Whether you've been using Facebook for years or just now considering it, here are some pointers for real estate pros.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform. It has 1.5 billion monthy users  –  1.31 of which access via mobile platforms. Since FaceBook users share 1 million links every 20 minutes, its easy to see why its a social networking must for marketing.

Here are a few more important facebook marketing tips:

Set up a Facebook Page

Don’t use your personal Facebook account for your real estate services. Besides, lacking professionalism, you'll miss out on a lot of essential business features (such as the ability to run Facebook contests, and check your Facebook Insights). It’s really easy to make a Facebook Page, and it’s worth the effort. Once you have a page, you can use it to engage your clients and prospects.

Post about Your Neighborhood

Post about your neighbood highlights, including trails, shops and parks, to show your passion and knowledge of where you are selling homes.  This will help you show off your listings’ neighborhood and markets your area to prospective residents, without being just about your listings.

Use Images when you Update

Images the most engaging types of content, especially in social media. The more likes, shares and comments your posts get, the more they will be viewed in News Feeds by the friends of your Facebook Fans (people who Like your Page). Remember to use more than just your home listing images in your posts.

Post about Events in Your Neighborhood

By posting about events, it shows how wonderful your city culture is. Post or "share" other posts about local events in your town. If you’re going to a neighborly event, tell your Fans, and invite them to join you. Asking questions about events, too, to spark engagement.

Show you Care About Your Clients.

You do this in person, so show you care about your clients on your Facebook Page, too.

Engage with Contests.

Contests and Sweepstakes provide an amazing way to create more engagement on your Page, and have fun with your Fans. You can use all kinds of contests to develop deeper relationships with your clients, get to know their likes and dislikes, and promote yourself as a realtor who listens.

You can also Photo Contest on your Page. You can use photo contests to get more images of a new listing, to follow up with clients who’ve recently renovated, or to get photos of your neighborhood, etc. You can even use them as a way to market your listings, too!

Post Your Listings.

Yes, use Facebook to post your listings, too. The golden rule in social media is 80/20. That is - post 80% of your content about lifestyles, customer interests, and other updates; post 20% of your content about you and your product. This keeps your social media social, and engaging.

When you post your listings, keep the personality of you and your Facebook Page. This is not a print ad. Tell about the home, and what points will sell it. Tell how many bedrooms and bath. Tell the address. Tell the price.  But keep it engaging. Tell the "story" about this home.

Use Geo-targeted ads.

Facebook lets you target your ads very specifically. You can use promoted posts, for example, to get your great Facebook posts seen by other Facebookers in your geographic target market. Not only are Facebooks ads are very cost-effective for creating new fans, they are one of the most cost-effective online advertising you can place.