Real Estate Blog - Effective Post Writing

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Effective Post Writing

Like it or not, your posts are a form of advertising. I am not passing judgment and I am not directing this to any one person. Sit down for a moment and think about it. What each of us puts up here reflects on the writer. I want you to be successful.

Why is it that I can see posts that are just thrown up in an effort to just do it? Is it because they felt they have to do it because this is the latest and greatest way to market oneself?

If you are here to improve and learn then take a few moments and think about it. Yes what we post is advertising. Even if it is something for our fellow professionals. And with all Marketing it is not how much you put out there as:

Who is your audience?
What is your intention?
What are you trying to convey?

With all great marketing pieces (yes your BLOG and the posts you place on it -- is a marketing piece) you have a few basic rules to be successful:

KISS -- Keep it simple stupid
White space -- don't be afraid of it
Keep to the maximum of two fonts (multiple sizes of them ok, but no more than two!)
Society is visual -- graphics will enhance text and don't use so much that it distracts from the message.
Spelling and Grammar count

So I leave you with two examples on the same post -- which author would you rather work with? Which one better conveys the message?

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Example 1

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Title:

Networking Opportunity

Post Body:

Anyone attending the XYZ conference in November in Arlington Texas? If so let me know perhaps we can get together for a drink.

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Example 2

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Title:

XYZ Conference Networking Opportunity - November 12-15, 2009 - Arlington, Texas

Post Body:

Networking Opportunity XYZ Conference (link to conference web page) is coming up November 12-15 in Arlington, Texas at the Luxury Hotel This conference is going to bring together the top minds in Real Estate Appraisers.
Featured speakers are: Fred Flintstone head of Quarry Industries will be speaking about the latest news in Real Estate Appraisals.

Wonder Woman of Golden Lasso Technologies will be presenting the latest technologies that Appraisers can use to ensure that they are writing the best appraisals.

Breakout sessions will include topics: Websites, Measuring Technologies, Insurance issues, Mold and many others. To find out more about this exciting conference, visit the conference website at website address link.

If any other fellow members are planning on attending, please let me know. I would love an opportunity to network with you. I will be arriving April 11th and am leaving on the 16th. I am staying at the Luxury Hotel.

My Contact information: email, phone, twitter, facebook links

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Do you see the difference?

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Posted by Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Colleen Kulikowski on 10/18/2009 03:14 PM

Comments (33)

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33 Comments on Effective Post Writing

OCT

Write like you mean it. Taking time to research, format, structure and target is time well spent.

Nothing like poor market presence to kill your business.

I agree with your comments above. Presentation and style are definitely important to blogging regardless if it is business or pleasure. Writing on the Internet is a permanent foot print of your thoughts for all to view, judge and enjoy! Thanks for sharing.

I still thank you for years ago teaching me about titles..... :)

Thanks -- this is a great reminder of what makes a good post. I like the easy to understand examples.

Colleen, I got it...LOUD and clear! I am over-wordy and need to have shorter posts. I've also seen ones that don't mean anything at ALL...I don't know what value they're getting out of it.

OCT

I'm puzzled. I like the first version better but that may be the wrong choice. The second version bogs me down with too many links and info load. So which is the one you are recommending?

Sally -- you have come a very long way!

Joan, Lisa & Mike -- Thanks!

Carole -- I think it is important to have a balance. Sometimes there can be too little or too much information.

Barbara -- The first post doesn't give enough information like the dates of the event.

The reality of real estate blogging is most folks interested in what you have to say are other real estate agents. Most RE bloggers have not come to terms with this. The "audience" is still the search engines. Blogging about a community with hopes a searcher will search for "homes in community x" will find your blog. Not very exciting for the causual reader, but are we blogging for readers or for business? One must make the decision.

Perhaps there is an in-between version that would appeal to me.

Colleen,

Great tip - the examples help make your point!

Your first example (IMHO) would only get a cursory glance from most people, the 2nd would make anyone interested stop and notice.

Great point Colleen. A person interested in the event has all info available to them in the second post.

I am here to learn and also to promote my business & services; but every post reflects on me! Important to keep that in mind.

Excellent post, good advice, thank you!

Thanks for the good tips. I actually am planning to use some of your ideas.

Good points.

Good points. We all put some bad ones out on occasion. I am sloppier when it is a members only post.

good points and a great lesson creating succinct, informative blog!

i like your choice of graphic for the second post. Makes it look fun! I'm a visual person. It takes me awhile to write posts because I search for the best photos to make my point and have to spend time formatting so the post can be put up on different sites. But I think it is worth it.

Colleen, that sounds like good advice. Am a newby at AR and trying to hone my skills. Thanks for the information.

Steve

Thank you for the schooling! One thing I will never be able to get away from is grammar and spelling. My kids laugh at me because I still spell everything out and have not substituted abbreviations. Twittering is a constant challenge!

Good advice, but we are all different and convey our message in different ways. Spelling and grammar are universal!! Thanks for posting, Kathy

Great post! I'm a newby and yet to have written a "blog" or "post" anything yet...

But wwith some thought I think I'll give it some thought give it a try. Thanks for posting, Ken

OCT

The picture does a lot!

Very informative post. I think the agent who would write example #1 spends too much time on Twitter!

That said, I do think Twitter is a good exercise for people to learn to condense their thoughts and not ramble on.

Balance - we all need balance!

Great Points. I also think Spelling and Keeping it simple are both good points when I look at other marketing pieces.

Great examples Colleen on how presentation along with those words is important. Droning on and on with no white space & pictures is just awful. I know when I read those post I think to myself 'they should have made this a couple of posts'.

Nice post with some usable tips. I like the photo on the second too. Spelling and Grammar mistakes make me nuts --and hate it when I find I've overlooked an error in my own posts or comments!

Good info. Always good to remember who your audience is and that a blog posting is a form of advertising yourself through your writing style.

Thanks for the reminder to write for our desired audience and to put some effort into it.

OCT

Colleen, great illustration of a point well taken. I have discovered that my comments to blog posts are also coming up on the internet. So, it is important to be mindful in that regard also as to what we are putting out there.

This is my first introduction to your blog. I had a home on Grand Island at one time for about 5 or 6 years. Enjoyed living in the Niagara area very much! Have enjoyed your profile - has brought back some fond memories of the area.

OCT

Hey everyone! Glad I could be of help to you!

Renee -- just crossed the GI bridge an hour ago and saw your note...

Great contrast on the two examples Colleen. Keep up the great work.

OCT

Love your ideas. They make perfect sense. I often send an email to folks with the gentle suggestion that they correct spelling...it there, why not use it? And the thesaurus as well?

OCT

I need to get better at the presentation and layout of things.

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