Twitter is a very fast paced channel. With its restriction of 140 characters per post, the platform is meant for short, quick and constant bursts of content. Users typically use Twitter as a source for staying updated
on news or events and we don’t see it as a heavily trafficked channel for many owners or property managers.
The World Wide Web, or Internet, has evolved from early message board applications and forum user groups to the ubiquitous giant communications network that permeates every stratum of global business and society. Our experience in applications development and deployment dates back to those early early years, working in the early 1980s with microcomputers running at a clock speed of 3 MHz, two 5.25" floppy drives and 64K ram. Since 1993, we have been building applications for deployment on the internet using the latest tools and technology – from static web pages to database driven intranet applications to complete web portals serving our clients and their customers in a wide range of vertical markets.
Today, we are fortunate to be working with tools with computing power not dreamed of in those days, and provide services including domain registration, website hosting, responsive web design, content management, application programming interface and integration, professional search engine optimization and database deployment and management.
As you can see, there are lots of methods for using social media to promote your business and your reputation. But there are also some things NOT to do. Let’s touch on a few “do's and don’ts”.
DO show a personal side to your business. Share enough of your personal world to be human and fun, like office pets or team outings. DO create a new Twitter handle, and Instagram account for your work persona, and encourage your staff to do the same. Create a Facebook business page rather than using your personal page. DO keep conversations professional - Make sure you don’t flirt or argue, complain, brag or get too intimate with personal details or photos online. Remember that the entire world is watching these exchanges and will make assessments accordingly.
DON’T get too personal - Protect your privacy by keeping your work and home social media lives separate DON’T discuss politics - We all know political discussions can get nasty. Social media is full of politically charged discussions now more than ever, and it may be tempting to join in at times, but we suggest you steer clear and avoid offending customers needlessly.
DO be ethical and honest. Honesty—or dishonesty—will be quickly noticed in the social media environment.
If you’re online, you’re on the record—everything on the Internet is public and searchable. So:
DO keep your cool. There may be times when customers, residents or tenants want to interact negatively with you on social media, and you should be prepared.
Here are some things to be cautious of or avoid:
DON’T engage with trolls - Some people just want to complain and bait you into a fight. While it is important to engage initially to let them know you care about their opinion, continuing to engage may put you at risk of escalating the issue and attracting more attention. Follow our 3-Step plan for crisis management.
DO take responsibility. Did you screw up? If you make a mistake, admit it. Be upfront and be quick with a correction. If you modify an earlier post—just make it clear that you have done so.
Even the most social-savvy business owners can get caught up in the numbers game: counting and recounting likes, followers, fans, retweets, shares. Not to say those numbers don't correlate to how well your business connects with customers online, but 100 shares doesn't necessarily mean 100 sales — and it certainly doesn't measure the potential value of those 100 shares. For example, were any of the 100 fans sharing that post actually influencers? Did the fans in question sign up for your list, or share and forget? Are your likes and follows actually impacting your sales? Many business owners wouldn't know how to start answering those questions.
Read more at Mashable...
Facebook is a great social media channel to showcase who you are—with more in-depth or longer content, videos and photos. It is the most popular social media channel, used by 79% of the world’s internet users, and the one where you are most likely to find owners and residents. People will often turn to Facebook to determine if a company is “legit.”
Facebook allows you to upload photos and videos, share insightful content or articles
and give updates on your business. These capabilities can help you to gain exposure to new prospects and establish a solid relationship with owners or prospective tenants. Facebook is also helpful for communicating with your existing customers or tenants. Whether it’s through comments or messages, it’s easier than ever to interact with your audience, providing you with the opportunity to build your reputation! Having a dedicated Facebook profile, separate from your personal account, is also a great way to drive traffic to your website. By posting blogs, listings or other links to your website, you grow the exposure of your business, and a business page will also allow reviews.
Facebook Ads let you boost posts and have them show on the newsfeeds of your own customizable audience based on location, age, gender, language, interests, and behavior. A little money here can go a long way and help get your name out there, but it also can get expensive. Most property management companies will not spend money for year-round promotions. They may, however, try putting spend behind a specific post in order to gain exposure and add followers or achieve a specific short-term goal. For example, you could advertise a post showing photos and details on a vacancy or new building. Short campaigns that you track closely are worth trying. If you see results, try more.
Instagram is the most visual platform, made for strictly sharing photos and videos. The platform has gained a lot of traction due to the rising trend of mobile-photography. It has also become a great marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. While a majority of users tend to follow businesses, the channel presents the perfect opportunity to put your creative skills to work and tell your brand’s story visually. So have fun with it and don’t be afraid to try new things!
Paid advertising is possible on Instagram, but not many property managers will run a year-round promotion. The opportunity is worth exploring when trying to fill vacant units and attract new tenants—particularly if you have many similar vacancies at once.
Pinterest is very popular in lifestyle blogging circles, and therefore a good platform to try to reach prospective tenants or those who influence them. Users will share “pins” or images linked to a website and pin them to their own personal boards on their profile. The site is where most go for ideas, inspiration or tips on decoration.
LinkedIn is more of a business and employment-oriented platform and for property managers is most useful for networking with owners or employees. If you’re looking to hire, you can list your open positions.