How to write a LinkedIn profile for real estate professionals
I buy a lot of stuff from Shopee and Lazada, two popular online shopping platforms in Malaysia. Most of the time, I leave positive reviews to guide fellow online shoppers. But on occasion I post negative reviews of products that disappoint me, eg- defective items, overpriced items, etc.
LinkedIn is the 800kg gorilla in the area of online CVs for professionals. While you can upload a CV full of glowing accomplishments and skill sets (which LinkedIn does not of course verify or validate), anybody (your peers, your competitors, your current and ex colleagues) can leave positive reviews (LinkedIn calls them endorsements) or negative reviews like in Lazada or Shoppee. And that's the reason why I like LinkedIn a lot. Reading a LinkedIn profile where satisfied clients give nice endorsements gives me a ton of information about her professional abilities. So have you ever wondered why mendacious lawyers do not usually have LinkedIn profiles? As lawyers say, ceteris paribus, I prefer to deal only with agents that are confident enough of their professional skills to include testimonials from satisfied clients on their LinkedIn profiles.
(Note and disclaimer: I am not suggesting for one moment that lawyers who do not have LinkedIn profiles must be cheatin and lyin SOBs. I know many good honest hardworking church going lawyers that do not have LinkedIn profiles )
My 5 TOP tips on how to craft an effective LinkedIn profile for real estate professionals:
Be concise. Don’t put a ton of useless information on your CV. Your clients are not interested in learning how many As you got in your MCE or diploma.. They are much more interested in how you will get their property sold at a fair price or rented out quickly.
Showcase your achievements as a real estate professional instead. OK so you are new to the industry and have not yet made the climb to “Top Producer of the Year” at your firm. But even the lowest newbie has at least helped one client sell her property or rented out her flat. Focus on the positive impact you made by helping that one client.
Learn how to identify property USPs . Then you can honestly say I KNOW I can help you (your client) achieve a higher price for your property because I can more effectively market it to prospective buyers or tenants. Put that very important skill in your LinkedIn profile. I have covered learning how to identify USPs in a previous post.
Client servicing skills are very important. Success in the real estate agency business depends on your interpersonal skills. So make it a point to respond quickly to phone calls or WhatsApp messages from existing and prospective clients . Keep asking yourself - How can I improve my listening skills? How can I learn to identify what my clients needs are? Once you have built up a reputation for good client servicing, you can expect to get referrals from a pool of satisfied clients. Get testimonials from your best clients and stick them in your CV. Satisfied clients prepared and willing to tell other people say more about your professional skills than other type of advertising.
Upgrade your skill sets and learn how to use new technology and marketing channels such as YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook and LinkedIn marketing channels in addition to email. Maybe you want to have your own personal website like this BLOG to help you stand out from the competition. A blog or personal website with selected listings is a good way to show you have particular expertise in a neighbourhood eg KLCC, Bangsar, or Damansara Heights. If you have successfully sold or rented your property listings, stick a SOLD or RENTED logo on the listings to indicate to prospective clients you can close deals. Put that down also in your online CV as “in the past year, I helped xx owners sell their properties or rented out YY apartments in (fill in the blanks) “
Photo credit by Arnauld Jaegers, Unsplash
Post script and Update:
This blog post was written by a 63 year old former investment analyst. I started blogging on 8 August 2021. As at 15 October 2021 I have over 300 followers (aka LinkedIn connections)
“It's never too late”.
