Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Building Business The Old School Way

Relationships are the cornerstone of any business no matter what industry you happen to call your own. As a mortgage professional, it is essential for me that my clients know they are getting someone they can trust, who will look out for their best interest and communicate all possible options for them. This trust-building becomes even more vital during a down economy when pressures mount and solutions seem small.

Social media and social networking can be great tools but they must be used together with what we like to call "old-school" solutions. Now is the time to get out and hit the road. Let your business contacts know you are, as ever, a reliable source of information. Make sure, potential clients see your face in these times because nothing beats human contact.

Loyalty is the most important step towards building solid business relatinoships and at Kastle Mortgage, we know that nothing can replace the foundations of our connections and we work hard to provide a wide variety of support...from credit consulting to purchasing your dream home, we look forward to helping you through these turbulent times!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Twitter For Business

No matter what your specific industry may be, it is important to know the vital aspects of using Twitter for business. Here are a few quick steps to consider when embarking on branding your Twitter for effective communication:

1. Be Selective: Having 20,000 followers certainly allows you to reach a wide scope of possible clients but what good will it do if you haven't investigated them? Use the search feature to determine the most valid points, seek leaders in your industry and monitor pertinent conversations.

2. Be Social: Interactive not passive communication is key to social media. They don't call it social media for nothing! Comment, favor and follow. To be considered a leader in your select space, make sure you are interacting and not reacting!

3. Spam = Delete: Direct Messages should not be used as tools to spam your followers. If you want potential clients to check out your website, article or participate in any way with you...make sure you've established some sort of initial (real) conversation with them first! Sending an auto message is a sure fire way to be blocked or deleted. If you don't have the time to particiate- hire someone who does!

4. Be Relevant: Pay attention to the trending topics to see what the masses are talking about and find a way to tie it into your intdustry or offer your unique take on the matter. Utilize RSS feeds or news sites to deliever breaking news in your space or to determine relevant subject matter.

5. Have Fun: There is no rule against enjoying what you do for a living! If that comes across in your posts, people will be drawn to follow you. Lighten up and have some fun with it!