Melissa Krchnak

By Melissa Krchnak

I’m often asked by REALTORS® how they can increase their online presence. What’s the best blogging platform? Which social media site will yield more ROI? Should I beef up my e-mail signature? What should I put on my Facebook page? How many Craigslist ads should I post a day and when? The answer is simple: Stop getting in your own way and do whatever it is that you want to do — and make it something you will actually stick to once you’ve time-blocked for it.

But here’s my take on these common questions listed above for boosting online presence.

• For me, the best blogging platform is WordPress: it’s easy to use, navigate and edit (i.e. A+ in my book).
• Instant messaging on Facebook and the search function on Twitter are tied for my favorite ways to build relationships with social media. Pinterest or LinkedIn might be better for you, but these two methods work most ideally for me.
• My e-mail signature is simple and it’s always been that way: I have two lines of info and a third row of 10 small social media/online icons that link to my online presence, which is courtesy of WiseStamp.
• For me, I don’t have a Facebook business page. Go ahead and bring out your rope to tell me I’m hanging myself. I sincerely believe that your page has to be different than your profile. I believe the key is to ask yourself, what value will your page provide that the average consumer can’t find somewhere else? Provide content that’s worth creating a page over.
• My company has a wonderfully easy way to post to Craigslist that I, slap my hand, haven’t taken advantage of yet. I intend to time-block for Craigslist postings on Mondays.

How long should this all take each day? Good question, my friend. Your blog should be about 15 minutes. Blog about topics/questions your clients have asked you (or advice you wished they listened to),  so it shouldn’t take long to come up with is your post. I have a friend that jots down ideas on scrap paper by his computer so he has material if something isn’t immediately coming to him. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) should be about 30 minutes. Any longer and you’re playing. We’re here to prospect so get in, get connected, get off. Craigslist should be about 45 minutes and I would cut that into 15 minutes at 10 a.m., 1/1:30 p.m., and 6 or 7 p.m. When are people online? After they’ve settled into work, after they’ve gotten back from lunch, and when they get home to unwind.

Just remember to keep it simple, time-block for it daily, and follow-up…and you’ll be on your way creating a successful online presence. Happy Prospecting!

Melissa Krchnak is the assistant team leader for Keller Williams Realty in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Connect with her at kwrancho.com.