Written By Lee Grace, Classified Writer

Jonathan Nicholas, Virtual CEO, real estate sales strategist and consultant, was the speaker at the July membership luncheon of the Wichita Falls Association of Realtors held Wednesday, July 22, at the Wichita Falls Country Club.

His topic was “Social Networking: Driving Dollars to Your Bottom Line.”

President of The Company CEO, a virtual consulting firm headquartered in Dallas and Chicago, Nicholas’ firm provides critical advice regarding the three P’s of successful sales organizations: productivity, performance, and profitability. He noted that to execute these three flawlessly, a fourth P is required: planning!

Under his direction, companies both within and outside the real estate industry are implementing proven best practices that accelerate these desired outcomes.

At the WFAR luncheon, Nicholas talked about the growing list of social media available on the Internet and how the new technology can be frustrating as one tries to navigate the many media sites. He also talked about how some persons can become addicted to social media, spending hundreds of hours on the Internet without any productive results.

“Time is money and you must learn to manage your time.” He also asked the question, “How much time do you spend on social media each week?”

A key strategy is to pick a time each day or each week to use the social media and limit yourself to that time. He also advised building off your existing knowledge.

He noted that whatever you want is available on the Internet. There are bulletin boards such as Craig’s List, Oodle, and Backpage. There are “garage sales” like E-Bay. There also are bookstores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as newspapers.

He noted that newspaper real estate advertising has declined by 80 percent during the last decade. “It had dropped from $8 billion per year to $2 billion per year.”

Nicholas also said chat rooms can be a valuable resource. “However, you must the rules of social media are the same as networking. How do you approach people? Well, it should be the same in social media as in face-to-face meetings. Listen first, talk later. Talk with people, not at people. Give value back.”

He added, “Context is key. Build your friend base before you need it. Play nice and share; even if it doesn’t help you directly. Do not have a hidden agenda.”

He said there are five steps to creating a website. These are: develop content 9give value); drive traffic (the way to make people come); engage visitors; create clients, make them raving fans so that your customers will become your evangelists.

He added that readers form their perception within 15 seconds.

Nicholas also discussed how to create content and how to use book-marking sites.

He suggested creating a profile of yourself on Google and using targeted promotions as a link to your site to drive traffic. Other suggestions include being a resource for visitors to your website, offering virtual tools to engage the consumer, using testimonials, promoting your friends, and being proactive.

The luncheon sponsors for the Wichita Falls Association of Realtors for 2009 are Platinum Sponsor Stewart Title; Gold Sponsors Guarantee Title and Met Life Home Loans; and Silver Sponsors American National Bank, Archer Title of Texas, Landmark Title, PrimeWest Mortgage, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Original Newspaper Story Link: http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/jul/29/social-networking-can-add-profits/

Photo Credit:  www.timesrecordnews.com