Realtor Coaching & Training: MAX
Facebook For Realtors
How-To Use Facebook For Realtors….what NOT to do!
Facebook has become a crucial aspect of any agents online marketing plan. Facebook is proving to be a powerful, effective (and mostly FREE) way to get the word out about your real estate business.
Its important that you know the public (and secret) rules for using Facebook.
Its crucial that you understand that you DON’T own your content that you post to FB. They do. You could spend hours and hours posting, updating content to your FB account just to have your account ’suspended’ for breaking one of these ‘rules’.
1) Don’t add too many friends. FB will send you a warning if you are seen as adding too many friends…but, once you get that warning it may be too late. There is no published ‘official’ info on how many friends you can add per day…so, be careful. You can have only 5000 friends max.
2) Not completing your profile. You wont have your account shut down for an incomplete profile but, if will make you look unprofessional. Remember, your real estate clients ARE searching for you on Facebook. Make it so when they land on your FB page your presentation is professional.
3) Spamming your friends. This includes: posting to too many groups, posting to too many users walls. YES, FB is a social network and yes your goal is to engage with others. But, if you do this too much…kiss your FB account bye-bye. By the way, no warning is granted for this one…your account will simply go ‘poof’.
4) Joining too many groups. Sort of like the prior point.
5) Not using your real name. Facebook wants you to use your real name…for example: http://www.Facebook.com/TimandJulieHarris
6) Tell the truth. This one should be of no surprise..Don’t lie in your profile. For example, don’t lie about your education level, schools attended etc. FB may find out and you can say bye-bye to your account.
7) Don’t poke too many people. Once you are on FB you will know what that means. (I know for the unititiated this point may sound a tad obscene)
8)4:1. Remember that ratio. You will be given the opportunity to ‘update your status’ on FB as often as you would like. The ‘golden ratio for updates’ is 4:1. 4 personal-ish updates for every 1 commercial-ish update. In other words, DO update your profile with personal stuff. You can decide how personal you want to be. Warning: BE PROFESSIONAL. Every 4th post you can talk about a listing etc.
9) NEVER bash anyone online. Aside from the recently passed NAR guidelines for social networking, which should be enough of a reason not to snipe others…its just rude and will make you look bad. Remember, despite what you may believe you are NOT anonymous on line. You can be sued for libel.
10) Don’t log-in to FB too often or over stay your welcome. Facebook has been known to shut accounts down if the user is spending too much time on their site. The average FB user spends 20 minutes per day on FB. So, if you are spending significantly more time on their site…they may give you the virtual boot. Why? Because you are using their bandwidth, their servers..and costing them money.
11) ENGAGE. A great idea (I just learned this one) is to post questions for your status updates. Ask questions that will lead to potential clients engaging with you….for example: ” Need to buy my daughter a 16th B-Day gift…any ideas?”, or “Looking for a new book to read…any suggestions…open to any topics?”. You can also ask more ‘commercial’ type questions…”just listed an amazing 4 family with cash flow postitive #s…less than $200k!…interested?”
12) Placing ads in Marketplace vs the paid Social Ads. Hey, guess what…FB wants to make money…big surprise, right?! Facebook will go after Realtors who place property listing ads in their MarketingPlace section (free) vs their new Social Ads (paid). We have been experimenting with Social Ads with good results.
13) The Golden Social Networking Rule. You know the Golden Rule…’Treat others like you would like to be treated”. Well the ‘Golden Facebook Rule’ is to engage (speak with) your FB friends the way they want to be communicated with. In other words, if someone posts a comment on your FB Wall…comment back. If someone invites you to join their Fan/ Business Page…JOIN!.
14) Start a Fan/ Business FB page. This is IN ADDITION to your primary Friends Page. Consider taking FB up on their offer to start your own Fan/ Business Page. The benefits of doing this are many…unlimited ‘Friends’, you are given way more levity for commercial marketing etc. Oh, and its FREE.
15) What Starts On-line must be taken off line. Last one…you must take your online connecting…offline. So, you have 300 FB friends. You have been following these rules and have earned their trust due to your diligent and thoughtful contributions, status updates etc. You then read how one of your FB Friends is talking about real estate. Maybe their status update is?: ” Neighbor just listed their home…wonder how much they are asking“…you need to engage with that person. Its not enough to just comment on their status update…you need to…..pick up the phone and call them. You might say something like this…” Hi, this is Tim Harris….I am one of your firends on FB (if they dont already know)….I noticed that you were asking about the list price of your neighbors home…I can look that up for you right now….while I do that….would you like for me to do a free CMA on your home….(Yes)…Ok, great…by the way…how soon would you like to put your home on the market?” The point is….call them…..and engage!
Listen, I know that for many of you all of this social networking stuff sounds as appealing as fingernails on a chalk board. Please don’t be intimidated by what you don’t yet understand. I promised you this stuff is WAAAAY easier…and in many cases actually a lot of fun to use. Here is a great FREE video on how you can get started using social networks. Go here now to watch the Free Agent Tech Secrets video.
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Dave Liniger
Dave Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder of RE/MAX International has been a true leader in the real estate industry for years. Never more so than now. Hats off to Mr. Liniger for taking a stand on a topic that is certainly near and dear to HREU……
Treasury Department proposals to streamline the short sale process are a welcomed development by the real estate industry and are supported by industry leader Dave Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder of RE/MAX International, Inc. and the entire RE/MAX brand. Cash incentives will now be offered to lenders and homeowners who successfully complete a short sale. The foreclosure alternative, which could have a beneficial impact on record high housing inventories, has been a frustration to home sellers, buyers and real estate agents.
“We are very excited and applaud the administration for creating the ‘Foreclosure Alternatives Program’ which promotes the short sale process,” said Liniger. “We have been talking with key lenders and government officials for months about the short sale issue and couldn’t be more pleased that our hard work has finally paid off.”
Short sales can occur when a homeowner is unable to pay their mortgage and their home is valued for less than they owe. All parties can benefit from a short sale transaction, as homeowners avoid the trauma of foreclosure and the resulting impact on their credit. Lenders can save as much as 30% in losses by accepting a short sale offer before taking a property to foreclosure, and neighborhoods benefit with fewer vacant homes and the resulting lower home values.
Realtors, learn from the nations #1 proven source exactly how to do short sales. Watch the FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets video. Next, download your FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets book.
With all its benefits, a combination of challenges has prevented all, but one in 10 short sale offers being rejected by lenders, who have been taking an average of nine weeks to make a decision. As a result, 70% of homeowners facing foreclosure never even attempt to sell their home. This situation has added more foreclosures to the record high inventory of homes on the market and has lowered home values even further.
Liniger stated that “Short sales provide a tremendous advantage for everyone concerned, but have been nearly impossible to complete. That’s why we’ve trained nearly 5,000 of our agents in the last 60 days to deal with short sales and other distressed property transactions.”
Under provisions of the newly created “Foreclosure Alternatives Program,” eligible homeowners can be accepted through December 31, 2012, and the short sale process will be streamlined with standardized documentation, cash incentives to lenders and a moving allowance payment to the homeowner.Analysts say the housing market can’t return to normal as long as prices keep falling, due to high inventories. Short sales can play an important role in reducing the current high inventory levels. RE/MAX International is committed to creating an awareness of this viable alternative to foreclosure and to training real estate agents who offer a professional short sale service to the consumer.
Realtors, learn from the nations #1 proven source exactly how to do short sales. Watch the FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets video. Next, download your FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets book.
For more information, visit www.remax.com.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Dear Tim and Julie,
I have been looking for a way to meet sellers who were just getting behind on their mortgage, maybe a couple of payments or panicking someway. I have spent numerous dollars and time trying to find these sellers for the last 3 years. I felt if I could meet these people early in the game I could list their house and do a short sale for them.
About 3 months ago I read about Harris Real Estate University on a blog and I joined. I was really hesitant to join as I was foreseeing financial trouble ahead for the near future and I didn’t think I could afford the 97.00 a month. But there are times when you have to make the decision; ‘can I afford or join or can I afford not to join?’ In this case it was the latter. I joined Agent REO Secrets and have learned how to pursue REO’s and have listed REO’s with three different asset managers so far.
I would have never found this lead without Harris Real Estate University.
I look forward to a prosperous future because of Harris Real Estate University.
Luanne Lind
Minneapolis MN
Luanne Lind
RE/MAX Results
Visit my web site at www.LuanneLind.com
E-mail me at Luanne@LuanneLind.com
Direct Line: 952-893-1210
Fax: 952-837-1994
Popularity: 1% [?]
We always appreciate the testimonials students send to us…this one is from a new Agent Short Sale Secrets student. Download the Free Agent Short Sale Secrets crash course now. Instant Free Download.
Dear HREU,
Thank you so much for your quick response to my email. I really
appreciate knowing that you guys are always in my corner. Thanks again
for all your help and information. I just got an approval from Chase!!
I didn’t let up until I got an approval.
YEA, my first one!
Sincerely,
Iris Fields ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES
RE/MAX Advantage
The Fields Group
10075 S. Eastern Avenue # 103
Henderson, NV 89052
Phone: (702) 596-4663
Fax: (702) 251-4855
iris@fieldsgroup.net
www.lasvegas-dreamhomes.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
Hi HREU,
I wanted to give you guys kudos for doing a great job. I join Harris Real Estate University a little over a month ago in the REO and Short Sale programs. The up to date information you provide is essential to doing business in today’s market. I have received offers on three of my short sale listings which have been sent to the lenders for approval. The packages were complete by having the skills and the paperwork needed that you provided in the program. I try to be on all the calls, but if I can’t, I can always listen to them later. I really appreciate your quick response to my email questions. I feel like I have a partner by my side giving me answers and encouragement.
I have tried other programs and coaches in the past that were very expensive. I am so glad that I found your program. This is what I had been waiting for, thanks again.
Sincerely,
Iris Fields ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES
RE/MAX Advantage
The Fields Group
Realtor coaching, real estate coaching, real estate training, bank owned properties, reo coaching, reo, realtor, bpo coaching, real estate scripts, real estate coaching and training.
Popularity: 1% [?]
