LinkedIn is rated as the top online relationship channel for business. Many sales people think that LinkedIn is like a yellow pages listing, when in fact, LinkedIn is one of the most powerful ways to generate pre-qualified leads, leverage implied endorsements, promote your events and create brand awareness.

Mastering LinkedIn for real estate professionals requires a consistent strategy that leads to engagement! If you are going to be online, isn't part of your strategy to get more business? LinkedIn can help you do just that by dramatically expanding your network.

Here are the four key steps to putting LinkedIn work for you as a free prospecting tool:

• Complete your LinkedIn profile – Start with a professional photo – then include pertinent information about what you do and how you do it. Do you help first time home buyers? Do you specialize in vacation homes? Do you work with short sales? Add as much information as you can to set you apart from others in your area.

• Do a search and find out who is in your "network" and ask them to join you. You want to avoid "linking up" with just anyone who asks. Look strategically to see how this person and their network will contribute to building your business brand. Remember: this is a business network.

• Launch, join and engage with LinkedIn groups. This is one of the top ways to initiate higher visibility!

• Create a plan that will continue to add value to your LinkedIn profile by posting articles, reports and blog posts. You can share posts that you create on your Facebook and Twitter accounts and also posts by respected industry leaders. What kind of information will people in your network value? That is the kind of content you should try to post at least once a week!

Key Action:

If you work LinkedIn daily, it will work for you!

Want more LinkedIn tips? Check out Kurt Shaver's strategies for leveraging LinkedIn in your business!

To view the original article, visit the Point2 Agent blog.