We have to bear in mind that there is SO much information out there now that potential clients are scouring the internet to get to the nuts & bolts of who they're looking for. Everything is important for them to know and they will delve deeper but, FIRST, they want brief. They don't want to read a full page about you...yet. They want to find your elevator speech. If it sparks their interest, they'll dig deeper (clicking links you provide) to find out more.

I learned in a CRS class your 'about me' shouldn't be all-consuming - re-direct them to testimonial pages; readers like order as in chapters in a book - sales & testimonial pages should be separate.

All I know is that when I get a client via the internet who has not been referred to me personally, in subsequent conversations, I find they have checked out my bio, my experience, and my testimonials before they have contacted me. It might not be the first thing you shove at them on your website, but the information is important. I'd like to know something about whom I am considering doing business with, why would I assume everyone else wouldn't?

Mine tells you what I have done and my accomplishments. 

I know I enjoy reading them. People want to know us as humans. It's the wrong place to sales pitch about what you can do for consumers. And over the years on many occasions I have attracted people who felt that they knew me even before they called me for the first time. That's the objective. Comfort level. Also, if you're going to be a bad fit for someone, you might as well know at the beginning.

Everything counts.  It's all important.  They want to know who they are considering doing business with professionally and, yes, some personal information too. 

mine says who I am... and how my career in real estate has evolved....

   I get calls from people who "saw me on the internet".  They have read my blogs, they have found me on social media, they have used Intelius or other sites to find out my age, they have already verified my license status with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  They know enough about me to seek my help in buying or selling their house.

I think anything people find online gets factored in, to some degree, in their decision making. The worse transgressors I've seen have profiles that say "Write a little something about yourself" in the "About Me" section. It would have been better to never have set up a profile in that case.

In many cultures it is whoa, let's sit down and tell me about you. Put down the pen and contract, take off your coat. Better turn the idling car off out in the driveway. Let's see if this is a good partnership, we'll be doing business for life and let's make sure this is a good fit. Who are you in the sea of sameness where everyone makes pretty much the same claim. A video where you tell them your story, why you do what you do and how you got to this place in your life career fit. They listen, see you. Get an opinion. Trust, believing you can do it starts with tell me your story and transfers into the positive connection that you are the one for the real estate mission at hand. "About me" is the important on your websites, any platform. State your case, it defines you. What you say drives you, that you are passionate about helps the buyer and seller know me too! So do I!

That's a very good question Inna. I often wondered about that. My site is driven in the background by Google Analytics, so I'll go take a read on the stats... and get some numbers....

Your first sentence has to say enough and do it well enough they read the second sentence and not just click NEXT.  It should be short enough not to bore but say enough  to make them like you and want to hire you

I think your area of expertise is the most important, then years in the business that shows experience. It is just a starter and hopefully you can show benefits.

1. I rarely read bios unless there is a specific reason to do so.

2. I typically do not. What others do is up to them.

3. I believe it can and perhaps sometimes does.

4. I suspect many do not. 

5. For some people, many things are not important and other things are of major importance.  We cannot please all the people all of the time. 

I told my story, I didn't give a resume. Stories are what connect with people.

I have found most seldom visit my About page - it's there if they want to, but most just call me

When conducting research on anything or body all pieces are considered

Having been in management most of my career, I never focused on it. That said, all of the successful agents I sponsored took it seriously!

Inna Ivchenko - this has been the topic I have discussed at several office meetings.  We currently have a very expensive deal in place due to a client reading the bios of our agents and connecting with one of them based on a past profession she had that the client related to. We have had others connect based on the fact our agents noted they had built their own home and another based on the skill set our agent posted in her bio. We have one recent deal based on the name our agent has.  Others connect based on hobbies our agents write about. The bios are very important and I believe a balance between personal and professional information is essential.

I think your experience and the geographic area you cover are important.   try to get across to the public that I am an ethical and honest agent who puts the needs of her clients first and foremost, and display my testimonials for them to read.  I also tell them how much I enjoy my chosen profession, how much I enjoy helping clients, and that my greatest satisfaction and reward is when my clients are happy with the job I did for them.

I recently took off the personal part of my bio. On my website now I shortened down all that stuff.

I think that it's your business card+++ that sells you 24/7. Yes I think it's extremely important.

Nina Hollander nailed this one!

I think it says I'm experience, educated and approachable and it seems to work.

It is very important and should talk about our niches, experience and credentials.

Inna,

On your first two questions, it depends on the marketplace.  In general, we would keep it more professional and keep the personal at a minimum.

Yes, online impacts big time.  I have read comments that would warn me not to work with someone.

And you last thought, that should be there any way.  A

Mine is very basic.  Here are the main points:

• Got my license in the 90s and grew up in the business
• Lifetime of RE knowledge
• Also have unique technical expertise from working in world class tech environments for Fortune 100 and Fortune Global 200 companies
• Well versed in a variety of disciplines
• Spare time: cook, hike, volunteer and that I was one of 15 nominees for LA Sheriff's Dept Volunteer of the Year (out of over 3,000 volunteers).
• Of course, my phone and email.

I've looked at quite a few profiles (mainly of those I've done business with) and there always is a mention of their family, leisure activities, etc. in addition to their professional qualifications.  Allegedly it "humanizes" people.  Helps people "connect" on a personal level supposedly.  It also helps me know when not to ask an agent out for drinks...

I think the only thing that could be a negative for me is by involvement with law enforcement (even as a civilian).  In today's climate that might put people off.  My LinkedIn also mentions that I'm an NRA certified handgun instructor, which I was told to keep off the main webpage because we are in the biggest anti-gun area (I think our new ammo purchase background check law, while unconstitutional, puts us ahead of NYC and Chicago).

Hopefully, I have conveyed a positive message.

I look at it on every agent. That is her professional resume.  If not found there or in Linkedin I will not proceed.

I never look at the reviews much written were by friends mostly. Yelp is a good place to see the real personality of an agent. Often the dark side of her behavior is shown.

I have mine brief and to the point.  Have read some that have listed all their hobbies and things they do when they aren't working.  Pretty sure clients do not care about that!  

I try to portray knowledge and easy going

Do not know the answer 

Inna Ivchenko I think a bio should should have enough information without being too wordy. People want to read highlights and not an autobiography. IMO personal information should be left out.

I hope it says that I'm a well qualified professional that they should be comfortable in calling.

I have had many call me and tell me that they were sold by my online presence.

I am working on it Inna Ivchenko