Guidant Financial Group Blog

Although social networking sites like myspace.com and facebook.com tend to conjure images of teenyboppers and beer-guzzling frat boys, the face of social networking may be changing – to yours.

A new article in National Real Estate Investor (see Real Estate Deal-Makers Bank on Networking Sites), indicates that real estate investors, agents and professionals of all kinds are turning to social networking sites to “market themselves, cultivate industry contacts and, in some instances, carry out deals.”

The hook-up between real estate pros and social networking sites is not all that surprising, considering real estate and networking have always been intrinsically linked. And with the digital age now here (and here to stay), it was only a matter of time before the pros discovered the benefits of networking online.

Don’t worry, though. You don’t necessarily have to sign up for a MySpace account to do business online. Several more adult- and business-focused sites have popped up, helping to cut through the clutter of sophomoric antics caught on tape and the latest hip-hop hit from who knows who.

LinkedIn is one site that has had some longstanding success in connecting professionals, but some sites get even more specific. Mydealbook.com is dedicated to the real estate sector, whereas RoundOne.com is a social network for entrepreneurs.

One new site, www.nuwireinvestor.com, even has an opportunities listing where you can browse for alternative investment opportunities online.