Prospecting, Social Networking, and Efficiency in a Slow Market pt.1

We’ve had a lot of inquiries recently from customers curious about integrating new social networking technologies (twitter.com, facebook.com, linkedin.com, etc.) with their online marketing campaigns. Once we’ve talked about the implementation, the final question is always the same: “Is it worth it?” If you’ve already firmly decided that the answer is “yes,” then tomorrow’s article will be a far more interesting read.

Today, all successful real estate agents have interactive websites (here’s a good example). The best websites automatically manage email marketing campaigns, have Real-Time MLS search maps, and offer a variety of features that not only attract prospective customers, but also keep existing customers coming back. A good website will guarantee that you present well. A great website, with the right marketing, will save you time and make you money.

Of course, the more people that use your great website, the more time it will save and the more money it will make you. So how do you attract people to use your website?

Before you start worrying about Twitter, Facebook, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and so on, start simple. Here are 3 tips that will have a surprising impact on your business:

• put your domain name on all your marketing literature (business cards, letterhead, listing signs, magnets, pens, coffee mugs, etc.)
• tell everyone you meet about your website and hand them a card
• create accounts on your website for all of your existing customers and set them up with daily automated MLS searches. (If your website doesn’t allow you to do this, consider taking RPM Agent for a 30-day spin)

With a great website, these tips will save you time, especially with buyers. Additionally, your customers, both new and old, will be ecstatic with your level of service: your website is running 24 hours a day and never sends them to voice mail. Your great website has also given you something great to talk about with everyone you meet. What better a prospecting tool than something cool to talk about?

Many of our customers report that these tips (and a few of the other simple tips in our Marketing Manual) have had such a significant impact on the efficiency of their businesses that they don’t need to pursue additional online prospecting.

So what about attracting new customers using social media? In tomorrow’s post, we’ll develop a system that you can use to decide if it’s “worth it” to you and your business.