South Africa boasts over 6 million Facebook users and over 2 million of us are on Twitter. Both these platforms continue to grow rapidly. It is safe to say that social media is no longer a ‘gimmick’ or ‘something for the lighties’. Social media is used every day by people from all walks of life and is an extension of the way we communicate with each other on a daily basis.
Many businesses are turning to social media as a major element of their marketing campaigns in an effort to increase leads and grow brand awareness. Why should the real estate industry be any different? After all, an estate agents goal should be to form a good relationship with a potential buyer/seller, and what better way to do this than through social media. A simple tweet can break down the barriers and start the conversation.
Agents can take their people skills online by sharing images or video walk-throughs of properties and promoting their services to a wider audience. That is all well and good, but consumers want to hear about more than just available properties and prices. Using social media as a platform, agents can share their expertise on subjects such as home maintenance, property news, bonds, insurance and local property trends.
Establishing yourself as the local expert helps you to form relationships with current and potential customers. You want to be the first person in your area people turn to when they need to sell. Keeping a social media presence can help you achieve that goal. The great thing about using online presence to create offline relationships is that instead of being just plain advertising, your message becomes relationship driven.
Being authentic in your interactions on social media is just as important as honesty in the life you lead. You wouldn’t go to a dinner party and start handing out business cards on arrival, would you? Keep your posts short, informative and beware of too much self-promotion.
There is no time like the present to raise your game on your social media and get your name out there. The property industry is changing. Consumer habits are changing. Are you changing with them?
*Stats from: http://www.worldwideworx.com/socialmedia2012/