I'm torn on this.
I see it's obvious benefits, but at the same time, something seems a bit off about it.
Opinions s.v.p?
Thanks.

For over a year I have had links to my Twitter and FB accounts on my email signature. So far, I haven't had a single 'like' or follow that I can attribute to these links (and these are people with whom I conduct business). Personally, I would not add that to a BC, just my 2 cents.

I wouldn't put on mine because I hardly tweet and I rather focus on my website.

Answer me this:

Are you currently following your insurance agent? Previous Car Salesman? Any other salesman that might be on twitter? If not, why, does it seem to add nothing of value to your life? That's right, nobody is going to follow a Realtor on twitter, except follow-backs. You can tweet until you turn blue and you will never do an extra deal off it. SMART social media stratgy in my opinion is simply talking about work a lot when you update your facebook status.. it simply reminds people you are in the business. my 2c.

Look, since its existence, twitter has been struggling to prove it has an actual purpose, now we can see that it is the p90x of social media:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/19/earlyshow/main20122470.shtml

I think that is the right idea. If you are an acitive Twitter user and tweet alot then go ahead and put it on your business cards.

However, if you do remember that I a potential client gets your card and checks out your tweets to find there is nothing in the last 6 months it is going to look bad for you.

However, as Maui said don't expect that it will generate a lot of new business for you.

worthless waste of time..social media as business building..

and you talking to a guy who has over 1900 fans on my business fanpage..and over 500 twitter followers..
and over 1300 real facebook friends..


buts its fun though...

i don't expect to light the world on fire with twitter alone. it doesn't really take up any time either, but i think it's a decent way to remind people what i do.
i suppose it depends, but i know a lot of people in other industries like chefs, creative types at agencies, finance etc., so it's more just another fairly passive way to remind them.
not just a bunch of spammy stuff.

that said, i sent in the final card and i didn't put it on.

true...but, i think most people find real estate a least a little more interesting than insurance and car sales. :)
at least judging by the dozens of real estate shows on tv.

While I think that stimulating your social networking is always a plus, I have to agree with the consensus here. Having a twitter on your business card won't get you more followers. It might even look a bit tacky.

yeah well,..

build up your social media get thousands of facebook friends and fans
get hundreds of twitter followers,..

then come back and report your return on investment..
dont say its free..cause your time is worth something..

I'll offer a counter-point...

I have used Twitter regularly over the past couple of years, and have found it to be an excellent resource - that is... a resource in reading about interesting topics and solutions to problems, which up to that point, I hadn't even known would be a future challenge in my real estate biz. In that regard, Twitter has most definitely expanded my world and given me a head's up.

When I've had the opportunity to work with and/or actually meet those with whom I tweet, it's amazing to feel the rapport you I've already built, simply through a few Tweets (or few hundred over a longer period). You truly feel as though you know each other already.

Twitter is NOT something agents are going to see an immediate return on. So if that's the need, yes... your time is best spent elsewhere. But for those who are looking to simply participate and network with others (whether they be potential future clients, colleagues or like-minded professionals), I can assure you, it's an excellent tool.

I include it on my business card, because I use Twitter wisely - and it does convey to many that you are quite possibly "connected" in a way that others may not be. Course... this assumes you actually use Twitter! LOL... ;)

whats your ROI? meet any clients? closed any deals? just curious?

I've owned an e-commerce biz for several years, and IMHO... ROI with Twitter is simply not possible to measure, though some may argue otherwise.

I do not believe Twitter is a place where clients are going to be hanging out - and if they are, I highly doubt they want to receive a tweet from an unknown real estate agent out of the blue, simply because they tweeted "I'm pregnant," or "my kitchen sucks," etc. Therefore, I don't agree with "stalking" the tweets of strangers. You have to already have a relationship with them - online, or in person in order to have a meaningful exchange about their potential real estate needs.

There are a lot of social protocol nuances in Social Media - and copious amounts of reverse psychology that MUST be considered. Therefore, like I said previously, Twitter in particular is not a place for most agents to find clients. It can easily turn into a black hole without an understanding of the medium, and a plan.

[quote=lindenmoe][quote=chrisS]true...but, i think most people find real estate a least a little more interesting than insurance and car sales. :)
at least judging by the dozens of real estate shows on tv. [/quote]

yeah well,..

build up your social media get thousands of facebook friends and fans
get hundreds of twitter followers,..

then come back and report your return on investment..
dont say its free..cause your time is worth something.. [/quote]

just because you got nothing out of it doesn't mean someone else might not.
let's face it...if your tweets were anything like how you write on here, it's not surprising that you would get zero roi (as you say).

by the way...what is the investment here anyway.
you will say time.
i'll answer that 2 minutes a day isn't an investment, so any return that may come down the road is a freebie in my opinion.