TWITTER AND REALTORS

INTERNET MARKETING FOR REAL ESTATE
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I'll begin with the statement that this is definitely my opinion, and my opinions are sometimes not shared by the mainstream. Next, I'll say that I am greatly opposed to marketing listings on normal real estate Twitter accounts. That's when you put something like "Check out my new listing at 123 Main Street, 3 BR, 2 BA, great views" up as a Tweet on your regular account. I don't believe this approach is effective in generating business, but I do know that it's definitely going to cost you followers.
Then there's the innovative real estate agent who opened a Twitter account for a listing, and then placed up Tweets about it that gathered the attention of real estate people on Twitter. With tweets like "See naked pictures of me...." it's definitely an attention grabber. However, do we want a potential home buyer, or someone searching Twitter for "naked pictures?" But, there's one part of his plan that I like. It's the Twitter account just for that listing. What he's done with it isn't going to be effective, but what he could do with it is interesting.

Set up a Twitter account just for a listing. Twitter's account name limitations may keep you from using the entire address for the Twitter ID, but you can be creative. If 12543 Appaloosa Trail won't work, and it won't, then try a feature or location related ID, maybe something like "coolhorseprop." Or, just use the MLS # in the ID. Now, develop a nice design and a background made up of a great image of the property. We have the look, so next we develop our marketing and service approach.

At this point, we either succumb to the old and worn out tactics of slamming a bunch of stuff into Tweets on this account that a follower can find much more easily, and in more detail, on many real estate search sites. Or, we can use this account in a way that takes advantage of the immediacy and follower notifications of Twitter. Here's what you do:


The first tweet gives address & MLS #, and the basics, # BR, # BA, list price.
The second tweet, the one that will be on top for a while, tells the visitor to follow to receive price and other property and neighborhood updates.
Place a link to this account, whether image or text, in EVERY listing display that you can on the Web. It says something like "Follow this listing on Twitter for listing & neighborhood alerts."
Then, tweet price changes, and "interesting" or "related" information about that subdivision or neighborhood.
Now we're using Twitter in a way that takes advantage of the service's best features, immediacy and opt-in following. The goal here isn't to build 1000 followers, unless there are really 1000 people out there truly interested in this home, and not "naked pictures." If you only have five followers, but they're actually watching for a price drop to act, that's when you'll benefit. Or maybe they had an interest, putting it aside while they shopped around or just delayed their purchase of a home anywhere. But, when you send out a neighborhood update tweet a month later, or a price drop, someone who had an interest will be reminded. And, in those tweets, place a link to your site's listing display for the home, bringing them right to you for more information.