What’s An Expert Look Like?
The qualifications to a be a real estate agent vary by state. A certain number of hours in a classroom setting followed by a test. An internship for others. The qualifications to be a broker are more stringent. Mechanics, especially those at the dealer level often have years of practical work experience on specific cars and models before meeting with consumers. What are the qualifications to be a “social media expert”?
As the director of sales technology for Grand Canyon Title, I leverage and teach real estate professionals how to properly use tools like Facebook, Twitter, linkedin, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, YouTube, WordPress – does that make me an expert? No. I would never call myself that. I have hundreds of blog posts on this website – WordPress – many on the coveted first page of Google for the keywords I chose, does that make me an expert? No. I have hundreds of videos on YouTube – I was leveraging video in my title business long before most real estate agents and title companies. I use Canon DSLR’s, Jibs, Cranes, sliders, precision editors, screencast – does that make me an expert? No. Yet I see many in the real estate space calling themselves “social media experts” and charging BIG bucks for their “expert” advice.
Some of these experts will tell you, “you need a custom facebook business page”, “You need to let consumers search for homes from your Facebook page” “You should post a positive quote every day” “You should invite {SPAM} X amount of consumers to your facebook page every day” etc. Real estate agents, in need of help leveraging technology will often hang on every word these “experts” say. Working with an expert is fantastic if the person IS a social media expert but what if they are not? Could their advice actually derail the real estate agents eager to learn the HOW TO?
I got sick and tired of hearing many call themselves “social media experts” only to look at their social media {they are public ya know} and see they don’t understand the first thing about being social – ENGAGEMENT. Social is a great tool IF it is used correctly – to create conversations, syndicate your content, drive traffic, LISTEN. I got sick and tired of talking to real estate agents that paid the $1000 – $2500 for a CUSTOM facebook page only to get nothing from it. So, to make your life easier – I created a video over 2 years ago that will show you what a social media expert looks like.
As a real estate agent, you don’t need a social media expert. You don’t need to pay anyone for their knowledge. You simply need to learn the fundamentals behind HOW consumers search and what they search for. For all the experts out there that want you to listen to what they have to say, most haven’t figured out this one simple fact: YOU CAN’T HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY WITHOUT A CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGY - FIRST. Want to learn HOW to use social media in your real estate business? If you are in Phoenix – you can. Grand Canyon Title’s real estate marketing classes will teach you what you need to know about WordPress, Video, Content Marketing, YouTube and of course – social media and the best part…. it won’t cost you a thing. Check out the classes we teach, find one near you and COME.
