In today's world you will need to set yourself apart from others whether you are just starting out or if you are starting over. A great way to do this if you are in real estate is through blogging.
A blog is a web log. It is also a web site. Several years ago, when blogs were first around, most people used them as online journals or diaries. Today there are more than 7 million blogs around the world, or blogosphere, as it is affectionately called. There are many people who run their businesses entirely from a blog and others that use a blog as an addition to an offline business. Real estate is the perfect business to set up with a blog in addition to a traditional website. A real estate blog can take any form that you decide will work for you.
You may want to let your clients know more about who you are and what you do away from the world of real estate. You could make posts about your family and the community events you are involved in. It is probably a good idea to stay away from political or religious topics so that you do not alienate any part of your readership. Have links between your blog and business website so that people can see both. Add the web address of your blog to your business card.
There are many platforms available to set up your blog. The one that I have had great success with is called Typepad. This site offers many advantages over the free blogging platforms but has a small fee depending on the level of service you choose.
Blogging as a realtor will set you apart from everyone else. More than likely you will be the only person in your office to set up and maintain a blog, unless you are in a very large office. Try to post something new on your blog at least three times each week. An added bonus is that you will be more easily found in the search engines if you continue to blog regularly. You will be able to position yourself as an expert with the writing you post on your blog. Decide if you will be providing information or opinions to your readers, or a combination of both. Give your blog a distinctive name and purchase that as a domain. Make it something that is easy to remember so that people will visit your blog regularly. You can easily set up a form on your blog so that your readers can subscribe to it. Every time you make a post they will receive an email alerting them to what you have written. This will keep your name fresh in their mind.
Because blogging is still relatively new to the internet you will need to educate your clients on how to get the most from it. Encourage them to make comments and teach them how to do it. Comments make for lively interaction between you and the other readers.
Blogging is a great way for realtors to get to know their clients in a new and different way. Don't be afraid to experiment with your blog until it feels just right. Your readers will let you know what they want and which direction you should take.
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