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Get Ready for 2016 by Updating Online Information

By
Real Estate Technology with ReferralExchange CA License #01426453

As we head towards the home stretch for 2015 and the market starts to slow down, it’s time to take advantage of the quiet and update our online profiles and bios.  Many  websites utilize your stats to assign agent ratings and rankings, so it’s more important than ever to make sure that your information is correct. Given below is a quick “top 5” of items to update/double-check before the end of the year:

 

1)      Update Your Photo:  If you haven’t changed your photo in five years, or if you’re still using a quick “selfie” you took at your desk, it’s a good idea to have a new one taken.  While you don’t need to use a professional photographer, be sure to dress professionally and avoid taking pictures against a busy background.  A “head and shoulders” shot is best – especially for smaller profile photos. 

2)      Update Your Sales and Transactions:  Make sure your sales and transaction data – as well as property types – are current. 2015 was a great year -- and you should showcase your success!

3)      Coverage Area:  If you expanded your business to cover new zip codes, towns, neighborhoods, or cities this past year, make sure your online profiles reflect all of the areas you cover. You don't want to lose prospective clients because they don't think you have expertise in a particular market.

4)      Specialties:  Do you speak another language?  It’s important to list this information.  As more foreign buyers enter the U.S. market, additional language skills can make the different between whether or not you retain a client.

5)      Be Consistent: Make sure that your information is consistent across all profiles.  A prospective client will often check multiple sources when looking for an agent, and inconsistent information makes you appear less organized and professional. 

 

Your real estate business is bigger than you think. ReferralExchange matches your clients with 3 great agents and pays you a 25% referral fee at closing. 

Posted by

Lisa Fettner

VP Marketing

Referral Exchange

lisa@referralexchange.com

www.referralexchange.com

 

Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

Hey Lisa, thanks for the reminder!  I will jot some of these down.

Nov 05, 2015 08:28 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Ralph! 

Nov 05, 2015 08:53 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am looking forward to things slowing a bit so I can get a head up on 2016.  So far the fall has been extraordinarily busy.

Nov 05, 2015 11:07 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) - wow! We are almost in 2016 and time to get ready with goals and plans for 2016!

Consistent information (along with the pictures) across all sites is very important. That's our Web Signature!

Nov 05, 2015 02:20 PM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Praful! 

Nov 06, 2015 07:37 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I've been thinking I need a new photo since mine IS five years old. Thanks for the reminder!

Nov 05, 2015 07:13 PM
ReferralExchange .

You are welcome Kat! 

Nov 06, 2015 07:37 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) helps to keep us on our toes...thank you

Nov 05, 2015 10:25 PM
ReferralExchange .

You're welcome Richie! 

Nov 06, 2015 07:38 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great reminder. This is something I do each year at year end, when things quiet down a bit.

Nov 06, 2015 03:32 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Nina! 

Nov 06, 2015 07:38 AM
Jim Joeriman
Coldwell Banker Riviera Realty, Inc - Lacey Township, NJ
Helping Agents Reach New Heights

Good article.  I especially agree with your view on consistency. Far too many agents don't realize that people google you and if they get mixed messages, they probably won't trust you, and move on.

Nov 06, 2015 05:16 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you for the feedback Jim! 

Nov 06, 2015 07:35 AM
David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

This is a great tip, and needs to be penciled into the calendar. Thx

Nov 24, 2015 03:40 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks David! 

Nov 24, 2015 03:45 AM
Matthew Lawrence
ReMax Center - Round Lake, IL

Great reminder... Another thing for the to do list

Nov 24, 2015 05:49 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Matthew! 

Nov 24, 2015 06:05 AM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

excellent post, thanks for your time

Nov 24, 2015 06:28 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Ron! 

Nov 24, 2015 06:42 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Great tips that we should all pay attention to. I see agents photos all over the place and they were taken 15 years ago. Imagine a consumer meeting you for the first time with that photo in mind and wondering who showed up.

Thanks for sharing.

Nov 24, 2015 06:52 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you for the feedback John! 

Nov 24, 2015 07:13 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Lisa,

I'm always amazed at how many places I have to update when minor changes happen.

Rich

Nov 24, 2015 06:53 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Richard! 

Nov 24, 2015 07:14 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

These are great things to do during the down times of the holidays. 

Nov 24, 2015 08:23 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Karen! 

Nov 24, 2015 08:31 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great Reminders ... so many things to do, but as we enter into the "slower" season this is a good project to do.  Thanks!  Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov 24, 2015 10:33 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving Diana!

Nov 25, 2015 12:44 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Lisa,

Quiet? Busier than ever right now & hoping for a snow day soon to catch up ;-)

Nov 24, 2015 12:42 PM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Dorte! 

Nov 25, 2015 12:44 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

A great reminder.

Sam

Nov 24, 2015 01:56 PM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Sam! 

Nov 25, 2015 12:45 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Inconsistent information is frustrating for consumers.  You have provided us with important reminders!

Nov 29, 2015 02:24 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Sharon! 

Nov 30, 2015 12:36 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

In addition, if you've won an award or gained a new designation, that information needs to be added to your profile. 

And - anything on your site that is time-related needs to be changed. I've seen sites that still say things like "According to NAR surveys, in 2010 X% of all buyers visited the Internet before visiting an agent." 

Nov 30, 2015 12:17 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Marte! 

Nov 30, 2015 12:36 AM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

Thanks for the to do list during the less hectic times of our business.

Nov 30, 2015 04:09 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks M.C.! 

Nov 30, 2015 04:16 AM
MaryBeth Mills Muldowney
TradeWinds Realty Group LLC - Braintree, MA
Massachusetts Broker Owner

Great list to navigate by - on my list for early 2016 goals!

Jan 04, 2016 10:58 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks MaryBeth! 

Jan 05, 2016 12:23 AM