Hi Diana Dahlberg!

In a nutshell, if your profiles are public, those you know or have served (your SOI) will follow you. Not all of them are on FB, not all of them are on Twitter, etc. but, MOST all of them are on one of the social forums. If you consistently post and pay attention to them, they'll remember you! 

Great question Diana!  My business is all referral but I use social media to educate and stay in touch with prospects and past clients.  I can't say that I have actually closed transactions as a result of social media, but it is a part of my overall strategy.

Diana,

It definitely has generated calls.  In terms of percentage of business compared to personal contacts and referrals, it is not a large generator of business.  We do better through face to face, personal introductions, etc.  A

Sure beats putting an add in the paper.

Yes, it has been a good thing for most of us.

It reinforces tht we are <Liked> more often than not. And, don't we all want to be liked? 

I consider ActiveRain social media and I know that participation here has generated leads.   When I hear "I found you online" I know this is the source even though AR is typically not stated.   It is used in conjunction with other marketing efforts.  

Pinterest has been the best for me.  I recently wrote a pinterest tutorial. 

Diana, I receive referrals from AR members, because of what I demonstrate in my writings...in turn I receive buyers and sellers because of the subject matter I write about, and mostly  local investors, international high net worth individuals reach out to me for the same reason and the list goes on and on...Endre

As you know I market massively, but as a solo media it does not get me any results. Only if you go above and beyond, bring it to a personal level, than you get business. 

It has been mostly positive, specially when I do more local blogs.There are so much choices out there that we have to pick and choose what to use. Its been mostly positive but have to say that sometimes just talking to someone in person is hard to beat. Perhaps mixing it up is the way. 

Hi Diana, It has not worked for me..Probably because I hadn't worked it..That's key and I think if I just sit down and work it, it may work..I had a group page on fb and I posted five to six posts everyday, I get some leads but none did not turn into closed sales and if I had kept working it I am sure..And to add there is just so many avenues you can take with social media...You just have to figure out which ones work for you..

I find that a lot of Realtors don't embrace social media, which is  a good thing for those that do. Like becoming the local expert through social media is a win win.

I'm in total agreement with Debe Maxwell, CRS!!

It has worked out great...

I work primarily by referral & FB keeps me in front of people...  It reminds them what I do.  It also helps keep sellers happy when they see their house pop up in a newsfeed.

it all began with ActiveRain making my phone ring....and I ran with it from there....I post on 6 sites almost everyday....

Most of my business is repeat and referral, so I'm simply there on social media for street cred, but every so often I do get a client from it.

It has impacted the name recognition factor.

It has extended my reach beyond local geography.

I believe it supports other things we do. People like getting to know you through social media but if you don't have other good data they quickly leave.

I consider ActiveRain a social media platform, I think it's the best. We learn, share, generate leads. FB is the second one on my list, do run ads to generate both buyer and seller leads. I don't however rely on SM for 100% of my business.

I've gotten quite a few leads, some of which have been good.  Have yet to get a house sold through it though.

I only use active rain.

I am connected to many of my clients on FB.  That is about it. I can't say that is it working for me in terms of business.  I am not connected with my repeat and referral clients ... they remember me more from my light-hearted email that goes out every 3 weeks. 

I do very little with social media and business except for active rain. -Kasey

For events yes, attendance up.

For sales, if you count ActiveRain as social media, yes.

Facebook, not directly from the public, but it's hard to isolate where folks find me sometimes when they say " Ugh, I dunno, online somewhere?" when I ask "How did you find me or were you referred?" But Facebook yes, Realtor to Realtor.

       Originally, my main website was the hub; my social media sites were the spokes on the wheel that brought people to that hub.

   But then, they just started coming in from the Internet Presence that I had created on social media.  "Hi, Fred, I saw you on the Internet..."

Absolutely! Unless 99% of your business is repeat/referrals you need a presence on social media. Many good examples in the answers before mine.

It really is a supplement to the overall marketing plan.

Hmmm, social media worked for me?

Last week a showed houses to a couple who read a blog or saw a video or who know what, for a plan promoted over 5 years ago. The fact that once on the Internet it there FOREVER proved beneficial in this case.

Pillar posts published on another platform still makes the phone ring.

I can not attribute any business to AR or FB or PT or TW or G+ but do use them to feed the pillars. 

The horse you feed will be the one that finishes the race.

Only Active Rain

Social media doesn't generate a lot of interest ( facebook pages for example), since fb holds your potential audience hostage until you pay to boost some of your posts. It's an ongoing process of testing.

It hasn't. In property management its one more way for crazies to vent!

Diana Dahlberg - Facebook Ads have been beneficial for driving traffic at the open house.

IT works, it works, and then it works some more!!!! 

Gary V has a great segment that he did at Inman Connect last year where he tells real estate agents how they need to be in video , on FB and on IG. 

Facebook rocks for referrals from other agents, referrals from friends, and from direct business!!! FB Ads rock the house big time! 

It also helps to get more listings because the homeowners see how you are marketing your listings!!! Sellers LOVE to see their properties on FB and other social media. 

People have to hear from you and see your brand at least 21 times before they remember you. You even need to be in front of your friends. How many times in this industry have you heard some agent say that their freind listed with someone else ? They were most likely not assertive enough about what they do. 

I use AR and that is all and seems to be enough

So far I have not converted anyone from social media into a sale, but I am just getting into the social media platforms, and have only recently entered the real estate field. But the amount of people who now know I'm a realtor, solely because of Facebook, for example... there's just no way I could have contacted all of them without social media. Even if I don't see imediate results, I have to believe that being known as a Realtor by hundreds of people who I have some connection with is valuable, and totally worth the small investment in time. 

I have met some awesome people

I really do not go on Facebook but I know people that are having great luck with it.

It's been most effective for staying in touch with those who know me. I've had several signficant transactions generated from YouTube videos

Not effective. FB you post your listings and open houses. That is about it.

"We"?

Maybe "you" but not me.

Diana Dahlberg You get what you put into it. I don't have much time for it.

SOcial media can enhance what i do, but is a tool and can not be solely relied upon without doing anything else

AR has served me well when necessary!

Not sure if it does give me more exposure, but will never know unless we do!

It depends on the specific niche.

I post to social media but I have not deliberaetly attempted to market and gain new business.