First impressions are everything, aren’t they? You want to come off as confident, experienced and knowledgeable, especially when trying to land a job, which is really what you hope to accomplish when potential clients read your real estate profile or biography. But you also want to come off as you, and make clear the things about yourself that set you apart from others in the industry.

That bio, next to your lovely headshot, is often the first thing a potential buyer or seller sees about you online, so you want to make sure it gets across all the points you want it to in the very little time it might take them to make their decision.

It doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming to make yourself stand out online. When we write profiles in our ERA Grizzard Marketing Department, we start with a simple list of questions and transform those answers into a story. 

Let’s walk you through that stress-free formula.

Step 1: Get a professional headshot

A picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s no different in the real estate world. If our Marketing Department writes any profiles or announcements for new agents, the first requirement is a professional headshot. Show clients who they’d be working with if they say yes to you.

We all know the importance of professional photography for listings. Your headshot deserves the same attention to detail. If it wasn’t taken professionally or is older than 2-3 years, get a new one STAT!

Step 2: Ask yourself these 7 questions

• How and when did you get started in Real Estate?
• What do you enjoy most about Real Estate or your career? 
• What and where do you specialize or focus (luxury homes, waterfront, a specific neighborhood/community, 55+, etc.)? The more specific you can be, the better. 
• Why should a client work with you?
• Do you have any degrees, awards, designations/certifications or notable accomplishments?
• What kind of hobbies, interests, or loves do you have (outside of real estate! This is where you can really stand out!)?

Step 3: Speak to your Customer Persona

If you don’t know who your target client is, your Customer Persona, look back to our post on the 5 Simple Steps for Creating a DYNAMITE Marketing Plan. Your online profiles should support your marketing plan to reach your intended audience.

Example: If you’re focusing your marketing efforts this year on working with first-time home buyers in a specific area, make sure you appeal to that Customer Persona in your profiles. 

What matters most to many first-time buyers? How about new retirees, if you’re hoping to close some deals in retirement communities? Make mention of those things to catch their eye. If you can upload cover photos, select images of the local communities in which you specialize.

Step 4: Turn your answers into copy

Take your answers from Step 2 and combine them to create your profile. 

Pro Tip: Should you write in 1st or 3rd person? If you’re uncomfortable writing about yourself, you might find it easier to refer to yourself in the 3rd person. However, if you write in 1st person, your profile will be more personal. Choose whichever you’re most comfortable with, just make sure you touch on all the key points.

If you need more help deciding, browse this article by Follow Up Boss to see some of the best real estate bio examples and why some agents prefer 3rd person over 1st.

Here’s a quick example to give you some inspiration while crafting your own real estate biography: 

Rachael Realtor’s 7 Question Answers 

• How and when did you get started in Real Estate? In 1997, I had a horrible experience buying a home. I had been in customer service for over 10 years and knew that was not a client experience that I would ever provide. So, I got my license that same year and haven’t looked back! 

• What do you enjoy most about Real Estate or your career? I enjoy creating relationships with my clients and being their trusted adviser. Buying or selling a home can be stressful. So, I pride myself on creating as smooth of a transaction – and more importantly, experience – that I can. 

• What and where do you specialize or focus (luxury homes, waterfront, a specific neighborhood or community, 55+, etc.)? The more specific you can be, the better. I like to work with people who are looking to move to 55+ communities and start the best chapter of their lives. Many times, these clients are relocating from out of state. I specialize in The Villages and the surrounding communities, like Stonecrest. I live in The Villages myself and write a monthly newsletter about activities in the area and featured market information. 

• Why should a client work with you? I have years of experience under my belt. At the same time, it’s important to me that I stay up-to-date on Real Estate trends and technology. If I’m working with a seller, my innovative marketing means more eyes on their property!  

• Do you have any degrees, awards, designations/certifications, or notable accomplishments? I have my SRES designation. I’m also a multi-million dollar producer for the past 10 years and had an article published about The Villages in a travel magazine. 

• What kind of hobbies, interests, or loves do you have (outside of Real Estate!) I love to paint with watercolors – flowers, birds, or anything I see from my lanai. My Chihuahua, Tina, is my constant companion, and I take her everywhere. 

Now, let’s transform those answers into a polished sample real estate agent bio. Here’s an example:

Meet Rachael Realtor

Rachael Realtor began her career in Real Estate nearly 20 years ago. The exceptional experience she provides to her clients is a reflection of her past roles in customer service and continued commitment to her clients. 

“I enjoy creating relationships with my clients and being their trusted adviser. Buying or selling a home can be stressful. I pride myself on creating as smooth of a transaction as possible and, more importantly, providing my clients with a great experience,” says Rachael Realtor.  

Rachael specializes in assisting home buyers and sellers in Central Florida’s popular Active Adult Communities. Whether a client is relocating from New England to The Villages, Florida, or selling their home in Stonecrest, Rachael is a local market expert. In fact, she writes a popular monthly newsletter about life in The Villages, Florida, and Real Estate trends. Her expertise was even published in a prominent travel magazine!

Real Estate is constantly evolving, and Rachael has remained at the forefront of the industry by committing herself to innovative marketing practices for her listings and continued education for herself. She has earned the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation to more effectively address the needs of her 55+ clients, and has been a multi-million dollar producer for over ten years.

When she’s not busy helping her clients live “the best chapters of their lives,” you can find her on her lanai capturing Florida’s beauty in watercolor with her beloved Chihuahua, Tina, at her side.

You’ll notice that the profile follows the order of the original 7 questions and features “quotes” from those answers. The quotes are a great way to show some personality and effectively communicate directly with potential clients, while also creating the appearance of a professionally written bio.

Nobody has to know that you wrote it on your couch watching Netflix!

How long should your real estate bio be?

According to Placester.com, which offers some knockout examples of real estate agent bios, it’s best to keep it short and sweet.

Keep your profile around 200-300 words or 2-3 paragraphs. The profile we showed off above was less than 250 words and consisted of 5 short paragraphs. We suggest writing in shorter, more frequent paragraphs for easier reading on mobile devices. 

Step 5: Spread the word

Upload your new bio or profile to all the major Real Estate and professional sites, including the following: Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, LinkedIn and, of course, your own personal website.

Pro Tip: If you are focusing on improving your personal website’s SEO, consider creating a different profile for your own site. Google doesn’t like duplicate content, and you can use that opportunity to take advantage of any keywords you’re targeting.

Search yourself on the internet, and turn over any rocks that old profiles might be hiding under.

 When it comes to writing your real estate bio, remember this quote from ERA Grizzard Broker/Owner Gus Grizzard: “Don’t let perfection stand in the way of production.” 

In other words, don’t get caught up in crafting the most eloquent bio ever written or overwhelmed by writing styles. You can write an effective profile by following our basic 4-step formula.

Simply answer our 7 questions. Polish them up. Then, combine your answers to create a professional Real Estate profile that best showcases you and all you have to offer. You can also browse this article for more tips on how to make your real estate agent bio stand out.

We reworded and tweaked the answers. However, you could just combine your original answers and edit your grammar. Remember, your profile is a source of potential new business. 

If you follow our stress-free formula, you’ll have an effective Real Estate bio in no time!

And if you need more examples of impressive real estate bios, click here to browse samples from our team of ERA Grizzard agents.