity to be thought of as a "total home resource" to people I know. Many times my friends and past clients on Facebook will see these posts, then call or ask me through Facebook if I have someone on my list that could help them with whatever they need; roofing, landscaping, where to buy new appliances, etc.

These are 3 of the ways I utilize Facebook to sell real estate, but please let me know if you have thoughts of your own or if you have a unique way of using Facebook for your listings and/or buyers.

Using Facebook to Sell Real Estate (part 1)

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm hooked on Facebook. I started using the world's most popular social media site in October of 2008 and quickly became interested in seeing what all my high school friends were doing now, looking at family photos, and posting information about what book I was currently reading. Since that time though, Facebook has gone through many design and content changes and become far more important to my daily routine. 

Facebook expects to announce its 500-millionth user next week. That's a milestone for sure, but more importantly than that, Facebook has now become a serious online force to be reckoned with.  Here's some statistics:

    • 50% of their active users log on to Facebook every single day.
    • Average user has 130 friends.
    • Average user is connected to 60 pages, groups and events
    • Average user creates 70 pieces of content each month.  

When I personally look at these stats, my first thought is that most of the people I know that are on Facebook have hundreds, even thousands of friends; so why wouldn't I want to market to these people? Through a little trial and error over the last couple of years, I've come up with a few unique ways to market to my sphere of influence using Facebook.

The first thing I figured out pretty quickly is not to do daily postings showing my homes for sale or what I was doing every second of the day in my real estate business. Honestly, no one wants to read that stuff and no one cares. That's a good way to get "un-friended".

The second thing I realized is that people want to see "the real you". Social media is meant to be very transparent and open. That's the beauty of it. Your personality, humor and interests are on display for the whole world to see.

What I've since realized is that people just want to know what's going on in your life. They want to see photos, the things that interest you, and what you're doing at that moment in time.  This is why Facebook is such a great marketing tool for a real estate agent like me. Real estate is my life, that's what I'm doing during the day and it's what interests me, so it's what I communicate about on Facebook. Oh sure, I have many interests outside real estate, but why shouldn't I let people know what I'm doing in real estate.

Obviously I'm not the only one that feels this way because this last year I found a company that provides a unique service for Realtors. The company is http://socialrealestatetools.com and they've created a product that enables me to place a REAL ESTATE tab on my Facebook profile.

Using this tool enables me to create a sort of "stealth marketing" position for all my listings. Visitors to my Facebook profile page will obviously be curious about viewing these homes which will serve two purposes: 1) it lets visitors know I'm in real estate and 2) it helps sell my homes and is another way to advertise my sellers properties.   

Selling Real Estate by using Facebook

I started using Facebook about one year ago and at that time it seemed like a pretty good way to keep in touch with people. I'd login and see what others were doing, look at photos of their kids, and every now and then come across someone from High School. Recently though, it seems like EVERYONE is now on Facebook. I'm sure it's probably true too, because I just read a statistic today that said Facebook is the 5th most popular website in the world.

Just a few months ago I realized that the online flyer service I'm using through Postlets.com now gives me the ability to post my new listings directly to my Facebook account.  I thought that was pretty cool and a good way to let my friends see my homes for sale, but recently I'm seeing another benefit from using Facebook. I'm actually getting REAL business through Facebook. 

Because all my Facebook "friends" are seeing how many listings I'm taking and homes I'm selling, I'm actually solidifying my business in their minds. So much so that when they run across someone that needs to buy or sell a home, they're remembering to refer this business to me.

I think Facebook could become the new "farming" community for me. Instead of doing expensive mailings to my friends, family and past clients, I can now keep them up to date with what's going on in "real time" by using my Facebook account and hopefully even sell a few of my listings in the process!