Over the past six to eight months or so, I’m sure you’ve noticed a huge jump in the popularity of Snapchat for real estate agents.
But perhaps you feel like Jan Brady — tired of hearing all about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha. You may be sick of hearing about Snapchat.
I totally get it. Heck, I’m guilty of it. Apparently, I won’t shut up about Snapchat.
If you Google “Snapchat for real estate,” five or more of the 10 links on page 1 are mine! So no doubt I’m responsible for some of that Snapchat real estate buzz. But hear me out.
Even though there are a crap load of valid reasons real estate agents should be utilizing Snapchat as a part of their marketing plan, I’m only going to talk about one of those reasons today — the one that is making me more money right now.
Snapchat is all about networking
Nine-plus months or so after jumping on Snapchat, and after building a following of thousands, I humbly (but honestly) consider myself a Snapchat for real estate expert.
With that context in mind, I can say that the single biggest upside to being on Snapchat right now is the many relationships you can quickly create and build with other real estate agents from around the country — and the world.
Seriously. It’s not about Snapping an exclusive first look at your new listing or exposing your real estate expertise directly to people in your city, though those are valuable.
And for Pete’s sake, it’s not for snapping pics of your business card! (Super lame, by the way.)
It’s about networking with other agents and real estate professionals.
Snapchat allows authenticity to shine through
I’m talking about networking on steroids. Over 150 million daily users love Snapchat for the way it promotes and cultivates authenticity and “real-ness” between users.
On a side note, Snapchat just passed Twitter in daily usage!
Unlike most other social networks (cough, cough, Instagram, cough), it’s damn near impossible to fake who you are. Your real personality, sense of humor (or lack thereof), living conditions, viewpoints and everyday life are out there in all their glory for your Snapchat friends to see — warts and all.
On Snapchat, you’re you. Sure, you can fake it temporarily. Like all those “I got rich in six days, retired at 19, and now I’ll teach you to do it, too — for $1,000 a month” jerks on Instagram.
Sure, you can rent a Lambo for the day and pretend it’s yours. Or you can get 30 of your friends to stack all their cash on a bed and pretend you’re an ultra-rich rapper.
But over the long term, you’ll be exposed as a phony.
Eventually, you’ll need to cash your unemployment check and head back home to your parents’ basement, and your Snapchat followers will see the real you.
I know — that is one extreme (but hilarious) example of what makes Snapchat so powerful in terms of networking and building relationships and friendships. It’s 2016; the vast majority of people today are attracted to authenticity, not “professionalism.”
Visual communication forms stronger connections
Snapchat is not a text-based platform like the other social networks. It’s all visual. Photo and video, (and yes, audio messages as well in the new Chat 2.0 update). That’s it.
Do you think you get to know someone better by reading their posts? Or by seeing them and hearing them talk with their own personality and tone?
When you’re having actual conversations with other agents all day via video snaps, don’t you think that you’d feel closer to them versus just writing back and forth via email, Facebook or Twitter?
It’s because of this authentic, digital face-to-face means of communicating that you can create close relationships with new people very quickly on Snapchat.
That’s exactly what happened to me.
Pay attention, because this transcends real estate and sales. This is true for anyone, in any industry.
In a few short months, I have become actual friends with dozens and dozens of other real estate agents from all over the world. It’s crazy how many good friends I have made via Snapchat in such a short period.
I now have like-minded real estate buddies from Edmonton, Berlin, Australia and all over the U.S.
The real value of using Snapchat for real estate right now
After we set aside all the warm-fuzzy-Kumbaya-hand-holding-Care-Bear stuff, I have sold more homes and my real estate business has grown as a direct result of the relationships I have cultivated on Snapchat.
Because my Snapchat friends know that I’m a real estate agent in Salt Lake City, I have received referral business from them.
That’s right. Snapchat is bringing me more business.
In other words, I’m making more money and selling more homes because of referrals I’ve received from other real estate agents whom I met on Snapchat.
Equally as awesome, I have sent referral business to agents I became friends with on Snapchat, too, so they are making more money as well.
Networking with other real estate agents on Snapchat can benefit you if you work at it and are patient. You’re building relationships, not running a Facebook ad. It won’t happen overnight.
Start networking on Snapchat immediately
For the networking alone, you should get on Snapchat right away and start talking to other agents. There are a ton of other reasons to get on Snapchat, but this one has the fastest, most tangible, rewarding payoff.
Start following real estate agents on Snapchat ASAP, and just start conversations. Add me on Snapchat (username: @dustinbrohm),
I’d love to meet you and see how we can help each other. You can also screenshot my Snapcode above.
Then look up what we call “the real estate #Snappack.” It’s a group of seven agents from all over the U.S., who get together from time to time on the Onion Juice Podcast (and a special new public #snappack Facebook group) to just talk about real estate, marketing, social media and whatever else comes up. It’s a blast.
A few fellow Snappack members have mentioned that whenever we get together for the podcast, it feels like a family reunion because we all know each other so well just through our snapping!
So reach out to us on Snapchat, and start networking with us. The more you talk with and get to know other agents, the more referrals you’ll eventually get.
Not to mention it’s great to be able to learn what is working for other agents and see how they are doing things. It’s a chance to see what other successful people are doing and then implement those things into your business.
If you’re a real estate agent, and you’re not actively talking with other agents on Snapchat, I urge you to start today. There are so many great people out there who might end up becoming close friends.
Be sure to join the #Snappack Facebook group to meet other agents who are active on Snapchat.
Plus, you never know — you might just sell a bunch more homes in the process.
Dustin Brohm is a Realtor and the founder of SearchSaltLake.com. Connect with him on Facebook and Google Plus.
