Everyone in real estate is talking about blogging. You may have heard stories ranging from “untold riches” to “never getting enough leads” as a result of blogging. While both stories have merit, the truth is you can build the world’s best real estate blog but if no one is reading, it’ll be a fruitless endeavor.
Your successful competition knows this. Here’s what they’re likely doing and don’t want you to know about getting more blog traffic:
Get noticed in the “real world”
If you knew every local newspaper reporter in town and were known as the local real estate market expert, how likely would you be to get interviewed about the market? Other real estate related articles?
Insider Tip: Reach out to your local newspaper reporters who frequently write feature articles and/or real estate pieces and ask to send them free market reports.
If you really want to go above and beyond (highly recommend it) don’t just use MLS reports. Write a half to one page summary of the report and attach it to each report personalized with the reporter’s name.
Get to know the competition
You may be working in the same market but you will be surprised to see the camaraderie that exists between local real estate bloggers versus the masses (agents without blogs.)
Insider Tip: Offer to write free blog posts about the local area on your fellow agent blogger’s blog in exchange for a link back to your website.
Not only will you get a link back to your website (which looks like a vote of confidence in the eyes of search engines) but you’ll be helping the other agent by keeping their blog updated.
Release a free “tell-all” eBook about your market
“Tell-all” is a sexy word. It’s just brimming with tabloid possibilities. Create an eBook about the local area including favorite restaurants, things to do and a commuter guide.
Use the intriguing power of tabloid-like headlines to name all of your eBook chapters and offer it for free on your blog.
Example: “Top 5 New Jersey Restaurants Chefs Love”
Insider Tip: eBooks do not require an entire editorial staff and designer to create. Use Microsoft Word or Apple Pages on your computer and write your eBook. When ready, save the file as a PDF file and add it to your website.
Hold a contest on your blog
Who can resist a chance to win something for free?
Example: If your local town is known for its local grape festival, hold a contest for most beautiful grape display photo on your blog with a grand prize trip for two to a local vineyard tour.
Insider Tip: Holding contests can be expensive so consider partnering up with another local business who would be willing to do the service for free in exchange for contest exposure.
As an example, you could create a contest on “most cluttered room” photos with the grand prize winner receiving a free home staging consultation with a local stager.
Share “a day in the life” on your blog
The first four insider tips are all about getting traffic to your blog. The next step is to intrigue them enough to come back again by revealing what really happens behind the scenes in real estate.
Example: Jay Thompson of PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com does a great job of sharing “a day in the life” on his blog.
Insider Tip: Using catchy headlines will intrigue people enough to read each post but you can take it a step further by using video. Videos on things you find during a home inspection or staging are always of interest to website visitors.
What tips and tricks would you share with an agent new to real estate blogging?
