As communication continues to get quicker and easier, you might be tempted to get a little too comfortable about what you say and try to hide behind your online identity. The problem with this leze faire attitude is that in the world of business and especially real estate, only one bad remark can tarnish your well-deserved reputation long term. Here are some tips to help you remain an industry professional online:
1. You’re Not A Ninja- Its important to keep in mind that many 3rd party companies and sites track what pages (and content on those pages!) that you browse. Even if you have a bogus username there are ways to track it. That information can be sold or given to other sites and the word can spread. Another thing-once you post to Google it can be anywhere from difficult to impossible to remove that content. Make sure that whatever you say online is the same as you’d say in person.
2. Introduce Yourself As An Expert- Some people think that hiding their company name on real estate blogs and forums will make viewers trust them more but actually the reverse is true. If you tell them your with ‘Advance Realty’ for example, they will know where you’re coming from and trust you more that you weren’t trying to mislead them by pretending to be a consumer.
3. Admit You Are Wrong- When in error, take the opportunity to say you were wrong. Your readers/fellow networkers will appreciate your humble honesty even if they have opposing views.
4. Stop The Spam- When you approach blogs, forums or networking sites as an industry expert no one is interested in your spam. Take time to properly build the post or profile and remember to include something interesting to them that will keep them coming back to it.
5. Be Active- After making your own blog/post, don’t just leave it at that- read what other people have to say and comment in a friendly manner. Make it a point to do this often. Viewers will both respect your knowledge and know that you’re not in it just for the ‘me’ factor.
6. Look It Up- Find out what people are saying about you and your brand by typing your name or company name into Google. Other useful sites are BoardTracker.com (which measures what’s going on in the world of online forums) and Keotag.com (which monitors what’s going on in the social arena).
7. Don’t Backtalk- If you find someone writing about your brand or services in a negative way don’t argue with them. If it’s posted on a forum or site that everyone can see then reply politely by explaining your viewpoints and who you are and where you’re coming from. Adversaries can sometimes become your best advocates!
Even if all else fails, by following these steps you can at least find out when someone does slander your name and take steps to rectify it. Happy Posting!
