Landlord Products / Services
Meh, as pointless and shitty as I think Twitter is, to my despair, it’s become another one of those irritating social media rages that I’ve been forced to embrace. Yes, forced. Apparently Facebook, Myspace and LinkedIn weren’t enough to maintain our virtual lives. We need to do more.
I’ve been signed up to Twitter for a while now, but I’ve only recently started to use it actively. I’m not using it because I like it, or because I necessarily get it, I’m using it to stay in tune with the latest online fads. To be honest, I think most people are using, or started using Twitter, for the same sheepish reason.
While I don’t entirely get it, I’ve learned to accept it. It doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon, so like my Aunt Mable’s hairy neck mole, I’ve learned to accept it.
However, there’s one thing I refuse to accept on Twitter, and that’s the blubbering idiots behind the majority of the accounts representing Estate & Lettings Agents. A lot, and I mean an excessive amount, of Estate Agents have an account on Twitter and it’s a total car-crash situation.
Estate agents have flocked to Twitter for the same reason as every other company in other industries, to see if it can be wielded as a marketing tool. I’m a rabid fan of online social marketing, but only when it makes sense and when it’s done right. Sadly, most estate agents are doing it all wrong. So wrong! It’s actually painful.
Since I’m a “property blogger”, it was only natural to start following estate agents on Twitter, in hope of connecting with useful industry information/folk.
Yeah, that did not workout at all.
It quickly became apparent that the majority of agents on Twitter are spamming assholes; they’re mostly just relentlessly Tweeting links to hundreds and hundreds of properties they currently have available for sale and let, while under the impression that it’s good marketing and that someone actually gives a flying fig.
For the love of God stop! Immediately! In case you’re guilty of being one of the donkey agents, let me try and explain why
Why Estate Agents should stop spamming Twitter with property links:
- Anyone that’s serious about buying a property WON’T follow an estate agent on Twitter to achieve their goal. That would be ridiculous. If you think otherwise, you’re a total disaster.
Most people that follow Estate Agents on Twitter are either fellow estate agents or have some involvement or interest with the industry.
- Let’s assume we live on another planet where everyone is mentally-impaired by birth, consequently we’re all inclined to follow agents on Twitter to buy a property.
Now, what are the chances of actually displaying a suitable property for a prospective buyer the very moment they’re logged into Twitter so it appears on their live feed? Practically zero! That’s why we use “search filters” on property portals.
- If someone wants to use the internet to search for properties, they’re going to use dedicated property websites like Rightmove, not bloody Twitter.
- Constantly sending out links to ‘properties for sale’ is BORING for everyone; not even the most enthusiastic, mundane, zit-infected, unsociable property geek would pay attention.
Case in point, I stopped following 99% of estate agents because my profile was getting flooded with property links.
- You need to consider what kind of person would actually follow a Twitter account that relentlessly Tweets spammy links (yes, that’s what they are, spammy links. Please don’t fight it!). They’re either people that are affiliated with the company or people that have died of boredom.
- Now, finally, let’s put the final nail in the coffin.
Ask yourself, would YOU, an estate agent, follow a Twitter account if you wanted to buy a house? Hell NO! So why are you undermining your audience with this bullshit tactic?
Forget trying to generate sales and increase pointless pageviews by Tweeting links to properties, it’s futile and a total waste of time.
Your time is better spent focusing on growing your brand and building relationships with other agents and property enthusiasts by spreading useful and insightful industry drivel. By-all-means, if you have a compelling property for sale, whether it be unusual, over or under priced, or it’s interesting for whatever reason, share. But save us from all the other shitty links.
I’m done (and hopefully you are with spamming Twitter).
If anyone wants to follow me on Twitter, Tweet, Tweet.
Love always xo
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
Don't get me started on twitter! I work as a webdesigner, and the funniest client we have had yet to start tweeting crap all over the www is a fencing company.Yes thats right a company that makes fence's.
I do wish I had the sheer confidence to create such a rubbish idea and manage convince people to use it. For that you have to give credit!