Here’s one way to meet offline using online tools.
Most people are right in believing that real estate is a business transacted in person. But that doesn’t mean that social media can’t be a fantastic tool for encouraging more face-to-face meetings.
Take, for example, the “Friday Facebook Meet-up,” a very useful way to get some of your online friends to come out and meet you on a Friday afternoon or evening.
The idea is simple: You announce that you’re planning to spend a couple of hours at a local restaurant, bar, or park, and that anyone who’d like to come by to kick-off the weekend is more than welcome to join you. In fact, you encourage them to bring other friends… especially people you haven’t met yet.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be Friday (and it doesn’t have to be a bar). If there’s a little league game or other community event, you could just as well announce it as your destination.
To get an idea of who might come, phrase your Facebook status update as a question. For example: “Heading down to XYZ Restaurant around 5PM– anyone interested in joining? Be there a couple of hours. Great way to unwind on a Friday, chat about the week. Come by!”
Even if no one shows up, you never can tell who you might meet. Bring some work you could casually knock out if no one shows and you’ll be ahead of the game for Monday.
That sounds like an awesome idea! I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone do that before.