How using social media is like going on a blind date

Using social media is kind of like going on a blind date.

That might seem like a crazy analogy but think about it – you are trying to establish a relationship with somehow you don’t know.  And somehow in a very short space of time you are trying to create a connection.

Northfields-Best-Social-Media-Gold-Award-Lettings-Agency-of-the-Year-2014

Northfields recently won a Gold Medal for Best Social Media at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards 2014

And here is where the blind date parallel really becomes important.  

Have you ever been on a blind date where your date does absolutely nothing but talk about themselves?  You’ve had their entire life story, but you haven’t got a word in edgewise?

If you have experienced that “me, me, me” type of conversation you’ll know it leaves you desperately hoping your phone will ring giving you the opportunity to make a hasty exit before the starters have been consumed!

So given that you are trying to build a relationship with someone on TwitterFacebook or Google+ (albeit of a very different nature) why would you use the same “me, me, me” approach?  The result will only be the social media equivalent of having your date leave before the meal is over – they’ll unfollow you!

How do you make people like you enough to stick around?  It’s easy.  You talk about them more than yourself.  And you always give more than you take.

At Northfields we use a 4:1 “giving ratio” on social media.  That is, we give 4 times for every one mention of ourselves.

So what do I mean by “giving” on social media? Giving could be something as simple as a retweet or reply on Twitter, a +1 or share on Google+ or a like or share on Facebook.  But the more you give, the more you tend to get, so start finding out how to give in more meaningful ways.

Here are a few of the ways we give at Northfields.  

  1.  We invite guest bloggers to share content on our blog and link to their sites and social media accounts.  We give them plenty of social media support for the post, exposing them to a whole new audience.  We also reciprocate by offering to guest blog in return, providing our contacts with fresh new content and exposing our brand to their audience.  You scratch my back…
  1. When someone asks for advice or recommendations on social media we offer our suggestions.  It might have nothing to do with estate agency but we’re happy to share our favourite Thai restaurants or where to find the best personal trainer in Ealing.  It establishes us as helpful and approachable area experts.
  1. At Northfields we like to be a hub for connecting everyone in our community.  Much like you should do when you network in real life, try introducing people who might be able to help or support each other.  For example, when we began offering discounts to members of Ealing Privilege Card we introduced Gymboree Ealing through social media who now also offer a discount on the card.  It helps all of us.  We also host #EalingHour an hour dedicated to our local area on Twitter where anyone using the hashtag can join in and “meet” other people working or living in the area.  As hosts we stay focussed on helping others by retweeting, asking questions, offering help or connecting two people who might have a common interest.

At the end of the day, people do business with people they like.  And people like those who give more than they take.  It’s a good philosophy in life, it’s a good philosophy in business and it’s a good philosophy in social media.

How can we help you?

Want some free advice? Call us on 020 8799 3371 or email us. Alternatively, we’re happy to help on Twitter @northfieldslive or via our Facebook page. We’re property experts but we’re here for whatever you need.  What matters to you, matters to us.

Who are we?

is different from other estate agents. From our modest beginnings in 1986 with one office, two people, and lots of big ideas, we’ve become the leading estate agent in West London. Today, our family-run business boasts five thriving branches, with three offices in Ealing, an ever expanding trophy cabinet, a reputation for getting results and for giving our customers outstanding customer service. Northfield recently won the Gold Medal for Best Social Media at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards 2014.

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Why Industry Matters in First Aid Training

First aid might seem like the same everywhere, but in reality, different jobs come with different risks. A warehouse worker, a school teacher, and a care home assistant are unlikely to face the same kind of emergencies. That’s why some first aid training is designed to suit the job it’s being used for. When the…
Read More
Breaking News

Newcastle and Edinburgh commuter belts beat London

The latest research from The Property DriveBuy has found that Newcastle and Edinburgh rank as the best commuter belts in Britain, with all surrounding local authorities offering a more affordable average house price than the cities themselves, whilst Liverpool ranks as the worst. The Property DriveBuy analysed current house prices across 12 major British cities,…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 16/10/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Tlyfe and Eleos Life partnership brings embedded insurance protection to UK Renters In a first for the UK rental sector, Tlyfe (powered by OpenBrix) has partnered with digital insurer Eleos Life by adding embed life and income protection directly into its tenant app. Instead of…
Read More
Breaking News

Sellers of larger homes make £122.5k average capital gains, crushing the gains from flats

Sellers of detached homes made £122,500 in capital gains when selling their home over the last 18 months while flats yielded an average gain of £27,000 Sellers in England and Wales made an average gain of £72,000, a 38 per cent increase in value from when they bought the property The average seller in London…
Read More
Breaking News

London’s second homeowners face £16,446 CGT bill

London’s second homeowners face £16,446 capital gains tax bill, but prime London sellers escaping unscathed The latest research from Enness Global has found that whilst the London property market remains subdued, the city’s second homeowners could still be hit with significant costs when exiting their investments, with the average seller now facing a capital gains…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Estate Agent Talk

Rightmove launches new webinar to equip agents with market leading insights and business-boosting strategies

Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, is launching a new webinar to equip agents with the latest market intelligence and profit-boosting strategies to accelerate sales and improve conversion rates. The webinar titled, ‘From pitch to profit: Competing on more than just fee’, will take place live on Friday 17th October at 1pm, exclusively for Rightmove…
Read More