Elevating Your Brand With Social Media

Social media is a huge part of real estate, especially in today's climate. Social media is the modern method of communication, and also allows small businesses and individuals to have a broad impact. Katie Lance is an industry social media expert and has been focusing on how to help REALTORS® make the most of their business through social media. In today's episode, Katie and Monica talk about content optimization, some of the heavier aspects of social media, and how we can be intentional with the time we spend on social media.

One of the biggest new developments in social media is Instagram Reels. These are short videos up to 30 seconds — since they are quick and fast-paced, they are usually playful. In a business context, it allows business owners or entrepreneurs to present information in a more creative way. Reels are versatile because you can share them in your feed, or repurpose them for other platforms. Every platform is a little different, and providing the context on other platforms is important when using the same content.

Another feature of Instagram is Instagram TV, which allows you to share longer videos in your feed. The preview options allow you to build some excitement around the full video content. With a longer video, you can also put a teaser at the beginning to keep people engaged until the end. You can also upload longer videos to YouTube — really make the most of the content you've created by sharing it multiple times!

There are heavy aspects to social media, and as it has grown, we've become a product of social media. Katie shares a few tips on how to manage your social media with this information. Check your privacy settings at least a couple of times a year, to make sure they are the way you want them. Also, be careful what you're clicking on and what you're sharing. Katie also talks about being intentional when you go on social media — maybe set yourself a timer, or make sure there is a purpose for why you're on.

Katie and Monica talk about how to handle politics and other hot topics in the industry. If you are going to share things on these topics, make sure you're authentic to your own views but also respectful. Don't try to be all things to all people — you may end up seeming a little vanilla. Also, remember aspects of privacy; instead of engaging publicly, you can also engage privately on social media through DMs. This is a great way to learn people's stories and build relationships.

LinkedIn is a great place to get your feet wet with more professional social media. When people search for you, it's one of the first things that come up. Make sure you keep it updated and keep it specific as well. It's an easy platform to connect professionally, and also has a blog feature. With the other platforms, there are also elements of control so you can share relevant contact information without having to share everything.

Katie's final thoughts: Social media is rented ground. Think about what assets you can create that can go with you wherever you go, even if social media changes. If you put a video on Facebook live, download the video so you can share it elsewhere later. Your content should also be more than just your listings. The goal is to engage people by keeping them curious and having some fun. Be intentional with your time and strategy on social media, and start today!

Tweetables

"Reach is one thing, but engagement — I have hundreds of comments on Reels. For anyone who feels a little stuck with Instagram, and you're trying to grow your following and engagement, I definitely would encourage you to play around with it." — Katie

"We should plan that way even if we don't want everything publicly visible. We should know that if we put it out there, it could come back to you." — Monica

"The thing that a lot of agents do wrong is that they try to be all things for all people." — Katie

Katie is the CEO and Co-Founder of Katie Lance Consulting. Katie is a nationally known keynote speaker at conferences and events. For the past 10 years, Katie has been working with real estate agents and brokers to help them get smarter about how to use social media to grow their business. Her specialty is in helping real estate agents and brokers achieve big results using social media without spending a ton of time! She is also the author of the best-selling book, #GetSocialSmart and the founder of the #GetSocialSmart Academy. Katie has been named one of the most 100 influential people in real estate by Inman News and is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two beautiful boys.