Years ago, I reached out to friends, family and business colleagues for support and referrals. Today, there is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Websites and other social media platforms to navigate. It’s a lot of work, but worth it.

For me, the cherry on top is I get to use my love of writing to communicate how I “feel” about the projects I am selling. Whether it is real estate, empowerment coaching, my latest book or blog, Law of Attraction Meetups, or my daughter’s jewelry business, I can express myself so it doesn’t come across as direct marketing. Many times, I don’t even think about the financial outcome. It’s more about sharing those things I am passionate about with like-minded entrepreneurs and spiritpreneurs, quickly and effectively, every day. The interaction gives me insights as to what is important to people I follow and who follow me.

For instance, I was awarded a $2.8 million dollar listing from a client I had not spoken to in years who had been reading my posts and unbeknownst to me, my words helped her get through a very trying time in her life. When it came time to list her property, which is six hours away from where I currently live, she and her husband chose me as their Realtor. From that one transaction, I have been referred to three other qualified clients who I am currently assisting in purchasing real estate. None of this would have happened had I not been posting blogs and updates on my social media sites.

I also coach other agents and wrote a program, The Heart of Real Estate, which I teach at colleges, Boards of Realtors & to individual agents seeking how they can use their authenticity to manifest the career they desire. I posted my last event on Facebook and had a “souled” out workshop. Would the same attendees have come had they not seen it on FB? Some, maybe, but the event page that FB offers, kept everyone up to date, informed and excited.

So far, 99% of what I have posted is free, or almost free. I have paid less than $2,000 over a three year span, to advertise my business pages on Facebook and I’m not sure this was necessary to gain the following I now have. My web host is adamant that the only way to grow a business is to spend big bucks on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which will link my website’s content to my social media sites, fully maximizing revenue opportunities. Without SEO, I’m told (not convinced yet) that all the social media sites are the icing on the cake, but the most important part is the cake itself. You can always scrape the frosting off and eat a delicious, mouth-watering cake plain than eat a dry, flavorless cake-full of sugary frosting.

Simply put, social media marketing is part of doing business in the new millennium. Our lives are inextricably connected to everyone in this vast Universe…you never know where your bounty will come from. If you’ve been on the fence, get off. Spend an hour a day posting, sharing, retweeting… you may be awarded with a $2.8 million dollar contract…seemingly out of the blue.

I know this for sure. It just happened to me.

Victoria

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