In a generation largely influenced by gadgets and social media, catching up with friends and shopping online can now be done with a click of a button. This stands as an opportunity and as well as a threat to business owners and entrepreneurs alike. While some business owners can’t be happier to hop on the bandwagon, others tend to hesitate and even disapprove the thought of bringing their business online. While there’s nothing wrong with sticking to proven and tested techniques, not to mention, avoiding risks, as an entrepreneur, you must go where the people are. And right now, it’s in social media.

Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have now become a staple to business owners’ marketing plan. If you don’t know where to start, look no further, this brief article will walk you through the basic use and advantages of e-commerce.

1. Know your client base.

A huge percent of people nowadays consider social media to be part of their daily routine, no questions asked, but that doesn’t mean that every social platform out there will work for a specific business. For example, while a business-to-business service may be successful in platforms like LinkedIn, it may not gain as much audience in platforms like Facebook and Twitter. So, if an entrepreneur’s target market is elsewhere, then these efforts are practically good-for-nothing.

2. Be social. Engage with your audiences.

Unlike shoppers and home-seekers, social media users don’t usually go on these platforms for the purpose of buying. Their almost-religious act of going online is for the sake of being updated, keeping in touch with friends, and well, to waste precious time procrastinating. So, in order to persuade these people, an entrepreneur must come up with a different approach. Instead of spending resources on building condominium sales leads, focus on developing valuable relationships with a certain client base and these will eventually turn into potential leads.

3. Harness the power of the hashtag.

With the hashtag’s proven ability to boost exposure and attract more audiences, it’s surprising to find that only 24% of tweets contain hashtags. This powerful internet tool not only categorizes a topic into one shelf, it also helps entrepreneurs engage their followers, associate their brand with trends, and even increase brand loyalty.

4. Generate leads through contests and giveaways.

Who doesn't love the thrill of contests and giveaways? Even after years of practicing this age old marketing stunt, throwing contests still works like a charm. And with the help of today's technology such as social media platforms and mobile phones, these contests can now provide businesses with increased engagement. As a matter of fact, new online contests can boost up to 34% in audience reach and can also be magnified up to 80% if the contest also runs on mobile.

Once you have found a platform that is appropriate for your product and have been posting quality content on a regular basis, rest assured, you’ll be a step closer to your goals. Bring your real estate business to the hustle and bustle of social media networks, create an authoritative voice, and profit from the opportunities of this modern generation.