Your #1 Resource For Helping Real Estate Professionals Make Great Social Media Connections
Researcher Dr. Brene Brown speaks about the power of invulnerability and how it keeps us from living a whole-hearted life. Watch it. Enjoy it. And leave a comment below. Let’s discuss it 🙂
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UoMXF73j0c&feature=related[/youtube]
It used to be, and not that long ago, that to be successful in a home based business you got the word out by making a list, calling your list, getting rejected by most of those people on your list, and then once you’d burned through that list, the next step would be buying leads that more times than not would cost much and produce little. Today there’s a much better way.
Now with Web 2.0 where people all over the world can interact with each other in the blink of an eye, and the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, even the beginning home business owner can create the same amount of exposure for their business as the big guys.
There are so many different ways to promote your business online and the really cool thing is that you can choose the methods that you like the best. Let’s talk about just a few of them.
Social Networking Sites– Unless someone has just flown in from a remote deserted island, nearly everyone has heard of sites like Facebook and MySpace. They aren’t just for teenagers sharing music anymore. The big thing to remember though is that there is an etiquette when talking to folks on these social sites.
Imagine being at a huge party, are you going to go up to everyone you meet for the first time and say “Hi, my name is Al. I represent the most awesome, super-duper advanced mega product and you just have to buy it. As a matter of fact, it’s so good that if you don’t buy it, your life will go down the toilet.”
Obviously I’m exagerating, but I’ve been on Facebook and MySpace for nearly a year and let me tell ya, those people are out there. Don’t be one of them. I had one guy make a comment on my Facebook status (status is kind of an update on what you’re doing at the moment like, Beth is… getting ready to make another blog post) because I’d mentioned I was needing some coffee and he was pitching me on his no caffeine energy drink. Not exactly a great first impression, besides, I love my caffeine.
Websites and blogs– It used to be that to put a website online, you had to be a techy in the computer department. Thank heaven that’s not the case anymore. Now it’s possible to build an entire online business presence without knowing any computer mumbo-jumbo geeky stuff. This blog is a great example of how easy it is to reach people online. You can literally be reaching new customers and business builders within minutes.
Online Advertising– I know what you’re thinking. Advertising, lots of money, no budget, can’t do it. Yes, you can. Did you know you can advertise for free on websites like Traffic Swarm (a traffic exchange site), CraigsList, Walmart (yes, Walmart) and many others? There are also low budget places like ezines (electronic magazines), paid website ads and when you’ve gotten a little experience, pay-per-click ads on Google and MSN. (I’ll be doing training on that in the near future)
Bottom line is, you can do it. The very cool thing is that marketing online virtually eliminates rejection because you’re talking to the people who want to talk to you, and who want what you have to offer.
What a great way to build your business. How do you use social media in your business? Do you use social media in your marketing? Please leave a comment and let me know what’s working for you 🙂
These crazy economic times we’re in call upon those of us in business to especially mindful of Relationship Selling; customer service, trust, honesty and integrity. To illustrate the point, here’s a story that happened to me.
The other day when I was checking around,getting prices for a repair job on my car that was
hit in a rear end collision.
Since the other person’s insurance company will be paying for repairs, I wanted to get a couple of opinions so they would know I wasn’t trying to “pull one over on them”.
Let me start by saying that I have an Acura SUV. It’s my third Acura, so I know they’re not cheap to fix.
The first place I went gave me an estimate of over $1700, just to replace a muffler. That doesn’t take into account the body damage. I thought that was a little pricey so I called another muffler place for a second opinion.
The answer I got is the reason I’m writing this now.
Now, I know my car and I know the price of the parts are a little steep. When I called the second muffler shop (mind you I already had the first estimate) The guy who answered the phone quoted me a price off the top of his head of “around $150”. No asking anyone, no checking in the computer for the part number or price.
I reminded him of the make and model of my car and he then rethought his answer and said “well, maybe then double that to around $300).
Still not convinced, I stopped by the shop later that day to get a written estimate for the insurance company.
My car was put on the lift and examined. They called the parts supplier and the final estimate was over $1500!!
Now, back to point of the story. When a client or customer asks something of us, it’s because they consider us an expert.
They’ve come to us because they need the product or service we offer.
Nothing, but nothing, will kill business faster than pretending to be an expert and giving someone an answer when you don’t know all the facts.
Any business person that gives a customer an answer that “sounds good” Any amount of trust that had been established is now gone. Even if the customer still chooses to do business with that company, they’re going to be suspicious of anything they’re told.
Long term business success is based on trust and honesty.
We’re the one’s working in a certain establishment or running our business. We know more than they do, right? And if we’re not sure of something, the last thing we should do is make something up. That’s what this kid at the muffler shop did.
Rather that look up the information if he wasn’t sure, or ask someone who had more experience, he told me something that even I, as a non-mechanic knew wasn’t true.
Did I go in and get the estimate anyway? Yes, they are a national chain that I knew the insurance company would recognize.
Did I believe the actual technician who looked at my car? Yes, because he showed me (in black and white) the price for the parts. He gave me the information I needed to make an informed decision and didn’t just quote something off the top of his head.
All our customers want is some understanding and honesty. They’re not asking for perfection. People are a whole lot more receptive to the not-so-great news (like the price to fix my car) when they’re being consulted with and not talked at. That’s relationship selling at it’s best.
Let me clue you in on a widely known, but little used secret to building
loyalty and trust both in you and in your business. It’s a skill that’s so
easy to learn that most new entrepreneurs who get caught up in all the hype
and excitement of their business opportunity completely overlook.
Happiness Is Being Heard
That skill?
Listening.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m just as guilty as anyone else (well, I used to be) of
talking excitedly about my business to just about anyone who would listen. I
could talk at about 75 miles per hour (with gusts up to 120 🙂 ).
Where did all that verbal gushing get me? Not very far I’ll tell ya that.
(That’s why I’m now a reformed gusher, but I digress)
That point was painfully hammered home to me last week when I was invited to
look at a home based business. It’s a company that’s been around for about 15
years, but was “so much better that it used to be, you’ll hardly recognize
it”. yeah…right…uh huh.
Okay, curiosity got the best of me and I went to take a peak. I must admit,
the lady who called me (said someone gave her my business card. Hmmm…) was
nearly hyperventillating she was so excited.
How could I say no?
When I got to the company office and we exchanged pleasantries, I was
escorted into a conference room. It was comfortable enough. Soon the video
presentation started. It was a parade of happy associates, flashy cars and
beautiful homes that could be mine once I join.
There were the third party testimonials, magazine articles and a celebrity
endorsement by a man of questionable hairstyle (won’t mention any names).
These folks obviously loved their company and God bless ’em for it. I wish
them well. But, you know what (or who) they totally glossed over?
Me.
There were no questions about my family, my interests or what I was doing for
a living. No inquiries about my hopes, dreams, fears or reasons for having my
own business in the first place.
Nada, zip, zilch.
When I asked the female half of the team (her husband did most of the
presentation) who gave her my card, the story changed about three times.
In-teresting…
My point in telling you all this is that you can have all the enthusiasm in
the world. You can have the most super-stupendous, state-of-the-art products
and company on the planet, but if you don’t make an effort to really connect
with people you want to serve it doesn’t make a bit of difference.
No relationship, no sale.
Sure there will be some who will go for the flash and buy or join no matter
what. Those folks will stick around til the next new, shiny object catches
their eye…or until they find someone listens, someone who really takes
interest in them and their dreams.
Let that someone be you.
5
Frustration-Busting,
Time Saving
Social Media Tips
For The
Already Crazy-Buzy
Real Estate Pro
