Last Updated on April 7, 2017

It doesn’t matter if you sell homes to young, first-time homebuyers or people of retirement age…almost everyone is on Facebook.  Buyers and sellers in your local area, not just random people out on the Internet. I’d like to share a system I call Facebook Referral Programming™ because it can help you stand out, get remembered, and referred a lot more than you do now… instead of ignored by your social connections. Many agents think they can “stay in touch” with past clients, friends, and family by simply being on Facebook.  But being someone’s “friend” online is not a real relationship.  It doesn’t make you the automatic choice for someone’s business and referrals.

You have to provide ongoing value to build an authentic relationship, whether it’s in person or on the Internet. You also have to be remembered when the time is right for someone to need your help with real estate.

———— Side Note: Don’t fool yourself, posting your listing information is NOT “keeping in touch.”  It can be annoying to people on social media to talk about business stuff all the time. It may help you sell a home once in a while, but it won’t help you get consistent referrals. ————

How Does This “Top of Mind” Facebook System Work?

It’s as simple as 1 – 2 – 3… 1. Comment in a real and natural way to stay in touch for referrals 2. Post a certain type of “status update” to your personal profile each day 3. Post a certain type of “status update” to your Business Page each day   Let’s take these one at a time…  

#1:  Stay Top of Mind With COMMENTS

Many of your friends on Facebook will announce “life events” that may require a real estate transaction on this social media site BEFORE anywhere else.   Each day, read through your friends’ updates and find something to message them about.  This is completely up to your personality, so I can’t give you suggestions on what to say because every person will be different.  But here are some categories of conversations you want to watch for and comment on:   Specific life events

• Congratulate people on engagements or weddings
• Congratulate birth of new child
• Congratulate high school or college graduation
• Congratulate new job promotion
• Congratulate retirement

  Seasonal events

• Acknowledge birthdays (individually mark them on your calendar)
• Share holiday wishes

  In General

• Give helpful tips about local area restaurants and businesses
• Build people up, encourage their dreams
• Send condolences when there is an illness/death or hard times
• Thank people publicly for sending you a referral

    IMPORTANT:  Don’t worry about including your name, your phone, or anything else.  People will know you’re a REALTOR® on Facebook if they look at your personal profile.  This “comments” strategy is a way to be a great friend people can turn to when the time is right for real estate.   TIP:  When you’re reading through updates from your friends and you notice one of their friends (friend of a friend) makes a comment about real estate, or indicates they need help, message your friend directly for an introduction.   Here’s an example (more ready-to-use social media posts are available to 3-Steps Ultimate™ members):

“How do you know [PERSON]?  Sounds like they need real estate help.  I’d love to help them by giving them a report I wrote about how to sell a home fast and for the most money the market will pay. Can you introduce me?”

 

#2:  Stay Top of Mind With “FRIENDS”

Post these types of messages DAILY on your personal profile:

• life events,
• inspirational quotes,
• funny stories,
• referral programming,

• your monthly real estate newsletter

• and occasional offers for helpful information or free introductory services.

  Here are two examples (more ready-to-use social media posts are available to 3-Steps Ultimate™ members): —————— Tips in Newsletter: —————— “INSERT HEADLINE OF HELPFUL ARTICLE” (example = 7 Natural Methods To Cure Headaches) LINK TO NEWSLETTER Have a great day and please feel free to contact me if you have a real estate question or introduce me to friends who may need help with real estate.   —————— Inspirational Quote: —————— This inspired me: “INSERT QUOTE” – Name of Person Have a great day and please feel free to contact me if you have a real estate question or introduce me to friends who may need help with real estate.    

#3:  Stay Top of Mind With “FANS”

Post these types of messages DAILY on your Business Page:

• real estate news and local market updates,
• ask questions and share stories of how you’ve helped others,
• client recognition and appreciation, plus
• your monthly newsletter

  Here are seven examples (more ready-to-use social media posts are available to 3-Steps Ultimate™ members): —————— TELL STORIES (use them to target a specific type of prospect) —————— Just closed a home for a client who thought she couldn’t afford her first home. The monthly payment was fine because she was already paying MORE per month renting.  It was the down payment that had her stuck.  After I explained how gifts could be given from her family (without tax consequences), she was able to easily afford her down payment and find her dream home.  Call me if you’re renting and want help too.  555-555-5555   I found out from my CPA yesterday that if I got rid of one of my investment properties that I’d owe $1500 more PER Month in income taxes!  Do you want a tax write-off too? There has never been a better time to buy!  Start your home search at www.MyRealtyWebsite.com   My short sale processors are awesome!  We just closed a short sale yesterday and got the buyer over $5k in closing costs that they did not even ask for. If you are considering a short sale, give us a call, 555-555-5555.  It’s free for you and the bank might even pay you to move out.   —————— EVENT CALENDARS + LOCAL INFO (include link after post) —————— Here is the City Events Calendar for the month. (link)   July 4th Fire Works locations in ____ County.  Enjoy! (link)   2015 (Baseball Team) Schedule attached. (link)   —————— MONTHLY NEWSLETTER (include link after post) —————— Check out our May Real Estate Newsletter with lots of fun stories and tips! (link)  

The strategy above is called the Facebook Referral Programming™ System and it positions YOU as the premier area expert. Action Steps • Comment in a real and natural way to stay in touch for referrals • Post status updates to “friends” of your personal profile each day that are helpful and not always about real estate • Post status updates to “fans” of your Business Page each day that are helpful and identify people who may be thinking of selling their home (or buying a home) soon Would you like MORE ready to use status update messages your friends and fans will appreciate?  Click here to learn more…

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