There’s been a lot of debate since the dawn of social media about best practices for selling on these platforms. When it first became widespread, a lot of practitioners started putting any and all listings on Facebook and may have even seen some success from that approach. But in the age where we’re sold to in almost every area of our life, people don’t want to be sold to through an application that’s supposed to be a list of their “friends.” The key is how you use it with your listings.

We’ve been talking on Twitter (hope you’re following us @realtormag) this morning about whether you should clog your clients’ Facebook stream with your listings. I cover technology for the magazine and from what I’ve read, heard at conferences, and seen from sales associates, the quick answer is no. Here’s a short list of tips for promoting your business on social networks.

■Facebook should be a place to develop the brand of you. This is a network where you can share, for example, your love of the islands off the coast of New England and put photos from your trips there. If a potential client shares that same love, this is how you build affinity with them — through mutual interests. You should share the places you like to go, the people you love to see, and your passions, and this will help to make your clients feel more connected to you. By building this connection, when they do need a real estate pro, they will likely call you. It will also broadcast that you’re an authentic person.

■You should share that you are a practitioner in the field. However, if you put too many listings out onto your clients’ wall or feed, I promise you they will click the hide button on your posts or they might just unfriend or unfollow you. Nobody wants to be sold to constantly, especially if they aren’t even interested in buying a house at the time. Instead, make posts that talk about your activities, e.g., “It’s a great Friday, made even better by the fact that I just sold a house on Smith Lane.”

■If you really want your listings on Facebook, buy Facebook ads. I’ve heard about great results from practitioners who are using this as an ad channel because it targets the ads to the demographics you want. I know of a New York brokerage that had great results selling lofts because they aimed their advertising at young, single males in investment banking and law.

Networking, with lunch and industry-related educational speakers, begins at 11:30 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m.  The cost per person for lunch is $20. Educational speakers and networking opportunities are free. Guests are welcome to attend by registering online.

The next business luncheon is taking place on January 14 and new construction communities will be the topic of discussion.

The next special event will be the new member orientation and social taking place on January 24th at Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club in Estero from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

R.S.V.P. is available online at www.wcrbonitaestero.com or contact Debra Morris at 239.357.6794.

The WCR Bonita Springs-Estero Chapter has 170 members and is growing. “The whole basis of our organization is networking, education and referrals,” said Heather Wightman, 2011 President.  WCR promotes industry integrity, commitment, respect and consistency, providing its members with the education and business tools needed to develop successful careers.

The Bonita-Estero Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® is dedicated to being the premier business presence, providing leadership opportunities, and helping all members to acquire new skills to meet the challenges of the future with success.

What to look for
According to the experts, there are various signs that could spell trouble for your computer: It’s running awfully slowly and takes forever to open files and send emails, and there are strange sounds emanating from it. If your computer is overheated, it can also cause severe problems to the point of permanently damaging your system. Be wary of spyware and viruses, which can considerably slow down your PC. Sudden power outages during storms can also cause harm, and water damage can also prevent your equipment from functioning properly. However, this doesn’t always mean that you should kiss your PC goodbye and invest in a new one.

According to John Breeden II, Senior Technology Analyst/Lab Director at Government Computer News, “It’s not possible for a computer to become permanently damaged with normal use. You won’t get a virus which will destroy your hardware. It might kill your data, but physically, your system will be fine. If it gets put in water, that’s one thing, but if you’re just sitting it on your desk and working with it, odds are it will pretty much last forever.”

Steps to take
Breeden recommends steps to resolve your computer glitches. First, run a scan with some type of utility suite. “It may be that your computer is working fine,” he explains, “but just can’t handle what you’re trying to run on it.” Adding memory can also help. “Even if you meet the minimum requirements for software, things will still run slowly if you don’t meet the recommended specs. If you are too behind the curve, it may be time to buy a new system.” He cites a gaming system as an example because the software advances rapidly.

A program that Breeden highly recommends for fixing system errors is System Mechanic, which he explains is easy to use because “you don’t have to be technical to use it. You just push the ‘fix’ button, and it does its thing. You can, however, use it to really dig into a system if you’re technically inclined, so it’s the best of both worlds that way.”

A security engineer we talked to advises to watch out for unusual noises coming from your computer. Frequently, this spells trouble for the hard drive, at which point you might want to consider taking it to a professional who can then try to salvage your data.

According to our experts, the average lifespan for most computers is four years, but you can extend its life even further by adding more system memory, for example.
“What normally happens,” Breeden explains, “is that software gets more demanding over time, and that is what leaves computers in the dust. So your computer is still good until the software you need to use has become too advanced for it.” This can occur, for example, “when you want to buy an office suite or game, and your computer’s minimum specs are lower than the specs printed on the box,” Breeden says.

Precautionary measures
Most of the glitches users encounter are easy to fix. By taking a few simple precautionary measures, you can keep your computer up and running for a long time to come. Our experts weighed in with tips and suggestions. First, you can prevent spyware and viruses from infecting your system by investing in a good anti-virus program and continuously updating it. As the security engineer explains, the greatest danger that viruses and malware cause is usually the ability to steal credit card and other pertinent information. You also need to install the updates for your operating system (e.g., latest updates for Windows). In addition, steer clear of clicking on suspicious links, which may prove harmful.

The “formula”
Our security engineer also recommends using a formula to figure out if it’s time to ditch your old PC and invest in a new one: Take the original purchase price (say, $600), divide it by the years you’ve owned it (say, 2) and subtract the cost of 1 hour of computer support (say, around $85) = 215.

“When the computer repair amount starts to come close to the computer cost (original amount/years owned), or if you have to frequently repair the computer, it’s time for a new one,” he says.

– Tara Taghizadeh –

The solution to the problem is frequently simpler than most people realize. One tech-support specialist we know has a basic motto: “If all else fails, reboot.” Though rebooting has been known to cure minor ills, there are still a wide array of problems users frequently encounter, which more often than not can be resolved either by the tech-support specialist on the phone or a trip to the computer store.
Forgetting passwords: This is more common than you think. A number of users even forget passwords they use on a frequent basis. These days, there is usually a “Forgot Password?” option on most websites, where you can simply obtain a new password in a matter of minutes. A help-desk analyst we contacted says that this is easily the most recurring problem users face and that frequently their “caps lock” button is on.
Can’t turn on your computer or nothing happens: About.com reports that “the number-one reason a computer won’t turn on is because it wasn’t turned on!” Check the power switch. If it does switch on, but it’s not working, it could be related to the power supply.
Computer is running slow: Various factors can slow your computer down to a crawl, particularly if there is very little disk space or if it’s been infected with malware. Our help-desk analyst explains that with malware infections, “People are tricked into believing that the pop-ups they receive are actually from a program installed on their computer. So they click on it, and the infection starts to work its way through the computer.” You can help safeguard your computer by not clicking on suspicious links, and clearing your cache or uninstalling a few of those games you rarely play can help create more space. Another solution is to run a program like System Mechanic, which can clean up system clutter and help boost Internet speed.

Strange sounds coming from your computer: As noted in a recent article, if you hear strange noises emanating from your computer, it could spell trouble for your hard drive. A tech expert we spoke with recommends taking your computer in, where a specialist can look at it and attempt to salvage the data.
Messages about memory: A tech expert we contacted says that “a cheap way” to avoid getting messages about low memory is to simply shut off your computer when you’re not using it. (This is a trick that actually worked in our case, because we had a habit of running a lot of programs at once and leaving the computer on 24/7.) But if you’re still getting memory messages, it’s time to buy more RAM. According to pctechbytes.com, “Upgrading your computer’s memory is one of the easiest ways to improve speed and performance.”
“Hijacked” browser: This takes place when, for example, your home page switches to an unfamiliar one (hence, the “hijacking”) or you get an unusual number of pop-ups. This is frequently the result of spyware. Tech experts recommend that you can usually prevent hijacking by updating your anti-virus program, or on the other hand, you can try a different browser.
Difficulty using documents and spreadsheets: Your colleagues expect that spreadsheet by Monday, and frankly, you still find Excel intimidating and difficult to use. Microsoft.com actually offers online training for Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other software, and there are plenty of other online tools that can help you master the art of various programs.
– Tara Taghizadeh –

The National Association of REALTORS® has carefully considered how we can best support you, our members, in these uncertain times. NAR is here to assist you and your business with the Right Tools, Right Now.