By Dustin Brohm
There is a huge amount of attention being paid to Snapchat in real estate right now, and rightfully so. While the buzz can be overwhelming, there are tons of important reasons why REALTORS® should jump on Snapchat. I’m going to discuss one of those reasons here: the one that is literally making me money right now.
After being active on Snapchat for 8-plus months and having built a following of thousands, I humbly consider myself an expert on Snapchat for real estate. With that context in mind, the biggest upside to Snapchat is the opportunity to create relationships with other REALTORS® from around the country and world—it’s not the ability to snap your open houses or market your real estate services directly to people in your city. It’s networking on steroids.
Snapchat is loved by its over 100 million daily users because it promotes and cultivates authenticity and “real-ness” between users. Unlike most other social networks, (cough, cough, Instagram) it’s damn near impossible to fake who you are. Your real personality, sense of humor (or lack thereof), living conditions, and life are shown in all their glory to your Snapchat friends, because on Snapchat, you’re really you. That is what makes it so powerful in terms of networking and building relationships. People are attracted to authenticity.
Related: Snazz Up Your Real Estate Biz with Snapchat
Snapchat is not a text-based platform like other social networks—it’s all visual (photo and video, and audio, too, with the new Chat 2.0 update). That’s it. When you’re having actual conversations with other REALTORS® all day via video snaps, don’t you think that you’d feel closer to them versus just writing back and forth via email, Facebook or Twitter? It’s because of this digital “face-to-face” means of communicating that you can create close relationships with new people very quickly. That’s exactly what happened to me. In a few short months, I have become friends with quite a few REALTORS® from all around the world. I now have real real estate buddies from Edmonton to Berlin, down to Australia, and all over the U.S.
That aside, I have sold more homes and my real estate business has grown as a direct result of the relationships I have made on Snapchat. Because my Snapchat friends know that I’m a REALTOR® in Salt Lake City, I have received some referral business from them. That’s right—Snapchat is bringing me more business. It can for you, too. It's as simple as that.
There are a ton of other reasons to get on Snapchat, but this one has the fastest, most tangible payoff. Start following REALTORS® on Snapchat and start conversations. Look up what we call “the real estate #Snappack”…a group of seven REALTORS® from all around the U.S. who get together from time to time on the Onion Juice Podcast (and soon to be a special #Snappack Facebook Group) to talk about real estate, marketing, social media, and whatever else comes up. Reach out to us on Snapchat and start networking with us. The more you talk with other REALTORS®, the more referrals you’ll eventually get—not to mention, it’s great to be able to learn what is working for other REALTORS® and see how they are doing things.
If you’re a REALTOR® and you’re not actively talking with other REALTORS® on Snapchat, I urge you to start today. There are so many great people out there who may end up becoming close friends. Plus, you never know…you may just sell a bunch more homes in the process!
Add me on Snapchat (username: @dustinbrohm), too! I’d love to meet you and see how we can help each other.
Dustin Brohm is a top Salt Lake City Realtor, Snapchat & social media marketing master, smart home expert, entrepreneur & Founder of SearchSaltLake.com - a website for homebuyers and sellers, and local info on Salt Lake. He also hosts a new web show, Salt Lake Insider. Dustin is an expert on using the newest technology to have the most effective real estate marketing possible for his clients. He has quickly become the go-to authority on Salt Lake City Homes For Sale.
Hi Dustin,
Great article! You are inspiring me to use my snapchat (which never happens). I don’t even know how to add you to my snapchat. When I go to Search – and try to add you – it just says “no results”. Any assistance is appreciated. Thank you!
I can help with that! See his photo to the left of his bio on the bottom? That’s Dustin’s snapcode. Open Snapchat and take a picture of it and his information will pop up!
Thanks Nick! I learned something new. 🙂
No problem! Glad to help 😉
Thanks for the Snap assist there Nick 🙂
Thank you so much Lisa, I appreciate your kind words. Hopefully you were able to add me on Snap by now. Shoot me a Snap message when you get a chance and say Hey
Dear Dustin:
I am a realtor in South, FL that deals in luxury real estate.
I would very much like to speak to you about Snapchat, as well’as other ways we might do business together.
I would welcome speaking to you.
Can we chat??
Betsy Lee Turner, MBA, JD LAW, CIPS
Global Real Estate Advisor
ONE Sothebys Realty
401 Las Olas Blvd. #120
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
305 310-6888
onesothebysrealty.com
It was great talking to you earlier today, Betsy!
I enjoyed reading your articles. I would like to know how to use snapchat
Thank you Donna. Yes, you should learn how to use Snap 🙂 Here’s the secret: YouTube videos. There are countless great YouTube videos on how to use Snap. Devote some time and effort, and a month from now you’ll be a pro
After I uploaded snap chat to my I phone it asked me to log in . It asked further for user name and password which I completed and got message that said log in failed .
I’m actually a huge Snapchat user, but I’m not clear on how realtors would find one another on it? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Finding other Realtors takes some creativity and effort. Do some searching on Twitter for realtors in certain areas and scroll the results looking for Snapcode profile pics. Do the same on FB and Insta. It just takes some digging. You can also hop into some Realtor FB groups and post your snapcode, and ask other Realtors to do the same.
Hello Dustin, I just tried adding you to a new Snapchat account using Nick Caruso’s advice. I hope it works!
Moira Gault
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Newton, MA 02459
Thanks for reaching out Moira. If you added me, shoot me a Snap message and say Hey. I just searched my Added Me list and didn’t see you though
Hi Dustin,
Snapchat looks like the way to go for Realtors, and taking it to the next level in social media. I’m in. As a Realtor in SE Florida, in Palm Beach County, I focus on Country Club Communities, Luxury and Waterfront properties. I welcome your suggestions and advice.
Stu Naar
Luxury Partners Realty
Delray Beach, FL
Realtor & Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
That’s awesome Stu. Luxury and waterfront properties are so easy to show off on Snap… people actually want to see the luxury homes and amazing views of the water. However… make sure you only snap about 60% business content. If you’re all biz, you’ll get tuned out pretty quick by most.
Great information! I am fairly new to Snapchat. What is a Snapcode and how do I find it? lol I don’t even know what mine is to be able to give it out. Also…..I am unable to find you on snapchat on my phone……am I doing something wrong? Thanks Dustin!
Hi Lisa! I know your comment was months ago, my apologies on the slow response. Have you figured out the Snapcodes? Are you on Snapchat yet? If so, and we aren’t friends yet, just add my username: dustinbrohm and send me a snap of how we met