Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
If you haven't heard of Alignable, you're not alone. Despite having existed since 2013, it was left off of DreamGrow's list of best social media websites for 2017. Buffer ignored it in its predictions for social media trends last November.
But Alignable's local business-based mission (and about $3 million in funding in its first year alone) make it a solid contender to become one of the top social networking platforms to date.
Simply put, Alignable is the LinkedIn-slash-Facebook social networking platform that specifically caters to local business. Creators Eric Groves (former SVP of Constant Contact) and Venket Krishnamurthy created Alignable to connect local businesses with other businesses in their area, forging a sense of community while helping to build alliances between business owners.
While you may have decided long ago not to add another social media network to your strategy (there's already too many, right?), Alignable could be a worthwhile exception if you know how to leverage its best features.
Here's why:
Granted, it's something new to learn and yet another activity competing for your time. But Alignable has plenty of potential to change social media marketing as we know it and, as time has proven many times over, early adopters are usually the ones who see the biggest benefits.
The platform isn't as feature-rich as Facebook or other top social sites, but think of this as a good thing. You won't waste time learning and testing countless functions or blowing your marketing budget on paid ads. It's simplicity at its absolute finest, which makes it easier for your content to impact your audience.
Here's how you can get started:
Signing up for Alignable is quick and simple. After you're official, you can complete your profile details - the more complete your profile, the better.
Once you're an official Alignable member, start connecting with other businesses in your area. Alignable may send you emails recommending connections, or you can search for them on your own. Start with the people you already know. Send them a message, add them to your network, and check out their connections to build your network.
It costs nothing but time to promote your real estate agency's services on Alignable. You can click the "Promote By Business" link on your member dashboard to talk about open houses, upcoming events, current leasing promotions, or anything else buzzworthy.
This blog follows the same lines as HubSpot or Buffer in its educational content offering. Alignable members can ask questions or answer other members' questions. It's a prime spot to showcase your content and your own expertise to a local business-minded audience.
Though the emphasis here is on B2B connections, it's worth mentioning that the business owners who network here are also consumers. If your business caters to local public consumers, don't immediately shun the idea of marketing your real estate agency on Alignable. At the very least, it's a surefire way to make impressions on your viewers and get your brand in front potential prospects, even if they're not in "buyer mode."
