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The Best Time to Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in 2016 [infographic]

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Source: The Science of Social Timing Part 1: Social Networks

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One of the Best Things That's Worked For Us on Facebook

I offered the following comment the other day on the article: Facebook Marketing Ideas for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses. (And so this ends up being an example of turning a comment into a blog post as well.)

My comment had to do with interaction on Facebook and what I've found has worked for us as a company. I spell it out on in the comment.

This isn't rocket science. I'm sure someone else has described it somewhere else. But here goes. I'm convinced if you follow this pattern, you will surely increase your Facebook friend participation as well as keep your business in front of more eyes.

Here's the comment:

WHAT'S WORKED FOR US:  ASKING A QUESTION

One of the best things that's worked for us is asking a question on our Facebook "like" (fan) page and offering poll choices along with it. A recent Halloween question was especially fun:

What was your favorite Trick or Treat candy when you were growing up?

1. M and M's
2. Tootsie Pop (Roll)
3. Candy Corn (that was mine)
4. Other (say in comments)

It always works well when you have the "Other" category. Gets lots of responses.

We also ask our question of the 1,500 people on our Facebook Friend page.

The ratio (so far) is about 6% response.

I send out a question approximately once every two weeks.

Try it. You'll like it. :)

(To see the question on our Facebook page, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Mistakes People Make with Facebook (plus 1 bonus)
• My Social Media Mistake

The Time When a Facebook Question Made My Day

I was literally beaming as I stood there in the family room telling my wife about what happened to me at work. No, the boss didn't pat me on the back or give me a raise or anything like that. Rather, I posted a question on the company Facebook page and got a lot of responses. That's why I was so happy. (It's the "little things" that make a social media specialist's day.)

And it's not like I hadn't tried it before - using the Facebook question polling app - except I didn't get much interaction on previous attempts. And so I was a little leery about trying it again. (Yeah, rejection is a big issue even online. "Will anyone respond?" Isn't that something about us?)

Despite my fears I moved forward. And I crafted my question (like the gurus tell you to) with my audience in mind (REALTORS®) and leaving lots of breathing room "between the lines." My question: Do you think it's okay for a homeowner to walk away from their home (loan)? (Click on the link or picture above to add your vote and response. "Like" us, too, while you're at it. Okay?)

The question was definitely contemporary, thought provoking (agree?) and would reach into the hearts of people (at the level of their values and philosophies of life). And so it had all the earmarks of potential success.

My next step was to ask the question of all my Broker's friends on his friends page. (I manage the site for him.) Facebook allows you to do that, but it's a little tedious since you have to choose one by one.

My last step was to close my eyes. (Not really.)

Instead, I kept them open and was pleasantly surprised as the emails began rolling in. The poll results: 22 "yes" versus 11 "no" (at the time of this post). There were 26 comments. (To each one who took the time I "thank you" very much.)

And so this is the time when a Facebook question made my day. (Not a Facebook question, but fellow real estate professionals responding to it made my day.)

My plan going forward is to post a question maybe every other week (again, the gurus tell you to not overdo it).

Do you think you might give a Facebook question a try (if you haven't already)?

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Mistakes People Make with Twitter (plus 1 bonus)
• 10 Mistakes REALTORS® Make Doing Real Estate (plus 1 bonus)

7 Ways to Get Noticed on Facebook (Mari Smith video)

(If you can't see this video, click here.)

10 Mistakes People Make with Facebook (plus 1 bonus)

Lightning fast read meant to make you think...

10 Mistakes People Make with Facebook:

1. Use it as another static website.
2. Neglect "Liking" others (business pages) and commenting.
3. Do business promotion on their Friend page.
4. Cuss a lot (to impress? / be accepted?).
5. Post status updates every time they breathe.
6. Spend too much time and neglect offline relationships.
7. Broadcast when they're out of town.
8. Publish their scores on games.
9. Want their business page to be an overnight success (money-maker).
10. Forget to offer incentives (free eBook, exclusive content, surprise drawing, etc) to gain "Likes" (on business page).

BONUS: Don't pause to think twice before posting. (Are you really sure you want everybody to see that?)

(Facebook Logo via pixabay)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Mistakes People Make with Twitter (plus 1 bonus)
• 10 Mistakes REALTORS® Make Doing Real Estate (plus 1 bonus)

12 Twitter Conference Takeaways

I attended the 140 Characters (Twitter) Conference in Twain Harte yesterday (Tuesday, May 24, 2011). I thought it might be beneficial to offer a short recap of the things I learned. And so I've put together just a few of the overall theme points I remember off the top of my head (from the speakers who spoke):

12 Twitter Conference Takeaways: 

• If you don't learn the new media, you will be left behind.
• It takes TIME to make social media work.
• No one is (quote) "reading" anymore.
• Video is huge.
• All politics is local global.
• Don't rely on one media. (Diversify.)
• It is important to ENGAGE your audience (versus broadcasting to / spamming them).
• Sometimes we're too close to our business to see things as they really are.
• QR (quick response) codes offer endless possibilities.
• The online presence will never replace the personal touch. (Not an excuse to neglect the former.)
• Tutorials abound to help you get started. (oneforty.com; socialmediaexaminer.com)
• Sometimes you just need to jump in and see where it leads you.

You might also be interested in:

Twitter "Rules"
You might be a tweet-a-holic if (12 signs)

Snow Cave Survival

When my wife was growing up she needed to learn how to build a snow cave. (She grew up in Minnesota.) The kids in her grade school class were each given a can, a candle, a candy bar and matches. Of course, the can was for digging, the candle was for light and warmth, the candy bar was for food and the matches (well). Beyond that, you could use the can for holding snow and the candle for melting snow. You would then have water to drink. It's amazing what you can do with the simplest things in order to survive.

And I wonder if we haven't become too complicated. I mean, we need a Blackberry and an iPad and a Facebook page and a QR code reader, etc. Let me just cut to the chase. Do we? Do we really need so many things to function? This short post isn't meant to be a poo poo against the use of technology. Instead, it's a call to reflection especially for those of us who are struggling economically. You really can do a lot with a can, a candle, a candy bar and matches. (I'm speaking metaphorically.) What do you already have as resources? Maximize.

What If You Lost It All? (Social Media Meltdown)

What if you woke up one morning, turned on your computer, opened up your browser only to find you had no visitors to your blog or comments. (They couldn’t comment. They didn’t come.) Oh no. Then you went on over to Twitter to see your @ replies and, sure enough, no replies there either. And no retweets. And no direct messages. (That last one isn’t so bad. We all hate those auto DM's.) “Well, at least there’s still Facebook,” you think to yourself. And off you go. But there it’s the same story. No writings on your wall. No friend requests. Nothing. Would you be down? Would you be broken? Would you really be the worse for wear? We allow things (including social media) to define who we are and we’re not the sum total of our things (or our social media experience), let alone what we do (day-to-day wise) or our bank account balance. We’re more than that. Much more. (Flickr picture by Matt Hamm)

I Just Don't Get It

I just don't get it. Have you ever heard anyone say that? Have you ever said it yourself? I just don't get it ~ politics. I just don't get it ~ my weird neighbor across the street. I just don't get it ~ my boss or coworker or spouse, etc. I just don't get it ~ Twitter or Facebook or blogging. I just don't get it ~ this. I just don't get it ~ that. (Fill in the blank.)

And usually people (we) say that and it's an indication that they (we) really don't want to try and understand whatever it is that's the issue or new thing. Agree?

And what if the next time rather than turning the new thing off (or that person or persons) with "I just don't get it," instead we said, "You know. I'm gonna check this thing out. I'm gonna try to understand," or if it's a person or people group, "I'm gonna try to understand them"?

You might be surprised. It just might be a help to whatever you've got going in the long run.

Mother Lode Real Estate "Must Reads" for June

This blog post is the next in a continuing monthly series where I'll pass on some information of interest that you may not get the opportunity to see otherwise. (Links to the other 19 posts in this series at the end of this one.) It won't take you long to check out the four articles covering real estate, social media and more.

How to Use Your MLS System for Growing Profits Every Week, Month and Year… from the Real Estate Marketing Blog. You've got your buyers set up to receive automatic email information about the latest properties. Why not do it with your sellers and sphere of influence, too? Some great ideas that you may not have thought of and the benefits of implementing them.

The Good and The Bad of NAR Cheerleading by Tom Royce on the Real Estate Bloggers site. A hard-hitting, no holds barred commentary on the National Association of Realtors' approach to communicating. A must read.

Own or Rent Your Roof by Maya Paveza. A great discussion on the in and outs of home ownership and what every potential buyer needs to know and may not always think about. Maybe you could put something together like this for your own consumer base and include it in an e-newsletter?

How Real Estate Pros are Using Social Media for Real Results by Erica Swallow at mashable.com. You'll find a number of examples here of companies using social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to engage the online consumer.

More Mother Lode Real Estate "Must Reads":
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
Dec 2009
Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sept 2009
Aug 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
Dec 2008
Nov 2008

(The author of the Sugar Pine Realty blog does not necessarily endorse or disapprove of the thoughts included via the above links.)

5 Signs You Might Be Spending Too Much Time with Social Media

(Disclaimer: I have no understanding as regards the topic I'm writing about?)

Oh sure, I'm in charge of a real estate blog, a couple of Twitter sites (@blogboy2 and @sugarpinerealty) and a Facebook page (click here) (not counting my personal life). And, of course, I don't have to hardly do anything and readers, followers and friends just automatically appear like magic~thousands and thousands of them. Doesn't it work that way for you?

All kidding aside, if you want to enjoy the many benefits of social media it necessarily requires a reasonable investment of time and energy, thought and engagement. Right? And like anything else, if you're not careful you can begin spending too much time and energy, thought and engagement with social media. (Naaawww?) It's our natural tendency as humans.

And so where's the point that enough's enough and by passing it you're going overboard? How does a person determine that he/she maybe needs to take a break, step back and "smell the roses"?

Well, to help you consider your own life and whether or not you're out of balance in this area, here are...

5 signs you might be spending too much time with social media: (what would you add?)

Sign #1: You're up at 3 a.m. pacific time usa for an early start on #followfriday and to see how many shout outs/mentions you're getting. (You really couldn't sleep. At least that's what you tell your wife.)

Sign #2: You're wondering if it was something you said and that's why people unfollowed/unfriended you. (Are "unfollow" and "unfriend" words?)

Sign #3: For some unknown reason your twitter account got suspended and you feel like a close acquaintance or loved one just died.

Sign #4: Reading timelines and/or tweeting have made you late for an appointment (dinner, work, doctor, etc.) more than once.

Sign #5: It's 3 a.m. again (well going on 4:00 now) and you're finishing a post on spending too much time with social media.

Facebook in 5 Minutes (by Mari Smith)

You've got a Facebook page (or maybe you're thinking about getting one). The bottom line is Mari Smith knows it all. No wonder she's dubbed the "Pied Piper of the Online World." All you need to know about how Mari runs her Facebook page in the following video. Worth it! (Follow Mari on twitter here: @marismith.)

The Social Media Revolution (video)

The business landscape has changed. And some will be left behind who don't consider including social media in their business approach and practice. The following video (thanks Socialnomics™) is really a call to action in this regards (in my view). Do you have a business presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc? And if you do, does it look like you're home? Is your bio complete and are you investing time connecting with people? Pretty soon much of the business done will come directly or indirectly from the relationships one has established online. It's where the people are. You need to be there, too. The video is a definite worthwhile for all. (FYI: At the bottom right corner of the player, if you click on the second button from the right, the video will expand to full screen.)

Social Media Starter for Realtors®

With so much talk about social media and its uses for business these days it's hard to know where to begin (if you happen to be thinking about beginning). And as it relates to real estate, how might you use Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc., to enhance your own personal business strategy (and make money, too)? Well, to try and help you cut through all the chatter, and if you happen to be wondering about this, the following video (by Paul Montelongo) is a good, initial step in the right direction. And even if you don't do anything other than what happens to be this gentleman's third point to "research competitors," I think it'll be worth your while. So what are other realtors in the local area doing with social media to gain buyers and sellers and set themselves apart as the go-to professional? To find out just google a person's name and see what they have going online. You better believe that buyers and sellers are doing the same thing in their search for a realtor. And so if they google your name versus another's and they find that the other person has his listings not only on a website, but on Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn and ActiveRain, who do you think they will choose as their representative? I know the measuring stick is much more complicated than that. I'm just trying to make a point. The video is definitely worth the time at just over six minutes.

Tough Love About Websites

How many of you out there have a website? I see that hand. I see that hand. I see that hand. Okay, hands down. Next question. How many of you think your website is getting a lot of traffic/visitors/viewership? A few hands? Maybe? The truth is, when it comes to the question of visits to one's website, probably more people than not don't know how much traffic they're getting (unless they're a computer geek like me). So let me fill you in. And this is the tough love part of this post. You're likely not getting very much traffic/many visitors to your website at all - and especially if you're not investing any time or hard work (underline those last two words) in the promotion of your website (especially online). It's kind of like listing a mansion in Big Hill. (For those of you from out of the area, Big Hill is equal to - no offense to people who live there - the boondocks. But I digress.) And frankly, your website could be the best thing since sliced bread, but if you don't tell anybody about it, no one's gonna know it even exists let alone visit it. This is where social media comes in. Are you on Facebook with your site building up a friendship base? Are you on Twitter with your site building up a follower base? (And there are other social media options to consider and use, too.) These great (and free) applications are places on the internet where you can communicate who you are, what you have to offer and allow people to see a personal side of you. The fringe benefit is you're able to offer a greater audience the opportunity to visit your website - thus the potential for increased traffic. One final and personal thought: Website traffic statistics are overblown (in my opinion). I'd rather have one visit to a website that produced one closed escrow than 1 million visits that produced none. Anybody agree with me? I see that hand. I see that hand. I see that hand.