If you’re still in business as a loan officer, and want to stay that way. Hmmm, wouldn’t be a pretty good idea to talk to real estate agents? What if you could use social networks to meet real estate agents? I do, and it works.
Despite being an early bull on the idea of marketing through Twitter, I notice more and more that my friend Brian Brady has had a change of opinion. Well, let me tell you something. I play on Twitter, and it’s a freaking gold mine.
Out of 900+ followers about 700 are real estate and mortgage professionals.
Also known as “potential clients”, “referral sources” and “genuine friends”. 20% of all REBlogWorld attendees involved me connecting with them at some point on twitter about the event. My next speaking gig, my next big project, and one heck of an interesting job opportunity all came through Twitter.
And how did I build this network? By being myself. By having fun. It’s not even work. How anyone who’s ever tried to grow a sphere of influence can not love Twitter is beyond me. I’m tcar on twitter. Let’s connect.
I agree Todd,
I can’t count how much business has flowed through social networking for me. Sadly, I have’nt taken the opportunity to incorporate Twitter into my marketing just yet, but it’s definitely on my “to do” list.
Plenty of opportunity out there online for lenders. It’s amazing how much in fact. One just needs to take the time to add a twist to their online “surfing” to turn it into online “networking.”
CW – http://www.loanofficermarketinglab.com – http://www.loanofficerunleashed.com
Great insight, Todd. I”m not suggesting that you’re wasting time on Twitter; quite the opposite. I prefer the status bar on Facebook to Twitter because there is more information on the FB page. It’s just a matter of where you deploy your time.
I think you’ve taken my comment about “letting it all hang out” out, for B2B professionals, of context. I was talking to someone who doesn’t work in our world; he works in Corporate America. Someone selling reinsurance products to 50-year old insurance brokers would be ill-advised to start a campaign on Twitter. He would be further ill-advised to act anyway other than highly professional in his efforts. Those middle-aged insurance brokers don’t want to see hi-jinks; they want to see a stable professional
Todd, your efforts in the B2B space are targeted AT tech-savvy real estate agents; that’s who pays you. It would be silly for you NOT to demonstrate prowess on social networking tools like Twitter.
My efforts are targeted at top-producing ($10 miilion +) REALTORs in California. Those agents are found on LinkedIn and Facebook.
This is an interesting post inasmuch as it demonstrates the old saw that all media aren’t equal. We target markets with certain messages and communicate those messages through various media.
Twitter just ain’t getting my message to the right people for me
Hi Todd, Great point. Twitter so far has been one of the best social medias out there for learning and meeting people in my industry.
I use Facebook, but have heard good things about people using Twitter. I may give it a try.
Twitter isn’t for everyone. It’s a tool in the toolbox for some, not right for others. Just like any other form of marketing/prospecting is right for some, and not for others.
I follow about 650 people on Twitter. Many are real estate professionals. But I have about 150 local to Phoenix, non-agent folks I follow and that follow me.
Last Wednesday, I went to an Ignite Phoenix event — it wasn’t real estate related, but there were a lot of folks there I’ve connected with on Twitter — most who I’d never met face-to-face. We shook hands, we hugged, and we chatted like we’d known each other a long time.
I’ve never hounded these people for a sale, I’ve never put them in a contact database and “dripped them” or pushed anything on them. But they all know I’m a real estate broker, just as all my friends in “real life” know that.
I don’t connect or interact with these people for the sole purpose of selling them a home. I connect because we share common interests.
From a business perspective, Twitter has expanded my “sphere of influence” by 150 people (not counting their friends and family). And it’s growing on a daily basis.
Growing a SOI and making new friends and business contacts. Seems like a reasonably prudent thing to do.
From a business point of view, a combination of LinkedIn and twitter works pretty good. But as Jay says, twitter isn’t for everyone. You have to be pretty transparent and open. From a fun point of view, it sa heck of a lot of fun. Twitter personas of people are way different than what they are in real life, or even at other places on the internet.
Todd thanks for the info on twitte, I hope that this can really make a differnece.
I haven’t used social networks for promoting my site. Your post makes me want to give it a try. I hope this will work for me.
I use social networking to promote my site, but haven’t stepped into the world of Twitter-it seems to take a lot of time, but from your blog I can see that the time pays off!
just a first timer checking it out
I use Twitter for the purpose of developing networking relationships with the mortgage and real estate professionals who can help me promote my FHA mortgage blog to my target audience…. clients.
It isn’t about pushing a new article out into a black hole of noise.
Twitter builds the story behind those posts and adds a level of humanity to my efforts. The late nights, random thoughts, or a new idea that I need the help of others to find meaning to.
I listen more than I speak on Twitter and use it as a tool to hook other people up.
Low maintenance – high impact networking. Simple
@mark_madsen – Let’s make some noise.
Download the flock.com browser and all of your social networking conversations will stream down the left side of your screen. It is way easier to be many places at once and always be in the know.
Twitter, facebook, digg….. they are all there. You don’t even have to visit the sites to participate.
Brian Brady
Mark Madsen
I agree with you guys… Brian, I am learning that Facebook may be a bit more ‘robust’ in its offering, but I am finding that twitter is, as mark puts it, a great place to listen. i dont tweet too much – i dont think – but i have aligned with a few folks there that i can keep informal contact with.
AT THE END OF THE DAY – you need to be in the space of those that put food on your table. Whether they be referral partners or consumers. Find out where they are and connect. Finding the right fit will make itself known over time.
Chris the implementer
im just getting the hang of twitter
I think twitter will eventually be huge
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Twitter is big enough to deny Facebook’s acquisition offer twice and I think it will only grow.
Great insight, Todd. I”m not suggesting that you're wasting time on Twitter; quite the opposite. I prefer the status bar on Facebook to Twitter because there is more information on the FB page. It's just a matter of where you deploy your time.
I think you've taken my comment about “letting it all hang out” out, for B2B professionals, of context. I was talking to someone who doesn't work in our world; he works in Corporate America. Someone selling reinsurance products to 50-year old insurance brokers would be ill-advised to start a campaign on Twitter. He would be further ill-advised to act anyway other than highly professional in his efforts. Those middle-aged insurance brokers don't want to see hi-jinks; they want to see a stable professional
Todd, your efforts in the B2B space are targeted AT tech-savvy real estate agents; that's who pays you. It would be silly for you NOT to demonstrate prowess on social networking tools like Twitter.
My efforts are targeted at top-producing ($10 miilion +) REALTORs in California. Those agents are found on LinkedIn and Facebook.
This is an interesting post inasmuch as it demonstrates the old saw that all media aren't equal. We target markets with certain messages and communicate those messages through various media.
Twitter just ain't getting my message to the right people for me