Twitter.

You have probably heard the name if you spend any amount of time on the internet at all. I don’t want to describe Twitter so I will let the experts at Webware do that for me:

“Twitter is an online service that enables you to broadcast short messages to your friends or “followers.” It also lets you specify which Twitter users you want to follow so you can read their messages in one place.

Twitter is designed to work on a mobile phone as well as on a computer. All Twitter messages are limited to 140 characters, so each message can be sent as a single SMS alert. You can’t say much in 140 characters. That’s part of Twitter’s charm.”

Ok, so I hope you get it but, for those of you who need a bit more; check this out. It’s a video by Lee LeFever at the CommonCraft Show and will walk you through Twitter as well.

We aren’t here today for a “how to” though are we? No. We are here to discover how to use Twitter as a lead generating app for mortgage related business! The next sentence is the most crucial part of this entire post. Are you ready?

It doesn’t work that way.

Mortgage generated leads from Twitter will be few and far between. Twitter will be best used by Loan Originators as a way to reach out and connect. Connect with the marketing guru (Chris Brogan) in Massachusetts. Connect with the Globetrotting Entrepreneur (Gwen Bell) down the street. Connect with the genius mortgage broker (Ricardo Bueno) who HAS received business through Twitter. Connect with the Agent right down the street.

Christopher Penn, in the interview found here, describes customers less as consumers and more as connections. The more we connect in authentic transparent relationships with those we meet in the Twittersphere, the more comfortable we become sharing that authenticity with our clients. We begin to bring transparency back into an industry that for the past decade has been shrouded in secrecy.

I know what some of you are thinking; yeah but what about this guy? He broadcasts rates and he’s sure to get “deals” that way. He might but, he’s missing the point entirely. He heard about Twitter ands asked the question “how?” “How can I implement this new technology called Twitter into my mortgage business?” “How can I turn Twitter into a lead churning killer application?” He then grabbed a username and threw himself into the fray. You couldn’t ask to be more commoditized!

The question we have to ask ourselves before jumping on the Twitter-wagon is: “Why?”

“Why am I thinking about using Twitter?”

IF your answer is “because everyone else is doing it;” well then that’s not good enough. If your answer is “I want to discover new connections” you might be on the right track. If that’s the case follow me and we’ll figure this thing out together.

Follow? I have to follow people.

Yes, that’s the terminology Twitter uses for individuals who connect with someone else. Want to know more about how? Click here.

So you want to connect with someone else but, you are a bit shy. No problem. For the most part there exists an unspoken rule in the Twittersphere “if you follow someone, they will follow you.” Start the people I follow, click the small gray follow button under their name and away you go.

Listen to what others are saying and when the conversation is relevant to you, or you see a stray remark fly through Twitter jump in and comment. We’re all actually waiting for you to do so. When you add your voice to the “noise” in Twitter, you lend your creativity, your expertise, your attitude, to the rest of us. Who knows? Someone may need your comment at the exact moment you “tweet” it out.

Twitter Etiquette is saying thank you!

When someone follows you, take the 15-30 seconds out of your busy life to say “thanks for the follow” through a direct message. I discovered this the fun way by being the individual thanked. Read my post here for the enlightenment that followed (no pun intended).

One more thing: Don’t fake it!

You aren’t here to impress. You are here to be yourself and connect with others. That being said I would recommend you work out some kind of Twitter mix. In other words while you don’t want every little tweet to be about rates and the market, don’t lose focus of what you do. You are a mortgage originator! Be proud of that. I try to make sure that I have about a 50/50 mix of work related to personal tweets. For every shout out to Bernanke I might send out a link to a weird YouTube video. Feel me? Nice.

Next week I will nail down Active Rain. Yes, Active Rain, I am coming for you.

Sean Nelson
Author of Got Linkedin

Sean Nelson, the author of Got Linkedin, gives us some incredible insight into a few little known ways to garner referral partners from Linkedin. We learn 5 things to do immediately to “pimp out” out our Linkedin profile and 5 common mistakes to avoid! Oh, and what’s this… a discount on the e-book for the Mad Mortgage Community?! Nice…

For Sean’s full Bio check out his Linkedin Page!

Subscribe in ITunes!
Download the MP3 Here! (Right-click and choose save target as…)

Show Notes:

• Running Time: 37:12
• Audio comment line: Sound off and let your voice be heard by the Mad Mortgage World Community at +1 303-468-0570
• Please send in questions, comments, suggestions, snide remarks, kudos to iammad@madmortgageworld.com
• As always you can connect with your Host Daniel Martin via:
• 1. Twitter
• 2. Linkedin
• 3. Facebook
• Sean’s Linkedin Profile
• Sean Nelson’s Blog
• Get the E-Book at the Mad Mortgage World Special Price!
• Score your Linkedin Profile
• Sean recommends these blogs!
• 1. Scott Allen’s Blog
• 2. Chris Rollyson’s Executive Guide to LinkedIn
• 3. Peter Nguyen’s LinkedIn User Manual
• 5 things you must do today on your Linkedin Profile by Sean Nelson
  • 1. Be Active - Linkedin is just a tool, you have to use it.
  • 2. Contribute - You have to give AND receive!
  • 3. Take it Offline! - Linkedin is a wonderful way to spark a “warm” connection.
  • 4. Build Credibility - Ask and Answer Questions!
  • 5. Research Alliance Partners - Search and you will Find
• 5 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid on your Linkedin Profile by Sean Nelson
  • 1. Failing to detail your profile - Don’t give them the wrong impression!
  • 2. Failing to go offline - Linkedin is just an enhancement not a replacement.
  • 3. Forgetting to spell check - This is business!
  • 4. Doing Nothing - It will not come to you if you build it!
  • 5. Taking without Giving Back - Connect, connect, connect!

Read Daniel Rothamel’s Full Bio Here

Subscribe in ITunes!
Download the MP3 Here! (Right-click and choose save target as…)

Show Notes:

• Running Time: 42:50
• Audio comment line: Sound off and let your voice be heard by the Mad Mortgage World Community at +1 303-468-0570
• Please send in questions, comments, suggestions, snide remarks, kudos to iammad@madmortgageworld.com
• As always you can connect with your Host Daniel Martin via:
  • • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Facebook
• Daniel Rothamel’s Web Site
• Twitter
• Follow Daniel Rothamel on Twitter
• Twitter Cheers Video
• Brightkite

Like many of you, I am constantly searching for ways to be a better person. I stumbled upon Twitter about 2 months ago and fell in love with the idea of such a connected community of eclectic personalities. I am hooked. I have met some great people already: @tcar, @realestatezebra, and many others. This allowed me to reach outside comfort zones previously defined by email, facebook, linkedin, etc. and partake in a global conversation.

With me so far? Good, I will continue.

Yesterday afternoon I was scouring the web looking for individuals in the Real Estate Industry at large utilizing various forms of social media in their business. I find I learn alot from what specific individuals in my industry are doing. When I came across http://myeastbayagent.com/ I was impressed by Andy’s uses of technology in his site as a way to stay connected with his clients. I immediately “followed” him on Twitter and figured that was the end of that. I continued browsing, finished, packed up, and went home.

Sometime last night between getting home, playing with my kids, and watching 30 Rock, I got a direct message and it went something like this:

“Hey Daniel, thanks for the follow.  Glad to be connected - @andykaufman”

My Immediate (somewhat emotional and excited) Reaction? I am not Anonymous - I am Connected. As the initial moment passed even I was surprised by own subconsious outburst.

I don’t want to get overly karmic here but, this has opened my eyes to a serious need: the need to say thank you, the need to respond, the need to make it less about me and more about us.

I login to Twitter ever morning and one of my first thoughts is “any new followers… 2 more… nice…”

I am not an ass by nature (ok, maybe I am) but, I think I may have misplaced the significance of the simple act of being connected. Social Networking has, in many cases, become this twisted game of “who has more friends,” ”how many people subscribe to my blog,” “what is my ranking?”

Andy Kaufman, Thank you for the subtle reminder. This isn’t about rank. This is about relationship.

The commoncraft show does it again!