February 13, 2018
Using Twitter for real estate is not completely new, but there are some ways it’s being done that may not work as effectively as they could or should. The more agents and companies understand about how to use social media like Twitter correctly, the better chances they will have for successfully integrating themselves into the social media world and working to build a presence and a client base. With that in mind, it’s very important to understand what Twitter is and what it can offer, overall.
What is Twitter?
First launched in 2007, Twitter is an open forum social media platform where updates are limited to 280 characters each. It used to be a limit of 140 characters, but was changed late in 2017 to much public attention. At it’s core, Twitter is:
- a public site where anyone can read tweets and follow individuals and brands
- is news-focused with an open etiquette that can mean anything goes
- quick-find information is at users’ fingertips through hashtags for trending topics
By sharing outside content and relevant topics, a Twitter feed can be seen as an important resource for information. Twitter best practices include:
- no spamming, as spammers are punished by users through unfollowing
- sharing quality content to foster engagement, which breeds both influence and relevance.
- retweeting is considered to be tacit endorsement of the original tweet
- replying to tweets is designed to show appreciation for what was said
As with any social media site there are better days and times to post, along with an importance to the frequency of posting. Twitter users commonly post every day, sometimes multiple times, and not posting for days at a time can cause followers to quickly feel disengaged and lose interest. By posting at a time of day when targeted followers will commonly be reading, it’s easy to keep people interested and stay in the forefront of their minds.
How Does It Relate to Real Estate?
Using Twitter for real estate can be very important, because it offers a platform where the sharing of outside content is encouraged. It can also help agents build relevance with a broader field of users, which creates community around a brand.
In short, it reaches a lot of people who may want what is being offered, which means a company and an agent can get more followers. Those followers may not all turn into clients but some of them will. Others may know people who are looking for real estate, and refer them that way.
Why It Works
Twitter works because of the quick shelf life of its content, along with the focus on camaraderie and community over individuality. Everyone can be included and feel that way, as well, which helps them want to interact with other people. At that level of interaction, everyone who uses Twitter can feel included in a way they may not experience with other types of social media.
For agents and companies who are serious about selling real estate, the main point of Twitter is to build a brand and a community to interact with. Then attracting clients in the form of both buyers and sellers will be easier, more fun, and less stressful for everyone involved.
