To build anything, you have to start with the proper foundation. Social media is often where consumers find their real estate agent, and prospective clients look to the agent’s profile for more information about who he or she is.
If you are looking to create a presence on social media — take note — you’ll want impeccable profiles, and I’ve put together a list to help you create a compelling social media profile on several platforms.
As a rule of thumb, we recommend that real estate agents start with the big three: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Here is everything you need to know before setting up a profile on these platforms.
Profile image
It must be a square photo, with a minimum recommended size of 170-pixels-by-170-pixels. For agents, the profile picture should consist of a professional headshot taken from the shoulders up.
Keep in mind that profile images on Facebook will render as 36-pixels-by-36-pixels on a mobile device, so don’t use that space to add text.
Your profile picture will show up circular when posting as well as in advertising, so keep this in mind when selecting the right shot.
Cover image
Must be 820-pixels-wide-by-312-pixels-tall. We recommend using a PNG file as it is likely to showcase graphics in much higher quality.
It is also advisable to use images that reflect the tone, voice and messaging of your brand, while keeping a clean look.
Including your name in the image isn’t necessary because it will appear alongside the image at all times.
Your call-to-action button will as well, so don’t waste valuable space including one on the cover image.
If you are planning to use a logo, keep it small and preferably to a corner.
Don’t skip the writing
Be sure to include the proper category for your business, contact information, your website, your story and a brief summary of your services and experience in the “About” section.
Call-to-action
Don’t forget to add a call-to-action button, as this can be a great way for mobile users to quickly get in touch with you.
Profile photo
Must be a square with a minimum recommended size of 400-pixels-by-400-pixels.
Keep in mind that the photo will display as a circle throughout Twitter, so it’s best to ensure that there is enough space around the photo to allow the entire image to be visible.
Again, here we recommend using a professional headshot.
Header photo
The recommended dimensions are 1,500-pixels-wide-by-500-pixels-tall, and it will resize for mobile.
Much like for Facebook, we recommend as little text as possible. This will ensure that it renders correctly on all devices without looking amateurish.
An image that represents your brand’s voice will convey the correct messaging without the need for text.
Contact information
Be sure to include your name, location and website. This will allow your target audience to contact you with little effort.
Bio information
Yes, you need a bio, and no, you cannot exceed 160 characters. Keep it short, simple and to the point. Key information should include services provided and areas served, as well as a link to your website.
Theme colors
If you use a color palette for your branding, be sure to change your profile’s theme color to reflect that look.
If the image you select is within the palette of your brand, you can count on Twitter to select the best colors to match.
Profile image
Much like all other social media platforms, Instagram requires a square image with the recommended size of 110-by-110-pixels. Again, this image will become a circle so make sure that your professional headshot has enough space around it so that your head won’t get cut off.
Information
You’ll need to include your website and a brief bio that clearly states the services you offer and which areas you service.
I recommend opting for a business account, in which case you would also need to note that you are in the real estate industry.
Business account
On that note, there are added benefits to choosing a business account rather than a personal one.
Business accounts provide the opportunity to create three call-to-action buttons. Take advantage of each of these by including your phone number, email and an address.
Photos
With Instagram being a visual communication platform, you’ll also want to have posted several images of interest before launching your profile.
These might include shots of current listings or just sold properties, as well as lifestyle-focused shots. For the best resolution, keep all images to 1,080-pixels-by-1,080-pixels.
These are the three most important platforms for real estate agents to have a presence on, but they aren’t the only platforms to consider.
Stay tuned for my follow-up post, where I’ll cover best profile practices for Snapchat, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google Plus.
Laura Ure is the CEO of Keenability, a marketing agency specializing in lifestyle marketing that targets the affluent buyer. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
