Social Networking For Loan Officers

So we’ve been chatting about social networking here on Day #3. There’s been alot of talk about sites such as Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace and others. (Active Rain and LinkedIn as well) The big question out there seems to be whetehr or not this is a profitable use of your time. Here’s my take on the subject:

- Anything that can expand your Sphere Of Influence gets a big thumbs up from me

- Anything that can become viral gets another thumbs up

- Any tool can be abused and drain your time – Smart time management is required

- Never try to use social networking as an excuse to ignore offline networking and prospecting efforts

I only recently began using these tools to market the Loan Officer Marketing Lab, but I’ve been using “the big 3″ for the last few years to market my web development firm. Let me tell you… It works – but it must be managed as a database tool.

I view people as my only true asset in business. If no one is there to hear my marketing message, then what is the point of being in business. If I have a group of people ready and willing to hear what I have to say, then no matter what I’m selling, I have a pre-built audience. The competion who ignores building a database, and online “audience” will always be 30 steps behind you since every time they wish to bring in more business, they have to market to cold groups as opposed to warm.

That’s the beauty of social networking – It builds your audience, it exposes you to more people you otherwise never would have had an opportunity to market to, and it’s relatively painless to build. Use these tools in a respectful manner, and you’ll soon grow to love social networking as well. Here’s a handy little guide we posted to the blog this morning:

http://www.loanofficermarketinglab.com/3unbreakablesocialmedia.pdf

Make it a great one!

CW – Loan Officer Marketing Lab