How much time do you spend on Social Networking? How are you managing it? Here are a few ideas I have found to work. I feel like I am learning everyday. I have received so much great advice from others, and I thought this would be a great space to create a list of "best practices". What is working for you? What have you learned? Let's build a special Multifamily Insiders list we can all use. Sharing with others is the best part of social networking.

I will get the party started with seven suggestions, three now and four more in part two on Friday.

1. Where do your SN email announcements go? I had it mixed with my business email and it got crazy! I now have one account that is dedicated to social networks. You can set up a free account on yahoo, gmail or other service that is purely for social networks then adjust your settings to match. This electronically organizes your social networking news into a communication central. I delete as I read and only go to the social site to respond. I often just review my messages as I "check in" to see what is going on and then go on with my day. I don't feel compelled to respond in real time. Trying to respond in real time will EAT TIME! I have stopped leaving it open on my desktop and "peaking".  I don't know about you but it is just too tempting. CLOSE THE FILE!!! I find that if I get on the actually sites they draw me in and an hour is gone before I know it!
2. As an organization, vendor, or management firm using these sites to communicate with customers, develop a content strategy that delineates the type, tone and frequency of your updates and tweets. Status updates, tweets and all communication should be created, reviewed and approved prior to posting. Create an SN Manger as the point person to manage your content strategy. The SN Manager should submit a list of links, ideas, social events, communications and status updates for social networking for the month in advance. This list could be generated by a collaborative ideas session with managers, leasing and others. Create a stream of information in your firm for people to submit ideas and discoveries for posing and encourage everyone to participate. All these are reviewed, researched, edited and approved. Don't ever post a link to a blog you have not read, or a Youtube video you have not seen, no matter how trusted the source! This allows the person doing the posts to work from an agreed upon communication that represents your brand and follows a clear and calculated marketing strategy. Allowing people to just post randomly is a mistake being made by many. If this site represents your firm, you wouldn't let someone just write the copy on your home page as they thought of it! SN communications represent you, your firm, culture, and mission statement.
3. Set an alarm, make an appointment, create an SN time of the day, and be sure it is scheduled with a start and end time. I limit my time like I would a child with TV. If not, I can spend way too many minutes browsing, seeing what people are sharing. I have 1200 friends on one of my facebook pages and I am watching 400 apartment communities' posts right now for research. It takes a good amount of time to scroll through the day and see what has been posted. I intentionally communicate a lot with my friends, send congratulations, good job, Hi - Hello, wish I were there, hit "Like" and stay interactive. I think people communicate with the ones who communicate with them. If people don't make many comments on your posts, you should try reaching out to them more!

I shared - now it is your turn.

DO TELL!!!!  : )

AMAZE ME! : )

Toni Blake

TotallyToni.com

National Speaker, Author, Comedienne & Stupendous Blogger!

PS Thanks Multifamily Insiders for this great space to share ideas!!!!! I heart you!

PSS If you company is looking for training or advice on Social Networking I am building a list of educational programs and services.  Let me know if I can help!