If during the old times, it takes hours, and even days, to get to townsquares to get “news,” nowadays, the social media created many virtual townsquares for people to converse directly and even eavesdrop.

So, how does it work? Really?

Different types of people talk about topics online. Some agreeing and some fighting over issues. One point they go along a certain topic, and can be entirely opposing on another matter.

Opportunity knocks in every conversation for your brand to be the topic of the next possible topic on social media.

Direct sales pitching on social networking sites can somehow negatively affect you (but not in all cases). Chances are, either they will hide your posts or erase you from their networks, if the people within your network feels awkward by your hard selling techniques.

Some of the best practices of using the social networking sites are:

• to gather information of prospect audience
• to use as a starting point of your links, videos, articles and photos towards your website (purely dedicated for selling)
• to be visible to a set of audience
• to gain credibility from people

Now, here are a few tips on how to properly “network” on social networking sites.

1. DO NOT SPAM

Network only to people you know. It is proper etiquette at the same time more credible for you and your networking page. And although the main purpose is to “network”, there is a thin line in networking and spamming. Even social networking sites have anti-spam system to lessen if not eradicate spamming.

Stop acting a SPAM-BOT and start acting like a human being, that way you can earn other people’s respect as well.

2. SHARE STORIES

People will read your articles, listen to your podcasts or watch your videos if you tell them real stories.

However, let me make it clear, tell relevant and useful stories to your target audience.

If you are selling houses, stories like:

• How to pick the right property for your family?
• What are the ways to get house loans?

Or, if you are selling cars, stories like:

• Ways to check before buying a used car
• When to properly change oils

There are so many stories you can think that you can share your target market. The more helpful and relevant you are to your audience, the more chances you gain their trust.

Besides, there’s nothing more irritating than being sent with unsolicited HARD-SELL SALES PITCHES. Right?

3. USE PHOTOS and VIDEOS

Photos and videos can increase the chances of your clicks on your social networking page.

Just imagine how many shoutouts, links, updates, news and information are being fed by other people in the social networking sites. So it is just makes sense to be “more attractive” by using eye-catching photos and videos to spice up your articles.

But be reminded, that photos and videos alone can’t do it all. The message and content is more important than the presentation.

3. DO COMMENTS

In essence, social networking is socializing or networking to other people. One good way of socializing to others is by commenting or dipping into discussions of another person’s page.

Like content, comments need to be sensible and related to the discussion. Do not act like a spam-bot that randomly posts comments irrelevant to the discussion.

Commenting is one good way of subliminally introducing yourself to a larger or unfamiliar crowd.

4. COURTEOUSLY ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Ask from within your network to “introduce” you to their network of contacts through recommendations.

Almost all the social networking sites have this feature, particularly Facebook wherein a friend can actually recommend you to his or her networks.

This gives you a little push so that other people will add you to their network as well.

The best way to this is just ASK. Ask your friend to recommend you to his or her friends. I am sure that you can get that easily.

By properly harnessing the power of social media, search engine and blogging, and real estate brokers and agents can maximize the internet in getting leads and eventually sales.

Social Networking

Social networking has greatly increased its influence throughout the years. It gained its popularity from getting together with old friends, classmates, officemates and acquaintances. However, the true impact of its nature to the business and professional sector is highly regarded.

Real estate professionals SHOULD and MUST use the power of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Friendster and the likes.

As we all know, the nearest possible client and referrers you have are your relatives, friends and acquaintances. So, using your contacts on your social networking sites can be of great source of leads, and hopefully sales.

(How to properly use Social Networking sites for Sales Professionals?)

Search Engine

Most of the queries made by people now are from the internet, most of which are from Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask.com. Hence, it is a MUST to be on the best possible pages on these search engines.

Search Engine Optimization is a very powerful tool. Being on the first few pages of search result pages can increase the chances of inquiries for real estate professionals.

(How can your real estate site be optimized for search engines?)

Blogging

Blogging or writing for the internet is another MUST for any website, not just for real estate professionals’ web pages.

It is an understatement to say that “CONTENT is KING!”, for it is and will still be one of the primary concerns of any website.

A web site’s content is one way of how search engines rank a site and it is the best way for visitors to stay in your site. Sales leads can be gained through trust. A sure way to make your visitors trust you is having a CREDIBLE, SENSIBLE and HELPFUL content.

(How to write for the web?)