If You're Still Asking "What's a Blog?".....
If you can get them to listen to the long term solution to their problem, volumes of unique content with proper SEO, then you hear the dejection in their voices. Something easier and faster was the goal of the phone call.
Now the question meant to give them hope: "There's a faster way to get the process going. Do you blog?" But, my thoughts of cheering them up die when the answer is another question: "What's a blog anyway?" Then the dejection is in my voice, though I go ahead and explain it anyway.
I truly believe that we're on the leading edge of a gigantic change in how brokers and agents market and prospect. Those who look at blogging early, recognize the importance of it and get to it, will become the "top producers" of the future. The seven points in this post explain perfectly the value of blogging to the real estate professional.
Many of those who know about blogging are afraid to start for various reasons. If you'd like to look at the prospect of starting your own blog, get some basic blogging tips here.
Comments
James,
I definitely agree. Brokers and Agents that choose to accept the Internet, and learn it, will produce. Blogging is a good way to build an online presence. I’m sure that the Internet savvy Agents and Brokers are grateful that so many choose to remain unchanged.
James,
I wonder about which is the Stronger of the two: Bloggs/New Content vs. Link Building for SEO?
Jerome:
Thanks for the comment. I think they are both equally important. However, since the value of one-way incoming links is higher, I concentrate on good content that others will link to as information for their contacts and visitors. Hopefully, over time I’ll get quality relevant incoming links without buying them or trading links.
I’ve even volunteered at times to write a short article for a vacation home site elsewhere in the country if they leave my author credit link at the bottom.
As for blogging, I can only say that my blog reached the same Page Rank as my site in one fourth of the time. It all seems to tie together.
In my opinion a blog is minimally what a website is supposed to be. A repository of articles and fresh content. Instead most websites are mostly stale digital brochures. They do not have to be. And in some ways it would make more sense to just add content onto a website instead of a blog, albeit more difficult for most.
In a blogs full glory it is a brand expressed textually over time. It is the business’ story. In that story,should be what the agent or realtor cares about (as an advocate for their readers) and it should be focused on what the agents local readership cares about.
It is important to start out with a philosophy and rules for yourself on what you will and will not do with your writing.
~Tim
The House Blogger
Tim:
Thanks for your comment, and I totally agree. I try to set goals to produce a new article for my site every other week, and two to four blog posts each week.
For the site, evergreen content is my goal. For those not used to the term, evergreen is not dated, so it stays current forever or for long periods of time. The good thing about a blog is that I can comment on timely topics and not worry about it being stale later. That’s the nature of blogging.
The ideal situation for me is my blog as part of my site url structure so that both benefit from the writing on either. My personality is better suited to the web than any other medium, as it allows me via the blog and site to present credentials as an expert on my market.
Your rules comment is right on also, Tim. It’s unfortunate, but there are agents and brokers out there steadily cranking out content that will not accomplish the desired result. Too much attention is placed on SEO first and only. It should be about your philosophy and the value you bring to the client. If the value is present in the writing, then you have a chance to get personally in front of the client to reinforce it.
Thanks again,
Jim
Jim-
On too much thought on SEO.
Absolutely.
And I say this as SEO being the foundation of my business. SEO comes and goes. What Google giveth, Google taketh on a whim and often without reason.
It is crucial for these agents to realize that all the tools are part of a larger strategy.
Traffic is for what? To just visit? Then you run a digital brochure.And as I look down at my trashcan I see a bunch of various brochures serving as insulation.
Is your site traffic set up to slip visitors down a chute that captures names? Is it step 1 in building a list?
I fear most start this digital cacophony without keeping the end in mind.
Who said without a plan my people parish? (or something like that anyway lol)
Very nice post about blogging. I saw the light about 9 months ago and Jim Cronin, the Tomato Head himself got me going. It took a few months, but now when people call me I don’t consider them leads, they are like clients ready to hit the ground running.
They are regular readers of my blog and already feel like they know me.
I basically have a blog site rather than a website, although I am looking at getting a regular website running again.
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