What they say is true – you’re not going to sell a house on LinkedIn, but there’s a lot that LinkedIn can help you with when it comes to expanding your network and selling a home in the future. People on Instagram and Pinterest are in a buying mindset when they log on to those image-centric sites. People on LinkedIn are in a different mindset, however. They’re ready and willing to connect and to establish relationships, which is a huge benefit for you.
So, what can you do as a real estate agent to begin building relationships on LinkedIn? How do you position yourself at the forefront of people’s minds so when they hear of someone moving or wanting to sell their property they refer you? Here are six tips to help you build strong and genuine connections on LinkedIn:
6 Tips for Building Strong and Genuine Connections on LinkedIn
1. Participate
Don’t merely create your profile and expect offers to come in or for people to remember that you’re a real estate consultant. Engage with people by sharing status updates, commenting, endorsing others’ skills, and writing recommendations.
2. Participate in Groups
Activity begins when you’re actively participating in groups and networking with other people. Don’t be a wallflower in a group. If someone asks a question, try to answer it. If you have a question, ask it. Groups are an excellent way to stay up-to-speed on industry news and to engage with likeminded people.
3. Brand Yourself
You don’t want to be known as a “spammer” or someone who overwhelms your network with property listings or services. Use LinkedIn to promote your brand. Get your name out there, become a “go to” person for advice, and then subtly and gracefully let your network know what markets you’re in and what you have for sale.
More and more people are using live presentations and webinars to leverage their social networks and business. If you’re really knowledgeable about an area within the industry, consider putting together a live webinar or video that you can share on your social networks. Be known for the expertise and knowledge you have.
4. Use Media Features
LinkedIn allows you to implement features, such as:
- White Papers
- Testimonials
- Video
- Presentations
Don’t be afraid to use them.
5. Share Useful and Valuable Content
Share links to helpful blog posts or videos. Generate quality content, but share other businesses or people’s quality content, too. The more that people see you as a great resource and an industry expert, the more you’ll build rapport and eventually referrals.
You can’t target your audience on LinkedIn like you can with Facebook, so when you share your listings or blurbs about your service offerings you can either share them with “anyone” or with “connections only.” This is why it’s a wise idea to first and foremost become a great resource, and then sprinkle some of your offerings in with the content you share.
6. Don’t Spend Hours On It
Remember, social networking is meant to enhance your business, not to be your business. Get in, communicate, interact, and get out. Don’t waste hours a day on it. You can share or communicate bits throughout the day – a few minutes here or there – but try to spend less than an hour a day on it. Anything more begins to cut into time that is better spent elsewhere.