You may or may not know what a blog is but by the time you finish reading this article, you’re going to want one.
Short and simple, a blog os a type of website composed of individual entries (”posts”) and commentaries. The newest sits at the top of the page and the previous posts are arranged in reverse chronological order. HomeStomper is a blog, best illustrated by this page.
Here’s some stats on how blogs are becoming the publishing/marketing tool online: Technorati tracks about 70 million weblogs with 120,000 new ones springing up each day and filling the internet at a rate of 15 posts per second. Umm, yeah, that’s a hell of a lot of action.
So why should you, a real estate professional, adopt a blog as a tool for marketing real estate online?
1. Keep things easy-peasy
Forget the $197 setup fee and $29 a month to have a website, all you need is your domain name and an inexpensive hosting provider.
Installing your blog is super simple and can be done in less than 5 minutes using Wordpress (the same platform that powers HomeStomper.)
There’s a number of real estate blog themes out there for Wordpress, too. Getting a professional look and feel is easy-peasy.
2. Get some search engine love
Ahh, the thrill of ruling the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). Let’s face it, organic search engine traffic can be the biggest traffic generator for your website especially considering how much it costs (FREE!)
Blogs are like search engine magnets because the search engines love 4 things:
- regularly updated content
- a site that is interlinked
- pages of content
- friendly URLs
Your blog does all this effortlessly and automatically. In fact, you’ll probably find your blog ranking higher in the search engines than the front page of your website simply due to the love affair search engines have for blogs.
3. Be the smartest agent on the block
I love the line from the movie Pulp Fiction, “Check out the big brain on Brad.” Now, you won’t have a gun threatening you like Brad in the movie, but having a blog does put you in a position where you have to be “smart.”
Blogging does mean you actually have to write something (no, it can’t be about how cute your cat is). You’ll want to keep abreast of the industry, your local market, news and legislation, even selling techniques. Not only does this give you content to write about on your blog, but you’ll be a heck of a lot wiser that Joe Average Agent who thinks all he needs is a license and a smile to rake in a sweet income.
Want to be ahead of other agents and have your market know you’re ahead of the pack because you prove it by blogging? Yeah, I thought so 
4. You, the Credible Authority
The funnest part about being the smartest agent around is the authority position it gives you. You know as well as I do, just because you have a license to real estate doesn’t mean people recognize you as an expert.
When you blog, you become a reliable news source. Folks, prospects and other agents, turn to you to see how you weigh in on issues and news. That’s a nice position to have.
Not only does it make you the better catch in the sea of average agents, it also allows you to hold firm to your commissions because, well, you’re the expert.
5. Look at you… all transparent and approachable
Blogs are pretty cool, too, because they allow the public to get some insight into who you are. When you step from behind the curtain and reveal yourself to be human with thoughts, opinions, and insights (gasp!) folks respond… it’s known as transparent marketing.
Nobody likes to do business with a faceless entity. Use your blog so folks get a chance to know you before and after you meet face to face. You become more approachable.
Another cool thing blogs do is allow your visitors to interact with you (double gasp!) through comments. After each of your posts, your visitor can comment with further questions and comments of their own. Yup, a conversation takes place. And you know it, business is a result of conversation.
Let’s also look at this from a market research perspective: you gain valuable insights into your market and their motivators by reading their questions and comments.
Now, before you go rushing off and start your real estate blog I do have a word of warning: your blog is a commitment to being an accessible authority to your market. Use it consistently and you’ll win their hearts and minds, but start it then stop it and they’ll feel burned.
After knowing the benefits of a real estate blog why the heck would you stop? The good will, credibility and positioning are near unmatched. Besides, it’s easy to get started. Make with the clicky…
HomeStomper asks: Do you have a real estate blog? What other benefits do you get from your blog?
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