Getting the Word Out about Your Home for Sale Using Online Tools

Social media is an extremely useful, versatile platform. While social media is well known for a wide variety of feats, including everything from reuniting long lost loves to improving the bottom line of a business, it’s becoming increasingly better known for something different altogether: helping people sell their homes and move.

In a sluggish housing market, more and more homeowners are successfully using social media to get the word out and get their homes sold. But how?

Get a New Address…

Web address, that is. No matter how many social networking sites and platforms you utilize, it’s crucial to have a website to link back to and direct potential buyers to. That website can be as simple or elaborate as you feel comfortable with. However, there several key ingredients that will make your site more successful: 

·        A blog. People are drawn in a by a good story. Not only are blogs a good place to talk about events like moving and an upcoming open house, but they are also great for expanding on what’s special about your property. What renovations, upgrades or additions have you done on your home? A blog gives you plenty of space to elaborate on the details that set your home apart from the rest.

·        Videos. Photos are great, but videos are even better. Video tours of your home are an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to showcase your home. You can also post those videos on social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook or link to them via Twitter.

·        Calls to action. It’s important to have your contact information available on your website, including information, such as your e-mail address and phone number. However, go one step further by including the opportunity for visitors to share your website via Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

There’s No Place Like My Home

A recent article on MSN Real Estate included a clever use of Twitter by a homeowner in a prime neighborhood. Ruta Fox just happened to live near several celebrities and used that fact to fuel Tweets and gain interest in her home.

Even if you don’t happen to live two blocks down from Madonna, you can still feature the best aspects of your home and its location as incentives for potential buyers. Aspects, such as top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods or proximity to attractions like museums and performing arts venues, can all be worth mentioning in Tweets and status updates. And, don’t forget to include that link back to your website.

Going Viral

Crowdsourcing is one of the great advantages of using social media to get the word about your home for sale. Updates to your social media platforms not only let your friends know you’re selling your home, but these also allow your friends to let their friends know, and so on. Sending out moving announcements also help spread the word.

…But, Not Too Viral

It may be easier than ever to share information and updates about the home you’re trying to sell. However, it’s also just as easy to overdo it. Avoid overkill by pacing your posts and by not repeating the same posts ad nauseum. Do update your social networks with new information and do use your contacts to help you through the selling process by soliciting helpful comments and advice. Before you know it, your next status update will be: “Sold!”

Social Media is for the Birds: Tweeting in Business Communication

A recent article featured at The Source Weekly reported on the effects of Twitter – not only on how people communicate in business, but also on the people doing the communicating. Diana Adams, an Atlanta-based computer consultant, takes her phone to bed and wakes several times throughout the night to check her Twitter stream and respond to messages. 

At one point, NPR's senior strategist for social media, Andy Carvin, was spending 18 to 20 hours a day on Twitter. The profound effect that Twitter has had on its users is undeniable, but what has that effect been on the communication itself?

Paying Attention

There are two main aspects of Twitter and Tweets that set the social media platform apart. First, there is the 140 character limit. This limit is the apple of brevity and creativity’s eye, challenging users to compose their messages within that framework. 

However, many people have expressed the notion that Twitter has shortened our collective attention spans. Adams admitted she now only thinks in Tweets, “So, if someone is talking to me for more than a minute, I just stop paying attention.” The idea of ADD on the rise may just have a lot to do with the technology that is changing our behaviors.

 Second, Twitter is also set apart by both the real time participation of its users, and the constant stream of Tweets. Twitter users can dip into a never-ending stream of information and be in constant contact with followers 24 hours a day. Other social media platforms just don’t deliver the same volume or pace of interaction.

Tips for Tweets

Because of these unique aspects, Twitter can be an extremely effective tool in business communication. However, there are several things to keep in mind when Tweeting:

• Make it meaningful. Before you post that Tweet, think about what you are trying to communicate and what you hope to achieve by communicating it. Twitter users often have to sift through a lot of dross to find something worthwhile. Make sure whatever it is you are adding to the conversation enhances meaning as well.
• Be clear. Without the benefits of nonverbal communication, such as tone of voice and body language, it’s all too easy to be misunderstood. Make sure your Tweets are easy to follow that your messages send the right intent.  
• Avoid Web slang. The use of Web slang in business communication appears unprofessional, and while the 140 character limit does make it tempting to use common Web slang, such as “ur” for “you are,” for the sake of brevity, it’s best to resist that temptation.
• Use proper grammar and spelling. Because space is very limited, making a good impression within that small space is critical. Be sure to proofread any and all Tweets to avoid embarrassing errors.

How Tweet It Is

 Do you use Twitter in your business? If so, what has your experience been? How has Twitter affected your business communication? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Social Media: Helping Communities Help Each Other

Social media is known for a great many things, ranging from being a great business marketing tool to simply serving as a digital water cooler for catching up on the latest gossip. However, more and more, social media is becoming known for something else entirely – a way for real life, flesh and blood communities to come together and help one another.

Fighting Crime

Graffiti is a problem plaguing many urban areas. However, social media is making it more difficult for taggers to hide and easier for law enforcement to catch them. A recent article in the Santa Fe New Mexican entitled, “Social media tip leads to graffiti suspects,” highlighted how social media can help communities fight crime and help local law enforcement. In this instance, over 30 local businesses had been tagged with graffiti before an anonymous tip led to a social networking site where evidence was found linking suspects to the graffiti.

While the use of social media outlets by local law enforcement is still relatively new, it has already been very successful. In an article on Mashable Social Media, author Lon S. Cohen outlines several ways in which law enforcement utilizes social media. One of the most effective techniques involves requests for tips and information by a particular local law enforcement agency on their Facebook fan page and Twitter feed. People with information can post it immediately, making that information instantly available to local law enforcement.

Crisis Management

Not only has social media proven its usefulness in helping fight crime, it’s also been shown to be an extremely effective tool during the course of an emergency. Michelle Lyon, Social Media Manager at MEC International, wrote about how social media brought community together after the recent riots in London. A call to action on Twitter resulted in over 80,000 volunteers almost immediately coming together to help clean up and reach out to those in need.

Twitter was used to organize the volunteer effort, letting people know exactly where they needed to go and what they needed to do to help. Even beyond the hands-on help being received by the local community, the Twitter feed was also used by local businesses as a way to offer free services to the people most affected by the riots.

Local Events

There doesn’t have to be a crime or crisis for social media to help build community. It’s extremely common for local chambers of commerce to feature updates and local events on social media platforms. Whether it’s a neighborhood farmer’s market or a local charity event, cities, large and small, are reaching out through social networking sites with great success.

Your Community

How has social media helped build your local community? Please share your stories and thoughts in the comments section below.

                      

Email Marketing Solutions and Social Media

Direct mail has been a tried and true marketing method for about as long as there has been mail delivery. Email marketing is a natural technological step up in direct mail’s evolution. But, what exactly is email marketing and what are its advantages?

Definitions and Advantages

Simply put, email marketing is the electronic version of direction marketing. As a business or association, your messages go directly into your client’s or potential client’s email inbox. Email marketing is not only used for advertising, but it also is advantageous when used for newsletters, promotions, and even fundraising.

There are many advantages to using email marketing, especially for small businesses and non-profit organizations. Email marketing is quick and cost effective, allowing you to control who your emails target and when the emails are sent. Essentially, you are bringing your message to your clients instead of waiting for your clients to come to you. Detailed tracking and analysis of your email marketing gives you exactly the information you need to tweak and improve your marketing campaign.

Social Media Integration

A social media platform is an essential part of any marketing strategy, but how and why should social media be integrated with email marketing? Last year, a study by GetResponse, an email marketing firm, revealed emails that included a social media share link enjoyed a 30% higher click through rate than emails without those links. Even better, if those emails featured three or more share options, the click through rate rose to 55%.

A 2010 study by MarketingSherpa, an independent marketing research firm, discovered that 42% of people who use social media on a daily basis also tend to check their email four or more times a day while only 27% of non-social media users do the same. Additionally, 63% reported using the same email address for both social media and opting into permission-based emails. Finally, 49% of Twitter users reported making online purchases as a result of an email offer whereas only 33% of all email users made those types of purchases.

The statistics make it clear that the key to email marketing success is to integrate social media by providing plenty of sharing opportunities within those e-mails. But, what’s the best way to get started?

Email Marketing Options

There are many email marketing websites and options to choose from to get your campaign rolling, including companies like Constant Contact, MailChimp, Graphic Mail, Vertical Response, Benchmark Email, iContact and GetResponse. Websites like Email Marketing Options offer helpful “apples-to-apples” comparisons of the most popular email marketing services. They are also a great place for a business new to the concept of email marketing to start out.

While each email marketing company offers its own unique brand of services, most companies offer similar types of services. Some things to look for include free trial offers, easy-to-work-with customizable interfaces and mailing lists, detailed analytics, helpful and reliable customer support and, of course, a reasonable monthly fee. 

Have you used any of these services and found them to be particularly beneficial in facilitating your marketing efforts? What has integrating your social media strategy and email campaigns achieved as part of your Internet Marketing program? Share your success in the comment box below.

                      

How Nonprofit Organizations Can Benefit from Social Media

Social media outlets have proven a tremendous asset for businesses worldwide. There’s no question of the efficacy of a social media platform for increasing sales and profitability. But, can social media be as big a boon to nonprofit organizations? In a word, yes. While for-profit and non-profit entities do have different challenges and goals, social media can be used as an effective tool in both types of businesses. How?

Bridge the Generation Gap

While many of those who either direct or are board members of nonprofits come from a generation not as familiar or comfortable with using social media, the next generation of donors, volunteers, and employees spends an increasing amount of time online and engaged with social media outlets. Just as it takes time to grow a relationship between potential customers and a given brand or product, it also takes time to foster a relationship between a nonprofit and potential contributors. That’s why now is the time to reach out and start building those relationships.

Focus on Communication

In his blog post, “Six Ways Non-Profits Can Use Social Media to Grow,” Fast Company blogger Rich Brooks spoke with Alex Steed, Director of Community Engagement at Opportunity Maine. Brooks and Steed suggest nonprofits use social media to tell their story and highlight the good work the nonprofit is doing. People are engaged and inspired by compelling stories and tangible, positive results. These stories resonate with potential donors, encouraging them to become active donors or volunteers.

Dan Morrison, CEO and Founder of Citizen Effect suggests an approach that at first might seem counterintuitive, “Don’t focus on asking them to give, focus on asking them to retweet any and everything you tweet, post on their wall, forward e-mails, etc.” This alternative approach encourages a simple passing on of information, which can lead to increased website traffic, increased exposure to the cause the nonprofit is supporting, and finally to actual donations. No matter what, it’s crucial to encourage and nurture participation whatever the level of that participation may be. Take the time to respond to comments and questions personally whenever possible.

Connect Online with Offline

According to Nora Ganim Barnes, co-author of a study released last year by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research, 97% of nonprofits are using social media, a number which surpasses the percentage of for-profits businesses using social media as reported in a Philanthropy.com article. Organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association, successfully use social media to promote fundraising events such as charity walks and relays. The viral nature of online social media outlets makes them an extremely effective way to organize and increase participation in offline events and rallies.

What’s Your Experience?

Are you a nonprofit organization that has benefitted from social media or a donor/volunteer that has supported a cause through social media channels? Please share your experience in the comments section below. If you haven’t yet experienced the value of social media, consider contacting Flyline Search Marketing to find out how their experts can help your nonprofit gain further exposure and interest.

A Comprehensive Internet Marketing Strategy Delivers Optimal Results

An online presence is a must for any business with a social media platform sitting firmly ensconced as the key  component of that presence. In addition to your business’s main website, you’ve got a Twitter account, FaceBook page, and a blog – but how often should you be updating them? While the frequency, immediacy, and function in your social media campaign vary somewhat between each online venue, certain concepts hold true across the board.

Quality over Quantity

However often you choose to update your social media outlets, the most important thing to keep is mind is quality. Make sure posts are interesting, relevant, and appropriate. Never post simply for posting’s sake. Your customers and potential customers have a limited amount of time to find, view, and process information. Post unnecessary or meaningless information and you will not only lose fans and followers, but you will see potential business and revenue migrate to your competition.

Different people have different opinions about how much is just right, but a good way to help monitor the effectiveness of your posts and posting frequency is to keep an eye on your analytics. Social media sites track statistics, such as traffic to your page or profile, number of followers or fans you have or have lost, and other metrics by which visitors interact with your posts. Using this information can help a business determine what’s working and what isn’t.

 Be Quick to Respond
When your analytics reveal a particular posting strategy isn’t working, be sure to quickly respond and adjust accordingly. It’s all too easy for a potential customer to disengage from your business’s social media if they feel bombarded or overwhelmed with updates.

If you’re still not sure where to start, the following are some general guidelines for determining how often to update:

Facebook

·        A good rule of thumb for updating an outlet, such as a FaceBook page, is about once a day but certainly no more than twice a day.

·        Post information that is helpful and provides a way to add convenience or value to your followers’ lives. Also include links to other places where you have added fresh content, which encourages them to quickly veer off to that information and, in the process, increase traffic to your website.

·        If you do update twice a day, space those updates apart like in the morning and evening in order to reach fans at different ends of the day.

·        Take the number of your fans and the type of your business into consideration. The pages of big businesses with a greater number of fans can tolerate more posts while smaller, more focused pages seem to get by on far fewer.

Twitter
While it’s generally acceptable to tweet multiple times a day, remember to only post relevant, meaningful information. Twitter’s immediacy makes it great for more time-sensitive information, such as daily specials or special promotions, and it is also an excellent way to connect with customers in real time.

Blogs
Here are some thoughts about blogging frequency:

·        The frequency of blog posts depends on what type of information you’re trying to convey. If your blog features product-related posts, such as how-to tips and suggestions on product use, then once a week or even once every other week is fine. If you use your blog to promote daily or weekly specials and promotions, more frequent updates are necessary.

·        Length is also an important consideration. Generally, the longer the post is, the longer the time between posts should be. Conversely, shorter blog entries can be posted more often.

·        Who are your readers? Knowing your audience and their needs goes a long way toward determining how often you can update your blog without overwhelming or alienating your customers.

 Your Experiences
What are your challenges with keeping up with your social media campaign? Do you need assistance? Want to find out how an Internet Marketing specialist can help you? Contact Flyline Search Marketing or leave your comments below.

                 

Melloy Dodge: Entering the World of Online Social Media

Recognizing that local customers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and around the local New Mexico area turn to social media and networking for their information and research when vehicle shopping, Melloy Dodge recently hired Flyline Search Marketing to initiate a comprehensive Internet Marketing strategy for their firm. The package to be deployed includes tools like, Google AdWords, Yahoo/Bing Sponsored Search, Call and Data Analytics, SEO-driven content, and a social media/networking presence, including a blog, Facebook page and a new Twitter account.

Accelerated Presence and Customer Connections

Besides offering a way to maximize available marketing dollars through low-cost channels like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, social media helps a dealer get in front of their audience and make a more personable connection – something that has not always been possible with auto dealers.

Typically, dealer websites have been set up where prospective customers want to inquire about a car or service only to find they cannot quickly get the information they want but are instead are harassed with phone calls from pushy salesmen. For Melloy, their sales and service philosophy has never been about making the quick deal or pushing their customers around.

Instead, an auto dealer needs to avoid the following strategies if they expect to connect with customers and get to know their target audience better:

• Don’t focus on advertising and sales angle; focus on being an information connector.
• Don’t be reactive; instead, be connective.
• Don’t rush the social media practice; it takes time and it will build into a viral campaign if you are patient.
• Don’t forget to contribute; answer questions left by fans or visitors and include topics that they can respond to.

No Chop Shop Strategies

Melloy Dodge understands the importance of using a comprehensive strategy and offering content and valuable consumer information that their clients, prospective customers, and vendors are searching for that extends well beyond just trying to sell them a vehicle – it is about showing how Melloy Dodge is so much more in order to develop a long-term partnership where the customer and their family will return again and again for car purchases, trade-ins, and service.

All the social media strategies will include content driven to make the visitor’s life easier:

• Car maintenance
• Increasing and/or maintaining vehicle value
• Safety advice
• Promotions and specials on vehicles, parts, and services
• Car purchases and trade-in strategies
• Financing options

Each topic provides a way to illustrate Melloy Dodge’s knowledge, expertise, and credibility as a reputable and high-quality dealer.

Your Thoughts

What do you think an auto dealership can do to use social media more effectively? What would you like to see an auto dealer include in their social media content? Or, are you a dealership thinking of jumping on the social media bandwagon and have questions. Leave your comments below.

If your dealership is ready to get started with your own comprehensive Internet Marketing Strategy, we encourage you to contact our expert team here at Flyline Search Marketing. The program is affordable and effective. Learn more by calling 866-258-5511.