Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr – it seems like a new social media platform is popping up every day. There’s no denying the importance of a strong digital presence, but busy commercial real estate professionals need to make sure that time allocated to social media is time well spent.
With so many options, how do you know which channels can most effectively build your brand and boost credibility? Here are three suggestions:
LinkedIn:
LinkedIn lets you showcase your skillset by letting others sing your praises. Endorsements and recommendations from clients and colleagues are great ways to validate your expertise.
Follow industry influencers to gain direct, instantaneous access to experts and to stay up to date with trends and news. But, don’t just sit back and “listen.” Use status updates and Groups to share your own insights, positioning yourself as a “thought leader” in your specialty or in commercial real estate in general.
Twitter:
What are your clients (or potential clients) saying? What news is breaking in your local market? The Twittersphere provides real-time updates and, more important, opportunities to participate in a discussion with an audience.
As the world’s largest conversation, Twitter can seem overwhelming. Don’t despair. Lists let you create streamlined newsfeeds with tweets from defined groups, such as brokers or property owners, and hashtags help you follow hot topics. You can also use the # sign to brand your own marketing campaigns.
[Related: 11 Apps for the Savvy Commercial Real Estate Professional]
The trick with Twitter is keeping things short and sweet. With only 140 characters at your disposal, brevity is your best friend.
Instagram:
The old adage a picture is worth a thousand words rings all the more true in today’s high-tech world. There are no better tools than photos and videos to engage an audience on social media, which makes Instagram well worth exploring.
For commercial real estate professionals, Instagram is an opportunity to use images to market properties or to personalize their brands with behind-the-scenes moments. Think of it as a platform for visual storytelling.
Next time you’re on social media, be sure to follow Cummings Properties on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Instagram.