How Real Estate Agents Can Use Twitter for Marketing
© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.
I've spent the last 30 minutes looking for articles about Twitter, and how real estate agents can use it for marketing / communications. Surprisingly, there wasn't much to be found. Most of the articles I came across explained how to to follow people on Twitter (as if that's rocket science) -- but they didn't offer much advice on using Twitter for real estate marketing purposes.
So I'll have to write the article myself. Here it goes.
First, I'd like to offer a quick definition for those who are not familiar with Twitter. Here it is in a nutshell. Twitter is a social media website that allows people to keep others informed, by posting short updates on a regular basis. Each update (or "tweet") must be 140 characters or less when types.
Millions of people and organizations use Twitter, and for many different reasons. Some people use it to keep family and friends up to speed on their daily lives. Yawn. Publishers (like CNN) use it to keep people informed about breaking news. And slowly but surely, real estate agents are starting to warm up to Twitter as well. And that brings me to the point of this article.
How can a real estate agent use Twitter for marketing purposes? Actually, an easier question to answer would be: How can't you use Twitter for real estate marketing? Here's my advice:
Visit the website and do a search for real estate in your city. This is the best way to get acquainted with how Twitter works, and how other agents are using it. For example, here's how agents in Austin are using the site. Once you see how it all works, you'll start to get some ideas (hopefully) on how you can use it for real estate marketing purposes.
Let's say I'm an agent in Phoenix, and I'm looking for ways to get more exposure online. I stumble across the Twitter website one day, and I decide to sign up for an account. It's free, after all, so why not? Eventually, I get the hang of using the site and new ideas spring to mind:
"I know what to do. I'll create a Phoenix real estate page on the Twitter website. I'll post updates about mortgage rate changes, local real estate news, new subdivisions, new property listings ... in short, everything a local home buyer would want to know."
Here's the end goal. If I did a good job updating my Twitter page with great links and info, people would notice. And they would want to "follow" me on Twitter, which means they would subscribe for future updates or "tweets." I could also add a Twitter link on my website and/or blog, so people could easily sign up for updates.
With the right focus, this could evolve into a useful part of my real estate marketing program. And it doesn't cost me anything but time.
So I'll have to write the article myself. Here it goes.
How to Use Twitter for Real Estate Internet Marketing
First, I'd like to offer a quick definition for those who are not familiar with Twitter. Here it is in a nutshell. Twitter is a social media website that allows people to keep others informed, by posting short updates on a regular basis. Each update (or "tweet") must be 140 characters or less when types.
Millions of people and organizations use Twitter, and for many different reasons. Some people use it to keep family and friends up to speed on their daily lives. Yawn. Publishers (like CNN) use it to keep people informed about breaking news. And slowly but surely, real estate agents are starting to warm up to Twitter as well. And that brings me to the point of this article.
How can a real estate agent use Twitter for marketing purposes? Actually, an easier question to answer would be: How can't you use Twitter for real estate marketing? Here's my advice:
Visit the website and do a search for real estate in your city. This is the best way to get acquainted with how Twitter works, and how other agents are using it. For example, here's how agents in Austin are using the site. Once you see how it all works, you'll start to get some ideas (hopefully) on how you can use it for real estate marketing purposes.
A Twitter Scenario to Get Your Wheels Turning
Let's say I'm an agent in Phoenix, and I'm looking for ways to get more exposure online. I stumble across the Twitter website one day, and I decide to sign up for an account. It's free, after all, so why not? Eventually, I get the hang of using the site and new ideas spring to mind:
"I know what to do. I'll create a Phoenix real estate page on the Twitter website. I'll post updates about mortgage rate changes, local real estate news, new subdivisions, new property listings ... in short, everything a local home buyer would want to know."
Here's the end goal. If I did a good job updating my Twitter page with great links and info, people would notice. And they would want to "follow" me on Twitter, which means they would subscribe for future updates or "tweets." I could also add a Twitter link on my website and/or blog, so people could easily sign up for updates.
With the right focus, this could evolve into a useful part of my real estate marketing program. And it doesn't cost me anything but time.
Labels: Internet Marketing
posted by Brandon at
5:23 PM
