How to Build a LinkedIn Profile as a Real Estate Agent

Social media works great for generating real estate leads while also practicing social distancing. However, one platform that’s frequently left out of the conversation is LinkedIn. This is a shame because there are plenty of great client leads and not as many people taking advantage of the platform.

You just need to optimize your profile to attract these potential clients. So as a realtor, how do you build your LinkedIn profile? It’s actually a multi-step process that requires you to optimize each profile section that LinkedIn offers. To fully take advantage of LinkedIn for real estate agents, follow our checklist below!

Headline: Write a Short Description of You and What You Offer

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Obviously, the first thing a prospective client will see on your LinkedIn profile is your name, so we’re skipping down to your headline. The headline is a short description of your profession and what you offer prospective clients. Some LinkedIn headline examples for real estate agents include:

• "Real Estate Agent at Blank Agency Specializing in Commercial Real Estate"
• "Austin Real Estate Agent at Blank Agency"

You can keep this information pretty basic because you’ll provide more context in your summary (also known as the About section). Another great way to think about your headline is how you would introduce yourself to a stranger at a party. You should include:

• What you do
• Where you work
• Any specialties you have

Anything that you leave out here, you can detail in your summary.

Summary: Explain Who You Are and What You Bring to the Table

Now let’s answer the question: “How do I write a good summary for LinkedIn?” The LinkedIn summary section is your space to explain who you are and what you do. It has a maximum of 2,000 characters, so you’ll have plenty of space. The summary is essential for three reasons:

1. It educates prospective clients
2. It helps you rank in LinkedIn search results
3. It provides a space for you to share your personality

Think of your LinkedIn summary as a cover letter. Start strong since most people aren’t going to make it all the way to the end. Because LinkedIn automatically shows an excerpt of your summary’s first 290-310 characters, starting with the most important information is useful for users who won’t click to expand your summary. Your first couple of sentences should explain what makes you different in the industry and why clients should select you for their real estate needs.

Then, you can highlight any statistics or awards you’ve received as social proof for your services. Once you’ve introduced readers to who you are and why they should choose you, take a few sentences to describe your skills and what you can bring to the table. Finish with details about your past work experience, like other agencies you were affiliated with, or different markets you’ve worked in.

You might also want to use this space to list some of your other accomplishments that you didn’t spell out in your introductory sentences. To appear for relevant searches in LinkedIn, ensure that you’re using appropriate keywords throughout your summary. This should happen naturally, but double-check that you’re using keywords potential clients search for, not ones that are only used by professional real estate agents.

Recommendations: Share Testimonials from Past Clients

The recommendations section allows you to showcase testimonials from past clients. To reach out to past clients for a testimonial, select the “Ask for a recommendation” button. The social proof that these recommendations provide shows potential clients your success stories, which will encourage them to reach out. Just make sure that you’re only requesting recommendations from clients who will give you a rave review.

Content & Posting: Keep Active and Share Relevant Information

Setting up your LinkedIn profile isn’t a one-and-done thing. Now that you have the majority of your profile filled out, you need to keep yourLinkedIn profile active. Whether you’re engaging with colleagues or industry publications, you’ll want to ensure potential clients see you as an industry expert. If you really want to go the extra mile, consider writing and publishing some of your own content.

You can post about industry trends, the hottest neighborhoods in your area or the best types of properties to invest in. Just make sure your content is relevant to the clients you actually want to target. For example, if you’re a commercial real estate agent, don’t write about purchasing homes.

Add Continuing Education to Your LinkedIn Profile

You’re now on your way to a perfectly optimized LinkedIn profile, but if you want to go the extra mile, consider adding some continuing education to your list of accomplishments. Our real estate continuing education courses are the perfect addition to your LinkedIn profile. Sign up for your course today!