Can You Tweet Your Way to a Home Sale?

Twitter, the massive micro-blogging platform (140 characters, that's all you get) could be your key to jumping in Google rankings and consequently getting more leads. This social networking site has been derided as merely a vehicle for teens and tweens to let their friends know what they're doing every nine seconds, but has gained quite a following in all demographics. The most notable is the President, Barack Obama, whose Twitter page has over 800,000 followers and ranks second only to the actual Twitter site in a search for "Twitter" on Google.

One of the keys that Twitter has given people who use its services is SEO optimized titles that have had an immediate effect on rankings for the individual or group represented on the page. The simple reorganization of the Twitter page title from "Twitter / anytownrealestate" to "Anytown Real Estate (anytownrealestate) on Twitter" is making a BIG difference in how the page is ranked in Google.

The wonderful thing about Twitter is that the 140 character limit releases one from the obligation to write a "real" blog post. One can dash off an "is waiting for the start of the Open House at 123 Anyroad, Anytown. Come visit!" (your name is automatically appended to each post). in a few seconds on a BlackBerry. Twitter helps keep your presence in your clients' and contacts' lives by inserting your name into their daily life when they read their Twitter page.

One of the keys is to be interesting. It's not enough to talk about or post links to homes you're representing. Try to make your Tweet interesting in a general sense. "...is representing this home (link). It is a classic Victorian "gingerbread" house, so named for the lavish ornamentation..." is better than "is representing this home (link)" Make people interested in the house for some reason. You don't have to always do this when posting a link, but at least intersperse interesting facts and news about your area.

Area events are great ways of getting your name out there. "Are you planning on coming to the (Area) community meeting? It's at The Meeting Center: 123 Anyroad, Room 1 @ 7:30PM." shows that you're aware of events in your community and can also be followed by people wanting to keep up to date about area events. If you're a go-to person for community information, people are more likely to think of you when they need someone to "go to" for a real estate transaction. (It also helps if you're at the community meeting!)

These terms are not only good for getting people's attention; they are also good Google attention-getters. If you're constantly talking about "Area homes", Google is more likely to rank you higher for that. If you have relevant content that people are looking for, the more Google love you're gonna get! Keep adding pictures and information and be interesting! You will get more attention from people who are not real estate minded, but that only serves to drive up your popularity in general.

Twitter, like so many other social networking tools, is one weapon in an arsenal. It can materially help your online presence and keep people's attention once you've got it. Being that it's so easy to use and doesn't require a lot of writing, it can be great for the real estate professional who doesn't have a lot of time to compose blog posts and articles.