Racing to the Twitter Finish Line

Are you in the race to use Twitter?

Everyone is using Twitter… at least that’s what you’ve heard. It’s all over T.V. and the Internet! Shouldn’t your property be using it too? With the new integrated search, why not get on Twitter? It’s EASY! All you have to do is create a profile, add a bio, upload any property picture you can find, and sit back to wait on the prospect calls!

But wait… nothing has happened. You posted all of your specials, and even put links to your site in your tweets. Still, no leads from Twitter.

–Does this sound familiar?

Why are you using Twitter?

The rush to get on Twitter (and Facebook too) is like a race to the finish line! Twitter is not a solution to your marketing problem, it is only a tool FOR the solution. Let me explain…

It all starts with Why. Grab a pen and paper and write down WHY you feel your company should be using Twitter. Here are some clues to get you started:

• Our residents are tweeting, we would like to connect with them.
• Our prospects are tweeting, we would like to use the tool to communicate.
• Our employees are tweeting, we can build an online community to share ideas.

Why is important because it allows you to focus on the best way(s) to use Twitter. If you know why you’re tweeting, deciding what to tweet becomes easier.

How should you use Twitter?

Is conversing online just a waste of time?  Not if you’re building relationships. How you tweet is almost as important as why you tweet. Here are a few examples of what to do, and what NOT to do:

• Do talk about your local or community events.
• DO NOT make every tweet about your rates.
• Do share information about what makes your property unique.
• DO NOT send auto DM’s with links to your website or ads.
• Do Tweet directly with people who reside locally (here’s a tool for finding people by location).
• DO NOT send DM invites for games (like Mafia Wars and Farmville).

Now that you have a few ideas about what is good (and what is bad), write down some ideas you have for tweeting. Make sure they ideas line up with your list of “Why you feel your company should be using Twitter.”

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Learning how to use Twitter takes time. First listen to determine what people are saying, then contribute to the conversation in a helpful way. In other words, just don’t be a nuisance.

I would love to have more DO & DO NOT’s! Please share some with us in the comments below.

Tagged as: Bing, Charity Hisle, Farmville, Mafia Wars, Marketing, Multifamily, Property Management, Tweeting, Twitter