What the Blog for?
The blog -- short for WebLog -- is the current "big idea" in the world of Internet technology. Blogs are like interactive online newsletters or personal journals made up of short bits of information or commentary. They are updated regularly - weekly, daily or even hourly – with information arranged chronologically so the most recent entries are at the top of the page.
The very fact that you are reading this - a blog - likely means that you knew that already. But this post is directed to real estate agents who want to learn more about blogging and may be thinking of starting their own blog. [ Are you listening Google? ]
Most Weblogs are written by an individual, and usually focus on the writer's own interests, ranging from one theme or topic to several specific topics. Each entry might include links to material the writer found while navigating the Web, links to other Weblogs, commentary on news items, reviews of books the writer recently read ... or pretty much anything the writer finds interesting. Frequently blogs will also have some sort of forum where readers can leave their own comments or discuss ideas.
How a real estate agent can use a blog
For REALTORS, blogs can be a powerful marketing tool for attracting new clients and communicating with current ones. Many REALTORS already send out regular newsletters to their customers and a blog can be easily be adapted to an online version of the newsletter.
As a REALTOR, your Weblog might provide tips to homebuyers and sellers, information on market conditions and links to articles on housing trends or other industry news. Another option is to create a Weblog highlighting your local community, updating readers on events, linking to news stories about the area and so on. In this way, a Weblog can help you show how knowledgeable you are about your community and how committed you are to your profession.
Because blogs often attract readers interested in narrowly focused subjects, they can be ideal tools for REALTORS who specialize in niche markets. Blogs can be created that focus on the housing needs of first-time homebuyers, retirees, cottagers or pet owners for example. These Weblogs could help show potential clients the REALTOR's expertise in working with specific types of properties and transactions.
What’s it take to get blogging?
Two essentials for a blog to be successful are interesting content and regular attention. Although blogs are easy to set-up, maintaining a Weblog can be hard. Some blogging guides recommend compiling a few days' worth of entries before making the blog available publicly for the first time.
Blogs need to be fresh, timely and keep the intended audience in mind. They also require time, and must be updated frequently to keep people coming back regularly. Readers of Weblogs often scan the recent entries quickly before moving on, meaning that the blog has only a few seconds to capture attention.
Once you’ve started a Weblog you can link it to your Website’s listings search so that blog readers can view available properties. You’ll also want to provide a facility for prospects to contact you
and send you questions. Finally, you will need to publicize your blog.
Announce and promote your blog in all your other marketing
communications.
