Demystifying Real Estate Blogging Jay Thompson PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com 480-235-4447

Introduction My name is Jay, and I have a blogging problem… Designated Broker, Thompson’s Realty Blogs I write or contribute to: Phoenix Real Estate Guy Agent Genius Geek Estate Blog HomeGain Corporate Blog NAR Wisdom Owner, RealtyTechHelp.com

My name is Jay, and I have a blogging problem…

Designated Broker, Thompson’s Realty

Blogs I write or contribute to:

Phoenix Real Estate Guy

Agent Genius

Geek Estate Blog

HomeGain Corporate Blog

NAR Wisdom

Owner, RealtyTechHelp.com

Agenda What is a Blog? Why Blog? How to Start a Blog Self hosting vs. free hosting Blog Topics Marketing and Prospecting with a Blog The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Next Steps Q&A

What is a Blog?

Why Blog?

How to Start a Blog

Self hosting vs. free hosting

Blog Topics

Marketing and Prospecting with a Blog

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Next Steps

Q&A

What is a Blog? It’s really just a website But different… “Posts” (articles) are arranged in reverse chronological order. It’s “interactive” – users can leave comments, engaging the author and other users. Typically updated more frequently than a traditional web site.

It’s really just a website

But different…

“Posts” (articles) are arranged in reverse chronological order.

It’s “interactive” – users can leave comments, engaging the author and other users.

Typically updated more frequently than a traditional web site.

Blogs in Plain English Video Courtesy of CommonCraft You can view “Blogs in Plain English” at: http://commoncraft.com/blogs

Why Blog? Tremendous learning opportunities Exposure Increased web presence Internet search engines love blogs Potential mainstream media exposure “Meet” real estate professionals across the world Demonstrate your expertise, personality and business model 24x7x365 marketing and prospecting Get real live clients

Tremendous learning opportunities

Exposure

Increased web presence

Internet search engines love blogs

Potential mainstream media exposure

“Meet” real estate professionals across the world

Demonstrate your expertise, personality and business model

24x7x365 marketing and prospecting

Get real live clients

Search Engine Examples

Search Engine Examples

Search Engine Examples

Search Engine Examples

How to Start a Blog Two major options: self-hosted & free hosting Self-hosted: More customizable / flexible More challenging to start up Some cost (though minimal) Branded to you Complete ownership and freedom Free Hosting Free, other than your time Limited options / branding Some ads included

Two major options: self-hosted & free hosting

Self-hosted:

More customizable / flexible

More challenging to start up

Some cost (though minimal)

Branded to you

Complete ownership and freedom

Free Hosting

Free, other than your time

Limited options / branding

Some ads included

Self-hosted www.WordPress.org - Blog software (free) Domain name – GoDaddy.com ($9.00/yr) Hosting – GoDaddy, MediaTemple.net, HostGator.com, DreamHost.com ($45 - $240/yr) SOME hosts will install WP for you (DreamHost) Some have “1 click” install (GDaddy, MT) Some leave it up to you You will need to learn to upload and install plugins

www.WordPress.org - Blog software (free)

Domain name – GoDaddy.com ($9.00/yr)

Hosting – GoDaddy, MediaTemple.net, HostGator.com, DreamHost.com ($45 - $240/yr)

SOME hosts will install WP for you (DreamHost)

Some have “1 click” install (GDaddy, MT)

Some leave it up to you

You will need to learn to upload and install plugins

Free Hosting www.WordPress.com Click on “Sign Up Now” Select username and password Blog is created as www.username.wordpress.com Can pay extra for your own domain name Some themes and plugins already installed. Can’t add additional ones. www.Blogger.com Click on “Create your blog now” Create account Pick username and password Blog is created as www.username.blogspot.com All free hosting will include some ads

www.WordPress.com

Click on “Sign Up Now”

Select username and password

Blog is created as www.username.wordpress.com

Can pay extra for your own domain name

Some themes and plugins already installed. Can’t add additional ones.

www.Blogger.com

Click on “Create your blog now”

Create account

Pick username and password

Blog is created as www.username.blogspot.com

What to Blog About? Read read read other blogs – inside and outside of real estate industry Use an RSS reader Get ideas, but don’t **ever** take content Listen to clients – they ask “blogworthy” questions all the time … Blog your passions, blog what you know.

Read read read other blogs – inside and outside of real estate industry

Use an RSS reader

Get ideas, but don’t **ever** take content

Listen to clients – they ask “blogworthy” questions all the time …

Blog your passions, blog what you know.

RSS in Plain English Video Courtesy of CommonCraft You can view “RSS in Plain English” at: http://commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english

1. A story about your neighborhood. 2. Local business, and send them a copy 3. Your pet 4. Go through your email; is there a question or comment from one of your clients that can be made into a post? 5. Listen to your buyers, they give you blog food 6. Listen to your sellers, they give you blog food 7. Conversations with other agents can be a source of great content 8. Architecture or housing styles in your area 9. Historic buildings 10. Market statistics for your area, including average prices and absorption rates 11. Read the blogs and look for ideas to build on or spin a new idea from 12. Take a picture and write a post 13. Home maintenance 14. Take a walk 15. Senior housing 16. Pet friendly housing 17. Staging ideas 18. Local events 19. Your hobby 20. A closing 21. A lender who did a great job 22. Things that go wrong with real estate sales 23. Home owners insurance 24. Gardening and landscaping 25. Your city counsel 26. A new development 27. Lofts 28. Decoration ideas 29. Real estate industry news – with you own unique commentary 30. Mortgage news 31. Interest rates 32. Credit scores 33. Consumer hoaxes and scams 34. First time home buyer programs 35. Working with seniors 36. Working with baby boomers 37. Second homes 38. Investment properties 39. Foreclosure 40. Property flipping 41. “Rehabbing” a home 42. Home energy conservation 43. Final walk through 44. Equity stripping scams 45. Agency 46. Real estate companies 47. Transportation and parking 48. Schools 49. Churches 50. Day care 51. Paint and painting 52. Pest Control 53. Good neighbors 54. Bad neighbors 55. Over priced homes 56. The home buying process 57. The home selling process 58. Book review of a real estate related book 59. Real estate laws 60. Real estate terms 61. Moving with children 62. Moving 63. Moving with pets 64. Places to eat 65. Places to shop 66. Commentary on local news stories 67. Commentary on local public policy 68. Tell a story about a client who was fun to work with 69. Write about what it is like to be a realtor 70. When taking classes find something you learned that could be used as a post 71. Write off topic humor 72. Environmental issues 73. How to sell a house 74. Landlord and tenant issues 75. How not to sell a house 76. Building trends 77. Parks 78. Art 79. Home safety 80. Review web sites on local or real estate related topics 81. Property taxes 82. Crime 83. Open houses 84. Trends in kitchen design 85. Area events for children 86. The local zoo 87. Where to play golf 88. Coffee shops 89. Women home buyers 90. Advice for FSBOs 91. Interview some one 92. Local real estate market trends and observations 93. Funriture 94. Investment scams 95. Mortgage fraud 96. Types of mortgages 97. Home owners associations 98. Attend a public meeting and write about it 99. Week end getaways 100. Credit Repair 101. Fair housing issues. Available from Orlando Cazarez at First American Title

1. A story about your neighborhood.

2. Local business, and send them a copy

3. Your pet

4. Go through your email; is there a question or comment from one of your clients that can be made into a post?

5. Listen to your buyers, they give you blog food

6. Listen to your sellers, they give you blog food

7. Conversations with other agents can be a source of great content

8. Architecture or housing styles in your area

9. Historic buildings

10. Market statistics for your area, including average prices and absorption rates

11. Read the blogs and look for ideas to build on or spin a new idea from

12. Take a picture and write a post

13. Home maintenance

14. Take a walk

15. Senior housing

16. Pet friendly housing

17. Staging ideas

18. Local events

19. Your hobby

20. A closing

21. A lender who did a great job

22. Things that go wrong with real estate sales

23. Home owners insurance

24. Gardening and landscaping

25. Your city counsel

26. A new development

27. Lofts

28. Decoration ideas

29. Real estate industry news – with you own unique commentary

30. Mortgage news

31. Interest rates

32. Credit scores

33. Consumer hoaxes and scams

34. First time home buyer programs

35. Working with seniors

36. Working with baby boomers

37. Second homes

38. Investment properties

39. Foreclosure

40. Property flipping

41. “Rehabbing” a home

42. Home energy conservation

43. Final walk through

44. Equity stripping scams

45. Agency

46. Real estate companies

47. Transportation and parking

48. Schools

49. Churches

50. Day care

51. Paint and painting

52. Pest Control

53. Good neighbors

54. Bad neighbors

55. Over priced homes

56. The home buying process

57. The home selling process

58. Book review of a real estate related book

59. Real estate laws

60. Real estate terms

61. Moving with children

62. Moving

63. Moving with pets

64. Places to eat

65. Places to shop

66. Commentary on local news stories

67. Commentary on local public policy

68. Tell a story about a client who was fun to work with

69. Write about what it is like to be a realtor

70. When taking classes find something you learned that could be used as a post

71. Write off topic humor

72. Environmental issues

73. How to sell a house

74. Landlord and tenant issues

75. How not to sell a house

76. Building trends

77. Parks

78. Art

79. Home safety

80. Review web sites on local or real estate related topics

81. Property taxes

82. Crime

83. Open houses

84. Trends in kitchen design

85. Area events for children

86. The local zoo

87. Where to play golf

88. Coffee shops

89. Women home buyers

90. Advice for FSBOs

91. Interview some one

92. Local real estate market trends and observations

93. Funriture

94. Investment scams

95. Mortgage fraud

96. Types of mortgages

97. Home owners associations

98. Attend a public meeting and write about it

99. Week end getaways

100. Credit Repair

101. Fair housing issues.

Marketing & Prospecting With Blogs The Internet is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take advantage of it. You are an expert, show it. Put your blog URL on everything – anywhere you’d put a phone number… Business Cards Flyers Sign Riders Email Signatures Print Ads

The Internet is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take advantage of it.

You are an expert, show it.

Put your blog URL on everything – anywhere you’d put a phone number…

Business Cards

Flyers

Sign Riders

Email Signatures

Print Ads

Marketing & Prospecting With Blogs Real estate is a people business. Clients connect with you for a variety of reasons Your knowledge Your personality Your history Your business model Your looks (sad, but sometimes true) Blogging is the single best way to put all this on the Internet, for all to see.

Real estate is a people business. Clients connect with you for a variety of reasons

Your knowledge

Your personality

Your history

Your business model

Your looks (sad, but sometimes true)

Blogging is the single best way to put all this on the Internet, for all to see.

Prospecting Takes Time, and Work And so does blogging successfully Don’t expect overnight success Consistency is key – 3 posts weekly, more is generally better Don’t blog in a vacuum. Participate on other blogs, link out to other blogs frequently. Seek out a blogging mentor or group ( http://azrealestateblogs.com ) Most bloggers are nice people, willing to help

And so does blogging successfully

Don’t expect overnight success

Consistency is key – 3 posts weekly, more is generally better

Don’t blog in a vacuum. Participate on other blogs, link out to other blogs frequently.

Seek out a blogging mentor or group ( http://azrealestateblogs.com )

Most bloggers are nice people, willing to help

It’s OK (good in fact) to be opinionated Just don’t be too “over the top” Tell the truth. Always. You will get called out if you don’t Have a comment policy. Use it. Attack the idea, not the person. Link out liberally. Avoid politics, sex, religion Going “off topic” is OK, just remember your ultimate purpose. Avoid baiting, slander and “blog wars” Have FUN!

It’s OK (good in fact) to be opinionated

Just don’t be too “over the top”

Tell the truth. Always. You will get called out if you don’t

Have a comment policy. Use it.

Attack the idea, not the person.

Link out liberally.

Avoid politics, sex, religion

Going “off topic” is OK, just remember your ultimate purpose.

Avoid baiting, slander and “blog wars”

Have FUN!

Next Steps Read blogs. Participate in other blogs and networks. Get an ActiveRain account if you want to practice. Decide (roughly) what the purpose of your blog is: Increased Internet presence Networking with peers Demonstrate your expertise Electronic Newsletter Prospecting Branding Do it!! You can always modify and adapt on the fly. There really are no “rules” in blogging. Every blog is different.

Read blogs. Participate in other blogs and networks. Get an ActiveRain account if you want to practice.

Decide (roughly) what the purpose of your blog is:

Increased Internet presence

Networking with peers

Demonstrate your expertise

Electronic Newsletter

Prospecting

Branding

Do it!! You can always modify and adapt on the fly. There really are no “rules” in blogging. Every blog is different.

Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

A Few Good Blogs Phoenix Real Estate Guy: http://www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com Phoenix Real Estate Home (Brokerage Group Blog): http://PhoenixRealEstateHome.com Agent Genius: http://AgentGenius.com AZ Mortgage Guru: http://www.AZMortgageGuru.com CopyBlogger: http://copyblogger.com/ 4Realz: http://4Realz.net The Butterworth Group: http://www.butterhomes.com/blog/ ProBlogger: http://www.problogger.net/ Future of Real Estate Marketing: http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/ Inman News: http://www.Inman.com & Inman Blog Network http://www.inman.com/blog-network Internet Real Estate Success: http://internetrealestatesuccess.com/ North Phoenix Agent: http://NorthPhoenixAgetn.wordpress.com A single property “blogsite”: http://TatumAndShea.com

Phoenix Real Estate Guy: http://www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

Phoenix Real Estate Home (Brokerage Group Blog): http://PhoenixRealEstateHome.com

Agent Genius: http://AgentGenius.com

AZ Mortgage Guru: http://www.AZMortgageGuru.com

CopyBlogger: http://copyblogger.com/

4Realz: http://4Realz.net

The Butterworth Group: http://www.butterhomes.com/blog/

ProBlogger: http://www.problogger.net/

Future of Real Estate Marketing: http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/

Inman News: http://www.Inman.com & Inman Blog Network http://www.inman.com/blog-network

Internet Real Estate Success: http://internetrealestatesuccess.com/

North Phoenix Agent: http://NorthPhoenixAgetn.wordpress.com

A single property “blogsite”: http://TatumAndShea.com