Twitter - How Powerful Is It For You?

Question

We launched our company Twitter page about 2 months ago.  We have been pleasantly surprised with our response on our page and some great things that have come from our Twitter alone.
          
          As a Real Estate Investment firm we face challenges at times getting in front REIA groups and other large events to educate others on our Land Contract Investments.  
          
          Since launching Twitter we have been invited to 2 major city wide events, and was asked to speak at one of the events!  These networking connections would not have taken place without the creation of our Twitter page.
          
          I often think Twitter is overlooked by many of the professionals in the Real Estate industry (us included at one point!), but has anyone else had positive or negative experiences using Twitter? 
          
          The power of Twitter for your business can come in many different forms, for us it has enabled us to reach out to a much larger audience very quickly, for others it may generate sales or loyalty.  I am interested to hear what everyone at BP's experiences have been with Twitter.

Joshua Dorkin · Answer

Too bad you didn't sign up months or years ago.  I've seen the usefulness of Twitter wane as it has become more popular and the amount of noise has vastly increased.  I still find it to be quite valuable, though.

Jimmy C. · Answer

Thanks for the book recommendation.  I signed up for Twitter recently (finally got a smart phone)  and I have no idea how it could be used to generate leads or sales for me yet.

Library here I come!

Account Closed · Answer

@Bryan
I laughed at "spam wasteland."

A great book to read on the power of twitter is "Twitter Power 2.0."

I initially was a doubter of Twitter as well but it extremely powerful when employed properly.

Example today:

Our investment firm is at the Equity Trust Networking conference in Orlando, marked with a hashtag (#eunetcon10) on Twitter.

Anyone who is at the conference and twittering may use that hashtag.  As a result we were able to connect with an investor who was twittering at the conference and spread our message to him as well as influenced him to talk face to face at our booth.

Just one quick example today.  The reach can be far beyond one person, but that is an example of about an hour ago.

Without Twitter we would not have directly connected with that investor.

Bryan Hancock · Answer

IMO the best thing about LinkedIn is the Q&A feature.  Industry experts want to build experience points and come in and answer detailed questions I have from time to time.

Joshua Dorkin · Answer

Bryan - 
I think users of LinkedIn had a lot more credibility before they started sharing their tweets and other personal matters on the site.  As a resume site with recommendations, it worked very effectively.  Now that people share all kinds of personal crap and other nonsense, I think twice about some folks . . .  I think it is a very bad idea that people are forgetting the line between personal and professional.

Account Closed · Answer

Jimmy,

Congrats!  Doing is the first step.  Before you focus on how it can generate sales for you, think about how you can provide value to others.  Then the sales will right to you.

Take care,

Dan
Twitter Handles:

Account Closed · Answer

There are a lot of spam "tweeters" out there.  Part of the challenge of Twitter is sorting out the relevant people from the SpamBots.

Personally I have found it worthwhile for our company and it is worth sorting through the Spam.  I will keep everyone posted on our successes and hurdles with Twitter!

Rachel H. · Answer

Twitter is ok - I have also been spammed as well by it. But, I think spam is really one of those things that has been a really ongoing issue both online and offline (like the mail!).

Diane J. · Answer

Not a twitter fan either. I also have issues with all the Facebook interfacing that's going on. Josh probably has a different opinion!

One has to weigh marketing vs privacy and there is so little left of the latter these days.

It's nice to see Twitter is working for someone and say hello to Ashton!

Bryan Hancock · Answer

Cool dealâ€¦I am glad it is working for you!  Keep us up to date with what happens with the investor.

I have heard of people getting jobs but cyberstalking the companies they want to work for too.  I guess it works for someâ€¦not for me.

Twitter - How Powerful Is It For You?

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