Introduction
It’s no secret that social media is a huge part of our lives… but can it be used to help you grow your business? The short answer: yes — if it’s used property.
Unlike most other social media platforms, LinkedIn was built specifically for building and fostering business relationships. Initially thought of as little more than an online resume, LinkedIn has grown into the quintessential social site for business professionals to connect, network, and engage with one another. With more than 187 million members, it’s an important tool to have in your marketing toolkit.
But how do you use LinkedIn effectively? Specifically, how can you use LinkedIn to grow as a commercial real estate professional? Here are 4 ways to grow your CRE business using LinkedIn.
Write a Linkedin Summary Designed for Commercial Real Estate
It may sound intuitive, but it’s important to write a clear and compelling summary that is designed to reflect your expertise in commercial real estate and make a great first impression. You have a limited word count when writing your summary, so you should be concise, but personable. While your skills and experience are important, your summary is one of the few places in your LInkedIn profile that you have the opportunity to speak directly to potential clients. Use it wisely. Write in first person, be personable and tell your story. Don’t be afraid to let visitors to your profile get to know you.
Showcase the Right Skills
Sure, you may be proud of the fact that you graduated among the top of your class, but when you are trying to grow your commercial real estate business, it’s equally important to highlight the top CRE skills on your profile. These skills will help potential clients search for a CRE professional with your expertise. Adding the right skills to your LinkedIn profile will also help boost your online presence through SEO, as the skills you list in your profile affect which searches you show up in, how many searches you show up in, and more.
Ask for Recommendations
When it comes to choosing a CRE professional to work with, fewer things carry more weight than word of mouth. Fortunately, LinkedIn has built-in reviews and recommendations, allowing your connections and existing clients to visit your profile and “endorse” you for certain skills, or even leave a thoughtful recommendation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for these recommendations — most people, especially satisfied customers, are happy to help. Ask current and former customers, as well as colleagues, to leave a review detailing their experience of working with you. It’s great to toot your own horn from time to time — but when it comes to building business, it’s even better to let someone else do it for you.
Market Your LinkedIn Profile Effectively
You can build the perfect LinkedIn profile, but it will still only take you so far if you don’t market it properly. Thankfully, this isn’t as complicated or as difficult as it may initially sound. With consistent posting, engaging, and a little SEO know-how, you can easily and effectively market your LinkedIn profile to reach the right audience.
Some best practices for marketing your LinkedIn presence:
- Stick to a consistent posting schedule, sharing content at least 1-2 times per week
- Join niche groups to help grow and nurture your business
- Use relevant and appropriate hashtags to help get your content in front of the right audience
- Engage with your connections’ content, by liking and thoughtfully commenting on what they share
RealNex is a CRM tool that can be used by commercial real estate professionals to work more efficiently and improve their productivity. At RealNex, we offer an incredibly powerful, yet amazingly simple, end-to-end solution. To learn more about RealNex and see samples of the products that we offer, visit our website. When you are ready to experience the RealNex difference for yourself, schedule a demo or contact us today — we’d love to talk with you!
