I recently wrote an article that referenced Active Rain. Since then, I saw quite a few people join Active Rain. With so many of my clients and peers joining, I figured I should give a quick tutorial on how to make sure your Profile is optimized for Search Engines.
But, this post isn’t just for the newbies. Even if you are a veteran to ActiveRain, you may want to use this as a quick review to make sure you have covered all your bases.
Join Active Rain
If you haven’t already done so, I suggest you join Active Rain. But, don’t just dart off and join before reading this post. In your excitement to join you may overlook some important tips you should know before joining.
Think About Your Username
I wrote a post about selecting a username a couple of months ago. It’s important to have a good username because once you sign up; there is no way to change it. Select a username that is the keyword you are trying to optimize. For example, if you are trying to optimize for Sheridan Wyoming Real Estate, then make your username SheridanRealEstate. If you have already signed up for Active Rain, then keep this tip in mind as you join other social networks.
SEO Your Profile
After you have signed up, it’s time to jump in and create your profile. Profile Pages are favorable in the eyes of Search Engines. So there is a good chance your profile will rank well and get lots of views!
More than Just Your Name
You may have been tempted to simply enter your first and last name when you signed up. That’s the obvious process, but your name will be seen on every comment you make, every blog post and more. So use this as an opportunity to include another keyword. This is important - Don’t use the same keyword as your username. Using the example above, if your username keyword is SheridanRealEstate, your Name keyword may be Sheridan Wyoming Real Estate or even Sheridan Wyoming Properties. To do this, simply enter both your first and last name into the First Name field. Next, enter your keyword into the Last Name field.
200 characters About Them - Zero about You!
The next important aspect of your profile is your Description. This description will be seen on the individual area pages such as your City, County or State. This description should be consumer centered. Don’t, I repeat Don’t be tempted to write something like this…
I am a top Realtor in Ego County. I am the greatest agent. I have lots of awards, I can help you buy or sell because I have more experience than you! Call me so I can tell you more about how great I am!
Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme but the reality is that there are too many profile descriptions that look very similar to this! Instead, replace all the I’s with “You.” In other words, make it all about helping the consumer. Notice how many times the word “you” is used in this description…
Whether you are buying or selling a property in Sheridan, Big Horn or beyond, our goal is to provide you with the resources and tools you need to make a smart and stress free real estate investment.
Maximizing Your Profile Content
After you have created a “consumer centric” description, you will want to add content to your profile page. This is where I am going to disagree with about 90% of the profile pages currently on Active Rain. Write the profile in First Person! Write as if you are speaking directly to your client (like a blog post). It engages people and will yield a better response rate.
Change Those Headers!
I would also suggest changing the header text for each section. You can do this by simply going in and clicking on “rename section.” This is another great opportunity to optimize for those important keywords.
The Area Expert
Rename the first header section something like “Sheridan Wyoming Real Estate at its Best” (edit for your specific area). Then create copy that focuses on how great the area is. Remember, keep the copy centered on benefiting the consumer. If you have an external website, be sure to create a few links back to your website. For best results, link to internal pages such as your area information page instead of just your home page. One more thing! Don’t just go to Wikipedia and copy and paste information about your area. This copy needs to be compelling and original. If not, Search Engines will think, “Oh, this is just another copy of Wikipedia, no real value here.” If you don’t have time to do this, hire a copywriter. It’s that important!
Enough About Me, Let's Focus On You
Now edit your next header section. This is where you can talk about yourself and your services. Again, in terms of how how you benefit the client. Tie everything to benefits! Instead of “I have 20 years of experience,” try, “Having someone in your corner with 20 years of experience will ensure every detail of your purchase is handled smoothly.” Okay – probably not some of my best copywriting work but at least you get the picture. Feeling brave? If you are ready to toss aside the unwritten rules of writing a bio, check this out.
You can even try a question and answer format. This makes things very conversational. Kevin Tomlinsonhas a great example of this on his website. It’s a little heavy on the “I”s but, I love the conversational approach!
What Others Are Saying
Your final section is for testimonials. Again, rename the section to something more keyword rich. For example, “Happy Sheridan Real Estate Clients.” (A little hokey but you get the idea) When choosing testimonials, don’t just include the
We just love working with Ima Dagreatest. She is so wonderful!
Instead, look for the testimonials that account for specific events.
After a frustrating 3 months on the market, we changed Realtors and hired Alla Boutyou. She hired a stager and sold our home in 10 days and for $7,400 above the original asking price!
To Sum It Up
By integrating these tips into your profile, you speak more clearly to both search engines and your visitors. So go back and take another look at your profile. Who are you? “Ima Dagreatest” or “Alla Boutyou?”
In my next post, I will show you how to optimize your AR blog for search engines!
If you found this information helpful, please consider subscribing to my blog
Until Then,
Brad Carroll
Posted by 
Thanks for the information...I wish I would have know about the user name before signing up! I would have chosen something different! I was told by AR that I could change it but my comments would not follow?!