READY FOR ANOTHER FACEBOOK UPDATE?

Get ready for another improvement, this time from Facebook Events!
As part of this update you’ll see changes on News Feed ads for Events, the addition of Event insights and improving the look and feel of Event pages.

All of these updates aim to boost awareness of Facebook Events and response rates of every event created.

Facebook explained the rationale behind the improvements on their news blog:

“Every month, 400 million people around the world use events on Facebook to discover and connect with everything from parties with friends to things happening in their communities. And nearly 30 percent of all the events people connect to – like concerts, community events and special nights at bars and restaurants – are created by pages.”

“IN THE COMING WEEKS”

Page admins will be able to create right-side panel ads for Events on behalf of their businesses. This can be done via the ads create tool in Ads Manager, as well as the Power Editor.

Here’s a sneak peak of how the new event ad will look:

A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR EVENTS

Also, hosts can now see metrics on how their Event posts are performing. Admins can view metrics in the right-hand column of an Event page. Insights will show:

• The number of people who’ve seen a link to the event on Facebook
• The number of people who’ve viewed the event
• The number of people who have engaged with the post (clicked, liked or joined)

Facebook describes these changes in a blog post:

“To make it easier for businesses to reach even more people for their events, we’re announcing new features that help Pages promote their events and see how they’re performing.

In the coming weeks, Pages will be able to create ads for desktop and mobile News Feed that boost awareness of events and drive responses. Previously, these types of ads were only shown in the right-hand column on desktop.”

Plus, all you need to do is click Boost Event to make your event an ad! It’s super simple and an easy way to get more eyeballs viewing your event.

HOW TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR EVENTS

You can also customize your Page tabs to further increase your fans’ awareness of Events in a single view. To do this, simply click the “More” menu on your page and reorder the tabs so Events is one of the first to appear.

People using Mobile can simply scroll through the Upcoming Events of their Facebook account to check what’s happening around town in the coming weeks.

Lastly, Facebook has improved the look and feel of each of the users’ Events page. Users can now see upcoming events, the ones they are hosting, as well as their saved events, just in case you want to follow an event without attending. This area now also includes a list of suggested events based on the pages you’ve liked, location and the day of the week.

What do you think of Facebook’s new updates? Have you seen them yet?

Are you using Facebook Events in a creative way?
Share in the comments below!

A Facebook page is great to have to not only to boost your reputation as a professional, but to actually make that sale.

One way you can do this is to optimize your page using Facebook Apps. On a Facebook Business Page Apps are located on the left hand side under the cover photo and represented by small icon tabs. You can also reach Apps by clicking “more” under your Cover Photo menu bar.

Apps can be customized and rearranged according to the needs of your page. Read more on how do to that here…

Important things to know about Apps:

By default, tabs appear below your cover photo.

Three of these icon images can be swapped out with a custom image to match your brand. However, some icons like YouTube or the photo app will always be in the first position and cannot be changed.

They way you create custom apps is via the Facebook Apps marketplace or through a third party app designer or tool. Take a look at real estate businesses such as Zillow’s listing apps for examples.

You can have up to 12 apps for your Page, but ideally you only want to have 3-4.

Why you should use Apps?

Apps are designed to tailor-fit to the needs of any business. Specifically for real estate apps can be used to:

• Build your list
• Build equity in your brand
• Run promotions and increase engagement
• Feature your real estate listings
• Link other social media efforts such as Twitter or Instagram to your page

However, not all Facebook Apps are created equal.

Some apps are well developed, while others aren’t. Do your research and find someone who can create the app you need for your marketing goals. I’ve discovered that 22Social is a really helpful third party vendor that works with business to develop Facebook Apps on many levels. Some of their apps can even generate leads 24/7!

It only takes a few seconds for the 22Social App to connect to your page and once installed you can build a custom looking mini webpage to gather leads as an app hosted within Facebook!

22Social has a very easy-to-use editor to help you build up your fanbase, funnel in leads and deliver information to your fans. The app also comes in mobile version.

How does the lead generation with 22Social work?

Leads on Facebook start with a “Like,” from a fan or potential customer. Next you collect their FB verified name, email, date of birth, city, state and Facebook ID. This information is emailed to you, stored in the SRM and can be passed to your autoresponder in your chosen email client.

 5 Ideas For Great Custom Apps

Still not sure if apps are right for you? Here are five ideas to get you started:

App 1: About Us App

An About Us App is a customizable web page within your Facebook page where you can introduce yourself and the members of your team to the public.

You can add media content such as videos and images; along with a summary of your expertise and the services you offer.

Including pictures of you or with your team is a great way to start a personal bond with your audience.

Make sure to include the following on your About Us App:

• Contact form
• Phone number
• Email address
• Address and Map of Your Local Office
• List your services

You could also rename the About Us app to “Welcome” or “Our Story.”

App 2: Featured Listings Template

You can install a custom-made app that showcases current featured real estate listings similar to the Zillow Listing App.

App 3: Reviews

Reviews are important for people who want to do some background research even before contacting you. It gives them an assurance just by reading positive experiences from other clients who have worked with you.

Real testimonials help confirm your credibility as an agent. You can add a reviews app using Zillow absolutely for free!

When you install this app, make sure to ask your clients to use this for giving feedback after you make a sale.

App 4: Free Offer App

People love to get free information! This is a very natural and effective way to attract the clients you want. Fans love freebies.

All you would need to do is create a worksheet or downloadable checklist to entice fans. Some examples include:

• The Best 10 Restaurants in Chicago to Take Your Kids On The Weekend
• The Top 5 Exemplary Schools in Austin
• The 10 Best Swimming Spots in Los Angeles

Offering freebies can grow your business since you are offering something  of value in exchange for a name and email addresses.

From there you can generate quality leads that can be used in your email marketing campaigns down the road.

App 5: Home Video Tours

This will take a little bit more work on your end, but can really pay off. Here is how to get started:

• Create an app on 22Social
• Choose the video template option
• Pull in your video link from YouTube
• Promote the Smart Link on your Facebook page or in Facebook Ads

Videos help a lot in people’s home buying decision. It allows them to get a 360 view of the house you are showcasing. Fans have a chance to get excited even before setting an appointment with you.

Here’s how to do a video tour page:

• Pull the video into your Facebook Video App
• Next, host the video on YouTube or other video hosting service provider
• Use OnVedeo to create a video listing in seconds for only $9.95 per video.

Great apps you can install for free!

Getting started with Facebook Apps is easy. Here are some great tools you can use to get you up and running in no time:

1. 22Social
2. Realtor.com Social Connections App
3. Shortstack – Note: They will only let you try one app for free before requiring payment.

Facebook Events is a powerful tool, not only designed to invite friends, fans and potential customers to your check out your Facebook Page; but it’s a great way to keep audiences updated on details surrounding a particular event.

For example, if there are changes in location due to the weather, simply it let attendees know about it by posting an announcement on the Facebook Events page area. Or, if you need to update a time or venue, you can also do this right in the Facebook Events portal.

Let’s be honest, creating a Facebook Event is very easy. But, it’s promoting the event that can be tricky!

Tip: Prior to creating an official Facebook Event consider generating buzz and creating a sense of excitement and anticipation with some prospective guests. You can do this with the following steps:

1. Create graphics and promotional materials before creating the Event on Facebook. Share this as a “sneak peek” with fans.
2. Post an interest check on your Page, such as a teaser question to spark up conversation for the event. From there you can gauge how people may receive your event announcement.
3. Create a group chat on Facebook and include the interested fans (those who commented on your interest check). Ask for suggestions or requests on ways to make the proposed event a success. Keep prospective guests in the loop with some of the background details of the upcoming event. This will help in maintaining the excitement and energy.
4. You can now create a Facebook Event with the people in your group chat as your “core group”. Having more people excited to promote your event can produce better response in attendance.

OTHER TIPS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR FACEBOOK EVENT:

1. Update your Cover Photo with the short link to the event itself. A new cover photo is a great way to promote your Event. Add a teaser text plus the short link to the event in the description of the photo once its uploaded.
2. Ask your most active fans and peers to promote the event among their friends. Identify fans who regularly engage in your page. Send them private messages to help you promote your event. You can also ask permission from other related pages if they can promote your event link too.
3. Make a friend list of people who might be interested to go to your event.
   In your personal profile, identify friends in your list who are interested, or at least will be willing to help you out promote your link. In your event, click Invite Friends> Search by Name> Select List. If you cannot see your list name, then click on “See More”. You can also send them an invitation over private message for a more personal touch.
4. Write catchy posts to invite your page fans to the event. Insert the event to your content mix and post updates regarding your event to tease the audience. Don’t forget to include the Facebook Event short link so people can RSVP.
5. Create teaser images about the event. For an open house, you can have a picture of the property with a sample captions such as, “Planning to move to ____ soon? Check out this dream home!”. Again, always include the short link to the event.
6. Give “exclusive” backstage passes to the event. This is better experienced in grand openings or ceremonies of real estate projects. Guests love to have a VIP treatment, so you can offer them tickets or backstage passes to your event. These VIP’s get special freebies like drinks, parking assistance, raffle tickets, souvenirs, or a better table at the reception.
7. Upload short videos as teasers. People want to know what to expect in an upcoming event. This will help them decide if the event is worth their time or not. For open houses, make a 20-30 second video teaser of the home. Think along the lines of the MTV show Cribs. No need for narration! Just shoot some  property footage on your iPhone or camera. Add some lively music background in the video for a professional touch. Then, upload it to the Facebook Event and you’re set! (And remember that all important event RSVP link on the video description!)

Updating your Real Estate Facebook Page on a regular basis is key to increasing audience engagement and awareness about your business.

When it comes to posting there are two schools of thought: Strategically post on your Facebook page 3-5 times a day, or post randomly whenever you have the time to login to Facebook.

Although, did you know there is a way to systematize and optimize your Facebook posts without spending a whole day on Facebook? This way you can spend more time on building your business and closing deals.

Before you start to schedule posts, it is important to be aware of optimal publishing times to ensure your fans are seeing content. Here is a quick guide to help you discover when is the best time to post on Facebook.

HOW DO YOU PUT YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE ON AUTO-PILOT?

There are two ways to automate posts on Facebook:

1. You can use Facebook’s pre-scheduling feature or
2. You can use 3rd party apps.

The Facebook Scheduling Tool

Facebook’s pre-scheduling tool allows you to set posts to publish at a later date and time. The tool corresponds to your default timezone, so it looks as if you posted manually. You can post as often as you need for a given period of time, for example a week in advance to a month!

While you can pre-schedule most post types, not everything can be scheduled. You can only schedule status posts, videos and photos. You won’t be able to batch schedule photo albums, Facebook events, questions, offers and milestones.

Here is how to use Facebook scheduler:

1. Choose the type of post you want to create (ex: Status,Photo/Video) at the top of your Page’s Timeline
2. Type in your content or post update. Don’t forget your links or call to action!
3. Click the Schedule icon at bottom left
4. Choose the date and time you want the post to appear
5. Click “Schedule”

If you need to go back and edit your queued posts: On the Admin toolbar, click the “Activity” tab and then select “Scheduled Posts” on the left sidebar. Here you’ll see a list of all your upcoming posts and can edit the date, time and content of any post.

Third Party Scheduling Apps

If you want something more robust than the internal Facebook tool, apps such as Hootsuite, Post Planner and BufferApp are designed to help page admins with scheduling and managing social media posts.

Other benefits of 3rd party apps:

• You can schedule updates on other social media sites such as Twitter or LinkedIn, in addition to Facebook
• You can schedule bulk posts by just utilizing a .csv file. Here’s an inside look on how you can do that using the Hootsuite app.

Managing your Facebook page is not time-consuming if you just put it on auto-pilot!

If you have any questions about scheduling your posts on Facebook, I’d love to help you. Just leave a comment below.

Want to learn how to use Facebook to get a consistent source of leads online?  Sign up for my FREE video series FB Real Estate Pro and get instant access to three free videos!

Facebook isn’t just a powerful platform to let your audience know what’s going on in your own real estate business, it’s also a great way to generate leads and convert those leads into buyers.

Here are a few simple tips and tricks to help get even more out of your Facebook community.

Create targeted/compelling content

Facebook’s algorithm considers content quality when deciding what to show in news feeds. Over time, Facebook continually edits this algorithm to ensure that Pages show only content that truly matter to fans, while weeding out spam or link-baits. It’s up to you to make your content engaging and relevant to fans.

But what will make your content valuable to fans?

1. Content comes in many forms, including status posts, shared links, videos and photos or graphics. Recently, there has been a trend toward sharing content beyond text such as engaging visuals including poster quotes and fun, interesting photos.  Include graphics in your content mix.
2. Make sure you include an interesting description on your shared content, website links and videos. Use words that will make people want to click.
3. To break up content, it is also good to share a few causal posts about your personal experience with real estate. This could also be news that is relevant to pop culture or includes a bit of humor. Only do this once in a while, but make sure to add it to your content mix.
4. People love to read about real-life stories. Post stories and photos about your personal experience as a realtor, the places you’ve visited and the interesting activities or events you may attend. Be human!
5. Write posts that encourage engagement from your audience. Amazing photos are nothing without a clear call to action

Other great tips:

• Plan out your posts in advance, to avoid writers block or missing a day.
• Make a calendar of posts to help you organize the different types of posts. This is also something you could share and have other people help with your social media posting.
• Map out the optimal times your fans are on Facebook. Utilize Facebook Insights for this. Posting around 3-4 posts a day ideal to avoid flooding your fans’ News Feeds.
• You can use Facebook’s pre-scheduling function to set up future posts in one sitting.
• Follow other brand pages relevant to your business (and are also followed by your fans).

GET MORE PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU

Use Facebook to make your phone ring! Here are 5 examples of offers to post that could entice people to talk with you:

1. Free financial analysis for FSBOs.
2. Host a Facebook Events Q&A forum about your listings/ expertise.
3. Free 30-minute call on financing and mortgage consultation
4. Offer discounts and minor fees waived from your listings
5. Host a referrals contests: Give away something for every referred lead that will set an appointment with you.

These are all great lead-generating activities. Just make sure you have set up a system to capture contact information and move these leads through your sales funnel. Keeping your list updated with current info is important!

UTILIZE FACEBOOK EVENTS FOR OPEN HOUSES

Facebook Events are a powerful tool to increase awareness about your events. Tip: Set up your Facebook events at least 3 weeks before the event itself. This will allow time for people to ask questions, prepare and check schedules.

Here are a few More tips:

1. Lay the ground rules on the Event description. Unless the house has been vacated, most professional open houses will require guests to sign a logbook and show a driver’s license. Spell out any special instructions like this on the Event listing.
2. Enlist the neighbors. It’s a great idea to make friends with the neighbors, or at least introduce yourself. It goes without saying that the neighbors are better sales people than you! They can give the best testimony why they chose to live in the area, and create a warmer welcome for potential buyers. Let neighbors know about events.
3. Run Facebook Ads for the event to increase attendance and awareness.Events are better promoted if they are highlighted on the Facebook News Feed. With a small budget, you can set a short campaign to optimize your promotional efforts for the event. (See: Geo-targeting for Facebook Ads below)
4. Document the event. Take photos and notes. This way you can use it as content for other marketing efforts. Consider having the event professionally recorded, but be sure to let your guests know before hand that there will be cameras rolling during the event.

USE GEO-TARGETED FACEBOOK ADS

Geo-targeting is often underutilized in Facebook, because many people think it’s hard to do. However, it’s actually pretty easy!

So what is Geo-targeting? It’s a special feature of ads that allow you to target audiences by location when running Facebook Ads. This is especially helpful since your business is in a particular city and you want your ads to attract the people within a certain distance of that location.

Facebook finds people to target through users’ IP address whenever they are online and the addresses users indicate in their profile information.

When creating ads, you can set Geo-targeting based on the following information:

• Everywhere (Global)
• Country
• State/Province
• City
• ZIP Code

You can also include a wider scope to your ads, like a certain mile radius of your target location. Leverage this to your advantage.