I have a tip on social media marketing for loan officers to help you earn more business from today’s first-time homebuyers — one that even the most stringent compliance officer would have trouble finding issue with because it has absolutely nothing to do with you using social media.

But first let me ask you a question: Are you friends with your friends?

According to Statista, as of February 2014, the average number of Facebook friends for 18- to 24-year-olds was well over 600; for 25- to 34-year-olds, 360 friends. Which got me wondering, just who are they friends with? Luckily, Pew Research shared some insights on that.

Not surprisingly, 91% of Facebook users say they are friends with their current friends. (It amazes me that we have actually gotten to a point in society where that statement makes sense… “I’m friends with my current friends.”) Just as unsurprising, a large majority — 87% — are friends with former high school or college classmates, and 58% are friends with work colleagues.

The surprise to me is nearly 4 out of 10 (39%) say they are friends with people they have never met in person.

What if you could find a way to be referred to people who your first-time homebuyers have never met — just by showing up and having your picture taken?

“Nearly 4 out of 10 Facebook users say they are friends with people they have never met in person.“

Picture this

It’s sort of like the old Woody Allen line, “80% of success is showing up.” Loan officers who show up at their closings have a tremendous marketing opportunity — to put first-time homebuyers’ social media behavior to work for them.

Next time you attend a closing, ask your buyers if they would like you to snap a photo of the happy event with their phone. Then ask if you can get in the photo with them for a group selfie. Then — and this is the clincher — ask them to tag you in the photo.

What just happened?

Well, you just got introduced to hundreds of their friends. True, many of these friends may have already known your borrowers were buying a home, but they probably didn’t know how you helped make it happen. Also, quite a few of them probably didn’t even realize their friends were buying a home.

Like their work colleagues, who may also be interested in buying a home but didn’t think they could get a loan. Perhaps they will be motivated to act when they realize they earn the same amount as their new-home-buying friend. And the next day at work, they ask how the process went and how to get started. And your name comes up, and your contact information gets shared!

“It’s a simple social media marketing idea that takes 15 minutes, just to show up & smile for the camera!”

Or how about your borrowers’ former college classmates, who likewise have home-buying aspirations, but have yet to explore the process because they thought they had to wait because of their student debt? Suddenly, those people also have new reason to seriously consider buying now rather than waiting.

And then there’s that last group, those Facebook friends your borrowers have never met — and never would have thought to refer you to.

Take it even further and invite the real estate agent into the photo. Now you’ve just been introduced to the agent’s friends, including work colleagues, who may like the fact that this loan officer cares enough to show up at closings. It’s a simple social media marketing idea that takes 15 minutes, just to show up & smile for the camera! Plus, it costs you absolutely nothing, and that alone should be something to smile about.

The opinions and insights expressed in this blog are solely those of its author, Vance Edwards, and do not necessarily represent the views of either Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation or any of its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries (collectively, “MGIC”). Neither MGIC nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents makes any representations or warranties of any kind regarding the soundness, reliability, accuracy or completeness of any opinion, insight, recommendation, data, or other information contained in this blog, or its suitability for any intended purpose."