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By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek

Some called it a passing phase, others said it wouldn't last, many thought it was the new 'thing' and that some other new tech phoenomenan would bypass it but no no no. How wrong they were. Social media is here to stay my friends and prepare yourselves for it to get stronger and stronger. You have been warned.

• It Can Help Your Business. Social networks are designed to imitate and copy real-world connectivity and information-sharing. They're designed to add to, but not replace social functions where people get to know each other. Google+ allows you to share media and data with everyone, or simply with your chosen Circles.
• It’s Different. Everything you do inside stays inside. Second, Facebook and LinkedIn both adopt more of an "elite" model, which means that you have to know people to gain knowledge. That's why so many companies are pushing for "likes”, retweets, and shares.
• Get In Now. Now’s the time to start! Simply put, it's important to take action on Google+ right now. Get familiar with the features, start building and nurturing connections and learn how to share and you'll be ahead of the pack.

• Measuring social media impact. One method of using these reports is to gauge the instant impact of social media. Whenever a new blog is posted, a tweet is sent out. With Real-Time, we see the immediate impact to site traffic.
• Campaign measurement
  Another way to use Real-Time is to make sure campaign tracking is accurately implemented before launching a campaign. When preparing to launch a campaign it’s crucial to make sure your measurement plan is working before you start driving visitors to the page. With the Real-Time reports you learn almost instantly whether you’re getting the data you want in Google Analytics.
• Accessing Real-Time. You’ll find the Real-Time reports only in the new version of Google Analytics. If you’re not already using the new version, you can start by clicking the “New Version” link in the top right of the screen. Real-Time reports are in the Dashboards tab (though they will move to the Home tab in the updated interface next week). You will have access to Real-Time reports if you are an Administrator on your Analytics account, or if you have access to a profile without profile filters. Real-Time does not support profile filters.
  
  Currently, the lucky few have access to Google Analytics in Real-Time, however in the coming weeks everyone will have access. For the next few weeks, the remainder of us will just have to be patient. We’d love to hear about how you are using (or planning to use) Real-Time, so tell us about it in the comments section!

There are so many reasons to use social media if you’re in the real estate industry. The greatest one of all is simple. Your current and potential clients are already there, and some of them may already be shopping. A social media presence makes it easy for people to be in touch with you on their terms, “opting-in” to your messaging by liking your Facebook page, following you on Twitter, or subscribing to your blog.

Up-to-the-minute numbers prove mobile marketing isn't falling to the wayside, and won't be any time soon. And where inbound marketing is concerned, some of the key mobile data is central to how people are using their phones to gain new information. Recent studies shows that people are gradually using their mobile phones to access content on browsers, apps, and social networks:

• Start with a plan:  It’s so simplistic, isn’t it? But it’s so important to map out how you’re going to entice your target audience on social media.  Why are you engaging, who are you engaging with and, what value do you bring to the proverbial table?
• Choose a handle. Choose wisely: This is key since it is how people will know you on social media. This handle is most often connected to a business.  It’s best to avoid using your personal account, since the information you would share with a friend probably differs to what you would share in a business relationship. 
• Once you get started, don’t stop:  By planning what you will share in advance, it considerably speeds up your process of publishing content and reduces the quantity of work you need to do.  Writing posts, finding links and building tweets happens a whole lot quicker if you focus on your chosen subject.  When do you plan to post? You’ll keep your customers happy if you blog every day. Be reliable.
• Create a value-added relationship: Your followers are following you for a reason, and that reason is because you bring them informative posts which they want to read. Test posts to verify what “value” is, but a starting point is something with a link to useful content.  Bring your followers useful content and they will remain loyal.  A “no post without a link” rule is a sensible starting point.
• Be open and approachable:  If people reach out to you directly, answer them. Be cordial. It’s easy.  Thank them for retweets and sharing your posts.  They repost your information, because they find it valuable.  Appreciate that and respect it.
• Limit the selling – It’s not about you, it’s about them. Talk about your product when applicable, but be very sure to balance that with other information which is not central to your product.
• Install social sharing icons: Making it easy for visitors to your website to share your content can significantly increase how far and fast your content reaches the masses.