"I have nothing to say."
I have heard this over and over again, not just by real estate agents, but by many people who are trepidatious about getting involved in Twitter.
To many, Twitter has become more useful as a way to tap into what’s "going on today" than to broadcast their own messages. And once you get acclimated to Twitter, you might just find you have something to say after all.
Biz Stone, Twitter co-founder, said, "Naysayers should simply log onto their Twitter home page and search for a topic they are interested in, whether it’s their favorite sports team, the name of their company or a topic in the news." Within a minute, they understand the appeal, he said.
Here are three ways to make Twitter work for you:
1. Create a custom feed. Find people to follow by searching Twitter directories. My two favorites are WeFollow or Just Tweet It. Remember, to get followers at first you must follow others!
2. Create lists. Lists are fantastic — and a GREAT way to organize people you follow. You could make lists for news sources, fellow (real estate agents), geographic areas, etc. This way you can click on that list to see what those specific people are talking about. I just created the Inman Team list as a place for people to contact the right person at Inman News (i.e., editorial, marketing, advertising, etc.) If you don’t know who the best users are on a favorite topic, look for lists on sites like Listorious or by checking profiles. …CONTINUED
3. Check out the most discussed topics in your area. We hear it over and over again, but real estate is truly a local business. Find out who is around you locally and what they are chatting about. Some Twitter apps, like Tweetie and TwitterLocal, let you search posts near you. Check the Web site Happn.in to see the most discussed topics in your area.
BONUS: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, use Twitter to ask questions such as the best place to grab a bite to eat in a new city, marketing tips, or anything else you need an answer to!
Some questions Realtors could start asking via Twitter are: "What’s the best marketing tool that is working for you?" or "What is the most effective thing Realtors are doing to convert leads to sales?" These questions open the door to conversation and networking!
What are you doing to make Twitter work for you? Would love your feedback — please leave me a comment below!
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Katie Lance is the marketing manager for Inman News. Future of Real Estate Marketing is a part of Inman News.
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