Facebook has gained a lot of attention lately as a marketing tool. It was recently announced that 300 million people worldwide now use this social media tool. That’s the entire population of the United States.

The Chicago Tribune last week recounted the story of Tim Ireland, a Chicago area real estate agent who uses Facebook to attract new clients. The agent is happy with social media and says he cannot afford a website (whoops - since I’m a web designer, I guess I shouldn’t say that).

“For me, Facebook works,” Ireland said. “I don’t post listings [of homes] there, but I do talk to 60 to 70 percent of my clients there.” He gets to know people there and builds a relationship of trust.

Another person interviewed, Patrick Shaver, a builder of custom homes, was invited to a Ferrari unveiling through his LinkedIn account and met several people there who became clients. The article talked about other real estate professionals and builders who use these two sites, as well as Twitter.

Another realtor, Kim Kerbis, says her monthly postcard mailings are still worth the expense, but her website is still her deal clincher. “I tell enough about my background so a client might see that we share an interest such as film,” Kerbis said of her site. “That starts a relationship.”

Website Decision

If you had to choose only one, is a social media presence more important than a website? It depends on your industry and your resources. Which do you have more of - money or time? If you have money, you can afford a website. If you have more time, then spend it with social media.

Most businesses need a website because they must display a large amount of information about their product or service in an organized manner. Real estate agents often do not have their own website, since they usually have a profile as part of their franchise’s website. Other businesses, however, would leave a bad impression if they didn’t have a site.

We at TreeFrogClick can help you with your social media and website needs.