I recently met an amazing speaker named Craig Zablocki who was extremely spontaneous onstage. He read the crowd well and rolled with their responses naturally. And being a lifelong learner you know I had to pick his brain! So after his presentation I asked him if he could give me some tips as I’m always looking to raise my game. He of course said sure…little did I know he was looking for some social media marketing help. So we decided to meet after our event and trade knowledge!

After an hour of coaching him on social media strategy….Craig shared some suggestions to help me become a more spontaneous speaker.  And the end of our meeting we decided to give each other a checklist of actions. Actions each of us could take to dive in to the skills we wanted and needed to learn. And trust me…his list for me was far worse than mine!  He suggested actions like (1) wear a plastic boogger while shopping at Nordstrom and (2) the next time I fly (which was this last weekend) I should get my entire row to sing a nursery rhyme with me. (By the way…I used the intercom to accomplish that action! Thanks @VirginAmerica)

Clearly these are things outside of my normal comfort zone. But that was the point. To Craig, sending a tweet with a shortlink sounded like something you feed a bird. But in that moment both of us realized that in order to become more confident with the tools and concepts we wanted to learn…we had to practice using them.

So when I was asked by the Women’s Council of REALTORS – California Chapter to give a keynote sharing some technology trends for 2012 I couldn’t very well give them concepts without ACTIONS! The 12 I suggested are in my slides below! And here’s hoping you’ll take some ACTION with something that makes you uncomfortable today…but gives you a little more confidence each time you give it a try!

You’re clearly here because you care about your Facebook friends. You want to listen, learn from, help and contribute! I like you already! So brush up on your Facebook “best practices” and make these 5 resolutions to improve your Facebook engagement (if you haven’t already).

(1)   No more whining about the timeline…just accept it already. We all know Facebook makes changes, so get used to them.  HOW we share will always evolve…but WHAT we share is specific to who we are. It’s time to take responsibility for the communication tool we find so helpful…and so fun!

(2)   Stop sharing images with words on them…especially when they’ve been shared 14 other times in your network already. Instead, use the status bar and text, or your own photos to illustrate your thoughts, comical ideas, or motivational phrases.

(3)   Don’t encourage bad behavior. If you don’t like how someone continually asks for “likes” then don’t like the post already. If you think its lame when people ask really cheesy questions…then don’t eat the brie. But remember you are on Facebook to be social, right?! So own your interactions…and engage in a way that feels comfortable to you.

(4)   Stop overposting!!! You know who you are. And we are tired of your 15 posts a day. It’s annoying…if we want to see you that much we’ll call you and meet for coffee. Blocking and unfriending happens.

(5)   Be original. Be who you are…nothing more, nothing less.  Share what you are truly passionate about when it comes to work, to family, to kids, to life. Know that most of us enjoy a balance of posts that reflect your interests and yes, your professional life too. BUT rather than offering up self-serving quotations from Brainy Smurf….really…I mean, REALLY…think about how you can help others in the New Year.  And stop trying to make everyone happy…you can’t. Focus on your niche expertise.

MyTechOpinion: Pause before you post. (I did, really.) But once you commit…be ready to ROCK it!

I’m sure you already have favorite websites you visit on a regular basis, so be sure to bookmark them in your browser, homepage, rss reader, twitter list, Google+ Sparks, etc. (Whatever format works best for you and can keep you organized.)

Alright, ready to learn more about resources that can help you easily create and share content on the Web, I thought so….

Don’t miss all 8 videos (and steps) for Developing a Content Marketing Plan!

[VIDEO] Developing a Content Marketing Plan: Step 1- Strategize

[VIDEO] Developing a Content Marketing Plan: Step 2 – Brainstorm

Here is an example of what we’re talking about:

Authorship Markup is essentially a way for Google to connect authors with the content they create and then show what I’m calling Visual Search Cues in the organic results.  This is all done by using HTML5 microformats such as the rel=”me” and rel=”author” tags to identify your content.

How do I setup Authorship Markup with my Blog?

The first thing you’ll need is a Google Profile, which is already a good thing to have based on the fact it’s highly search optimized and Google lets you link directly from the profile to your website, blog, external social profiles and more.

TIP: Make sure that your avatar is “a good, clear headshot of yourself” and does not include a logo.  If it does, Google has said that they will not show it in the results.

To establish authorship of your content, you’ll need to complete two steps:

(1) Link the blog to your Google Profile
(2) Link your Google Profile to your blog or blog’s author page

Step 1 – Linking your blog to your Google Profile

You may have noticed, with WordPress v3.2, on your individual post pages the link from your name to the author page includes the rel=”Author” parameter. That’s awesome, and exactly what we need. All you’ll need to do is add a link from the Author page on your blog, to your Google profile. The link should be in this format:

<a href=”[profile_url]?rel=author”>Google+</a>.

Replace [profile_url] with your actual Google Profile URL, which will look similar to this: http://plus.google.com/107461963711346948468. Also make sure not to delete the ?rel=author parameter

If you prefer to use a button, use the Google profile button generator

Step 2 – Linking your Google Profile to your blog’s Author page

Next you’ll need to create a link from your Google profile to your blog or blog’s author page. Do that by visiting your Google Profile and selecting “Edit Profile”. Next click on the “Links” area located on the right-side of the screen and include a link to your blogs homepage, or if you are writing on a multi-author blog you can link directly to your Author page. Now check the box that reads “This page is specifically about me.”

One last thing…Google also recommends that after you’ve completed these steps you should complete this form.

MyTechOpinion

I can see this feature being a huge hit with content creators and even searchers, especially as search and social seem to be converging.  We’ll be able to spot our favorite authors easier, and with that we’ll also be able to reach out and connect from a search results set. It’s still unclear how quickly newcomers will be added to this new index, but I would highly recommend getting things setup from your end.

Here’s to seeing you in the search results!

And if you’d rather get to the point than watch me dance in yet another video, read on.

So what’s my take on the “ROI in Social Media”?

First, let me remind us of the obvious. Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and the lot, are little or no cost to you at all.

Yes, they take time and effort…but doesn’t EVERY good marketing strategy?!

And it’s true…time is money. And many will say that social media takes too much time. Well, not if you’re using it in an effective manner. In fact, social media can enhance what you’re already doing with your marketing by driving consumers back to you (your info, your expertise, your knowledge, your website).

In terms of measuring your efforts:

Start with goals and objectives, make a plan, block your time and give yourself tasks to complete, and use the RIGHT tools to measure what you do.

What do you measure:

It could be numbers (like followers, friends, & likes) but I’m not always a fan of numbers alone.  It could be the level of engagement taking place, and it can also be leads you receive via the various channels you’re participating in.

What can be difficult to measure:

New relationships being facilitated and maintained, and the level of trust being established with your targets.  And sometimes it’s difficult to know EXACTLY what you did to make the phone ring…or emails, tweets, and FB messages roll in…but they do…and they will.

What do I do:

I think about what I want to accomplish? Then, tie my goals and objectives to specific actions…and see what happens.

MyTechOpinion:

I’ll tell you this much…”you get what you give“. So, start giving…your expertise, your knowledge, your thoughts, and your insights.  Success won’t happen overnight…but I KNOW you’ll be surprised by what comes back to you. I am…EVERY single day!

So here it goes! If you have a WordPress site (particular those of you on the Genesis platform) and a Facebook Page in need of some serious love (aka content)….I’d like to introduce you to fbPressPage, from Agent Evolution! This is a WordPress and Genesis Framework specific add-on that brings your site content into your Facebook Page as a tab.

As a Facebook Page Admin, you’re faced with the challenge of trying to provide content (listings, community, neighborhood, market data, etc) on your Facebook Page, or searching for the right app that will attempt to do it for you. fbPressPage gives you the ability to customize your Facebook Page Tab with your WordPress content and features…and you can do it right from the WordPress Admin.

What EXACTLY does fbPressPage do?

Skies the limit! But when it comes to showcasing your real estate and local market expertise you can add the following to your fbPressPage: (1) IDX home search, (2) featured listings, (3) city or neighborhood specific content, (4) school info and scores, (5) market trend data, (6) contact forms, (7) recent blog posts, etc.

Let’s see how this looks in Facebook! Check out the “Real Estate” tab for facebook.com/TriValley365 in the gallery below. This tab highlights 5 cities in the Tri-Valley region, which also happen to be city specific pages created within WordPress. Notice the tab offers home search powered by Diverse Solutions. The Simple Real Estate Pack (also a plugin) provides school data from Education.com, as well as market trend graphs from Trulia.

What’s the benefit of fbPressPage?

fbPressPage utilizes the functionality of your WordPress site to better optimize your Facebook Tabs. So the valuable features and content you have on your WP site can be widgetized into an individual tab that loads right into your Facebook Page.

If you have IDX home search on your site, with fbPressPage, you now have that functionality inside Facebook. View featured listings and search for homes in particular markets. Got neighborhood pages or market stats on your site, make them twice as useful. Add a contact form or other calls to action. Or maybe you’re a content creator? Feature your blog posts along with improved sharing via Facebook and Twitter.

Another key benefit of using fbPressPage is that it can fangate your Facebook Page content. So when someone lands on your Facebook Page the content on your custom tab will be semi-visible (grayed out). A pop-up box will appear asking users to “Like” your page in order to gain access to your custom content and features. <coming in version 1.1> And if you’re an early adopter, don’t worry…we can add it in for you with the new release!

fbPressPage can also clean up your Facebook Page clutter. Too many inefficient apps can distract your audience and make your brand and messaging unclear. Rock your own content, simplify your calls to action and make it easy for your connections to get the info they’re looking for.

Learn more about fbPressPage

This is a premium WordPress add-on. A site license can be purchased for a one-time set-up fee of $199. Visit fbPressPage.com to learn more or make a request!

Prerequisites: You need to have a site built with WordPress.org and the Genesis Framework. Not on Genesis? We can build or move your site to Genesis, as well as hook you up with fbPressPage for Facebook.

MyTechOpinion

Now clearly I’m a fan of fbPressPage for the reasons mentioned above.  But simply put,  it’s just one more reason to ROCK WordPress and Facebook…a powerful marketing combination!

Last week I started playing around with HootSuite’s new Custom Social Media Reporting module; and I was pleasantly surprised by it’s flexibility. The report builder includes over 30 individual report modules; allowing you pick the metrics you’re interested in tracking. Then once I had a finished product, sharing the report is a snap.

So what’s this going to cost me?

The HootSuite Pro Plan runs $5.99 a month and includes the ability to generate 1 custom report of your choice. (Note: the Ow.ly Click Summary Report is free). When you sign up, you’ll get the first 30-days free, and you can easily downgrade your account anytime during that period and you’ll never be changed. It’s worth noting that you’re credit for a report will not be used until you actually click “Create Report”. Also you can edit and modify your report at anytime, and that will not result in an additional cost. With the Pro account you’ll end up with 50 points redeemable in the reporting module.

Building your first HootSuite Social Media Report

From your HootSuite dashboard, click the “Analytics” link on the left-hand side of the screen. Now select “Custom Analytics” and you’ll see the options available to you. Notice the tab is divided into reports owned by you, reports shared with you, and reports still in draft mode.

By clicking the button titled “Create New Report” you’ll now have the option to choose from one of their prebuilt templates as a starting place. (Note: you can easily customize the report in a later step.) The HootSuite templates include: (1) Proposal Report, (2) Ow.ly Click Summery, (3) Google analytics, or even (4) Facebook Insights. For this example, I’ll use the start from scratch option.

As you begin to build your report, you’ll start by adding company logo and contact information. Next you’ll type a header description; something that describes the metrics to follow. Now you’ll start to add the modules you want to include. Each report module (except for Ow.ly) will use 5 points. Your Pro account will give you 50 points by default. If you need more points they can be purchased, but additional points are not as cheap as the first set.

Here are a few of the metrics we have available to us:

Email and Scheduling

Once the social media analytics report is set up, you can schedule daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly email updates. Having this information push out to you is extremely helpful, and will keep real estate partners up-to-date on all ongoing marketing efforts.

Don’t like your report, change it!

You can make tweaks to your report at anytime by removing modules; the points you spent will be immediately returned to be used on different modules. This could be helpful when you’re tracking the results of a unique marketing campaign or event.

MyTechOpinion

I really like the flexibility they’re introducing into their reporting module. Although I would like my initial 50 points (from the Pro Plan) to stretch a little further.. I didn’t like that the next jump up was to spend $50 dollars / month. I felt like the Google Analytics report was a waste of my credits, especially given the official Google Analytics reporting module will let me make an unlimited number of reports for free. That being said, I do like the ability to create my own custom report from scratch, and gather metrics from multiple social media platforms in one report.

If your actively using social media to market your real estate business, you should be measuring your results. HootSuite Pro is certainly worth checking out.  Besides, HootSuite has tons of other features and applications you should be aware of.

Make sure you let me know what you think of the new HootSuite Custom Reporting Module! Here are a few related resources:

On February 10, 2011 Facebook announced page admins could start using iFrames as page tabs, displaying a maximum of 8 tabs at any one time. To see more than the default 8 tabs, users need to click “More” below the last tab to reveal anything hidden. Facebook also announced they were going to deprecate FBML and FBJS as the primary technologies for building Facebook apps. As of March 11, 2011, Facebook users will no longer be able to create new FBML apps and pages will no longer be able to add the Static FBML app.

So what does this mean for my Facebook Page Tab?

The future of Facebook Tabs looks to be centered on iFramed content, which leads me to the main reason for my post today.  Adding iFramed content isn’t difficult, but it does require a different set of steps to install compared to its Static FBML counterpart.  Let’s take a look.

Step 1: Create or identify the page to be iFramed into Facebook

For my example, I’ll show you a Streaming Video page I created for RPR. It’s pretty basic, just a .php file that includes live video streaming embed code from Ustream mashed with Facebook’s Live Chat. The Live Chat component will allow the viewers in Facebook to share their thoughts about what their watching, also posting a comment back to their wall. Of course this is just one example of what you could build, but using these steps you can bring just about any content into Facebook. It could be a custom neighborhood page, listings page, newsletter sign up, videos, anything you desire. Also because we’ll be creating an app, your page tab could even be installed by other pages if you would like. Just keep in mind for things to look good, your content should be no wider that 520px…we don’t want anyone to side-scroll.

If you would like to use my example and build a Ustream app in Facebook, download the source files here. You’ll need to update the uStream embed code with your own channels embed code. You’ll also need to add your APP ID to the Facebook Live Stream code. You’ll see I’ve documented the spots you’ll need to edit.

Step 2: Creating a Facebook Application

The first thing we’ll need when creating a Facebook app is to make sure we’ve already installed the Developer App. It’s used to manage the applications that you build in Facebook. If you haven’t already installed it, please do so now.  You’ll see something like the screenshot below. Choose “Allow.”

Once you’ve installed the Developer App, we’re ready to start creating the new application that will pass our iFramed content into a page tab.

Select the button titled Set up new app on the right side of the page.

Now enter a friendly name for your app and agree to Facebook’s Terms of Use.

About – Basic Information

Now we can start editing the important details of the app. You’ll arrive on the About tab, with the focus on “Basic Information”. Enter the name of your application, a brief description, the icon and logo. The icon will be used like a favicon on your Facebook Tab.

Moving down the page, confirm the correct email address is listed. Add any other admins, testers, or users to the application. Now we can move on to the Facebook Integration tab.

Facebook Integration

Canvas Page: Look for the Canvas section. Start by creating what is essentially a vanity URL for your application. This is the URL that someone will type to access the app directly. It’s also the URL you’ll access when you’re ready to add the application as a tab to your page.

Canvas URL: Now you’ll enter the URL of the page that you are framing into Facebook. Keep in mind the URL must either be dynamic or point to a directory. (HINT: Create a directory and make the .html or .php filed named index.)

Canvas Type: Select “IFrame”

iFrame Size: By default the tab will have a width of 520px; and a height limit of 800px. If your iFramed page exceeds those dimensions it will result in scroll bars being shown. Although if you do need more height, or would like to auto-select height based on your iFramed content, there is a simple workaround. For that, you’ll need to choose Auto-Resize (Note: Auto-Resize will require a few additional steps included below. It’s also important to note that I’m not using the Auto-Size option for my example app.)

Social Discovery: If social discovery is enabled, Facebook will display a user’s usage of your app in News Feed.

Tab Name: Enter the name you would like to see as a page tab. (Note: This can be overridden from the page itself.) Maximum of 16 characters.

Page Tab Type: Select iFrame

Tab URL: The page Facebook will use to pull content for your tab; which is relative to your Canvas Page. In my example it was index.php

If you selected “Auto-Resize” follow these steps, otherwise skip to Step 3 below.

The idea behind Auto-Size is that your application tells the canvas what size it should adjust to. To set this up properly we’ll need to initialize the JavaScript Library from our iFrame source page. This is done by adding the following code before your closing </body> tag. You need to replace YOUR-APP-ID with the ID of your newly created app. (Hint: You can find your app ID in the Core Settings of your newly created app.)

Next we’ll use FB.Canvas.setSize() to auto detect the height of your iFrame. Add this bit of code just before your </head> tag. (Note: If you would like to set a fixed size, see here. Or if you’re content size changes dynamically, try using FB.Canvas.setAutoResize. Be warned, I’ve seen a few bugs submitted to Facebook on this function.)

Step 3: Add Your New App as a Facebook Tab

Now visit the application profile page, which can be found by visiting the Canvas Page. This is the URL we created a few steps back on the Facebook Integration Tab.

Click Add To My Page. Facebook will display a dialog with all of the Pages you administer. Now select Add to Page to the right of the page you want your new tab to display on.

Now visit your page, and choose Edit Page. Select Apps and look for our newly added application and click Edit Settings and confirm your custom tabs display name. Now click okay.

Here is an example of what our page would look like with this app installed…

1. NEW! Page Owners

If you’ve taken the tour and upgraded to the new Facebook Page layout, consider featuring “Page Owners” on the left sidebar. This is particularly important for those of you that have multiple admins contributing to the Page.  Perhaps your team has a page focused on the real estate market you live and work in, or maybe you’re a broker with a brand focused page.  In either case, adding Page Owners personalizes the page a bit more and provides LIKERS with the faces and names behind the relevant content being shared.

HOW-TO: Go to “edit info” on the top of your page, select “featured” from the left sidebar settings and edit your page owners. BONUS: Edit your featured likes to call attention to local business affiliates, other office locations, or resources.

2. NEW! Post as Yourself

Probably my most favorite new feature from the recent update, and one I’ve been whining about to Facebook for some time! You now have the ability to change your “post preference” for a Page that you’re an admin of. So instead of the Facebook Page image showing up when you post to your page, your own profile image can appear. Can I get a woohoo!? This new change is music to the ears of individual admins and multiple page admins because it not only alleviates confusion over who is actually posting to the Page but again improves the personalization of the Page. Pages can often seem like “relevant content silos” with streaming posts and no actual engagement taking place. Now that we can put a post to a name I’m confident more actual commenting will take place. <fingers crossed>

HOW-TO: Go to “edit info” on the top of your page, select “your settings” and un-check the “post preferences” box.

3. Create Lists

Do you find that you’re always talking to the same 5 people every time you login to Facebook? If you are, then you’re probably not making the most of Facebook as a business tool for staying top of mind with your sphere. Now, don’t get me wrong…those 5 people may be important folks in your Web of connectivity and may rock referrals your way. But what if your 5 were 10, or 50?! Don’t let Facebook’s Edgerank keep you focused on just a few key targets. Expand your reach and conversations to stay top of mind with a variety of people in your sphere. To do this, you need to segment your friends into lists which makes it much easier to engage in a more relevant way than saying “thanks for sharing”.

HOW-TO: Go to “edit friends” in the dropdown menu on the right side. Select the “create list” button up top and segment your friends by geographic location, demographic or other target characteristics.

4. Filtering the Newsfeed

When you want to find out what’s going on in your network you can easily turn to the Facebook Newsfeed. The Newsfeed has 2 options: Top News & Most Recent. It’s tempting to hang out in Top News where supposedly all the action is…or most interacted with posts. And you will see all the usual suspects there…people that have mastered the art of being social and sharing relevant content…which IS valuable and fun. But what about all those folks in your network that are equally if not more important to connect with on a regular basis? This is where Facebook Lists play an important role. When you view the Most Recent option in the Newsfeed you can filter what’s being posted by the lists you’ve created. So instead of seeing Top News from the usual suspects, you see the people you want to stay top of mind with.

HOW-TO: Create lists (see tip #3), then utilize the dropdown menu in the Most Recent Newsfeed to filter and engage with targets. Not only will you be able to easily see what your network is sharing, you can learn more about what your sphere needs and wants. Challenge: Pick a list every day and comment on at least 3 posts made by others.

5. Daily Engagement Plan

If you’ve heard enough hype about Facebook as a business tool and are ready to make good use of your time and this fabulous network….it’s time for a Daily Engagement Plan. Set 20-30 minutes aside in the AM or PM to take care of the following marketing tasks:  (1) update your status, (2) post a relevant share to your Page (if you have one), (3) filter the Newsfeed and comment on 3 posts made by others, (4) post or send birthday wishes to those in your network celebrating, (5) check and respond to messages, (6) invite or accept new friends.

MyTechOpinion

Although these features can help improve the ebb and flow of your conversations in Facebook, the best tip I can honestly give you is to engage consistently with a balanced diet of YOU (personality, passion, profession)! Carry on!

Nearly every time I teach a Facebook class to real estate professionals there is usually one agent who asks (right from the beginning), “How do I post my listings to my wall or tab?” And my reply is most often not the answer, but a question, “If you’re a consumer do you start your search for a home inside Facebook?” (Usual reply: “uh no”) Yep…that’s what I thought.

So then, why do we continue to see the Facebook Newsfeed and Walls of real estate professionals cluttered with sales pitches for their current listings? And don’t tell me it’s just the Facebook newbies? There are plenty of seasoned super tech-agents still posting “Beautiful 3 bedroom, 3 bath home in a quiet neighborhood, XYZ…call me today for more details or visit 123listing.com” on their personal profiles. Yes, on their Facebook profiles.

First, let’s remind our “salesfriends” of the basics. If you’re not already familiar with Facebook’s Terms of Service then you should know that it’s against their policy to use your Facebook Profile for commercial gain. If you want to post your listings, then do it from a Facebook Business Page. Which brings me to my next point. If you only post listings on your Facebook Page, do you REALLY think that’s going to be enough to keep folks interested or engaged (or “liking” your page)? Moreover, do you REALLY think the consumer is going to say to herself, “Today is the day, I’m ready to look for my dream home so of course I better start at Jenny Smith’s Pleasantville Real Estate page on Facebook!”

I know there’s a chance that someone in your network who’s looking to buy may be online at the moment you post that listing to your Facebook Page Wall, and may even see it in the Newsfeed. And it could be a match made in heaven (or Facebook)…it’s possible. But if that’s your strategy…go ahead, throw that dart and see where it lands.

Now let’s examine what happens when you only post listings on Twitter:

Yep, that sure gives me a reason to respond, follow you and converse.  When real twitter users encounter real estate listings like the example above, one word comes to mind…starts with an “s”…spammer! So you may as well sew a big “s” on your sweater because you’ll be permanently marked that way until you change your ways.

Enough is Enough

It’s time to raise the bar and use the tools the way they’re meant to be utilized.  So if you’re investing your time and effort in Facebook, Twitter and other online communication channels, remember to obey the “nature of the network”.  I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t post your listings altogether.  In fact, go for it. But don’t expect real “engagement” to take place unless you put in some real “effort” to make what you share actually “of interest”. So here are a few strategies you may want to try:

(1) Facebook – Listing Feature Post: Share your listing on your Facebook Page but instead of just regurgitating listing details (like 3 BED, 3 BATH, PRICED REDUCED), why not focus on what makes this home special. Highlight a feature of the home (unique yard, new kitchen, awesome view) or better yet the surrounding neighborhood or community. Give us a peek into the lifestyle…give us a reason to want to learn more, a reason to actually comment.

When you broadcast listing details the only engagement you’ll most likely yield are a couple of “likes”…and that’s usually someone who likes you, not your “NEW LISTING”. Those “likes” are not going to give you enough “FB Edge” to rank well in the Newsfeed…which means you’re counting on your targets visiting your Facebook Page on a regular basis to see if you’ve posted their dream home (that they may or may not be planning to buy right now).  So instead think about creating conversation around an interesting element of your listing with text, a photo, or video…and then link to a landing page where people can choose to get more details. Thank you Nashville & Beyond for this ROCKIN’ example:

And another stellar example from @FloridaSunSales of how to accomplish sharing a “listing feature”, but on Twitter:

(2) Facebook – Social Listing Post: Rather than posting listing features, post HOW you’re getting down to business on any given day. Working with clients, prepping for a showing, waiting at an inspection, or better yet….share the interesting work related occurrences that pop up in your day! Just think about answering “What are you up to?” as if a friend were asking. Thank you Mizzle for this ROCKIN’ example:

(3)  Facebook – Proactive Listing Post: You see a house on Broker’s Tour and immediately think of a certain client, or a client who’s always looking for that “perfect forever home”. Ever considered taking a photo and posting it to the wall or sending it via message to that client. Well, that’s exactly what Shannon King and Heather Elias do for their clients. Not only is this proactive strategy helpful to the potential buyer….but think about all the other people that will notice your initiative! Clearly these ladies have the expertise to match their clients with the home and lifestyle they are looking for! That’s talent…that’s a local market expert! Thank you LocoMusings for this ROCKIN’ example:

(4) Facebook  - Custom Tabs: If you focus your Facebook Business Page on your local market area and aim to deliver relevant info that local consumers care about…well, BRAVO! I’ve seen many agents migrate from personally branded pages to geographic or niche focused pages…which is great! But don’t forget to highlight who’s delivering this helpful content…YOU! So consider adding a custom tab that showcases your expertise and any tools you may want to offer. Your tab can also welcome locals to your page and provide important calls to action: like my page, sign up for my newsletter, search for homes (on your site), etc. This way you can still provide all the relevant local content that keeps targets coming back for more, but also have a place where your LIKERS know to go for YOUR real estate expertise.

MyTechOpinion

At the end of the day, you need a plan of action for gaining listing exposure online. Which most likely starts by (1) optimizing your MLS listing details, (2) creating a landing page to feature the listing on your own online hub (Website/blog), and (3) syndicating your listing to places where consumers actually go to look for real estate (Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com). When it comes to Facebook, Twitter and the like….you need to remember why you are there (i.e. cultivate relationships). And don’t forget the nature of the SOCIAL network you’re using!

Once upgraded I experienced the happy delight of a new vantage point…exactly the same high I get when rearranging furniture. Yes, I enjoy the familiar comfort of my living spaces, but it’s always refreshing and energizing to update the design and functionality in my home. Same goes for Facebook Profiles…really! So here’s what I like so far…and what might take some getting used to:

What I like:

• The photo stream at the top highlighting photos you were tagged in. There is clearly more of an emphasis on photos. Images are eye-catching and this new design provides more staying power for recent posts w/ photos….more opportunity for engagement.
• Main navigation is now located in the left sidebar vs. top tabs (which no longer exist). Profile navigation actually seems more intuitive to me, and mimics more of the design and feel of the home page.
• Your photos and videos are now merged. Access your photos link from the left side navigation and view all photos and videos you have shared or have been tagged in. You can view photos and videos separately or as a mashed feed down the page. Perhaps this new design will motivate those of you waiting to get started with video…to just do it already!
• One of my most favorite new features of this new profile is how “friends” are now displayed and organized. You can easily filter friends from your profile as opposed to just in the newsfeed. But  instead of filtering lists or groups of people you set, you filter via location, school, work, etc. This will definitely make engagement more fun and efficient from your own profile. Profile filtering will most likely become a new task on my Daily Engagement Plan.
• I like poking from my profile. Pokes are a better fit on the profile. This nonchalant form of engagement is kinda fun, it can be both an active and passive form of engagement to let others know you’re thinking of them….with a little nudge.

Might take some getting used to:

• I’m not a big fan of the new headline in replace of my own creative bio or description that formerly resided under my photo. This new headline pulls info from your profile information which can be customized to include your work, education, relationship, birthday, location, etc. Is this Facebook’s attempt to keep things “simple and easy”, showcase your “background” and put more emphasis on interactions over cleverly crafted identity statements?! You tell me?! But I really think I should have the option to create my own headline, bio, or statement.
• My Facebook Business Page gets the boot! Well, at least as a direct link from my sidebar. If you want your Facebook Page linkable from your main profile (i.e. the headline up top) then you have to add it to your work history. Which is still lacking a bit in functionality since some of us may have different company and community focused pages. Clearly this is still a work in progress for FB. Just be sure your Pages are listed in your contact info and work info for maximum visibility.
• Updating your Info links. These are the links associated with your work history, likes and interests, education, etc. Currently many of these links take you to Community Pages which usually just aggregate keyword content and posts referencing the topic (good for search & monitoring). However, if you want your friends to be able to click these links and land on your actual Business Page, then you will have to reset them. This feature wasn’t working for me right away last night. I tried entering Agent Evolution and Reggie tried RPR several times but apparently we were experiencing a glitch. So just be sure to enter the text for a particular page EXACTLY as it reads on and shouldn’t have any issue.

MyTechOpinion:

Before you poo-poo the new profile and start your own “Let’s All Revolt Over the Facebook Redesign – Episode 82″….rearrange some furniture, take in the vantage point and then ready yourself to explore what’s new, secure your settings, and get social!

But let’s face it…not all of us are really THAT interesting? Or are we? Have you taken the time to really digest what makes YOU…YOU?! And are you sharing what makes YOU…YOU in the best possible way. I challenge you to take minute and examine your finer points. What are your interests? What are your strengths? What knowledge base do you possess, and could potentially share it in a more helpful way with your sphere!? Well, don’t tell me… make a list and have it handy!

Now let’s step back and also examine your life…your routine…your daily happenings. When you go about your day, are you “present” or aware enough of what’s happening around you to identify the “interest episodes”? And by “interest episodes” I mean those little things that naturally occur in your day that make you smile, laugh or reflect in some way.

For example, my son lost his first tooth last week! Now simply posting  “my son lost his first tooth” is fine, and I’m sure it may even illicit some reaction within your network. But who wants to be “fine”…fine is like someone sighing in agreement….a reaction barely worth mentioning.  If you really want to make the most of connecting and sharing with your network a “sigh” is not enough. So when an “interest episode” occurs, think about the story that led up to that experience.

Now what I didn’t tell you when I shared that “my son lost his first tooth” was that his younger sister “accidentally” kicked him in the mouth when they were “rough-housing” (aka: pillow fight). Now clearly this was an “interest episode” but instead of posting the obvious to Facebook or Twitter I add my own commentary, or story behind it! Here’s what I posted:

If Reggie were reading this he’d tell me to get to the point already.  So here it goes…whenever you share something via your blog, Facebook Page or Profile, Twitter, or elsewhere, give people a reason to invest in the content you create or post (whether it’s an article, a photo, a video, or your own daily interest episodes). Why IS the short sales article you shared a must read? What ABOUT your weekly office meeting is so helpful to your business? How did your son’s first tooth fall out? Give us the backstory, give us the juicy info, the WOW factor, the most important tip, and best of all…give us a reason to relate to YOU!

So next time you take a look at your handy list of “finer points” and head out to identify and post a RELEVANT resource…make it MORE relevant by adding to it. And when you stumble upon an “interest episode” refrain from giving us a “sigh” and tell us the story!

One more tip for you…

A very wise and highly creative woman (aka Sonia Simone) once said…”Don’t just be YOU, be the BEST possible YOU” which usually requires one to be both “useful and entertaining”.

If  you can’t be both useful and entertaining….then really, I mean REALLY ROCK one or the other. But if you CAN be both…you will be “REMARKABLE”! You will be someone, that frankly, we just can’t take our eyes off of.

MyTechOpinion (aka @Nik_Nik’s last word): Instead of “engaging authentically”….”engage strategically”! It’s really the same, only the latter implies more forethought and creativity.

In addition, you’ll notice I provided tips for “best practices” with these tools! And as if 20 tools aren’t enough to help you shake your groove thing…I scored 12 more “agent picks” from some of your favorite colleagues in the RE.net! Special thanks to @RealtorTed, @LesleyLambert, @Hermanity, @DaleChumbley, @PasadenaViews, @skynnard, @TLCHome, @mindyg, and @goingbigger!

So here they are baby….

There is some validity however, to the shear amount of effort required in implementing social media marketing strategies….or ANY effective marketing strategies for that matter. And that’s why I’m not surprised when agents ask me if I can do “the social media” for them. But if you know me, then you know I’m not an automator…I’m an educator. Which means I prefer you learn about the new strategies available to you, best practices for using them, and how to measure their effectiveness.

So whether you or your marketing assistant is syndicating your listings, sending an email drip campaign, blogging or engaging in social media channels…KNOW the plan, the process, AND your role in it! By being a participant who’s just as knowledgeable about your own business as you are about your market area it’s much easier to become a trusted advisor. But obviously it’s not just about being a trusted advisor…it’s about closing deals too. So no matter the strategy or the channel…you need to create an opportunity to convert.

Now the reason I’m so passionate about social media as a real estate marketing strategy is because it gives agents who are willing to be a participant….a huge conversion opportunity. When you take an active role with blogging or Facebook comments and posts, you can directly connect with current and past clients, as well as potential leads.

For example, let’s say you’re passionate about the schools in your local market area. So you decide to get involved with a local “Back to School” cause. You post information about the cause on your Facebook Page telling locals about the supplies needed, where to donate, associated fundraising events, interviews and pictures of local teachers setting up for the school year, etc. If you’re a part of the plan and the process…as well as actively engage on the Page, then you’re creating an opportunity to convert. Especially, when you run into thankful teachers, parents and locals who you’ve been engaging with online. Taking an active roll in your online engagement means it’s easier to take an active roll in your offline engagement.

When you haven’t got a clue what social media strategies are being deployed on your behalf, you’re missing out! Sure you might be getting more online exposure for your brand and listings….but the opportunity to convert is greatly lessened. That’s because when potential client Susie Q sees you at Starbucks and thanks you for helping her neighborhood school you won’t have any idea what she’s talking about. But had you taken an active engagement role online you would be easily able to strike up a relevant and thoughtful conversation…a conversation that could possibly lead to new business tomorrow or someday in the future. And that’s your ROI when it comes to social media.

But if you’re still of the “have it done” mindset, there are plenty of “blog for you, tweet for you, post for you” services popping up. These companies are happy to take your money and create your Web presence for you, as well as automate, duplicate, replicate, and syndicate “relevant” content on your behalf. So if you’re looking for the shortcut to success with social media, there you go! And to be honest, you may very well get the exposure you want….but I highly doubt you’ll get the conversion opportunities you need to take your business to the next level. But who knows, I could be wrong.

I WILL say that there is a happy medium. The relevant content that you drip out through the various channels you participate in can be created by others (but should be supplemented by your own) and can also be scheduled. Tools like HootSuite and Tweetdeck let you schedule and post to a variety of networks. In fact, I created a Tweet Plan for using Hootsuite for both general business and for real estate. And innovators, like the folks at Roost, understand the content dilemma and deployment that real estate professionals are faced with and have created a new tool that will soon ROCK your Facebook world!

Probably the biggest social media roadblock for agents is identifying content that can be shared, retweeted, commented on, blogged about, curated, etc. So I am all for making the organization of content much easier with a homepage or dashboard of content. Alltop, Regator, My6Sense, and Google all offer great options in the organization department. A few savvy real estate companies have even created their own custom content dashboards, and are regularly creating content their agents can share and re-purpose!

So clearly there IS a benefit to “systematizing” your content flow to maximize online exposure…BUT remember that if you go the route of scheduling resourceful tweets and/or posts, that you still need to be listening, responding…and initiating social interactions! More importantly, you still need to be you and bring your passion to whatever marketing strategy you plan for!

MyTechOpinion: You CAN shortcut your way to “success” with social media…but that depends on what success really means to you.

This one-day party, oops, I mean conference will be taking place in 12 cities. My boogie shoes are packed for: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, Portland. And then your favorite Real Estate Zebra will be rocking: Denver, Houston, Chicago, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Washington DC.

So what goes down at an Agent Reboot you ask?

Well, as one of your hosts I can confirm that you’ll most likely learn something you probably didn’t know already. You’ll hear about the latest innovations in real estate from local brokers and speakers, as well as from many familiar industry rockstars! You’ll be invited to stop by, connect, and “tweetup” with attendees and speakers after the event. Oh, and checking out any of the top industry products and services in the EXPO may result in a handsome reward.

As for the logistics. Agent Reboot is a one day conference (9am-3pm) with a set program, but supplemented with local flavor…speakers, sessions, topics.  As host or emcee, I will be your guide for the day. We’ll laugh, learn, and ROCK together! We may even dance…because picking up a new move every now and then can’t hurt!

The official Agent Reboot kickoff  is July 12, in San Francisco. Both Daniel and I will be joined by a myriad of industry leaders and local brokers. This first Agent Reboot will be slightly different from the rest of the road show.  A modified program will take place from 9-12, with a break for lunch and then 3 partner programs in the afternoon. Attendees can choose from varying topics presented by ActiveRain, C.A.R., and Zillow. This is sure to be a power-packed day!

Why I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot!

I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot to meet you, engage with rockin’ speakers and local participants…and most importantly, bring you a program that motivates and inspires you to learn some “new moves” or perhaps add to your existing repertoire.

So now you know why I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot. But I want to know….why YOU wanna ROCK Agent Reboot. In fact, if you leave me a status update…or even a video update telling me “Why YOU want to ROCK Agent Reboot!”, on the Agent Reboot Facebook Page you’ll be automatically entered to win one of 5 free passes to Agent Reboot in San Francisco! You have from NOW until Thursday (7/1) at midnight PST to leave a Facebook update on the Agent Reboot wall. On Friday (7/2), I will post a video announcing the winners.

Good luck! And let it ROCK!

Yesterday I had the opportunity of being a guest on #RTB on the Radio. Many of you may be familiar with this crew, but if you’re not…you’re really missing out! Really! So jump in and join the conversation. Michael McClure, Todd Waller, and Maya Paveza are hitting the #RTB nail on the head with each and every guest on their show, as well as just by being their uber-professional selves out there in the RE.net. Lead by example folks, woohoo!

I told them this already, but I’ll put it in writing again…I could have spent all day chatting about life, liberty and the pursuit of professionalism. But we all have day jobs (some of us more than one) so we had to keep it to an hour. Anyway, as our conversation unfolded the topic of the noise and particularly signal to noise ratio was raised (thank you Marc Davison). Anyway, we had so much to talk about yesterday, that we didn’t have much time to dive into this issue. And lately…it’s all I can think about…so I thought I’d ring out a few of my own thoughts here.

The REAL Issue as I See It

Real estate professionals are being mis-advised. Broadcasting what you THINK may be relevant information again and again, without pre-screening the source and considering the context is a waste of your time. Sure you might get “a hit” or heck, even a lead. But it won’t work consistently and it won’t be successful over the long haul.

So, while some “experts” may be leading you down their automated paths or filling you up with hope of launching a comprehensive social media marketing plan in 5, 10 or 12 days….my advice is “think for yourself”. There are no quick fixes with social media, it takes work and it takes drive….just like with any successful marketing or business plan. Most importantly, it begins with content. The tools and strategies for sharing good content with your sphere can be learned. But, creating and sharing good content takes skill.

So, what’s next?

Identify, Recognize, & Organize

Identify your role in obtaining good, relevant content. Are you a content creator a content curator? Or perhaps you’re both.

A content creator is someone who identifies the “needs” within their audience and seeks to help by creating original and highly relevant content. This content is most often in the form of articles, videos, or a mixture of media shared usually via your own blog…as well as on social outposts.

A content curator is someone who sifts through the Web to find and deliver the most relevant content for their intended audience. Sort of a Hunter-Gatherer 2.0! I know many of you might be saying, “Yeah, yeah…I’ve been doing this for awhile!” And it’s true, we have! We share links to helpful media in our tweets, status updates and even within our blog posts.  But a thoughtful content curator is more than just a broadcaster of good info.  It’s someone who understands their brand and their audience well enough to identify the relevancy of the content, as well as the best context for sharing.

Recognize the sources that deliver consistently rockin’ content. You probably have your favorite news and resource sites that you visit on a regular basis. If not, you need to recognize both local and national sites that can assist your content delivery efforts.  And if you ROCK a niche, be sure to recognize those sites as well. If you’re not sure where to go to find sites based on relevancy…start at Regator and Alltop and search by category or keywords.

Organize your sources in a dashboard or reader format for easy access. Once you’ve recognized the sites that provide highly relevant content, organize them into a personalized news dashboard. Now I’m lucky because I have a “Reggie”…and “Reggies” are hard to come by. But my Reggie rocks at splicing and dicing feeds which can be displayed in my own personal resource dashboard. If you don’t have a Reggie, other DIY favorites for content organization include: Alltop, Regator, and Google Reader.

Your Challenge

Balance & Frequency

Balance the type of content you share. The content you share represents you, and your brand. So be sure to really check out what you share with your network. If you share an article, read it first. If you share a video, watch it first. Don’t let fancy titles rule your sharing. And don’t let poor tips and products be a reflection on your brand.  Your goal should be to find and share content that REALLY helps your audience…or is REALLY interesting.

Don’t ask me to give you a personal to professional ratio…but I will tell you this much…your consumers don’t gain anything from a constant stream of commentless Foursquare checkins…and the same could be said about listing tweets that are not framed in a social context.  If it doesn’t add value or create conversation….don’t share it! Local market trends and charts, interesting events, homeowner tips, niche resources….those add value! And yes, I know that my son changing his spelling test grade doesn’t add value, but it surely creates conversation.

Moderate your frequency level and improve your quality of life. For those of us that love our spouse, and enjoy spending time with our kids, family, and friends…..this is for you! I know I’m not the only one who feels that their attention has been diverted far too many times by the compelling feeling to tweet, post, snap, and share on a regular basis. The feeling is important…you need to be motivated to deliver consistency with social media. That being said, I’m far more concerned with delivering better quality content than quantity. And so should you if your strategy is to become your network’s trusted advisor.

And in order to do that, you need to listen, share, and respond. I see a lot of sharing out there….but far less listening and responding. Social media is about creating opportunities to engage with others.  So rather than auto-posting  20 articles a day….try scheduling 3-5 REALLY GOOD shares…and then focus on listening and responding, as well as interacting with others’ shared content.

Now I have much more to say on this topic…but I gotta run…I’m off to get a mani-pedi with my munchkin! But if you have any thoughts or ideas about content creation and curation, I’d love to hear them!

Anyway, oneforty is like your Target for Twitter tools. Sure I can go to Walmart…but the shelves are overstocked with so many items I get frustrated by the experience and make a b-line for the door while hoping nothing jumps out at me. Target, on the other hand, also offers a great variety of items, but the shopping experience is one that draws me in. It’s organized aisles invite me to stay awhile, assuring me I’ll find what I need….oh, and there’s a Starbucks.

Now oneforty may not have a Starbucks, but it does happen to be a comprehensive site for finding, rating, collecting, and sharing Twitter apps. And by Twitter apps, I’m also referring to any application which posts to, shares content with, and/or is relative to Twitter in any way. The site was founded by Laura Fitton “@pistachio”, author of Twitter for Dummies, is backed by a rockin’ development team, and advised by social media heavyweights @briansolis and @guykawasaki.

Just recently oneforty launched a new feature called “toolkits”. Basically any member of the site can create a set of applications relevant to a particular topic or strategy. For example, I created a toolkit entitled, “ New Media Tools for Real Estate Professionals”. I asked @pistachio to tell me in her words why she thinks this new feature is beneficial to users and here’s what she had to say,

“Well, toolkits are a chance to show off exactly how you use Twitter, which is really important. The value is different for everyone. The right tools and some tips make a HUGE difference. The really exciting stuff is still ahead – once developers build more stuff that makes Twitter’s value self-evident from the first encounter, the benefits everyone raves about can go truly mass audience. We built oneforty not only to get the right tools into the right hands but also to foster innovation in the ecosystem itself as a whole.”

So, here’s how you, the real estate agent extraordinaire can benefit in my opinion. We all know what a frustrating process understanding and applying Twitter can be (at first). And while there are many lists floating out there in the blogosphere telling you to use this or that, there hasn’t been one site that dynamically changes to share current trends and a variety of topic based app collections…..until now.

To create your own profile and/or toolkit, visit oneforty.com to sign up for a free account. You’ll be prompted to customize your profile, obtain a profile URL (which you can also share and/or link to your Twitter profile), as well as find, rate, and share your favorite Twitter tools! Woohoo!

MyTechOpinion

Whether you’re an agent fluent in social media or a newbie working it all out, oneforty can and will be a dynamic resource for finding the best apps to meet both your business and personal goals.

A new service called NutshellMail aims to be the Mr. Clean of your email inbox! With it, you can add all your social accounts, even other Webmail providers such as Yahoo, Gmail, and Hotmail. And instead of getting hit with a barrage of notifications you get one sleek email that gives you a daily rundown of social happenings from all your accounts!

I’ve been using NutshellMail for a couple of weeks now, and I find it to be a very useful way to consolidate all my email notifications. Which honestly reduces the distractions, stress, and organizational efforts I once dealt with.

So, exactly how does NutshellMail work?

Well, according to one of the founders, Mark Schmulen, it’s so easy to use…his grandma signed herself up and customized her account in 3 minutes! So to get started, visit NutshellMail to sign up for free. You will be prompted to add the accounts you maintain on the Web. In fact, there is really no limit to the number of accounts you can add.

When it comes to adding your Facebook account, you have several options to customize. You can set it up to receive general notifications for new friends, birthdays and events. But you can also add Fan Pages you wish to monitor more closely. You even focus on particular friends by creating a list of targets or influencers inside Facebook, and then add that list within the Nutshell Facebook account settings.

As for Twitter, you can modify the Nutshell settings to receive new followers, most recent DM’s, and the most recent tweets from your Twitter Lists. And what I think is pretty cool is the fact that I can accept new friends, reply and even retweet right from my email inbox. So basically, I have all the functionality of Twitter.com from my ONE daily NutshellMail!

Once you have added all your social profiles and email accounts, you can choose how often you want to get notified (days & times during the week). I’m a daily kind of gal…and I’ve also selected an AM and PM delivery! But 2 daily email notifications are far better than…well, I don’t want to tell you how many I was getting before…but it was more than 100!

MyTechOpinion

NutshellMail is a simple way to consolidate the notification craziness you may be experiencing in your inbox. From casual users to those of us that manage multiple profiles and accounts…you can turn off information overload, and turn on NutshellMail! Woohoo!

Well, as a real estate professional you can easily showcase your expertise and knowledge about your market area and industry trends. One of the ways I suggest doing this is by posting status updates that offer relevant info and/or tips your network would find helpful. Now some of you are already REALLY GOOD at sharing this type of info…and you might be so good at it that you decide to create a Fan Page to focus more intently on business.

Fan Pages are becoming more popular among real estate professionals for several reasons. Most importantly, it is more widely accepted (and preferred by Facebook) to utilize a Fan Page for promoting your business and sharing comprehensive listing data. NOTE: There are some people that truly ROCK the essence of Facebook and have mastered the art of the 3 P’s (personality, passion, profession) from their profile and don’t need to maintain the separation of church and state….or personal and professional. However, for many the draw of a Fan Page breaks down to the ability of sharing listing data, as well as relevant market data in a more appropriate fashion…with an opt-in network of interested folks.

Up until now adding real estate specific applications to a Fan Page has been, to say it nicely, less than effective. Many of the listing applications copy Website functionality and seem to have forgotten the nature of this network. Ideally, these applications need to offer more than just listing information but a way to provide interaction….or a rich data set of relevant information.

And that is why I was very excited to hear about  a new application for agents that launched this week! The Roost Social Real Estate Application is the first app of its kind to offer agents the opportunity to:

• Showcase their expertise from a Fan Page
• Provide valuable market data and information for a particular area (city) to their network
• Easily customize and install on your own Page (in 5 minutes!)
• Avoid the cost of hiring a professional to customize a local resource tab for you (this app naturally integrates local market trend info via Altos Research, active listings via Roost, mapping via Google, school info via Education.com, and neighborhood info via Walkscore).

The Roost Social Real Estate Application is clearly a value-add now…but there are more goodies to come with this app! Derek Overbey and Alex Chang of Roost took some time to share some important details about using this new app, as well as what’s in store in the future! In the coming months, Roost will add the ability to share market data for up to 5 cities! In addition the feature scope will widen to include featured properties, testimonials, and IDX compliant MLS search (inside Facebook)!!!

I have to say it’s very refreshing to witness a company like Roost incorporate Facebook functionality and real estate expertise…and deliver it to agents for FREE! Yep, this app is currently available on Facebook for FREE. You can add it to you Fan Page today, simply search “Roost Social Real Estate” once logged in to Facebook. Several agents have already taken advantage of the opportunity to add the app, check out Brad Coy’s Page,  Heather Elias’ Page, and Engel Real Estate Page for great examples of customization.

To add the Roost Social Real Estate Application to your Fan Page, follow these steps:

(1)    Visit the Roost Social Real Estate Application Page inside Facebook, and click on “Go to Application”.

(2)    You’ll be prompted to customize the app to your selected Fan Page by selecting: “Create Profile”

(3)    Next customize the application with your contact information, logo, and informational verbiage. NOTE- You can update the marketing verbiage periodically to share the latest trends and tips with your local network.

(4)    Finally, you’ll need to add the app to your Page. FYI- Facebook must render some images of the app so if it doesn’t load completely at first, be patient!

Once the tab has loaded onto your Page, you can direct your clients to the info by announcing it via a status update on your Profile, and even on your Fan Page! Also, be sure to share your Facebook Page URL on all your marketing. Write a blog post letting your clients now about this new feature on your Page, or create a postcard to share with your farm.

First and Foremost

Smarter Agent is a mobile app platform that can be utilized and branded by agents and brokers. The app can be downloaded by consumers to search all MLS listings in their area. And it’s important to know that Smarter Agent works on virtually all mobile phone devices.

The Skinny

When a real estate professional signs up with Smarter Agent, he/she is provided with a personalized text code that consumers use to download the custom app. But now that same text code can be used to create both a branded badge and tab on your Facebook Profile or Facebook Fan Page.  In fact, your Facebook friends can even add your personalized Smarter Agent badge or tab to their profile.  To get started or learn more about this new Facebook Integration option, login to Facebook and search “Smarter Agent” to view the app. You can also contact Smarter Agent directly.

A few examples:

Customized Smarter Agent Badges

Customized Smarter Agent Tab

MyTechOpinion: I’m already a fan of Smarter Agent, and this new feature also gets a “thumbs up”. I especially like it for Fan Pages. But I wouldn’t be put off by seeing it on a Facebook Profile either. I think it’s just one more way to contact the expert you know and trust in your area for real estate advice and listing search. In addition, the tab is very informative and provides a demo on how consumers can best utilize the app!