During this episode of the Lab Coat Agents Podcast, host Jeff Pfitzer speaks with Tony Giordano, a national speaker, author, and coach about moving from online presence to online influence. Tony is passionate about helping agents stay relevant today, tomorrow, and well into the future by understanding how to connect with social media. This conversation will change how you approach marketing yourself online.   Episode Highlights:  Tony shares how he entered the real estate business. He made his first million in the mortgage business at age 26. This business completely changed his life. Anything that has to do with the housing economy has no limit except yourself. He lost everything in the 2008-2009 crash. Within 30 days of becoming an agent he received a life-changing referral. Tony is online and he knows how to market himself. Do we market ourselves to our community? Are we giving back? Tony engaged Facebook and Instagram very early on. He Googled all the biggest agents in his surrounding area. For every 20 that he Googled, 19/20 had gorgeous websites.  These websites told stories. Websites get listings. Websites are the modern-day first impression. The majority of sales people are being taught online brand awareness, social media marketing, online lead generation by technology professionals. He gives examples of how technology professionals give misguided advice on how to use social media. In addition to your Facebook business page, a real estate agent or a salesperson from any industry, should have a minimum of 2,000 friends on their personal friend page of Facebook also. Be careful who you’re learning from. Are your mentors still in the trenches doing and seeing what used to work and now what works better? Social media is a 365 day-a-year drip campaign. Social media networks are the place to build relationships today. Tony blocks time to engage on social media. He has conversations online and follows them up with friend requests. Social media has made it so simple to get into conversation with other humans. Why are we choosing to do anything cold when online networks make everything boiling hot? Lead generation is simply asking enough people every day if they know anybody looking to buy or sell a house and getting at least twenty people to respond yes or no to you. For every ten people that you see comment on a friend of yours or a connection of yours post, you're not connected or friends with 8/10 on average. Make sure everything about you online is public. You have got to get in front of the camera. Authenticity sells. Just start livestreaming and as you start doing it for things you like to do it on, it will create a habit.   3 Key Points: Websites are the modern-day first impression and they get listings. It’s a huge problem that agents are being taught brand awareness by techies. Social media is the place to build relationships.   Resources Mentioned: LCA Marketing Center: LCAmarketingcenter.com Lab Coat Agents: LabCoatAgents.com Tony Giordano website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter Rise Group Coaching The Social Agent (book)   Connect with Lab Coat Agents: Lab Coat Agents on Facebook Lab Coat Agents on Twitter Lab Coat Agents on Instagram Lab Coat Agents Facebook Group