Facebook and MySpace are beginning to be recognized as useful networking tools for the online real estate agent. However, since social networking sites have become one of the leading candidates for connecting people on the Internet, people are starting to get interested in “niche” social networks: sites that connect people who are interested in specific topics. .
Active Rain is a network that has taken this concept and turned it into a growing community of real estate agents, real estate professionals, and people looking for the right agent for them. It has pages for people to post information about themselves and the services they provide, forums, blogs, and a Q&A forum where people can post questions about real estate. So far, 60,000 people have become members, generating a lot of exposure on the site.
However, one does not need to be an Internet guru to create a “niche” network. It can be done with existing web sites and applications. The key is to start by creating decent and useful information about your approach to the market. If you’re selling houses in the Sunset Hill neighborhood of Seattle, by all means start a Facebook group or your own message board about the Sunset Hill neighborhood. Whatever it is, make sure it allows people to comment, ask questions, and post answers.
Post information about the schools there and the issues related to them, the job scene, housekeeping when it comes to the Seattle weather…anything and everything that has to do with houses on Sunset Hill and Seattle. Make sure it’s relevant, make sure it’s up to date. Look beyond selling homes and post about what homebuyers in Seattle and Sunset Hill are concerned about.
If you have happy customers who have transacted their home through you, keep in touch with them and let them know about the site. Many homeowners would be interested in a site where they can find the latest on local property values, information on the new shopping center being built, or the issues facing Sunset Hill area schools.
If you have people coming to your site for information about your neighborhood, even if they aren’t planning to buy or sell, you’ve been successful. The great success of some sites through advertising is due to the popularity gained by giving things away. If you have a decent number of consistent visitors who come to your site for the information you post, you have a decent number of potential customers who might mention you to friends and family who are interested in real estate.