What do you think LinkedIn is for? Is it just for people who are trying to find a new job? Should you only visit it if you want to recruit somebody? Or is it one of the best ways to grow your real estate business? If you chose the third option, you are correct. In fact, HubSpot, reports that LinkedIn is three times more effective at generating business leads than Facebook or Twitter. And since leads result in more sales and more money in your pocket, it is clear that LinkedIn cannot be ignored.
Here are 10 ways real estate pros can effectively use LinkedIn to increase their online exposure.
Remember, It’s Not Facebook
First, you should realize that LinkedIn is not like your other social networking sites. LinkedIn is all about business, and you better keep things professional. So no sharing that funny meme your Aunt Linda showed you, and no posting pictures of what you are eating for dinner or your funny cat. There are plenty of other sites for that.
Make Sure Your Profile and Company Page Are Complete
Since you are a real estate practitioner and independent contractor, you have your own professional brand, thus, you should have both a personal profile and a Company Page. Each one should be filled out completely. Not only should every detail be included—like your website, links to your other social media profiles, any awards or certifications you have, and past companies you have worked for—but it should be displayed in a way that is easy to read and engaging.
Include Keywords
Just like you do with your website and blogs, your profile and Company Page should be keyword rich. When people want to find a “real estate agent in Massachusetts,” for example, you want to make sure you show up.
Share Plenty of Content
When you are deciding which content to share on LinkedIn, always have the goal of helping others, but make sure the type of information varies. On one day, post an informative article on a new development in real estate, and on the next, share an opinionated blog post about what agents are doing wrong. Make sure you’re not just sharing your own content. Those who are successful in social media understand that it can’t always be about YOU.
Publish Directly on LinkedIn
Not only should you be sharing loads of information, you should also be writing your own. One thing that makes LinkedIn unique is that it allows you to publish your content for all of LinkedIn to see. They are referred to as long-form posts, and you definitely need to be taking advantage of them. Not only does it make you look more credible when you have them on your profile, but they are searchable both on and off LinkedIn. People do not have to be in your network to view them, and they are able to connect with you directly from the post. This is an invaluable tool for growing your network and establishing your expertise in the real estate industry.
Study Your Analytics
LinkedIn is very generous in the amount of information they provide to you. They tell you exactly which of your posts received interactions and which ones didn’t. You should study these analytics thoroughly so that you can capitalize on what people like and avoid the stuff they don’t.
Connect with Everyone
There has never been, and never will be, a rule that you are only allowed to connect with people that you know on LinkedIn. You should do searches for locals in your area, other agents, home appraisers, mortgage brokers, and anyone else you want. The thing is, there is no such thing as too big of a network. You never know where each connection will lead you. Over the years, I have seen some really shortsighted agents who say, if they don’t know them then they won’t connect. This might be prudent thinking on Facebook, but not on LinkedIn!
Capitalize on LinkedIn Real Estate Groups
One of the hidden gems on LinkedIn is the group feature. They are the difference between agents who really drive traffic back to their website and those who don’t. However, there is a proper way to use them.
You should look for groups within your industry—or groups that contain your target niche or market—that have enough members to get you exposure, but not so many that you get lost in the shuffle. Aim for between 1,000 and 5,000 members. You can also join a few of the larger groups for when you are sharing something of a more general nature.
When you interact within the groups, remember that you are there to add value. You should respond to others’ questions, give your opinions, share advice, and ask questions that make people think. You should not post links to your site unless it is something of value.
Don’t try to be active on too many groups at once, or you will not be able to provide anything useful to any of them. Instead, choose three or four that you really think could boost your exposure and make sure to check-in with them several times per week. Some excellent real estate groups to take a look at joining are The National Association of REALTORS®, Real Estate Professionals Group, and Real Estate Professional Referral Group.
Once you are part of a conversation, don’t leave it unfinished. Always go back to see if anyone has responded to what you said.
After you have established yourself within the group, you can start asking your own questions and solicit feedback. If you ask one that garners a lot of attention, you will even be featured as a top contributor within the group, increasing your visibility tenfold.
Start Your Own Group
If you are really ambitious, it could be time to found your own group. This puts you in the driver’s seat, and, if done correctly, can really catapult your recognition in the real estate industry. In order to set the precedent, you should set up an auto-email that goes out to all new members welcoming them to the group and setting the ground rules (like no soliciting). You can also let them know that you will be sending out weekly or monthly emails with industry resources and tricks of the trade.
Help Others
Finally, you should take a few minutes each day to endorse and recommend other people. They will appreciate the gesture and may even return the favor.
If you need help with your LinkedIn and other social media marketing let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!
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Before we can talk about generating leads on social media, let’s define exactly what we mean when we talk about leads. Leads are simply potential customers who have expressed some interest in your real estate business and have provided contact information you can use to follow up with more information. You can then pass these leads directly to your VA or engage with them using a tailored content marketing program.
Generating Leads
Why is it important to think about how to generate leads on social media? Consider that 90 percent of decision-makers say they never respond to cold calls. On the other hand, 76 percent of buyers are ready to have a conversation on social media.
If you’re not producing your sales team with a steady stream of potential new customers, you’re doing your business a disservice. And you’re doing yourself a disservice too. Because lead generation metrics are a key way to prove the value of your social marketing efforts. Perhaps the greatest benefit of lead generation using social media specifically is the ability to focus on highly qualified leads through advanced targeting. After all, marketing analysis shows that improving the quality of leads is the most significant goal for marketers, while simply increasing the quantity of leads comes in third. Recent studies show that 70% of leads are generated thru social media.
The benefits of using social media to generate quality leads will also lead to an increase in website traffic and brand awareness for your real estate business. If you need help with your social media marketing let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!
*info courtesy of https://blog.hootsuite.com
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Social media is changing rapidly and it is important to keep up with the latest trends and stats. If your new year’s business plan is to engage in Twitter more often, listen up because these stats can help you reach more people!
1. The fastest growing demographic on Twitter is the 55-64 year age bracket.
2. Each month 40 million more women than men visit Twitter.
3. Twitter engagement for brands is 17 percent higher on weekends.
4. Tweets with image links get 2 times the engagement rate of those without.
5. Tweets with less than 100 characters get 17 percent more engagement.
6. Tweets with hashtags get two times more engagement.
7. Your tweets have a 12 times higher chance of being retweeted if you ask for it, and 23 times higher if you actually spell out the word “retweet.”
8. Tweets that include links are 86 percent more likely to be retweeted.
9. Twitter users who use mobile devices are 181 percent more likely to be on Twitter during their commute so tweeting in the morning is a peak time.
10. Afternoon is a prime time for click through rates while dinner time is the worst time.
If you are an experienced Twitter user or just starting out, consider these tips when trying to build your Real Estate business. Contact your REVStaffing team and we can assist you with Twitter and all of your social media campaigns. Please call (855) 738-7821 or email us at info@revstaffing.com.
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