Special offer

Are You LinkedIn? Just Call Me #34,787,990

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage

If you are a blogger or a social marketer you are aware of LinkedIn.  LinkedIn is a professional social media platform.  In March 2011, LinkedIn's membership grew to 100,000,000 and they claim that membership expands by 1 Million each week.

So where do you rank in the LinkedIn membership stats?  If you are curious you can click on your Profile page and go to View Profile.  Look up at the URL in your browser and there will be some words and then a number.  That's you.

I am ranked at 34,787,990.  Certainly not first to jump on this social platform bandwagon but well before the halfway point now.    LinkedInSocial networking

After you completed your profile and started to look for others to network with, did you join any groups?  Did you start any groups?  Did you give or ask for any recommendations? 

When I first started it was pretty quiet in my networking circle.  LinkedIn was still fairly new and hadn't caught on yet with REALTORS® and others in my sphere of influence here in Canada.

In January 2009 I started a group called RE/MAX Canada.  I have to admit it started out VERY SLOWLY.  Once in awhile I'd get a notification that someone wanted to be a member of the group.  As of 3 months ago we had 70 RE/MAX agents in the group.  Although the name is RE/MAX Canada any RE/MAX agent worldwide is welcome to join.  One month ago membership jumped to 110.

As of today we have 214 members in the RE/MAX Canada Group.  Not a huge number but it is the recent growth that impresses me.  Obviously more and more agents are joining LinkedIn and looking for groups to join.

Now that the group is growing and I'm the administrator (or owner, as LinkedIn refers the administrator as) I figured it is time to be a little more active with the group. 

I have started posting interesting articles and links that I feel may be pertinent to the agents in the group.  More people are starting to introduce themselves and leave comments.  We have RE/MAXERS from all over Canada, the U.S., South America and Europe joining.

People are finding the group so that is great.  And now that I've taken the RE/MAX Canada name, no one else can lay claim to it.  Obviously LinkedIn is growing rapidly and good group names will be going fast.

If you are thinking of creating a group of your own, hurry and lay claim to a name before it is gone.  If you don't want to start a group, look to see what groups already exist that you may be interested in joining.  Then contribute or make comments to keep the group active and vibrant.

Yes, it is just another networking tool but LinkedIn is a professional site and very well respected.  Many members are posting their resumes and finding great jobs via LinkedIn.  Not only will you find your colleagues on LinkedIn but your clients, friends, and many members of your sphere of influence.

In my opinion this social media platform is a winner.

 

 

Comments (16)

Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am impressed with your activity in Linked-in.  I want to start doing more and taking advantage of what Linked-In has to offer.  I am not sure what # I am.

May 24, 2011 03:26 PM
Teral McDowell
Referral Patners LLC - Murphy, TX

LinkedIn was the first of my social network experiences and I still enjoy it. Congratulations on your group's success.

May 24, 2011 03:29 PM
Deborah "Dee Dee" Garvin
C2 Financial - San Diego, CA
C2 Financial

Jenny,  I am just starting to get my arms around Linkedin.,..I have always considered the site as my "online resume" and have not really marketed it.  That said, my number:19.947,835.  After the success of the IPO I may start feeling like one of the founding fathers!!

May 24, 2011 03:41 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Jenny - I am only a member of one group so far - TREB - because Tom Lebour invited me.  I don't see a lot of action in that group nor too many members.  I have yet to see how LinkIn can generate business.

May 24, 2011 05:11 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

LinkedIn is the Sleeping Giant of Social Media.

When they offered the IPO last week, the price jumped from $45 to $122 in a day (based on rumors that Facebook was considering buying LinkedIn).

Personal Profile, Company Page, Groups - go for it!   LinkedIn is a great site.

 

Nice post, Jenny.

May 24, 2011 06:51 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Jenny,

Linked in is okay, but must admit that it does not excite me as much as blogging or other media platforms.

I get the benefits, it is just a rather dull and boring environment.

 

May 24, 2011 06:52 PM
Carol Faaland-Kronmaier
Weichert, Realtors; Hillsborough - Hillsborough, NJ
PhD, e-PRO, Manville, Hillsborough, Somerset NJ

Jenny, I also agree that Linked In is useful to connect with old contacts and other professionals in my area. Thank you for the post! Carol

May 24, 2011 11:43 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Jenny, I have a Linked-in membership but that is about the extent. Not someplace I go to regularly, so I don't know what I'm missing, if anything

May 25, 2011 02:59 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Jenny, I'm a member of Linked-in but I haven't really gotten into it as much as AR. I should look into it more. Thanks.

May 25, 2011 03:59 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

You mean they have more members than ActiveRain? I guess it’s time for me to join. J♪♫♫♪

May 25, 2011 01:54 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Joan, I've only just increased my presence on LinkedIn since my group has grown.  Figured if I was the administrator, I better do something lol.

Thanks Teral, I like LinkedIn because it is professional.  No silliness going on there lol.

Dee Dee, yes you are almost a founding father lol.  Good job.  You jumped on early.  You never know who will find you there.  Better to be there and to be found.

Hi Marc, I don't know if it will generate business but I have a couple clients who found new jobs through it.  It is a good spot to have your resume.  I think a lot of companies don't bother to advertise jobs anymore as they can find potential employees online now.

Thanks for the info Fred, LinkedIn and platforms like it are like our for sale signs.  Open 24/7 for business.

Hi Pfanns, Yes, the interaction there isn't the same as Facebook but I think it has potential. 

Hi Carol, I find it interesting to see what people I know actually do for a living.  There are some pretty cool jobs out there.

Hi Ed, I don't think you have to go there on a regular basis unless you need to make some changes to your profile.  I'm just going more now because I keep getting emails saying people are wanting to join my group.  Not used to that lol.

Janice you should see if there are home staging groups.  But do home stagers network at all?  I see they seem to here on AR.

Jim, I'm surprised you aren't on LinkedIn.  And yes, I think their numbers are a tad higher than AR lol.

 

May 25, 2011 03:56 PM
Doug Bullwinkel
E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA
Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

I think this is the next social network that will be getting more attention soon.  I've been listed here for some time but I've never really done anything with it.  Time to update my profile and get with it.

May 25, 2011 09:36 PM
Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070
Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA
Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

great tip. Starting a group seams to be a good way to get your name out there. I'll have to think about what I could start a topic on linkedin

May 26, 2011 04:47 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Jenny Linkedin is an excellent platform to share business articles from your blog and of course the networking is great as well!

May 26, 2011 09:53 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Thanks for this information Jenny, I joined LinkedIn- but then really had no idea what to do with it.  I'll go over there and see about a group or too!

May 27, 2011 01:33 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I' m pretty much have a page on all major social network. Does it bring any business~ that is a question for a different blog. 

Jun 13, 2016 04:58 PM