Why Social Media is the New Digital Business Card for Agents

The simple idea

Your business card used to be a small piece of paper. Today it is your social profile. It carries your face, your name, your contact details, your proof of work, and what other people say about you. It is always up to date. It is clickable. It is shareable. It can be saved in one tap. It can even start a private chat.

Why social media beats a paper card

Social media works like a living business card that grows with you. Here is why it wins.

• It travels with your client wherever their phone goes
• It shows fresh listings and recent results in real time
• It carries trust with reviews and social proof
• It opens a direct message instantly
• It lets people book a call or an appraisal with one tap
• It can be scanned at open homes with a simple QR code
• It never runs out and it never gets lost

Where this matters most for real estate

Choose one primary platform and one backup. Then master them.

• Instagram. Visual, quick, and perfect for short video and Stories. Great for suburb life, just listed, and just sold posts
• Facebook. Broad audience, easy groups, and strong for community posts and vendor updates
• LinkedIn. Best for credibility, referrals, and developer or business contacts
• YouTube. The home for longer property tours and suburb guides. It also boosts your Google presence
• TikTok. Fast reach for short, helpful tips. Use it if you enjoy video and can keep it consistent

Tip. Your profile link should point to one simple page with your contact details, current listings, booking link, and reviews.

Your profile checklist

Think of this as the new business card layout. Keep it clean and clear.

• Profile photo. Bright headshot from the chest up. Neutral background. Real smile
• Name. Use your full name and add property agent or real estate in the name field
• Handle. Use a clean handle like @FirstNameLastName or @NameInSuburb
• Bio. One line who you help, one line where you work, one line proof or call to action
• Link. One link that opens your contact hub
• Contact buttons. Turn on call, email, and message buttons
• Highlights or Pinned. Save key items like Testimonials, Recent Sales, Suburb Guides, Free Appraisal
• Branding. Use the same colours, fonts, and tone across all platforms
• Legal and trust. Add your licence number if your state requires it. Add a short privacy note on forms

Ready to paste bio templates

Pick the one that fits you and your area. Edit the suburb and value point.

• Service bio
Helping homeowners and buyers in [Suburb and Surrounds]. Clear advice. Strong results. Book a free price check below.

• Proof bio
[Suburb] agent. 32 local sales in the last 12 months. Average days on market 21. Free suburb price update at the link.

• Community bio
Local property guide for [Suburb]. Schools. Cafes. Parks. Prices. Ask me anything or tap to book a quick call.

Link in bio layout

Your link should open a simple page with five clear blocks.

• Call or text me
• Book a free appraisal
• Current listings
• Recent sales and reviews
• Suburb price report request

Keep the page short. No clutter. Big buttons that work on mobile.

The three first impressions that matter

When someone lands on your profile, they decide in seconds if they will follow or contact you. Make these three parts strong.

• The grid or feed. The first nine posts should show who you help, what you do, and social proof
• The pinned posts. Pin three posts that act like your business card face
• The highlights. Save four or five highlight covers that show Reviews, Sales, Guides, and Contact

Pinned posts that carry the load

Create these three once and refresh them every quarter.

• Who I help and where I work. One short video that says your suburbs, your promise, and how to reach you
• How I sell homes. A simple step by step video that explains your process and timeline
• Results and reviews. A carousel with three recent sales and three short client quotes

What to post so people remember you

Think in four simple content pillars. Rotate them each week.

• Listings and results. Just listed. Under offer. Just sold. Each with clear address area and outcome
• Education. Short tips on pricing, staging, and the contract steps in your state
• Community. Local cafes, schools, parks, and weekend events. Tag local pages
• You and your team. Behind the scenes at open homes, buyer calls, vendor meetings, and charity days

Keep captions simple. Use one clear call to action at the end.

• Want a price guide for your street. Send me a message
• Would you like a copy of my 7 step selling plan. Tap the link
• Want this checklist as a PDF. Comment Checklist and I will send it

Turn open homes into followers and leads

Your social profile can replace paper flyers if you make it easy to access.

• Place a small QR code at the entry table that opens your link in bio
• Invite visitors to follow for a price update on the home and nearby results
• Save a Story highlight for each listing with key details and inspection times
• After the open, send a message with thanks, contract link, and a simple next step
• For neighbours, share your Seller Guide link and invite them to a five minute price check

Script to say at the door
“Thanks for coming. If you scan this code you can see more photos, floor plan, and a quick price guide. You can also message me there if you have a question.”

Easy direct message scripts

Keep messages short and helpful. Ask one simple question.

• Buyer follow up
“Thanks for visiting 10 Smith Street. Would you like the contract or a price guide for similar homes nearby”

• Neighbour follow up
“Great to meet you today. Would you like a quick update on your street so you can follow the market”

• Appraisal invite
“I can send a two page price update for your home and street. Would you like that today or tomorrow”

• Review request
“Thank you for working with me. A short review helps local owners find trusted help. May I text you a link to RateMyAgent now”

Use QR codes and NFC cards the smart way

Your social profile is strongest when it is easy to scan.

• Add a QR code to your open home sign and your A4 property sheets
• Add a QR code to your letterbox drop that opens your appraisal booking page
• Put a small NFC tap card on your phone case so people can save your profile in one tap
• Add a QR code to your email signature that links to your reviews and recent results

Five minute weekly tidy up

Keep your digital business card clean and current.

• Update your pinned posts if results change
• Refresh your link in bio buttons if a listing sells
• Check that call and message buttons work on iPhone and Android
• Reply to every message and comment
• Save the best Story frames into Highlights

Proof that builds trust fast

People believe what other people say about you. Put social proof into your profile.

• Reviews. Add three of your best with a headshot or first name and suburb
• Numbers. Share sales count, average days on market, and clearance rate in simple language
• Media. If you are quoted in local news, save it as a highlight
• Community. Show your support for a school fair or charity day with one clear post

Safety and privacy

Build trust by showing care for data and fair dealing.

• Ask permission before sharing photos or names of clients
• Use consent forms for testimonials
• Keep personal data safe when you collect it through forms
• Avoid giving price guidance that breaks local rules. Use clear ranges and invite a private chat

Common mistakes to avoid

These small errors make a profile look weak. Fix them now.

• Blurry headshot or no headshot
• No contact buttons or broken link
• Bio with no suburb or no call to action
• Feed full of listings with no education or community
• Long captions that do not say what to do next
• Inconsistent branding and mixed fonts
• Posting once a month and expecting strong results

A simple seven day launch plan

Follow this plan to turn your profile into a powerful digital business card in one week.

• Day 1. Update photo, name, handle, and contact buttons. Write your bio. Set your link in bio page
• Day 2. Create and pin your three core posts. Who I help. How I sell. Reviews and results
• Day 3. Post one current listing and one short tip video. Invite messages
• Day 4. Record a two minute suburb guide and save it to Highlights
• Day 5. Add a QR code to your open home signs and A4 sheets. Test it with a friend
• Day 6. Invite past clients to follow your profile. Ask two happy clients for a review
• Day 7. Review analytics. Keep what worked. Plan next week with one post from each pillar

What good looks like in practice

Aim for these simple targets once your profile is set.

• Two to three posts per week
• Daily Stories on inspection days
• Reply to all messages within 12 hours
• One educational video per week
• One review or result post per week
• A growing highlight library that answers common questions

Simple analytics to watch

You do not need complex reports. Focus on what turns into conversations.

• Profile visits. Are more people landing on your profile each week
• Website taps. Are people opening your link in bio
• Follows. Are locals starting to follow you
• Direct messages. Are you getting new chats from new names
• Saves. Do people save your checklists and guides

Action rule. If a post drives profile visits and messages, make more like it.

Turn every real world moment into a digital touch

Your profile should be easy to reach from any place a client meets you.

• Add the QR code to your market update flyers
• Put a small sticker on your laptop and car window sign with your QR code
• Share your profile link in vendor reports and buyer follow ups
• Ask local businesses if you can tag them and feature them in Stories
• Use your profile link in portal ads where possible, so people can explore your brand

Final call to action

Treat your social profile as your living business card. Keep it clean. Keep it current. Make it easy to scan. Make it easy to contact you. Share proof that you do what you say. When someone meets you at an open home or sees your For Sale board, they should be able to scan, follow, message, and book a meeting in seconds. That is the power of a digital business card that never sleeps.

Author Ken Hobson
ken@agentslibrary.com.au