Micro Blogging Twitter Participation Rises Sharply
Posted in Real Estate Bloggers By Stefan Swanepoel, Monday, December 29, 2008.I received a few emails indicating surprise that I included micro blogging (Twitter) on my Top 10 Events impacting Real Estate in 2008 so I thought I would provide a little more information for those that are not that familiar with the concept of short text-based 140 character posts.
Twitter is again one of those social media phenomena’s. Founded in 2006 Twitter moved into the mainstream in this year. According to HubSpot 1 million people joined Twitter since October, pushing the new 2008 Twitter users to 3.5 million and the grand total to 5 million Twitterers or Tweeple.(For the loyal MySpace and Facebook fans, yes Facebook is still about 30 times bigger with approx. 140 million users).
Twaffic (Twitter traffic) has risen sharply on Twitter this year. Already at an admirable 1 million unique users per month at the beginning of the year, traffic has risen to almost 4 million unique users per month, affirming Twitter as the #1 micro-blogging tool on the Internet.
Realtors are also in increasing numbers Tweeting (communicating) and Twittworking (networking on Twitter). Various real estate related applications are also starting to emerge.
I will also be posting regular Twend Tweets (Real Estate Trend Updates) on Twitter so you are interested you can follow me http://twitter.com/swanepoel
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Submitted by Deb Agliano (AKA DebOnTheWeb) on December 29, 2008 - 2:18pm.
I've been Tweeting since October. I've shared my ideas and picked up some good advice from fellow agents as well as met some prospective clients. I find TweetDeck helps me see the info I want without getting lost in the Twitter stream.
~~~
Deb Agliano (AKA DebOnTheWeb)
ERA Andrew Realty
www.DebOnTheWeb.com
Deb@DebOnTheWeb.com
Submitted by Missy Caulk on December 29, 2008 - 2:30pm.
...How could you not mention Twitter, it is growing like crazy. I use to keep up with all my friends in Real Estate now the conversations go so fast, you have to really pay attention.
Missy Caulk
Ann Arbor, MI
Missy@MissyCaulk.com
www.AnnArborRealEstateTalk.com
www.SearchAnnArborHouses.com
Submitted by David Smith on December 29, 2008 - 2:41pm.
Stefan,
I think you are, as they say, "spot on" Twitter is definitely impacting the online real estate community in 2008.
One if the biggest reasons for its rapid growth are the tools which have grown up around it. TweetDeck, TwitterBerry, Twitpics, etc. Each function almost as plugins do on a Wordpress Blog. They enhance the user experience and make Twitter better because they exist.
Using Twitter hashtags is also a way to RSS feed tweets directly to a local blog. I'm using Twitter and Hashtag tweet to go to specific Hyper local blogs with content tailored directly to those blog readers.
In the middle of 2008 there were quite a few people thinking of leaving Twitter due to frequent and prolonged outages. Those days are hopefully well past the Twitter community.
The Twitter itself, much like the Twitter experience, needs to have an enlarged community before its true value becomes evident.
It could well be that Twitter will also make the list for 2009 if it continues to evolve and more ways are implemented to keep its functionality expanding.
Submitted by Maureen Francis on December 29, 2008 - 2:46pm.
I have been on Twitter for over a year. At first I mostly had the RE.Net following me. Now I have a strong following of "real people" from my market place. It has lead to business for me and it has given me new ideas.
For some people it is a chat room. Other use it just to share ideas and resources.
Twitter is very strange the first time you look at it, but once you explore a bit, you'll begin to see the beauty.
Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
248.430.4450
www.miOaklandCounty.com
Submitted by Amy Chorew on December 29, 2008 - 2:48pm.
Twitter is at the top of the list for me! I get to do lots of research, find out about really neat new products and websites and stay connected with my friends. What I love most are the conversations at events so I can stay up on everything that is going on even if I am not there. A treasure trove for sure.
Amy Chorew
(tel) 203-548-9151
(blog) www.amychorew.com
(Linked in) http://www.linkedin.com/in/achorew
Submitted by Jay Thompson on December 29, 2008 - 2:57pm.
Twitter has been a fantastic tool for reaching out to local, non-real estate people. My "sphere" has grown significantly since I began using Twitter to find, follow, and meet (in real life) local non-RE folks.
Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty
Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com
.
Submitted by Kristal Kraft on December 29, 2008 - 3:09pm.
Twitter has taken on a life of its own. I signed up well before I started using it regularly. It was a very strange concept in the beginning, but now its a fun and valuable resource.
As a result of twitter, I've had the pleasure of meeting (in person) local people, both real estate associates and consumers.
Like others, I've learned so much from the tweets. Twitter is a great platform for sharing and supporting friends everywhere.
I look forward to the new applications that will make the Twitter stream even easier to follow.
Kristal Kraft
Selling Denver Real Estate
Submitted by Kevin Tomlinson on December 29, 2008 - 3:17pm.
At first I found it juvenile...and it is most of the time, but I find it is starting to take the place of my feed reader.
Love seeing the new blog posts being "twitted."
Kevin Tomlinson
Miami Beach Real Estate Resource
South Beach Real Estate Blog
About Miami Beach Florida
Submitted by RealEstateCafe on December 29, 2008 - 6:12pm.
Stefan,
Thanks for noting "real estate related applications are also starting to emerge."
Eager to follow that trend, and if possible PARTICIPATE in the development of B2C, C2B, & C2C micro-blogging applications that enable home buyers and sellers to save money. In the meantime, glad to use consumer-oriented sites like "CheapTweet" to promote rebates & special offers. See blog post:
Micro-blogging MEGA-saving opportunities for DIY home buyers & sellers
http://tinyurl.com/axyawb
Bill Wendel
The Real Estate Cafe
Serving a menu of money-saving services for "do-it-yourself" homebuyers & FSBOs since 1995
617-661-4046
realestatecafe@gmail.com
http://realestatecafe.squarespace.com
Submitted by RealEstateCafe on December 29, 2008 - 6:12pm.
Stefan,
Thanks for noting "real estate related applications are also starting to emerge."
Eager to follow that trend, and if possible PARTICIPATE in the development of B2C, C2B, & C2C micro-blogging applications that enable home buyers and sellers to save money. In the meantime, glad to use consumer-oriented sites like "CheapTweet" to promote rebates & special offers. See blog post:
Micro-blogging MEGA-saving opportunities for DIY home buyers & sellers
http://tinyurl.com/axyawb
Bill Wendel
The Real Estate Cafe
Serving a menu of money-saving services for "do-it-yourself" homebuyers & FSBOs since 1995
617-661-4046
realestatecafe@gmail.com
http://realestatecafe.squarespace.com
Submitted by Marian Bennett on December 30, 2008 - 1:44pm.
The power of Twitter is just beginning, it seems. Thanks to Domus Consulting, our Homescopes group now "tweets" our real estate market updates on Twitter and they automatically feed to our network's site... A real plus for anyone looking at hyper-local information or differences for northern California real estate - at a glance and in real-time. For me, still mostly RE followers, very few local contacts so far.
Submitted by Emily Medvec on January 1, 2009 - 3:06pm.
Today a world without twitter is unimaginable. If you did not see it as an "event" I would think you were locked in a box somewhere. Twitter is impacting not only real estate but just about everything as people connect everyday with conversations of not more than 140 characters in length. It is a blessing and a tool better than writing on cave walls...centuries ago! It is changing how I practice real estate and communicate. I confess, I love twitter. It is truly a gift from the technology gods.
Emily Medvec, Broker
Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate
Best Anytime Cell 505.660.4541
www.emilymedvec.com
www.buysantafehomes.com
www.twitter.com/EmilyMedvec
Submitted by Jay Groccia on January 1, 2009 - 8:51pm.
We just added a 'twitter this' feature to our service. Now someone viewing an OnlinePropertyShowcase™ of a listing can share it with family and friends through Twitter, Digg, Facebook, MySpace, and over 100 other social networking sites and services.
Take a look:
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com/showcase/10265
Jay Groccia, Principal Photographer
OnSite Studios
http://www.OnSiteStudios.com
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com
Submitted by Jordan Nilsen on January 22, 2009 - 7:13pm.
If you are just entering the world of Twitter it's good to know where to start. The best directory of real estate Tweeters is Just Tweet It at http://justtweetit.com/real-estate/.
Jordan Nilsen
REtechy | Real Estate Technology Blog
jordan@retechy.com
http://retechy.com
Twitter | @jordannilsen, @retechy
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on January 23, 2009 - 7:24am.
While I'm not certain what an electronics repair shop in New Jersey has to do with real estate, I have added the "just tweet it" link to the "Twitter for Real Estate: Who to Follow?" portion of my overall Twitter for Business resource. There is also a "Twitter Census" on the Inman site (linked from "Who to follow" above or use the search feature at inman.com
I can certainly imagine a world without Twitter, even though I use the service a lot. It's one more great way to engage with other people quickly and with relevance.
G. Dewald | Union Street Media | Real Estate Internet Marketing Blog
Submitted by Bruce Wagg on April 14, 2009 - 9:49am.
Ok I just signed up to my twitter account I'm already to send my deepest thoughts and make money! ;-)
Bruce Wagg
Oakland Real Estate | Berkeley Real Estate