LinkedIn is a network of over 55 million professionals who are interested in exchanging information, ideas and opportunities. It is a ‘place to find and be found.’ You can find people who will be helpful in building your business. And you can be found by people needing your real estate services.

Your profile is your online business card. It is the first glimpse of who you are. It is a showcase of your experience and expertise. And it needs to be strategically optimized for people to be able to find you. There are 2 reasons to optimize your profile. One is for the computer and one is for people. Optimization of the computer includes the strategic use of keywords. People don’t search for you by your name but by the services you provide or the company you are affiliated with. You also want people to look at your profile and think, “Wow, this is a person I need to do business with.”

Prior to optimizing my profile, if I searched ‘real estate virtual assistant’, I showed up on page 3 of the results. After optimization, I show up as #2 on the first page. Certainly, a better place to be if I want someone to find me. Let’s look at the elements of a profile and how to best make them work for you.

1. Your Name

Keep this clean. If your goal is to attract buyers and sellers, don’t clutter it up with designations such as ABR and CRS. Most people don’t know what these are. If your goal is to network with other real estate professionals, adding designations would be important. If you were known professionally by a maiden name and people would search for you by that name, definitely add it.

2. Your photo

LinkedIn is a network of professionals. You don’t want to use a photo of you water skiing. Use a professionally looking headshot with a nice background and crop it close to your face. This is not the place to use a company logo. Your goal is to build relationships and people want to see the person they are reading about.

3. Professional headline

Directly under your Name is the ‘Professional Headline’ box. This headline is extremely important and is used by the search algorithms. Keywords are king here and you want to include keywords that will be used in searching for you, such as ‘realtor’ and ‘real estate.’ You also want to include your value proposition. What is it you have to offer? Think of the ‘Professional Headline’ as your bumper sticker or 5 second elevator pitch.

It is also good to include a link to your website or blog. You can’t make it a live hyperlink, but people will see it and possible copy/paste it into their browser to learn more about you.

My old headline read ‘Owner, Team Leader for myREassistant.’ Most people don’t use ‘owner’ or ‘team leader’ as search terms. My new headline reads, ‘Real estate virtual assistant offering services at http://myreassistant.com.’

4. Title

The title is also a place to strategically use keywords. One trick for showing up in searches is to use the same keywords in your summary. Think about the phrases that someone will use to search for you and use them in the title and your summary. Use something like ‘[City] real estate expert.’

My old title was ‘Owner, Team Leader for myREassistant.’ My new title is ‘Real Estate Virtual Assistant I Real Estate Marketing I Transaction Management I Social Media at myREassistant.com.’

5. Websites

This is one place on your Profile where links are hyperlinked and live. The only other place a link is hyperlinked is your Twitter url. You are allowed links to three websites.

The biggest mistake I see people making on their websites is that when they add a website, they choose in the dropdown to call it ‘My website’ or ‘My Company’ or ‘My Blog’. I don’t like any of those. What I want you to do is type in ‘Other’. When you choose ‘Other’ you can enter something descriptive. Instead of saying ‘My Website’, say ‘Search all [city] homes for sale’ or [city] real estate information.’ Choose something meaningful to people reading your profile.

I used to use ‘My Website’, ‘My blog’ and ‘My Newsletter. Now I use ‘Virtual Assistant services’, ‘Real estate success tips’ and ‘build a referral business.’

6. Twitter

LinkedIn is interfacing with Twitter and you can add your Twitter handle here.

7. Public Profile

Go into your profilepage, click on this little ‘Edit’ link right next to your public profile and claim your vanity URL and add it here. Your want this link to be neat, clean and something you put thought into. You don’t want a bunch of meaningless numbers and letters in a default link.

8. Summary

As I mentioned previously, one of the tricks to you summary is the use of keywords and key phrases. You are allowed approximately 2,000 characters. Use all of them. This is your opportunity for you to put your message in front of somebody who’s looking for you or your services. You want to engage people and one of the best ways is to tell mini-stories about how you helped someone. Write a short evidence of success and include your value proposition. The summary is a marketing tool communicating how you can help someone.

At the bottom of your Summary you can add ‘Specialties’. Be sure to use your keywords and key phrases here.

9. Applications

There are a ton of applications. A couple you might want to consider is the Slide Share. You can use this to upload a Power Point presentation. The other is Blog Link. This allows your blog posts to be brought into your LinkedIn profile.

10. Connections

You want to think about the goal of your LinkedIn network before you start adding connections. If you want to network with other real estate agents, you will want to invite other agents to join your network. If your want to focus on prospective buyers and sellers, you will want to invite your sphere, clients and local businesses. You will want to have a ‘strong’ network that is meaningful and provides value rather than just a network large in numbers that is not going to benefit your business in any way.

When asking someone to connect with you, be sure to include a personal note in your connection request saying why you want to connect with that person. Let the person know what benefit it is to them to connect with you.

11. Recommendations

There is nothing wrong with asking for recommendations, but it is much more personal to ask outside of the network rather than using the LinkedIn request. You might want to send a congratulations email to a buyer or seller after closing and in the email ask for a recommendation on your LinkedIn page and include the link to your page.

Strategically optimizing you LinkedIn profile will increase your chances of being found by people who need your services. Please contact me if you have any questions or need help with your LinkedIn profile.

Are you one of many who think social media is a Fad and you and your real estate business don’t need to be there? I was! This video by Erik Qualman at Socialnomics.net will change your mind!

As a real estate virtual assistant, I have been blogging for years and have understood the seo value of blogs. I also have personal profiles on the prominent social media sites, as well as created profiles for clients. But I have to admit, I did really GET social media.

This video and a webinar course with Social Media Magic his opening my eyes. You will hear more about what I am learning and how to make money with social media.

Short sales are a fact of life for most real estate professionals. Despite new government regulations short sale transactions are still difficult to close. You probably feel like you are hitting your head against a brick wall over and over and over again!!

The question arises, why are short sale real estate transactions so difficult? Why do some banks act like the enemy?

This video from  www.ThinkBigWorkSmall.com,  show why some banks aren’t motivated to get your short sale closed. The good part comes after the CNN announcer stops talking.

Real estate virtual assistants can help get your short sales to a successful closing! Our team of Transaction Managers are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE). We have the expertise needed to communicate with lenders, your clients and other real estate professionals to get you to the closing table. Contact us today and get more of your short sales closed!!

Do you remember the brisk Buyers Market of a few years ago? Buyers were beating down your doors. Anyone who could breathe had a real estate license and was selling homes. Then the market went south. Buyers were no where to be found and your pipeline of new business dried up because you hadn’t been doing any marketing. You had neither the time nor the need to keep your name out there. A tougher real estate  market requires getting back to basics and evaluating what works in our new reality and what doesn’t.

Brain Buffini has detailed detours on your road to success:

The Five Detours on the Road to Success

1. Lack of Accountability

Every human being does better with accountability because we truly cannot see our own shortcomings; outside perspective is the best way to gain clarity on our patterns.

2. Loss of Motivation

Motivation, by its very nature, is designed to dissipate so we need to seek it out continually. As my friend and mentor, Zig Ziglar, says: “Motivation is like bathing. You have to do it on a daily basis!”

3. In Need of Direction

Once you get things moving and gain some momentum you actually need more direction than you did when you were just starting out. This is borne out by countless people who work their whole life and have nothing to show for it.

4. Isolation

All you have to do is watch the “Animal Planet” documentary on predators in the wild to know how detrimental isolation can be: Predators never attack the pack; they always look for the isolated, hurt, wounded, and lost, the ones who’ve stopped moving forward. Self-employed people are more predisposed to this isolation than anyone else.

5. Drift

While “isolation” is a predator, “drift” is a killer; it’s the “silent assassin” because we don’t know how far and how fast we’ve drifted until something catastrophic happens.

As you can see, the “Five Detours” are things we all face and it can be easy to get off track in both business and our personal lives. But let’s examine the solution side of things. If there are detours, then rest assured there are also rules of the road to get you and your real estate business back on track.

Stay on Track with These Rules of the Road

1. Stay Accountable

While it may not be natural to seek out accountability, let’s just have a look at what happens in its absence. Tiger Woods – the greatest golfer in the world – recently missed the cut at the British Open. Just so happens it was the first time in five years he didn’t bring his coach to a tournament.

2. Brainstorm and Network with Others

We humans do much better when we mastermind together, which is why we facilitate networking at our events, as well as in our Coaching programs and Small Groups. Surround yourself with positive, resourceful, successful people, because they’ll lift you up rather than drag you down.

3. Plan Daily Doses of Motivation

Just think of your daily motivation like an essential vitamin, with nothing but positive, good-for-you side effects. Plan daily doses by listening to affirming CDs in your car or by reading good books – just a few lines here or there will go a long way.

4. Follow the System

You know you’re in need of direction – everybody is. And we’ve developed a system that works. Now, I know that few people ever follow the system 100%, but what if that means you’re missing out on a 30% jump in your income?

5. Work with a Coach

A Coach has the expertise, tools and strategies to help you get your business cranking. That accountability and direction will help you avoid drift – the deadly killer.

A real estate virtual assistant helps you stay on track on your road to success. We can create and implement the systems needed to accomplish your goals and keep you moving in the right direction. Contact us and together we will make 2010 the best year yet!

Knowing this, you will understand why I was thrilled when my client, Mike Manosky with RE/MAX Huntsville, shared a compliment he received from a Craigs List user: 

Hi Ruth Ann,

I just wanted to pass along this email I got last night off Craigs List. I really enjoy reading the copy you create as well. Thanks for all the great work!

Mike Manosky……

I am not looking to buy or sell a house, but I am retired and therefore have time to look at homes offered for sale.  I must say that your description of this property was masterfully done and should bring you many inquiries.  

It’s such a pleasure to see well written ad copy at at time when some realtors don’t even know how to spell or care enough to include a picture of the property! Hopefully your thoroughness and ability to paint such a positive picture of this home brings you much gratitude from the home’s owners.  Keep up the great work!   

JK 

Marketing of your listings or listing coordination an ideal task to outsource to a real estate virtual assistant, especially if you don’t enjoy writing. You might be wondering how be can write aobut a hoouse we have never been in. What happens with Mike is he provides us with an information sheet he uses when he takes the listing, the MLS sheet and photos. You see the results.

Contact us today. We’d enjoy making YOU look good!

I’m sure you have heard the latest catch phrase, social media. Like me, you probably realize that social media has to do with sharing photos with friends, telling about the great party you went to last night and what you are having for dinner tonight. You may not understand what it has to do with your real estate business. Sure all the real estate trainers say you need to be on Facebook and Twitter, but what exactly IS social media and WHY do you and your real estate business need a presence there!! 

What is Social Media? 

Social media is a complex, organic online conversation between multiple people. The keyword here is ‘conversation’. In the old Web 1.0 Internet, you had no interaction or relationship with people. Your website is most likely is very static. The content doesn’t change much and there is no real time interaction. With the new Web 2.0, which social media is a part of, you are involving people in your business and empowering them to have a relationship with you. 

Social media is not just Facebook and Twitter. It does include social media networks, but also includes, blogs, microblogs, video and photo sharing, message boards, wiki, virtual reality, social gaming, podcasts and Real Simple Syndication (RSS). 

Why Do You Want to Participate In Social Media? 

Your clients and prospects are there and you want to know what they are talking about. Social media websites are the fastest growing category of the Internet and doubled in size in the last year.* 

• 73% of Internet users have read a blog
• 45% have started their own blog
• 39% subscribe to an RSS feed
• 57% have joined a social network
• 55% have uploaded photos834 % have watched video clips 

Of all social media site users: 

• 33% use social media to research products before deciding to buy
• 47% are influenced by social media to buy specific brands
• 26% have decided not to buy a specific product because of social media
• Facebook has 600,000 new users DAILY! 

How Can Social Media Benefit My Real Estate Business? 

Implementing a social media marketing strategy will

• Provide exposure
  63% of business owners increased exposure to their business through social media marketing
• Increase traffic
  80% of business owners increased traffic to their website and 67% increased email/newsletter lists
• Build new business partnerships
  62% of business owners closed new business and established new business partnerships
• Increase leads
  50% of business owners increased the number of new leads

5 Step Process to Increased Business with Social Media

There is a 5 step process to increasing your real estate business through social media. 

1. Develop a Social Media Marketing Strategy 

Create a strategy to: give exposure to your services, to create new business by converting prospects into clients, to reinforce credibility and retain clients and improve search engine visibility. 

2. Establish your social media presence with profiles on various social media networking sites.

3. Expand your reach by inviting prospects to join your networks. 

4. Nurture relationships by updating your profile and joining in discussions. 

5. Properly maintain your presence through consistency. 

Top Social Media Websites for Your Real Estate Business 

• Twitter (www.twitter.com) – 86% of users of social media are here 

Twitter is a microblog with posts limited to 140 characters. Here you can share timely information, promote contests, share useful links, personify your brand, build credibility and follow competitors

• LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) – 78% of social media users are here
• Facebook (www.facebook.com)  – 77 of social media user are here 

With LinkedIn and Facebook you can share photos, video, audio and links. Send private messages and instant messages. Join groups and gain fans. You can create a page to promote your business. Point fans to your blog and encourage and join in discussions. 

Dominant Niche Sites 

• www.Biznik.com
• www.Plaxo.com
• www.FastPitch.com
• www.ActiveRain.com
• www.Localism.com
• www.Meetup.com
• www.Yelp.com
• www.Trulia.com
• www.Zillow.com  

Like any marketing strategy, social media marketing for real estate takes a commitment. Anyone can setup a profile, but it is what you do after that that counts. Did you ever create a geographic farm? To be successful in a farm you couldn’t mail one flyer or one postcard. But planted many seeds and your success came after many months of working in that farm. It wasn’t a one shot deal. 

Social media is virtual farming. You are planting seeds through conversation and interaction. Like your geographic farm, it will take time to produce results. But your consistent efforts will result in increased leads, increased exposure, and increased business. And the good is your consistent efforts can be outsourced to a real estate virtual assistant who understands social media marketing!

* All statistics provided by SocialMediaMagic.com.

A skilled real estate virtual assistant can respond to and nurture your Internet leads until they become ready, willing and able buyers. The leads can be pre-qualified by your lender, sent relocation information, put on drip email campaigns, set up on automated property searches, sent newsletters, called at pre-determined intervals, and made to feel like they are your only client and you haven’t even talked with them yet.

Watch this power point presentation below and see how a real estate virtual assistant helped Leigh Brown with RE/MAX Signature Properties in Charlotte NC take her Internet business for 6% to 24% of her total business in one year.

Have questions about how a real estate virtual assistant can help you convert more leads. Contact us at info@myreassistant.com. We are glad to answer all your questions.

Grab a cup of coffee or hot tea along with your laptop or a pad of paper and let’s start strategizing how you can increase your production in 2010: 

Print Marketing

1. Update business cards/stationery/marketing templates with social networking and home buyer tax credit info.
2. Sponsor a home buyer workshop.
3. Join a local networking group.
4. Mail hand written thank you notes to clients, prospects, agents and vendors.
5. Create a neighborhood newsletter or online networking website for your farm or neighborhood where you live.
6. Get involved in the Chamber of Commerce.
7. Join Realtor national networks.
8. Support a local charity and sponsor a fund raiser. 

Listing Coordination and Marketing

1. Add to all your websites.
2. Create virtual/video tour to add to all websites.
3. Syndicate listing with use of Postlets.com or similar software.
4. Enhance listing on Realtor.com with headlines, text descriptions, video, additional photos, call to action promotion.
5. Upload to Craigs List weekly.
6. Create Facebook page.
7. Tweet with Tweetlister.com
8. Blast email your database.
9. Post on your blog. 

Email Marketing

1. Send high quality email birthday and anniversary cards.
2. Send weekly/monthly email newsletter.
3. Offer free online Webinar for first time buyers, tax credit, short sales, etc.
4. Email local Weekend Events tips.
5. Email local holiday events.
6. Email home maintenance tips.
7. Offer raffle or drawing with other local businesses.
8. Send local interest rate and financing news.
9. Invitation to your social networking profiles.
10. Ask for testimonials on your social networks. 

Website/Blog

1. Use a keyword search tool and confirm your keywords and metatags are relevant.
2. Offer free IDX home search.
3. Offer free listing alerts.
4. Offer free market analysis.
5. Write about other local businesses on your blog.
6. Comment on other local blogs.
7. Create niche website or blog.
8. Add Facebook Connect to your blog.
9. Create ebook and require name and email to download.
10. Host a contest with local businesses.
11. Post to blog 2-3 times per week using relevant keywords. 

Sphere of Influence

1. Send something of value monthly.
2. Send hand written birthday and anniversary cards.
3. Hold client appreciation event.
4. Give free pumpkins at Halloween.
5. Give pies at Thanksgiving.
6. Send Santa letters
7. Give a calendar.
8. Hold drawing to get email addresses.
9. Send monthly or quarterly market reports.
10. Call and ask for referrals quarterly. 

Social Networking

1. Join Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
2. Comment on 3-5 posts daily with links to your blog or website.
3. Create Facebook page for your business.
4. Add video testimonials to your business page.
5. Comment on local business pages.
6. Update your status daily.
7. Use software such as Ping.fm to post to all social networks at one time.
8. Use Twitterlocal.net to connect with local people.
9. Send birthday wishes to friends. 

Contact us today. Let’s put your real estate marketing plan together NOW and make 2010 your best year ever!!

This being the case, how do you start to grow your pre-foreclosure and short sale business? Below are 10 low cost steps to jump start this new facet of your business: 

1.  Brand your short sale business. 

Branding is developing a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. It is a look and a feel that the consumer will associate with you when they see your marketing pieces. This concept is not new to many real estate professionals. We have heard about branding for years. Branding your distressed property business is just as important as the branding of your real estate practice as a whole. Quality Images for your marketing materials can be found on 123RF.com or IstockPhoto.com for just a few dollars per image.

2.  Register a domain name. 

Part of branding is the use of a keyword rich domain name to use on your marketing. One of the best keywords to use in real estate marketing is the name of your city or town. Combine your city or town name with words the consumer will use when searching for information about short sales, such as foreclosure or short sale. A couple of examples are: www.stopatlantaforeclosures.com or www.atlantashortsales.com. You can register a domain name at GoDaddy for less than $10 per year. 

3.  Create a short sale website. 

Homeowners facing foreclosure are in desperate need of information. Most don’t realize there are options other than foreclosure. Create a short sale website that provides information in layman terms, explaining their options and how you can help. And don’t forget to include a call to action. A cost effective website option is a Standard Point2Agent website. You get 15 pages with the first three months free and then only $9.95 per month. A good example is ShortSalesCentralNJ.com.  Another option is to create an additional page on your current website dedicated to short sales and foreclosures and point your short sale domain name to it. 

4.  Create a short sale business card. 

Having a separate business card isn’t necessary. Utilize the back of your current business card to promote your short sale business and let the world know you are a short sale expert. Be sure to include your new short sale domain name. 

5.  Place an ad on CraigsList. 

Being free, Craigs List is one of the most cost effective marketing tools available. Place your ad under Real Estate Services for your area. If you haven’t used the ‘Services section of Craigs List, there are additional hoops to jump through before you can post. You are required to provide a phone number associated with your ad. Craigs List then calls and verifies the number. There are any number of ways to create your ad, but one to consider is using Vflyer.com, which creates the code necessary for an HTML ad. Free personal accounts are available. 

6.  Write a press release. 

Submit a press release about how you can help families in distress avoid foreclosure. Highlight any designation you have earned or additional training you have taken. Your local newspaper will print a press release for free and there are numerous online options, such as Free-Press-Release.com, PRlog.org and PressRelease365.com.  

7.  Advertise in local print media. 

Your local newspaper and real estate magazines aren’t as cost effective as online marketing, but it will set you apart from the crowd. Consider both classified ads and display ads. 

8.  Utilize social networks. 

Blog about your short sale business and add it to Face Book. Put it on My Space, Linked In, and Active Rain and be sure to tweet about it on Twitter. 

9.  Send an introduction letter, email or postcard to your database. 

Get the word out with a letter, email or postcard to your database informing them of how you can help families facing foreclosure. They may know you are a real estate professional, but they need to know of your expertise in the area of short sales and avoiding foreclosure. 

10.  Call your sphere of influence. 

Last, but certainly not least, do what real estate professionals dread the most. Pick up the phone and call your sphere of influence. Sharing how you can save families from foreclosure is a great reason to call old friends and clients, as well as an excellent way to generate business. These days, most everyone knows someone struggling with making mortgage payments. 

My team of Marketing Specialists and Transaction Coordinators have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, making us uniquely qualified to assist you with growing and managing your pre-foreclosure and short sale business. We can create your website and marketing materials, call your sphere of influence, manage your listings and coordinate your closings. Check out our Short Sales In A Box…a turnkey solution to building and managing your distressed property and short sale business.

For more information on how we can help visit myREassistant.com or call 757.271.6047.

The statistics below are based on 45,000,000 mortgages for the 3^rd quarter of 2008: 

All Mortgages:
            2.97% are in foreclosure
            6.99% are in default
            9.96% total in default 

Prime Mortgages:
            1.58% in foreclosure
            4.34% in default
          5.92 total in default 

Sub-Prime Mortgages:
          12.55% in foreclosure
             20.02% in default
            32.57% total in default 

FHA Mortgages:
           2.32% in foreclosure
             12.92% in default
            32.57% in default  

VA Mortgages:
          1.46% in foreclosure
            7.28% n default
         8.74 total in default 

As you can see, 10% of all mortgages were in default. Not just subprime mortgages but all mortgages! A number that has doubled since January 2007. These numbers are not only overwhelming, but also heart breaking knowing they represent 4.5 million families in crisis. 

The real estate industry has the ability to help these families avoid foreclosure and regain stability in their lives. Most families in distress don’t know they have options and think foreclosure in inevitable once they get behind on mortgage payments. CDPE training provides you with the tools you need to assist families in distress. As real estate virtual assistant who is CDPE certified, I can assist you with implementing the tools CDPE provides, growing your distressed property business, marketing distressed property listings and progressing to a successful closing. 

Give me a call. I’d like to work with you helping families in need.