5. Social Networks 96

Creating Your Social Networks 97 P eople O bjectives S trategy T echnology

By Integrating Social Media Into Your Business You Can: 1.Establish a reputation. 2.Build trust. 3.Create an opportunity for you to influence people’s decision. 4.Create an awareness of your brand through appropriate communications about what you do. 98

Social Network A social network focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. 98

Commoncraft Social Networking Video

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100 Based on three degrees of separation

Who’s Using It? Largest online business network Web site More than 75 million users in 200 countries Average age of LinkedIn ® member is 41. Users over 45 account for more than 31% of its user base. 101

Go to and select Join Today Practical suggestions for creating your profile follow on pages

108 Best Practices Be choosy Make recommendations Engage in groups and discussions Consider applications

111 facebook

Who’s Using It? More than 750 million active users More than half of users log on to Facebook in any given day. More than two-thirds of Facebook users are outside of college. Fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older. 111

Go to and follow prompts to Sign Up Practical suggestions for creating your profile follow on pages

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The Numbers Game Tempting to fall prey to the “numbers” game Less is more! 116

Content—What to Share and Not to Share Avoid blatant commercialism Don’t spam your network Focus on the relationship building 117

Best Practices for Engaging in Conversation Listen Engage in conversations— Comment, “like things,” poke them, engage in games Establish a reputation Build trust Create an opportunity for you to influence their decision 118

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How It Works Twitter is social network where updates are processed in real time. Twitter asks, “What’s happening?” and users are given 140 characters to respond. 128

Finding People to Follow Existing friends on Twitter People your friends are following Local people People with common interests People you find funny, interesting, smart, or forward thinking News services or businesses that share information Consider following fellow REALTORS® or your REALTOR® board or association (for for the Toronto Real Estate Board) 128

Conversations on Twitter— The mentions: Creates a link to that person’s Twitter profile in your tweet; and Ensures that the person will see the tweet because Twitter notifies that person when he or she is “mentioned.” 132

Conversations on Twitter— The replies: Clicking the “reply” button under a tweet automatically starts your next tweet, addressing whoever sent it. It also will allow you to follow a conversational string. 134

Conversations on Twitter— The Basics RT (retweet): Sending a RT or retweet is the act of sharing somebody’s tweets with people who follow you. 135

Conversations on Twitter— The Basics # (hashtag): Hashtags are a way of organizing discussion topics Enjoying the #canucks game #hockey 135

Twitter Do’s Complete your bio with a link to your blog or Web site Start conversations Find and connect with local users and/or people Share valuable information Respond when people send messages or Direct Messages 136

Twitter Don’ts XSpam people by sending them messages to follow your links. XUse automatic direct messages. XProtect your tweets. (Otherwise, how will you meet new people?) XTalk only to fellow real estate practitioners. 136

If you are not valuing small, powerful networks, you’re already dead and you don’t know it. Here’s a chance at rebirth. Take it. -Chris Brogan