I spend all day every day telling people to work their sphere of influence on social media. You only get one chance to make a powerful first impression as well as a lasting online relationship. I’ll say it again “People buy from people they know, like and trust so you better get people on social media to know, like and trust you.”
Social media and specifically facebook, allows you to bond and connect with people in ways never before possible. You can also turn these online relationships into powerful offline relationships as well. I travel quite often and I always make it a point when I arrive in a new place to reach out to one of my facebook friends who lives there whom I haven’t met yet. This strategy has built me some very strong relationships with really cool people. 
Let me share a story with you which took place last week. I got an instant message on facebook from the owner of a popular real estate company here locally. I was invited to happy hour for a few free drinks on him. He just wanted me to come and hang out. When I arrived early (like I always do) there were 4 ladies at a table which was all set up and happy hour looking. I introduced myself to all four of them and each said something like “I know you, we’re friends on facebook. It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” These great ladies happened to be the title sponsors for the happy hour.
I had already made friends and didn’t even know it! Some people feel all weird when someone points them out from facebook. Me, I’m just the opposite. I say things like “We’re friends on facebook? That’s awesome I need to go like your posts so I see more of you. I love meeting my facebook friends in real life. It’s nice to meet you and nice to be connected. Isn’t facebook awesome?” If people know you from facebook, go with it. They are your friends. You’ve already built the bond.
About 10 minutes later, an Agent I have been friends with on facebook for about a year came in and we started talking. Without me even mentioning my work or giving a sales pitch, she asked how much to work with me and how fast could we get started?
I also got a chance to meet and connect with a few others I hadn’t met offline yet. The best part is that the normally awkward first impression was already taken care of thanks to facebook. So just to be clear and to re-cap: I was invited on facebook to a happy hour where I signed a personal client for my coaching business as well as set up something with the title ladies to do a presentation for their lenders and agents. Did I mention free beer? To top it all off, when I got back home there was this message from the owner of the real estate company on my facebook wall.
The key to it all, especially in the local real estate world, is to work your sphere on facebook and be social. Then, when you get the chance to go offline and be social you can connect with already familiar people. Vice versa, you can also ask every new person you meet to connect with you on facebook. The cycle never ends. It’s a beautiful thing…
