5 Elements to a Successful Real Estate Agent Blog
For many real estate agents, starting a blog can be a daunting task. Let me first say this: if you don’t enjoy writing, or it is a chore for you, blogging may not be for you. However, the great thing about blogging is you don’t have to have your Master’s degree in English to write a great blog.
Your blog is your opinion on various subjects.
For real estate agents, your blog will probably include your opinion about your local market area, the communities you serve, local and national real estate laws, local lending trends, opinions about schools and neighborhoods, and much more.
Here are 5 elements to having a successful real estate agent blog:
1. Be consistent. One of the most important elements to blogging is to write consistently. When I first started blogging for FOREM, one thing that made a huge difference, was setting a blog schedule. For me, I am committed to 3 blog posts a week. By having that commitment, it makes it a priority for me. It also lets my readers know that I am serious about this blog, and readers more likely to follow it because they know content will be fresh! Tip: Look at your calendar and schedule 2 to 3 days a week that you will post your blog posts. Factor in the time needed to write, edit and publish.
2. Post local content. If I was a real estate agent, one of my blog posts every week would be a fun fact about the community or fun community event going on in the area. You hear it time and time again, but being the local source of great content is key. Still don’t think there is value in local content? If you haven’t already, check out this Facebook page started by a Realtor in Washington – all those posts originate from his blog. Did you see how many fans he has? As of right now, he has almost 9,000 fans! That’s the power of local content. Tip: Get local content from chamber web sites, downtown association web sites and your local newspaper online.
3. Post market stats BUT in an easy to understand way. Let’s face it: charts, graphs and an excessive amount of numbers are not very exciting for most of us. So post great market stats, but keep it to a couple graphs. The KEY is to add your opinion and your input to the market data. What trends do you see? What are some great finds you saw on Brokers Tour? What are your clients saying they are looking for. The story behind any stat is what makes a blog post engaging to read! Tip: Get local market stats from your local MLS, regional association, or from Altos Research – one of my favorite market stat companies for agents.
4. Do not post negative posts. There are many schools of thoughts about what type of blog posts to post – but in my experience it is best to ‘take the high road’ and not use your real estate blog for your ’soapbox’ of negative experiences. Keep it positive and people will respect you even more. Tip: If you aren’t sure whether to post something or not, write it, save it as a draft, and re-visit it the next day. Giving time to mull over a blog post gives you time to think if it is worth publishing.
5. Promote it! You can’t just ‘build it and it will come!’ You need to make sure you are promoting every blog post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and through your email list. For Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn you should re-post your blog post 3-5 times. I know many people think it is a “no no” to repeat content but I completely disagree – just ask Guy Kawasaki who notoriously repeats content on his Twitter stream. By re-posting your blog posts 3-5 times on these channels throughout the course of 2-3 days, your web traffic will be much higher. Remember, most people are only on their social networks for pockets of time throughout the day – so if you promote your blog on Facebook in the morning – you may be missing afternoon traffic. Tip: Use Hootsuite – you can integrate your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles AND control what day/time your post goes out. Once you have your blog post done, log into Hootsuite and post a quick message with your link to your blog post and schedule the same message 3-5 times over the next 2 days. Here is a great blog post about all the things you can accomplish with Hootsuite, including some exciting new updates that happened this week.
Bonus: Want to see some great real estate agent examples? Check out this blog post Stacey Harmon just posted with examples of 32 real estate agent blog sites!
Do you have a blog you’d like to share? Do you have any tips to add to this list? I would love your feedback, please leave me a comment below!
Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News, @katielance
36 Comment(s)
2 Trackback(s)
- From Tip Tuesday: 5 Secrets to Writing a Blog Post in 15 Minutes | Future of Real Estate Marketing | Apr 20, 2010
- From Tip Tuesday: 5 Elements to a Successful Real Estate Agent Blog … | London Ontario Real Estate Agents | Apr 29, 2010
Ryan Hartman | Apr 13, 2010 | Reply
How about lead capture? Why care about any of the above if generating visits doesn’t yield a steady flow o leads
Every re blog needs a core lead capture element fo sho.
Stacey Harmon | Apr 13, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the mention Katie! Great article filled with valid, practical advice for Realtors.
Maui Luxury Realtor | Apr 14, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the post. It is an easy to understand guide for new bloggers. At times it can become difficult to come up with unique, original content, but with your guidelines as a reminder it can become easier. Thanks.
Richard Stabile Bergen County Real Estate | Apr 14, 2010 | Reply
The Hootsuite sounds interesting. The problem with promoting this way is the time it takes. Anything that can intergrate is great.
Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
The article is good and for real estate agents, starting a blog can be a tedious task.I like the article here we got to know 5 important elements to having a successful real estate agent and hope to see more of such articles.
Adrienne | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
Great info. I am just starting out with my blogging endeavors and really appreciate the encouragement and tips to make it easier for me to keep plugging along.
Thanks!
Jeff Bernheisel | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
Katie,
You’re spot on with all your tips. I do agree with Ryan’s comment…
Some sort of IDX with lead capture built in is a requirement (in my book at least).
I would also add this:
Custom design – Your blog design/layout/content should be a direct reflection of YOU, and your business activities. Spend money on a graphic designer (and the related design process) that can effectively convey the proper message through design. It makes a huge difference!
Katie Lance | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
Thanks everyone for your comments!
Jeff – I agree an IDX plug in is key – however I don’t think all MLS’ have a plug in (yet!)
And I agree about custom design – to start a basic template is good which you are getting your feet wet – but at some point you definitely need to invest in a professional designer.
Thanks again everyone!
Katie
Marissa Myers | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
You’re spot on about Hootsuite. They make it easy to automate posts. And they’ve got excellent education over there to get you going.
David Penn | Apr 16, 2010 | Reply
Does anyone use mobile devices to market their companies? I just filled out a survey on the topic.
http://marketresearch.realestate.sgizmo.com
Evan | Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
I am part of a group housing blog in Morgantown, WV and we could definitely use some of the ideas for promotion. I think we are lacking in that department but it is difficult since it is such a niche market.
Kristi | Apr 20, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for including my reference on using HootSuite. I cannot agree more about point #4 – negative posts really just reflect poorly on you, no matter how you cut it.
If you really, really feel like you have to express something negative, try to find a positive way to do it. In my case, since I write about social media and run into a lot of pet peeves, instead of writing a post on how I hate the way so and so uses Twitter for promotion, a better approach would be to write 5 great ways to use Twitter for promotion.
Katie Lance | Apr 20, 2010 | Reply
Marissa – agreed!
Evan – what exactly is a group housing blog? I’m curious!
Kristi- you are welcome! And I agree -great point about turning a negative into a positive!
Dale Chumbley | Apr 26, 2010 | Reply
Katie,
Thanks for the shout out! Really appreciated. The way my community has rallied around “365 Things To Do In Vancouver, WA” is awesome. The local content is what people are most interested in. In fact, sometimes a simple photo of something local will drive a crazy amount of traffic. You have to engage with your community at a local, community level. Be real.
Take care,
Dale
Katie Lance | Apr 27, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Dale – you are welcome! You have set a great example with what you have done! Congrats again!
Katie
yang | Jul 5, 2010 | Reply
nice article, I’m trying to create a blog.. but i don’t know what am i going to put a topic because i am weak in english.. but atleast im trying… thanks for this article.. it makes easy for me. i appreciate it
Bill | Jul 22, 2010 | Reply
One of the most powerful tools in your blog arsenal should be video. Google absolutely loves videos. They have changed how they list it earlier this year. They used to rank it with the organic searches but now you have to click on “More” on the left side of the page. To illustrate how powerful video is and how simple it can be just Google “homesforsalejacksonhole.com” go to More page click video. My simple videos own 80% of the 10 slots on the first page of Google’s video page.
Mike The Sarasota Real Estate guy | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Nice list, Katie. At least you emphasize #5 – promoting (that is, distributing) content is a MUST.
It’s not (just) the IDX or the custom website filled with pretty and fluff.
It’s not the website that screams, “Look at me, I’m the greatest realtor who ever lived.”
It’s consistently creating and distributing quality content – backlinks.
No easy way to segue into #4. When you suggest real estate “people” not post negative content, one might need to qualify negative.
For sake of discussion, let’s assume I understand what you mean by negative.
In that case, I disagree with you, especially if my target audience needs to hear reality.
Here’s what I mean, and what I’m about to say could be construed as negative. The public, Katie, essentially holds real estate people in LOW regard. The public sees real estate people as self-serving cheerleaders, always seeing one’s local market as a “great time to buy.”
Grab those commissions….buy and sell…buy and sell.
Not only for my own team but for other realtors, I manage all online lead generation.
When I write, I write what I perceive the truth to be with ZERO regard to “negative.”
My team and I receive many compliments (and more importantly COMMISSIONS) because my content is perceived as ACCURATE and not self-serving.
For 16 years, I was a high school teacher and coach. Fortunately, I did not learn ethics from real estate.
Real estate practitioners need to get off their high horse and stop treating the buying/selling public as stupid. People don’t want to hear another realtor tell them it’s a good time to buy…when clearly it’s not.
Be truthful…tell it like it is…and you will generate more business. I don’t know your real estate background. Perhaps you have front-line real estate experience.
If so, we agree to disagree on #4.
Cheers,
Mike
Darrell Walters | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
I have known several good real estate agent websites that post local content and market stats, but I have seen those same bloggers post negative and sometimes nasty comments on other sites.
It is important to have a positive attitude in all of your marketing efforts.
Also, I highly recommend HootSuite.
Darrell Walters, Integrity Mortgage Funding, Newnan mortgages
Mike Payne - Sarasota Realtor | Jul 26, 2010 | Reply
Sorry, Bill, but there’s nobody searching “homes for sale in Jackson Hole.”
@ 124,000 search volume, you’re in the range for quick results through video. However, you need to shoot links to video to hold ranking. Articles stick longer.
Wish it weren’t so, but my apples to apples testing suggests.
I have over 100 videos indexed. I’ve been at this a while, taught by the “biggies” in the IM world.
It’s good to be thrilled, excited and even exuberant about a new toy. However, you might be well advised to temper your enthusiasm around paying customers who will expect results, not just rankings.
In just a couple clicks and a little help from MS I was able to check search volume, competition & demand. Confirm people are searching (and buying from) your keywords before pumping out videos or (worse) selling your excitement to a paying customer.
Mikee
Randy Vancouver Wa Homes | Jul 26, 2010 | Reply
Great tips. I like the hint about re posting on facebook. Does at first seem like spam but makes perfect sense that people are on for such a short time each day they would miss it.
Thanks again
Randy
Bryan | Jul 28, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the info Katie!
Jim Ryback | Aug 2, 2010 | Reply
I have used video very successfully. Just create a WordPress blog and go film some listings. make sure you have a contact form and then advertise them on Craigslist.Make sure your consistent doing a few homes a week. I get many leads through this method.
Matt Universe | Aug 12, 2010 | Reply
I have been researching real estate blogging for about six months now. I am not a realtor, but i do work for one. I specialize in IT and SEO. My suggestion is to try and stay as far away from lead capturing as much as possible. Many people are hip to what is going on with lead capture forms. using it in key places that makes people want a more indepth answer to a question has yield much better result for me.
The Kiper Team
Mike Johnson - Realtor | Aug 12, 2010 | Reply
One of the things I did with my real estate blog was focus almost entirely on local events and local flavor type content (tip 2), with real estate tie-ins. It actually works great.
Walt Ballenberger | Sep 25, 2010 | Reply
I agree with the comment from Ryan about lead capture. There are ways of automatically collecting the info when people opt-in for more information. One or two good leads that result in sales can make a big impact on an agent’s year.
woodlandestate | Sep 27, 2010 | Reply
Woodland Estate is Nestled along with the cedars and birches at the end
Realestateagentsinchicago | Oct 7, 2010 | Reply
Thank you so much for the list. I love the way your portrayed and explained how to be successful in real estate.
Greg Fleischaker | Feb 20, 2011 | Reply
I have focused almost primarily on tracking local stats, and have found that the leads I get are from like minded clients, and found the bonding to be very quick and profitable.
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Brad Yzermans | Feb 27, 2011 | Reply
A real estate blog with multiple contributor’s is the best way to go with blogging in my opinion. That’s why I’m launching one for agents in my region southern california.
Wisconsin Home Loans | Mar 4, 2011 | Reply
I plan on creating a multiple contributor site for agents in my area. It should them with generating local exposure.
mike | Mar 29, 2011 | Reply
I agree that original content is key. Time consuming but local and original content is what the search engines and your readers want. There are lots of great tools out there for time management. Thanks for the post.
Zack | Apr 12, 2011 | Reply
Tnx on these tips to be a better real estate agent. Keep up with good work!
New Move Estate Agents | May 12, 2011 | Reply
I have been struggling with blogging for a while now. Tip 1 setting aside time every week is somthing i will deffenatly use!
Thanks
CroatiaPropertySales | Jun 13, 2011 | Reply
Thank you for posting this valuable information. I really appreciate it