Facebook pages are becoming more and more popular as businesses start infiltrating Facebook. Like every other social media outlet there are a few things to make sure you have and a few that it would be best to avoid. Here are a few tips on making sure your fan page is working for you and not against you.

What Not to Do

1. Have Nothing to Offer: Fan pages were created for celebrities, businesses and important causes. Before starting a page consider why people would want to become fans of your page. Make sure the page offers something of value to the community.
2. Try to Have All the Control: Facebook is a platform to engage in a conversation. Don’t delete negative comments or try to control the flow of conversation your page. You can certainly guide your fans, but don’t rain on the conversation parade.
3. Applications:  These can be great when integrated on your page. Now the bad part is when you add them without knowing how to work them, or add them simply for the sake of adding them. Avoid making your page a mess with all those apps. The rule of thumb is don’t add then unless you are prepared to keep up with them.
4. Automate Your Page: This isn’t like a blog or twitter account where you can automate your responses and interactions. People become a fan to be able to engage with you. Be present for your fans and they will make your page successful.
5. Formulated Responses: Ever consider how impersonal a scripted conversation is? Now very fun, huh? That is exactly why making your responses a little more personal will go a very long way in ensuring the success of your page. Just because you don’t see the fan face-to-face doesn’t mean you can get away with not establishing a good relationship. Treat the page as if you were having intimate conversations with your fans.

What Does Work

1. Show Your Human Side: Sure everything is online now, sure life is limiting human interactions less and less (i.e. iPods, electronic banking and texting instead of calling), but that does not mean you should forget your human side. Be present for your fans and be real. Check your page often and respond to message and comments in a timely manner that is priceless. And remember to represent the brand well and mind your manners.
2. Tech Support: This applies to those who choose to have applications on their page. If something goes wrong, make sure you know how to fix it. Nothing is more frustrating than nonfunctioning apps. That could lead to many fans abandoning your page. No tech support, equals no page love.
3. Guiding the Show: You can offer suggestions; give resources, and even redirect. Just don’t treat your page like a strict professor. This is a place to have fun and allow interactions to flow naturally and freely.

The Basics of Your Page

1. Fun: Have fun with your page. Social media that it doesn’t have to be boring, that is what is so great about it. Try having contests, giveaways and even polls.
2. Visual Media: Who wants to visit a page swamped with text? No one. So feel free to add photos and videos. Show up on the images, perhaps even on the videos to add a touch of personalization.
3. Engage: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. People love to give their opinions so give them something to comment about. And don’t forget to thank the fans.
4. Have a Consistent Message: Make sure to plan out your posts. It should be more than once a day and have a variety of information to be successful.
5. Landing Page: This is important because it is the first thing fans visit when they find your page. You can customize it to fit your needs but make sure it is something that will engage visitors.

Via: InMan, WebWorkerDaily

Ok , so I know you’ve heard from me, your broker, and everyone else that technology is key in the real estate business. And it is very important.

Technology… things that you need to have

1. A website with an IDX feed
2. A  blog
3. Facebook
4. Twitter
5. LinkedIn

On your Way toTouch… things that you need to do

1. A database with your contacts & sphere of influence
2. A plan delineating ways you will communicate with your customers & sphere of influence
3. Contact your sphere by phone to keep in touch
4. Mailings
5. Birthday cards ( email)

We’ve left the most important thing out!

The most important thing you can do is build rapport with your customer. After you do this everything is easy! How do I do this you ask ?

1. Be interested in them ( forget about yourself & your commission)
2. Ask questions, get to know what they are looking for, not only in a property but also in a real estate agent
3. Listen to what they are saying and what they are not saying, both will give you lots of information about how to work with them.
4. Hear them… many times we listen and do not hear. They can tell the difference.
5. Exceed their expectations – think of a time that someone exceeded YOUR expectations How did you feel?

So I guess you can see where this is going… it’s all about building relationships.

These small things can make a customer for life ! Its the small things that count.