So there has been a lot of buzz lately in the real estate industry about Social Media and Social Networking. I have some favorites that I believe are the starting point for those out there who are beginners in this brave new world.

Let’s get down to the question.

I NEED BUSINESS!

Ok, so that’s less a question and more of sobbing heaving moan in the night when you think no one is listening. Over the next few days/weeks I am going to introduce you different Social Media sites and some ways to implement them in your business without taking hours out of your day. I am not starting with the most important; I will save that one for last. However, all sites leading up to the final will be reviewed in random order. That being said and out of the way, let’s begin with Linkedin.

After much research I feel like this will be the safest place for loan originators who are beginning to get their feet wet in the waters of social media to begin. Linkedin is a social networking site for professionals who want to get “Linkedin” with other professionals. Many people I speak to reference Linkedin as an online resume only because they have no clue how/when to use it. So here a few quick tips to get the most from your Linkedin profile as a loan originator.

1. Place the Linkedin logo in your email signature and reference it on your business card. Give the people you email and talk to most the chance to see who you are, what you’ve done, and how many recommendations you have. That being said…
2. Get recommendations! Connect with your Real Estate Agents, Title Reps, Stagers, Past Clients, etc. and ask each and every one of them to give you a recommendation. The worst they are going to say is “no!” Recommendations look great on your profile and, according to Sean Nelson, author of Linkedin 101, getting recommended by past client will rank you higher in Linkedin’s list of Service Providers. Encourage agents you meet to check out your profile to discover what others have said about you.
3. Learn from the best. Anytime you invest a part of yourself and your valuable time do it right. I have included some resources for you to start with:
   1. Wikipedia
   2. Sean Nelson’s Blog
   3. Scott Allen’s Blog
   4. Chris Rollyson’s Executive Guide to LinkedIn
   5. Peter Nguyen’s LinkedIn User Manual
   6. Chris Brogan
   7. Christopher Penn’s Video on Using Linkedin to Build Your Personal Network
4. Be consistent. I spend about 1 hour per week on Linkedin spread out over a few days. Try to make 3 new friends a week. That’s it. Over the course of a year your network will be 150+ strong and you will be very well connected.

I want to end this post with a quote from my friend and colleague Brian Kludt, “there is no magic bullet, what a bunch of morons.” Many Originators are out in the Lendospere (I just made that up) chasing their tales. In this day and age it is not how many people you get your services in front of, it is who you get your services in front of correctly. Linkedin will place you into a group of professional seeking professionals. While you are at it connect with me on Linkedin!

Next week – we will talk about Twitter. What it is and how the most successful Originators have included it in their business.

More about the author Daniel Martin.