RISMEDIA, November 4, 2010—Have you ever felt that with every new communication technology you employ you get more work? You’re not alone. Here are a few quick tips from HWA’s online guru to help you take back some of that time and still stay connected.
This is the first in a series of easy techie time savers to help you manage your reputation, brand and social media more efficiently.
Tracy Crane is HWA’s resident search and social media guru. Here are some tips we’d like to share to make your tech more trouble-free.
Chris Kaucnik: What’s the first action you would take to lighten the daily communications load?
TC: I’d connect my individual Facebook profile to my e-mail and/or cell phone for a text message. If you haven’t done this already, select “Account Settings” on Facebook, click “Notifications” and set it to send you an e-mail and/or a text message when someone posts to your wall or comments on something you posted. It will even send you a message when they tag you in a photo or video.
CK: What can you do with Twitter to make it easier?
TC: You can receive messages on your cell from Twitter by logging in and clicking “Settings,” then selecting “Mobile” and following the steps to verify your phone number. Once this is done, you can send tweets via text message on your cell, and also receive direct messages on your cell by selecting “Device Updates” under “Mobile” and choosing “Direct Messages.”
CK: How can agents monitor what’s being said on social media without sitting in front of a computer all day?
TC: One good way is to sign up for the free offering at SocialOomph.com, and setting keyword alerts such as your name, brand name and any key real estate terms you are interested in following. You’ll find out what people are saying on Twitter and it will be sent via e-mail in summary fashion. You can even respond or retweet directly from the alert. How quick and easy is that to engage and monitor your brand?
And if you like applications for your cell, Facebook and Twitter both have applications for iPhones, BlackBerrys and Androids.
Chris Kaucnik is marketing director for Home Warranty of America, Inc. For more information, please visit www.hwahomewarranty.com. Tracy Crane is new media manager for HWA.