If there’s one thing to be ascertained from social media, it’s that it’s a trial and error process. You have to experiment with different kinds of content and gauge which kinds get the best results. In the beginning, this is one of the biggest obstacles many real estate agents face. They become so consumed with what they can say or come up with that sounds clever, interesting, humorous and relevant. It’s a lot of pressure to put on oneself, when you think about it.
I’m here to tell you that it’s not necessary. Stop overthinking it. If you look around, the most successful social media pages have simple, direct content. Not a series of overthought posts.
This isn’t to say that you still shouldn’t be a little bit creative, but what I am saying is that instead of writing a six-sentence paragraph about the award you won that day, take a quick picture on your phone, upload it, and introduce it with a one-sentence announcement about how proud you are to have received an award. Don’t give it away. The user will have to click on the picture to look at it.
Do you see what was just accomplished there? You posted something simple that is relevant, interesting and direct. You have also encouraged your network to actually engage with your page and take the time to look at your post instead of skimming past it on their news feed.
So, how do we create simplicity without verging on boredom? Here are a few ideas:
Keep it short and sweet. Too often I see agents posting items to their Facebook page that are too long. If the reader has to click “see more” to see your entire post, it may be time to pare it down. Keep it no more than one or two sentences. People’s attention spans are short these days. The less verbose you are, the better.
Use the right words. Some of you might have an excellent vocabulary. This is fantastic; however, not everyone out there does. We understand that you want to sound professional, but if people have to look up certain words in your post in the dictionary, that’s not ideal, either. Try to use verbiage that most people understand when you’re drafting your posts.
Write as though you’re talking. The point of social networking is to be engaging, right? The most successful pages have a following because their voice sounds like how they would really speak. Remain professional and keep your content appropriate, but you also want to sound as though you’re talking to a friend or acquaintance, not as a keynote speaker at a convention. The more simple and accessible your posts, the more comfortable people will feel participating on your page.
Simplicity for effective communication.
The more simple and direct your postings, the more of a readership you’ll have. By “simple” we don’t mean dull or boring. There’s still plenty of ways to show your personality without overthinking your posts. These tips and tricks, if you practice them, can help you successfully figure out how to keep it simple and smart at the same time.
