Facebook user behavior
We recently asked whether or not Facebook is a waste of time for Realtors based on new research from the Pew Research and American Life Project regarding Facebook user behavior. It was determined that no, Facebook was not a waste of time but that the highest impact would be with people a Realtor had met in person before and then connected with on Facebook.
Although face to face is still the reigning champion of closing any deal, real estate professionals of all types have flocked to Facebook, some with a better understanding of the culture than others. What is important to note, however, is that the culture is changing as it has become mainstream.
As the site has become mainstream, the “Like” button has become a common use both on the site and from embedded buttons on individual websites and blogs. In fact, the like button is the most popular click on the site with 26% of users saying they like someone else’s content at least once per day, which has become a more common activity than even commenting on another user’s status which now 22% of users do on an average day.
85% of users don’t update their own status daily
Although the primary function of Facebook is to add a status update, only 15% of Facebook users update their own status while 20% comment on another user’s photo on an average day, according to Pew Research.
10 percent send another user a private message.
This tells us that passive use is more common that active use- in other words, users prefer to whiz by and click “like” than to even update their own status. They’d rather creep Facebook photos or other users’ updates and leave a quick comment than report on their own day or events. The only problem with these stats is that if this is common behavior, it could be what some users expect out of a Facebook friend rather than someone who updates dozens of times throughout the day.
Making Facebook work for you:
In other words, the noise ratio of a Realtor trying to promote services and listings could be too high for the average user. We don’t encourage reducing the volume if content is being commented upon and liked (the most common Facebook activity) because it adds value, but reconsidering your noise level on Facebook as either too loud or too quiet could help you gain more traction on the social network.
More Pew Research information to consider:
Joe Loomer
July 1, 2011 at 1:29 pm
I've had some success by just trying to sprinkle in relevant information in between jokes, links, photos, and other truly "social" posts. My point in doing so is not necessarily to hunt for the "like" or "comment" – but to remind my audience that I am a Realtor. They'll ignore the "work" stuff, but won't defriend or worse – hide me – as long as it's no more than one in five or six posts.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride