Blogging for Newbies

[Margo6786]

I've been lurking around theses boards for a few days now and have read numerous times how important it is to have an internet presence to attract business.

I have had a personal blog on Wordpress since 2007 and I write regularly. Here's my question - Can I use this personal blog in my RE business? If so - how?  If not, what do you recommend that I do to increase my online presence? If not my personal blog (which I would prefer to use since I already have it set up and have a number of regular readers) then where?  Is there anything else I should be doing in addition to blogging?

Thanks!

[Perky]

Hi Margo!

My opinion is to keep your personal blog personal, and keep your business blog more business oriented but with a touch of the personal in it.

You accomplish one thing with the personal blog; the business blog needs to accomplish something else entirely - to get business.

I write some personal things on my business blog but I always try to tie it in somehow w/ local real estate key words so that it will be found by readers interested in [my market area] real estate.

You can cross reference both blogs occasionally - but your personal blog readers my NOT be interested in purchasing or selling real estate; and real estate customers may or may not be interested in your personal stuff.

My blog has been responsible for the lion's share of my business.  The vast majority of my blog posts are about local real estate somehow - even if it's of general interest, like a handyman or staging tip, I tie in local keywords to make sure the people who find it in search engines are going to become potential customers.

All of my posts are written with my own distinct personality/style.  I throw in tongue in cheek comments or post funny remarks...I do not want my blog posts to read like a MLS listing or like something off Inman news or something regurgitated from Realtor.org...

I would use your current blog to launch your business blog, definitely. And every so often remind your readers - gently - about your real estate blog.

The real estate blog will do much better for search engine relevance if it is about [your market area] real estate; it will become watered down and lack search engine authority if you mix it with miscellaneous topics.



Just my .02.

[Margo6786]

Thanks, Perky!

[Bill Saunders]

Hi Margo!

Just FYI, Perky's two cent piece about blogging is worth about $2M. "Perkeai" is an Iroquois word that loosely translated means, "Yoda"

[Chuck Capan]

Very good writer, Perky is.  Hmmmmmm.

[Bill Saunders]

Ta Dump...we'll be here all week, folks...

[Carol Kerr]

Crap... I really need to get a handle on this blogging thing!  Is it just me or does it seem to be a very circular thing or am I making it too complicated?

[Margo6786]

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to ask your advice about the content of a real estate blog. Here are 2 posts I wrote recently on my personal blog.

http://carolmehl.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/why-real-estate-why-now/

http://carolmehl.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/why-real-estate-why-now-part-deux/

Do you feel this is the sort of thing I should write on a real estate blog (other than the fact that it announces to the whole world that I'm brand new) or is it too personal and not business-y enough?

Thanks!!

[Carol Kerr]

I like the tone and style of the blogs.  They give me a nice sense of who you are going to be as a realtor.  All good things! 

I'm by no means an expert.  I can't even figure out what blogging platform to use!

I think Perky said something about business and personal blogs.  These seem to be a bit of a crossover.  I'm starting to think that there are different catagories of blogging content.  For example, I want everyone who is looking to buy or sell real estate in Southwest Austin at least know I'm out there and give me a shot at their business.  That means I need to blog about topics of interest in this area -- new grocery store that is finally going to open in a growing suburban area, the fact that prices have been steady or slightly appreciating in this area in spite of the overall sluggish real estate market, the new elementary school and it's proposed boundaries...  Then there's some stuff like what you've written here... who am I and why might they want to work with me as their realtor...

[Jennifer Allan]

Hey - that's me in there!!!! I'm flattered!

I believe that with blogging, as with everything you do - you should do what feels right to you. Don't pay too much attention to other people's advice if it conflicts with your own judgment. Try to step back and really think about what would attract YOU if you were looking for a real estate to hire or refer. Forget (for the moment) about keywords and SEO and tags and such and become inspired by what would attract you.

And do write from the heart. If you feel like being personal, be personal. As you go through your business day, scribble down little thoughts, observations and epiphanies about the market, your neighborhood or the restaurant you just ate at. Observe customer service representatives in your world and try to relate what they do to your industry.

The technicalities will come as you get into the habit of blogging.

If you want ideas of things I've blogged about - go here: www.northwestdenverundressed.com. I won't say I've set the world on fire with my real estate-specific blog, but I get a handful of closings a year from it. You can probably steal several of my ideas and make them relevant to your marketplace...

[Margo6786]

Thanks, Jennifer and Carol! Jennifer, I meant what I said in my blog...I wouldn't be in real estate today if I hadn't found your stuff. So, it's all your fault! 

[MMW]

I love the whole blogging idea! 

My question is though, other then telling everyone to read your blog - how can you get web surfers to find your blog posts?

Key words?  Placing your blog address on all marketing materials?  What?

Thanks in advance!

[ChicagoSoul]

So I've come to the realization that I should have started blogging about 3 years ago when a very wise and successful friend suggested it. I feel ready to do so, but am not entirely sure how to execute it. I've reading a lot on Active Rain and have found several blogs of people proclaiming that their blog over there has brought them business. The thing is...it seems that most of the blogs over there are geared toward other RE professionals. Do consumers really make their way to AR blogs? Would I be better off using something like Wordpress or Blogspot and tying it to my website?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[amalia]

I'm am planning on starting a blog as well.  I plan to use either Wordpress, Blogger or Typepad.  I am in the process of deciding.  Any advice anyone can give is much appreciated.

[Carol Kerr]

I'm sort of stuck in the same place as you are Chicago.  I know I need to start blogging and have finally decided I WANT to.  Now I just don't get where to start. 

I have a blog platform (I think that is the correct expression) that came with my TopProducer website.  It's located at Realtor.com and all the realtors I trust and respect say that's a bad idea.

I just signed up for a Wordpress blog.  I'm also a member at ActiveRain.  But I can't spring for the payment to make a blog there public. 

So if I blog at wordpress, how do people find it? 

I've been reading and researching and I just can't seem to wrap my head around how to start.  I'm not sure if it is that confusing or if I'm just doing that perfectionist/procrastination thing I can do so well...

Any help from the wise folk here will be greatly appreciated!