Chances are you have a Twitter account already. But how effectively are you using the resources at your disposal? Here are some tips to make sure you are getting the most out of Twitter:

1. Brand yourself—and don’t stray from it. One of the biggest complaints people lodge against Twitter is that too much of it is pointless ephemera. Make sure your tweets are focused and on-target—don’t clog up your followers’ Twitter feed by sharing photos of your lunch or complaining about traffic. Before you tweet, ask yourself what the value of the tweet is. Valueless tweets will quickly get you unfollowed, so make your tweets count.

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The new year has arrived, and it’s a great time to take a good look at your website pages and fix them up for 2011. Keeping your website fresh and error-free will ensure that your site is generating leads effectively throughout the year! Here are a few tips to get you started:

Main Page Content
Have you read your main page information lately? At the very least you should make sure that your specialties, designations, service areas and contact information are up to date, but you can also write specific content about house hunting during the holidays, community events, and any charity events that you may be participating in this year.

Fix Broken Links
Make sure all of your links are working properly, and are clearly labeled for your website visitors.

Agent Photo and Bio
Are you wearing bell bottoms in your profile photo? Is your profile photo in black and white? Time for an update! You can easily refresh your marketing materials by having a new business photo taken and adding it to your website and online profiles.

Social Media
Take the time to review your social media profiles to make sure all of your information is correct. You can start by checking your contact information, making sure people can find your website from your social media profiles, and adding buttons or widgets to your website also.

Revisit Your Blog
Has your blog been lying dormant through the holidays? Make a new list of topics to address on your blog this year to get back on track. Click here for more information on Using the AgentAdvantage blog.

Website Layout
Is your website outdated? Don’t be afraid to change your website template if you’ve had the same layout for years. AgentAdvantage members also have the option of ordering eStrategy packages for a quick facelift or a complete website overhaul from our professional staff. Click here or contact Member Services for more information about our custom website design packages.

Many agents understand the importance of connecting with prospects in order to convey information to their target audiences, and yet only a handful of agents are truly taking advantage of all their blog has to offer. Using a blog let’s you share real estate knowledge with your site visitors and prepares them for the journey ahead, but it also has some important secondary benefits as well:

Neighborhood Information
Talking about your neighborhood and area attractions in your area is important! School information is also a tremendous help and annual events are fun to write about as well. These topics are important for relocating professionals, families, and proud residents alike!

Search Engine Optimization
When search engines rank your site they are looking for keyword-rich content that is updated often and is highlighted with photos and videos, so a blog is an excellent addition to your site. As long as you post frequently and use multimedia within your posts you should see measurable results in your search engine ranking as your blog grows and matures. This technique is much better than re-writing your main page text every month!

Feedback and Connections
A blog provides a unique opportunity for visitors to comment on your posts rather than through email. Visitors can also comment on each other’s comments, which can spark conversations about your content. Encourage conversations and also make a note of which topics appear to be the most popular on your site.

Social Media Hub
If you connect your blog to your Facebook page, Twitter account, and other social networks you can easily automate much of your social media efforts. Every time you publish a new post all of your networks will instantly be notified without any additional work, and all of the traffic will be directed right back to your blog.

Many agents see a blog as a huge undertaking, but with our integrated blogging software it only takes a few minutes to write 1-2 paragraphs or upload some photos or video. You don’t have to write a novel, just a few sentences covering a topic that is important to your prospective clients. It is certainly worth the effort!

For complete instructions on setting up your AgentAdvantage blog, please see our Blogging How-To Guide. Pressed for time? Be sure to watch our instructional video.

Do you use social media like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to market your services and listings? With over 75 million users on Twitter, 75 million users on LinkedIn, and 500 million users on Facebook these social networks have clearly established themselves as sustainable online communities. So how can you start marketing to these communities after you’ve created your profiles?

One way to get started is to add social media badges to your web pages so prospects and clients have several ways to contact you online. These badges (which consist of an image and an HTML link to your profile) can help users find you online and follow your activity. To download social media badges, visit the following sites (you may need to log in first):

• Twitter
  www.twitter.com/badges
• Facebook
  www.facebook.com/badges.php
• LinkedIn
  See your account settings, under “Edit Public Profile”

Top real estate blogging coach Mariana Wagner will be featured in the next Secrets of Top Selling Agents Webinar:
“Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging” on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT.

About the Webinar:

Blogging may seem like a daunting task, but the refrain you hear from everyone these days is the same: “You have to blog to be successful in real estate.” But you got into real estate to help people find homes, not to write the next novel! Nationally–known trainer and top selling agent Mariana Wagner will show you why you need to do some form of blogging to build your real estate business – even if writing is not your favorite pastime or you think you have no time in your busy schedule!

You can read more about Mariana Wagner and register for this webinar at SecretsWebinars.com.

AND…this is just the first social media webinar this month from Secrets!  Laura Duggan and Patrick Birdsong will be presenting, “Boost Your Bottom Line with Social Media” on February 25th.  They will share their story of how a Baby Boomer and Gen Y team increased their business with social media.  Check out SecretsWebinars.com for more info on this Webinar!

Do you use social media like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to market your services and listings? You can add social media badges to your web pages so prospects and clients have several ways to contact you online. These badges (which consist of an image and an HTML link to your profile) can help users find you online and follow your activity. To download social media badges, visit the following sites (you must provide your login information first):

Twitter

www.twitter.com/badges

Facebook

www.facebook.com/badges.php

LinkedIn

See your account settings, under ‘Edit Public Profile’

Badges and widgets can be added to any online document where you can edit your HTML code such as your website, blog, profile pages, and more. Use them often and promote yourself online!