Are you a quitter? You know the type I’m talking about. The people who sacrifice important tasks when business gets busy for other priorities. We all do it and, to be honest, we are so busy we actually don’t understand the repercussions of our actions. Over the years of working in social media, the number one complaint I hear from business owners is the lack of time for social media. So, they decide to abort and get out of it. They quit doing their regular social media postings. This is literally one of the most detrimental mistakes a business owner could do today, especially in the home building industry. It’s not very often you have the opportunity to reach 68 percent of the American population in one place or precisely target your ideal customers by net worth, family size, and look-a-like audiences. It’s a no-brainer!  

Don’t Stop! Don’t Give Up!

I’m not saying you need to look yourself in the mirror every day and chant this mantra, but you do need to face the facts.

      

Like I said earlier, nearly two-thirds of Americans use social media today which increased ten times in the past ten years according to the Pew Research Center. So, social isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Not to mention, those with higher income are even more likely to be on social sites. In the real estate and home buying industry, the statistics are even more jaw-dropping. Fifty-one percent of people found the home bought through the Internet and 83 percent of all home buyers want to see pictures of the property online. In stark contrast to this, only 9 percent of realtors use social media to market their listings. Only 9 percent! That means while 68 percent of Americans are on social and over 50 percent of home buyers found their home online, not even 10 percent of realtors share their listings on social.   

    

It’s definitely not the time to give up. To take it a step further, 67 percent of Americans are more likely to make a purchase when the company or product is shared on social or email by someone they know well. So, not only are you reaching more people by investing in social media, if you do it right, you are more likely to get more shares and your chances of selling a home greatly increase. So, where do you go from here?

You Can’t Quit Now

The answer is not to give up. It all starts with implementing easy habits. Start small and increase when your budget, time, or assets improve. Social media does not need to be overwhelming, but it can take some time and research.

1. Lay Out the Blueprint

If you are going to your Facebook page every day and throwing up a random image with some text, please stop. Just like meeting with clients to build their house, you have to know the goals you are trying to accomplish with social media. You wouldn’t just walk into a room and ask for an ornate light fixture if the rest of the house’s design aesthetic is more clean and simple. It wouldn’t make sense. The same is true for social media. It’s most important to start with the plan, goals, and results you would like to gain from social. Map out the specifics for each month or quarter based on your business. If you need more leads this month, make it a goal to drive 40 leads from Facebook. Maybe your company is looking to increase its reach and awareness? You could set a goal of 100 total shares on your page. Once you have this goal set, every single post is crafted with your vision in mind. You have the outlined blueprint ready to go!

2. Implement the Logistics

Think about this, you now know you need more shares on your page. Before you post anything to social media, you ask yourself if it is relevant to your business and community and if you really think people will share it. You have to be honest with yourself and make sure your posts are appealing. Always look back to previous well-performing posts if you aren’t sure. With leads in mind, develop a quality post that refers back to your website or directly to your contact us sign up page. Heck, you can even draft a simple blog and then add a signup form to the blog post itself. When trying to achieve more shares on your Facebook page, don’t be shy. Post relevant content and ask for shares or to tag people in the comments. Shares and comments can only help your reach and it gives you a better chance to hit that goal you already set. Plus, it engages your followers and makes them feel a part of the page, not just a viewer. It can take a good chunk out of your week to post consistently. 

Schedule out time each week just like you would a meeting. You are able to stay focused and schedule at least a few posts for the week. This is convenient so you don’t forget later in the week if you get busy. You can also always add more posts throughout the week if something important comes up. It doesn’t require you to take more than an hour per week and then all you need to do is quickly check the comments or messages each day. I would suggest checking your social messages each day at the same time you check email. After all, replying to comments is much the same as replying to emails.

3. Start Building

Are you still overwhelmed by social media? We get it. It’s certainly complex at times. You also may get to a point in your business where it’s time to take social to the next level. Taking the next step in online marketing is positive, so don’t be turned off by unknown territory. If you are wanting to get more into your social media marketing, I would suggest bringing someone on staff that has expertise in this area. Again, make sure they have skills, experience, and positive results in social media marketing. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific numbers or links to social accounts they have managed in the past. You want to get a feel for their voice and professionalism. Too many marketers or agencies focus on content that isn’t relevant to your business or goals. 

All content posted should be directing them to your website or keeping them on the current social platform. You want them to stay focused on your business. Rarely, you might refer them to another one of your social pages or an outside link. BUT, this is only if the content is high quality and you are confident it will produce engagements on your post. Look for marketers who posted the article about best kitchen features for baking rather than marketers that just post a recipe. The first post is much more relevant to home building.

You Got This

Of course, we are always willing to go over our social media services, but, above all, do your research for a quality social media marketer. You deserve it! So, we are confident you are not quitting anytime soon. We’ll sit back and wait for your quality followers, engagement, and website clicks to shoot through the roof. It always pays to not give up. Even Myers agrees...       

Do you have more questions about your social media? Feel free to contact us for a quick and free social media audit.