5 Social Media Trends to Keep on Your Radar

Prepare to Pay
According to the Lone Wolf blog, social media giants Facebook and Twitter are shifting their focus toward generating profit. That means you can expect to be charged for certain things that were previously free on their platforms. To keep your messages relevant and prominent on these social networks, you may need to start setting aside money for an ad budget.

Add Up the Benefits
With over 500 million monthly active users, Google Plus is one social media platform you should definitely add to your strategy. The number one reason to use it: It’s owned by Google, the company that determines your website ranking on its search results.

On its Business Pages, Google Plus allows you to connect with customers and market yourself and your services for free. Google Plus’s integration with search, maps and mobile makes it easy for customers to find you. And you can publish content from texts, links to your website, and video clips to help market your business and services. This platform allows you to post informative content about real estate, so you can start building your reputation as an expert.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
As Lone Wolf cites, Adobe’s Social Intelligence Report reveals that posts with images have 600 times greater engagement than simple text-based updates to social platforms. What a simple way to attract prospects and engage customers! Whether it’s great photos of your listings, an interesting infographic or a video, images are the way to get noticed.

Get Group Exposure
Joining an online community like LinkedIn or Yahoo! Groups is another way to build your connections. Within these groups, you should assume the role of contributor, not salesperson. Comment, answer questions and offer suggestions about real estate to establish yourself as a knowledgeable source. Google Plus Business Pages offer a Hangout feature, where you can set up forums and video conversations. Google Plus also enables you to publish “how to” videos and post answers to FAQs.

Life’s Events Present Opportunities
Social platforms are today’s go-to for announcements. From babies to engagements to new homes and more, postings about these life-changing events are your opportunity to engage with prospects. Offer congratulations, and these contacts may remember you when they need help with a real estate transaction.