Demystifying Real Estate Blogging

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

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?
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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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Demystifying Real Estate Blogging

by Jay Thompson on Jun 12, 2008

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Demystifying Real Estate Blogging — Presentation Transcript