If you are a Canadian mortgage professional doing most of your business through referrals or working with past clients, your social media and online presence have two jobs; to let potential clients know that you want their business and to provide them with the next step in working with you.

That's it. Your goal is to be referable.

Don't let anyone tell you that generating generic online leads through SEO, creating social media posts with all the fancy hashtags, or advertising on Facebook is the way to go. Sure, that stuff CAN work, but before considering that, make sure you're referrable online first. Because referrals are the best quality business and convert considerably better than talking with cold people who don't know you, like you, or trust you (yet).

Stay on the referral train. 

So, with that said. Business is changing. Just because you've always been able to generate referrals doesn't mean that tap won't run dry. As business changes, we need to change. Sharing relevant industry content on social media is a great way to stay in front of existing clients and provide proof to anyone "checking you out online" that you are actively brokering mortgages and want their business. This is how you capture referrals online.

To be referable, you need to be present.

You have to show up to the proverbial online party. And while that seems pretty straightforward, you'd be surprised by how hard it is to do consistently, especially when your time is more valuable writing mortgages than content for your website or captions for your social media posts.

Using social media to capture more referrals for a Canadian mortgage professional boils down to one simple thing.

Make it easy for customers to refer you and your business.

Make sure that it is easy for customers to refer their friends and family to you. When someone googles you, what do they find? Do they know you can help them with mortgage financing? Do you tell them how to get started working with you?

Here is what you need to create an online presence that will capture referrals:

• Optimized Google Business Listing (GBL)
• Our Essential Mortgage Website
• Weekly blog posts scheduled on your website
• Articles shared to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and GBL
• Weekly call-to-action posts shared to social accounts
• Clear and consistent contact information
• Consistent branding across your website and social platforms
• A strategy to generate testimonials

And while that all may seem daunting, you have nothing to worry about; we can handle all of this for you.

Our Essential Mortgage Website and content package is the place to start. From there, our social media scheduling subscription will keep you everywhere you need to be online, starting with your Google Business Listing. We'd love to work with you!