In a volatile home buying market, real estate agents must work extra hard to sell homes and assist buyers in finding the perfect property at the right price. With the various methods of promotion available – yard signs, newspaper ads, and the Internet – one shouldn’t ignore the fast growing, and free, avenue into social media. Facebook in particular is an excellent that, if utilized properly, can help you attract potential homebuyers and sales.

Recent studies by ranking sites like Quantcast and Compete place Facebook in the top 5 of most used and visited Web sites in the US alone. That Facebook is set up to parse users into specific “networks”, mainly geographical, is helpful because it can allow you to promote properties to people within your region, while the viral aspect of the social network extends your reach to possible buyers elsewhere in the world.

Once you set up a Facebook account for the purpose of boosting your real estate business, you will want to recruit friends. Encourage visitors to your Web site to join by placing buttons on your site or blog, or anywhere else you have an online presence. Because Facebook now allows vanity URLs you can select a proper tag for yours (like “virginiarealtor” or “isellhomes”, depending on your location and what’s available), it is easier to use the addresses on business cards and print materials. Use the Photos function to upload pictures of available properties you have listed, and import an RSS into your Notes box to run new listings.

For other ways to maximize Facebook to your advantage, you can set up a “fan” page for your agency and invite friends and colleagues to join and share information about the neighborhoods you sell. Join a local group based in your area and become active in the conversations, sharing information on available homes and tips for open houses and home loans. You could also form your own group and provide expert information to people seeking advice on buying and selling homes. In the long run this could prove beneficial to you as people just may contact you to represent them at a later date.

If you’re not connected to Facebook, don’t wait to sign up. As social media grows in popularity and importance, so you can improve your real estate business and exposure through this network.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach homes for sale and downtown Norfolk condos.