Facebook is great. Admittedly, I’m there a lot. I have a busy life and I love people, so FB allows me to keep in touch with the people I love despite my schedule. And I’m eager to see what FB might become soon. When the IPO happens, an already really well-funded Facebook will become even more so and then what? One can only imagine how Marc Zuckerberg (flush with even more cash) will leverage QR codes!
Just kidding.
But, things are getting interesting with FB, which is fast morphing from digital business adolescence to being THE player in digital advertising. Take a look at this article I read last night. Cool stuff from some big companies that are spending large percentages of their ad budgets on FB (foregoing print by the way). Any real estate professional paying attention over the past few years has already discovered the value of FB. I mean, what is the real estate business? It’s all relationships. Keeping in touch. Staying visible to loyal clients. Facebook facilitates this like no contact list ever could.
Which is why tons of agents have flocked to Facebook to mine for gold. The methods for mining your friend list (and your friend’s friends) for leads are varied and in most cases, can be very successful if done well. The last thing you want is to see a listing pushed to your timeline for the 100th time today. It happens, but it won’t be tolerated for long. There are unwritten rules on FB and agents have been learning them the hard way. Again, done well, it can be a successful tool for your business.
There are pitfalls however and here’s an example.
The moral of this story? When you place your brand, your business and a lead-generating strategy on top of Facebook, you’re essentially like the little bird that sits on the Rhino’s head. Yes, you’re going to have lunch, but if that Rhino decides to scratch his back on a rock, you best be able to react or get squished. That’s the danger of working with Facebook. Policy can bite you and Mark Zuckerberg will not send you an email of advance warning.
I’m behind on my reading. This is good stuff. Thanks for the example. That article lays it out clearly.
Way to be an advocate!
Bill gave a very “advocacy oriented” talk today at the Alabama Association of REALTORS meeting at the beach. He’ll reprise it for the Solid Earth Summit later this week in Charleston. We know who our customers are!