Guidelines for Future Interns (835 words)
1
In the language you use when you write posts, always show excitement for new developments and finished homes. These homeowners are so excited to move in, and we should share that excitement with them. They love when a picture of their house is posted, and it receives a lot of positive feedback from the audience. The language you use will dictate how the audience reacts to the posts, and ultimately how they view the company.
2
Keep your posting schedule regular and active. Two or three times a week is preferred for a business account. That way, it is not too often or too little. This gives our company’s account a ton of attention, which is exactly what we need if we want to successfully market this way. There are so many people who use their phones to look for real estate options. Apps like Zillow are extremely convenient for people to use, which is perfect for business who use social media to advertise. Southern Coastal Homes is brand new to the social media marketing game, but even still, the work we’ve done so far as interns has generated so much positive traffic for the company!
3
The pictures you use are exclusive and new to everyone in the Southern Coastal Homes realm, and it’s perfectly fine to advertise that! Most of the houses you are expected to post are brand new and have never been seen before. It is encouraged to mention that when you are trying to get more people to follow and interact with the company’s social media pages.
4
Keeping the company’s website updated is another crucial part of being an intern for Southern Coastal Homes. When we post updates about new developments, our website should match that information. Having an outdated website looks unprofessional and sloppy, and that could deter potential clients from considering us to be a part of their building process. We definitely do not want that to happen, so it is so important to make sure the website stays up to date!
5
Make sure to interact with audience members that comment and share our posts. Those who share our posts are the people who are passionate about what we do, and it is very important to show our gratitude through little things, like commenting on their shared posts. The ones who comment on our posts are those who could potentially be clients. If we ignore their messages, they might think our customer service is not good enough to do business with.
6
Staying positive and upbeat is important when interacting with the audience members that reach out. If they have questions, make sure your answers sound genuine and polite. Southern Coastal Homes does not like to use automated messages because of this! The more personable we are with people, the better business will be!
7
If you don’t know the answer to a customer’s question, please ask an employee that does! A lot of times, people will send private messages to our social media accounts asking for job openings or home availability. It is perfectly acceptable to send the customer a message saying something like, “Thanks for reaching out! Let me check with my supervisor and I will get back to you as soon as I can.” This lets them know that their question is important to you, even though you do not know the answer.
8
Make sure to check in with your supervisors at least once a week to stay on the same page. Communication is key in a position like the one here at Southern Coastal homes, and without it, you could fall behind or lose your way. Your supervisor will be able to give you a sense of direction when you feel overwhelmed, and weekly communication has the potential to reinforce your confidence. Communicating with your supervisor at least once every week will also remind them of your own personal goals, which will help you succeed even more in your internship.
9
Try to keep all your tasks organized, so you don’t realize that you’ve fallen behind at the very end. As the internship at Southern Coastal Homes continues, you will earn more responsibility and receive more everyday tasks. Things can get overwhelming near the end of the summer, especially when you are trying to make the transition from one intern to the next. However, regular communication, thoughtful time management, and organization will relieve a lot of stress.
10
Above all else, remember that you are the written voice of the company as the social media manager. The words you write, the language you use, and the energy your messages have are meant to draw people in. Think about whose attention you are trying to grab. Think about the relationship between the language used on social media and the language used in a professional atmosphere. Try to be professional for the sake of the company but try to sound warm and inviting at the same time. Think of Rule #1 and how the language you use will dictate the way people view the company.