NEW YORK – March 12, 2013 – Social media can help real estate agents raise brand awareness, but they must go beyond social and use multiple platforms to position themselves as thought leaders.

It’s important to view social media not only as a dissemination tool but also as a community builder – which means an agent must engage, socialize and join in discussions.

In order to provide consistent content and interact with consumers on a personal level, agents should include blogs in their marketing strategy. They should cover niche-specific topics, keep readers informed about new trends and re-purpose their blog content through their social channels.

For instance, agents can put their brands on display, build an audience and engage current subscribers by offering a free e-book or other product. They could hold a contest and urge existing subscribers to spread the word by asking friends and past clients, among others, to subscribe and provide feedback.

Combining blogging with social media can boost exposure, especially given that fans/followers can share social media and blog posts with others. Agents should also guest blog, share their blog posts on various community-based websites, and submit useful information to niche-specific forums that includes a link back to their personal blog.

Source: RISMedia (03/10/13) Radice, Rebekah

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