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1000 Point Challenge For The Rest Of Our Members.....'The Series'

Reblogger
Home Stager with http://atlantahomestaging.net

 

Calling all Home Stagers - I'm re-blogging this post as we've got a great challenge getting underway (starts Friday, August 13th at 12:00 central) that provides us with an opportunity to further showcase what it is we do. The rules are specific so please be certain read them carefully. For example: If you want to participate, go to Bob's blog post and leave a link to the NAME OF YOUR SERIES and for each blog post you write in your series, provide the link and the post number.

As you'll see, Bob has provided an example of what the series for home stagers could consist of. I like this example for obvious reasons (smile).

Good luck to everyone!! And reminder - the challenge begins Friday, August 13th at 12:00 central.

Kathy

 

Original content by Bob Stewart

If I was blogging for business I would use keywords hereI have run a series of 1000 point challenges for our members over the past few weeks. The first one was designed to get everyone writing about 'Hyper Local Neighborhoods and communities' in their market. The current one, set to end Wednesday August 12th is designed to get our members out meeting local business owners and giving them some internet exposure.

Really, anyone could participate in these challenges, and we have many non real estate agents who have jumped on board and written about neighborhoods or local businesses in their market. I can certainly see, however, that these challenges are more specific to our real estate agent members.

So this time we are going to let our non real estate agent members get involved.

We have quite a variety of profile types on ActiveRain: Loan Officers, Home Stagers, Inspectors, Appraisers and many others. So after putting my head together with Steve and Janet and quite a few other people who have expressed an interest in participating in these challenges, I think we have come up with something so everyone else can get in on the points smogasbord.

The Challenge:

Over the next 14 days, I will be giving 1000 points per post for posts in a series designed to educate your local consumers about some component of your business.

SAY WHAT!?!?? That seems a little ambigious doesn't it? Yes, yes it does!

The problem is obvious......what theme or topic could I come up with that covers such a wide variety of businesses? So my theme is to write a series that highlights SOMETHING, ANYTHING. I don't care what you write about, but the series must have a theme and you must stay consistent with that theme.

Here are a few examples:

Home Stagers: If I was a home stager, one of the components I would want present in my blog would be a series dedicated to 'before and after' staging jobs of specific rooms. My seven part series (or if I only had time for five, my five part series) would consist of

  • Before and After Staging of a Kitchen
  • Before and After Staging of a Master Bedroom
  • Before and After Staging of a Children's bedroom
  • Before and After Staging of a Guest Bathroom
  • Before and After Staging of a Living Room
  • Before and After Staging of a Garage
  • Before and After Staging of a Den

I wouldn't just throw up some before and after pictures either. I would do a great job of explaining why the before pictures were an undesirable presentation of a particular room. Then in the after photos I would explain what we did to make the room a presentable room. I would create a series of blog posts that I would be PROUD to send to a potential client or referral partner showcasing my staging abilities.

Inspectors: If I was a Home Inspector, I would do a series of common issues that I come across when doing inspections in my market. The posts would have pictures of what to look for or what I see. There are a few inspectors that do this on a regular basis and their posts are outstanding information dedicated to their particular markets.

Loan Officers: If I was a loan officer I would do a series about the available loan products that I offer. I would even ask permission of some of my former clients who have used these products to allow me to use them (or their scenario) in the post in order to exemplify how this product was a good fit for their family. My seven part (or four parts if you don't have the time to do all seven) series might look something like this....

  • FHA Mortgages | Buying a home in Bellingham with a small downpayment and a short credit history
  • Reverse Mortgages | Using the equity in your Bellingham home to pay your mortgage
  • 30 Year Fixed Mortgage | A traditional mortgage for your Belligham home purchase
  • USDA Home Loans | Does your Bellingham Home meet the requirements for a USDA Loan

(ok, ok.....three years ago I could have rattled off a ton more options and I know they are out there today......if you're a loan officer you know what they are)

See, we know how to tailgate!Maybe I don't want to write about products because they change like the wind.......fine, write about Getting approved for a home loan. That would be a great series. Take each step and break it down so that a consumer can really get the details. Add in pitfalls that often trip an application at that point in the process. Include personal experiences of how not preparing to have your rental history verified led to a delay in funding. I don't care what you write about....you are much more qualified than I to understand what your consumers are in search of and what kinds of information they are most lacking.

What if I'm a real estate agent and I want to do a series? Go for it! Maybe you want to do a series on 'Getting Your Home Ready to Sell'. Or maybe you want to do one on 'The process of buying a home'. You could even use real life scenarios from a current client you are working with (with their permission of course).

What if I want to do a series helping real estate professionals understand email marketing? GREAT!! If your business is helping real estate agents, by all means, write a series of posts that caters to your strengths and your audience.

What if I want to do a series about nothing real estate related? I don't care.....but, I wouldn't advise it. The point is to get you conditioned to write blog posts that help your business. If you want to write a series about 'how to potty train your child', that's fine (and I will read every word as Kelan is currently leaning how to use the big boy potty.....but he's actually got the hang of it so I'll just be looking for tips on getting him to stop faking at bed time) but it's not really the point.

Here are the rules:

  1. You can do one post every two days for 1000 points. The challenge will start on Thursday 13th at 12:00am Central Time (Central Time is what the AR clock runs on for stamping posts and comments) and the challenge will end on Wednesday August 26th at 11:59pm Central Time.
  2. You must do at least 3 posts in order to qualify for the 1000 points for each post. Two posts isn't really a series. I thought about making it four, but I guess 3 is a series.
  3. You must leave a link to each post in the comment section of this post (or the subsequent post I'm sure I will have to start once this post gets too slow).
  4. In the comment section, when you leave your link, you need to leave the name of the series and a link to your post, for EVERY link you leave. PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME TO YOUR SERIES. There will be some of you that have great ideas and I would like others to be able to use those ideas for their own series. If you don't want to share your idea for your series, you don't get to play!! Sharing is a cornerstone of ActiveRain.
  5. Please keep track of which post in the series you are leaving a link for and leave the number in the comments. For example your comment might look like this: "Having the Perfect Tailgate Party for Your Seattle Seahawks Tailgate (I don't need to read this series, my people KNOW how to get DOWN!) http://activerain.com/........... (that's the links), post #4"

If you are not sure if your series will qualify, you didn't read the post close enough. I don't really care what you write about. I just want it to be a series. Write about something you are passionate about. Write about something that is going to help your clients. Write about something that is going to help your peers. Write about anything......as long as the posts have the same theme, and the name of your series imparts that theme, you should be fine. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly if you are unsure about anything I have written here. I only bite when asked 'where are my points' (and only if it's the 20th time I have heard the question for that particular day) and I promise to help you if you ask for the help.

(IMPORTANT: If you have not read Brad's post about writing to attract consumers and search engines, READ IT NOW!!! If you are not using the tips that Brad gives in this post you are only hurting yourself. I don't mean use them when you feel like it, or use them every now and then......USE THEM EVERY POST ALL THE TIME!!! They are that important. You should work this stuff into your series. Make sure to use geographic terms in your titles specific to your market! Do IT!! Don't ask questions!! Just do it!!! Don't be surprised, if I see you not using his advice, when I send you a message taking away points and reminding you. The loss of points pales in comparison to the loss of traffic and consumers if you aren't doing what Brad suggests in that post.)

Posted by

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

 TOP 10 Professional Stager of the Year in the

United States 2013  - RESA


This Atlanta home stager understands what it takes to separate your home or listing from the others on the market. Armed with a massive inventory, we can add the furniture and accessories befitting the style of the home as well as the demographics of the buyer. We also provide our after pictures at no additional charge. 

 

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager Kathy Nielsen

 

Our Atlanta home staging services have helped hundreds of sellers secure a contract quickly. Visit our website at http://atlantahomestaging.net to see first-hand the solutions for selling your home, listing or flipped property. Contact us today to schedule your appointment by emailing Kathy at Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com or by calling 678 522 8392. We've got the furniture and accessories your home needs!

 

 

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Comments (14)

Laurie Calhoun
Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL
Seminole County FL Home Stager

Thanks for posting this, Kathy! It sounds like fun (and good business!).

Aug 11, 2009 01:55 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Well, this sounds fun and exciting!

Aug 11, 2009 04:12 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Kathy ~ I read Bob's post yesterday and wrote down some ideas I have for the series -- can't wait!  It's going to give AR stagers some good exposure.

Aug 11, 2009 05:15 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Kathy,

Thanks for re-posting this info, I had seen Bob's post before but didn't pay any attention.

Peace,

Aug 11, 2009 09:22 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

All I did was........

Here come some new posts.

Aug 11, 2009 06:46 PM
David Peterson
Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR
Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Thanks for the heads up on this opportunity.  Look forward to participating.

Aug 12, 2009 03:23 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I wouldn't have caught this if you hadn't reposted.  I don't seem to catch the AR posts!

Aug 12, 2009 02:26 PM
Wanda Richards
Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions - Roanoke, VA
Shows Great Home Staging

Thanks for the reblog.  Sounds like fun.  I hope to participate too!

Aug 13, 2009 12:11 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I have brain drain these days but I'll be looking forward to the results!

Aug 13, 2009 01:29 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I am already planning on participating.  I have participated in the last two challenges and have gotten mega points for doing so.  It's exhausting keeping up the pace...prior to the two challenges I wasn't used to writing on such a regular schedule.  It's awesome to be so far out of my comfort zone!

Aug 13, 2009 02:53 AM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Hi Kathy!

I've actually started, but got my first post in a bit early.  D'you happen to know if early posts will count?  maybe i should pull it down and then repost it?

I decided to teach myself tables in HTML. Man, it took ages.  Terrible idea.  Not sure I'll do that again for Post #2.  Would it be ok to post my part 1?  If not, please feel free to delete the link.

Can't wait to read yours ~  Juliet

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1193789/prepare-your-house-for-sell-in-nj-with-staging-part-1-living-rooms

Aug 13, 2009 11:28 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

OK now I'm confused.  Kathy, you said Friday, Aug.13 and that stuck in my head....yes I know the date is wrong but I was focused on Friday.  Then, I see three blog posts here in SIF with the key Part 1, in the title.  So, I'm back and rereading Bob's post more carefully and it says THURSDAY, Aug. 13.  Guess I'm already late.  pfff.  Oh well, Bob's comment regarding Brad's post has me a bit intimidated anyway. 

Aug 13, 2009 12:56 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Oh no.  How did I mess that up? 

We can still participate, can't we?  I'm off to check the Brad post.

Kathy

Aug 13, 2009 01:36 PM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Kathy...late or not I'm giving it a shot. Thanks for the push from you and others.   

Aug 15, 2009 04:04 AM