3 Common Twitter Mistakes by Real Estate Agents - WPMU.org

TweetDeck Screenshot - Search Columns for Real Estate Phrases

1) Automating Tweets

I am very opposed to using services like City Blast which offer a syndication feed of property listings and real estate news. Everybody syndicates the same stuff and it often includes a link that takes the Follower off Twitter to another site. Ever think that maybe they don?t want to leave Twitter?

This is not a conversation it?s a broadcast which sounds like a broken record and people see through it. While having current news and listings is valuable, it has it?s time and place?. on a dedicated listings page really. Too many realtors think of social media as another advertising portal instead of a 2nd phone number to stay in touch with clients.

If you?re going to use a service like City Blast it should not represent more than 10% of your tweets or it will not look like it is coming from you. As a realtor I?m sure you can appreciate the power of ?word of mouth? and that?s really what social media is? the key difference is that everybody is watching. One needs to be careful of what they put out there because it may look like you don?t really care.

2) Not Searching Other Tweets

Now this is one of the rare exceptions where I encourage automation. I use a program called TweetDeck?(made by Twitter)?and there are many more like Hootsuite. It allows me to set automated search operations (search columns). I?ll create a search column for any Tweet that includes the words ?Bought First House? and ?Sold Our House?? you can come up with many more like ?Finally moved in? or ?My new condo?. If you load these all up you?ll start seeing a trend, you see emotions? you see real people celebrating or cursing the triumphs and woes of real estate.

If you look at my screenshot up top (TweetDeck Screenshot) ?you?ll see a number of tweets are worth re-tweeting ?RT? and when done with consistency can start inspiring people who follow you to make a move themselves. You should also follow all your clients and partners? comment on some of their tweets, ask them questions and RT their tweets. Imagine the vibe you could create on your profile if it was covered with RT from real people saying these things?

Make it your goal to involve someone who has their own Twitter account in all of your Tweets. Bet you can?t automate that now can you? Don?t fret, you can schedule your Tweets with TweetDeck so that you can do 5 or 6 of them quickly without actually blasting everyone with all of them in one shot. Remember to space them out if you?re going for inspirational quotes (RT phrases like the ones in my screenshot).

3) Not Taking Ownership

When I say ownership I mean pride, I mean confidence and comfort. Don?t be afraid to be yourself? show your Followers you are human, admit it you?ve had a long day? ask your followers to bring you up to speed on everything you?ve missed. Wondering if it?s raining across town? Tweet it? you?d be surprised at how fast you can get an answer.

Get a Twitter App on your mobile phone and enable email notifications within your Twitter Account settings so that you know when to login and respond to someone asap. Remember, 80% of social media is done on mobile phones sharing pictures and straight old fashioned talking. Ok old fashioned is dead, we now type with our telephones but you know what I mean.

Make Twitter your 2nd phone number, show interest in what others are talking about, voice your opinion and jump into the conversation? it?s one big party and everybody is welcome to it? that?s the beauty of social media. It?s now fast becoming the #1 way consumers complain about products and services.

You can take that as a blessing or a threat. If you ignore it? it?s most definitely a threat? but if you respond to it, you can turn it around in public view and that?s what people will never forget and keep talking about. Be a journalist, be a friend, be honest and above all be consistent. Happy Tweeting!

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