How Much Do You Care About Your Online Profile?
Posted in California Real Estate Bloggers By Stefan Swanepoel, Sunday, October 4, 2009.Are you listening in on the conversation currently being held about you? You should. They may be talking about your company, your brand and your service?
This isn't behind your back, no, it's in the open. Right there on the web, in the chat room, in the forum and on one of the many social media networks spanning the globe.
Time you got in touch with a rapidly growing information base. With each passing the information is growing exponentially and it’s vital that you get in on the dialogue.
Here are some of the online media you should be monitoring regularly:
• Search Engine Results
• Press Releases
• News Services/Group
• Blogs
• Social Media Networks
• Video Releases
• Podcasts
• Resource sites such as Wikipedia
• Q & A sites such as Yahoo Answers
You don’t think you have the time to check it out. No problem. Set up automated listening posts that serve as monitors and then report back to you with the information of where, who and what was said.
Google Alerts is simple example of such as online tool that allows you to set up alerts around keywords. When these words then appear in websites, press releases, blogs, discussion forums, etc. Google will send you an email with a link to the exact spot.
Cool, right?
So what should you be tracking? Well for starters how about items such as:
• Your personal name
• Your trademarks
• Your company name
• Your competitor.
• Your franchise brand
• Your products and services
• Your existing key customers
• Potential customers you are courting
• Key markets you operate in or wish to operate in
• Etc, etc,
The list is really almost endless. But be careful because you may be flooded with too much information. The internet connected us all together and now social media is making the conversation evolve into the most important feature since email.
So, do you career enough about your online profile that you are going to get in on the discussion now?
SHARING SUGGESTIONS:
Do you know of an idea, service or app that readers could use to monitor information online?

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Submitted by Deb Agliano (AKA DebOnTheWeb) on October 4, 2009 - 8:29am.
I do use Google Alerts, but I find that www.StepRep.com does a better job and searches Twitter as well.
~~~
Deb Agliano (AKA DebOnTheWeb)
ERA Andrew Realty
www.DebOnTheWeb.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DebOnTheWeb
Submitted by Jason Berman on October 4, 2009 - 5:35pm.
Stefan, check out "Ego" in the iTunes App Store. Cheers, JB
Submitted by Stefan Swanepoel on October 5, 2009 - 9:29pm.
Thanks Deb. Great recommendation.
Submitted by Gina Bendel on October 6, 2009 - 6:49pm.
I have also received great results with StepRep.com. The 'back end' of my personal website offers an excellent tracking source as well.
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BendelBeemTem
Gina Bendel
Realtor Licensed in the State of Oregon
Re/Max Integrity
541-918-4026
Submitted by Robert Wiebusch on October 7, 2009 - 9:02am.
We use Tweetdeck, the Buddyfeed app for iPhone and a lot of Google Alerts to keep tabs on our rep and also what is going on with our competition. Often times we are tipped off about what they are up to before it is official just by following members of their organization or setting up the right alerts.
Submitted by Stefan Swanepoel on October 7, 2009 - 10:23am.
@Gina - Already following you on Twitter- have you connected with me on StepRep?
@Robert - Agree. Tweetdeck is a great app. Thanks.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on October 7, 2009 - 10:33am.
The big gun of topic/reputation/brand management in social media is Radian6. It's not a small financial commitment, however.
If there's interest out there I'd be happy to do a thorough real-estate focused review of it in my column.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
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