In the world of blogging we are constantly contributing information to the real estate world. Maybe it is redundant at times. Maybe it is our take on a situation. it certainly can generate spirited discussion here at Active Rain. But the most important thing a blog can do is to help you to connect with your prospects and clients.
Here's how I use my blogs to do just that.
To connect with prospects and clients, I include a reference to my blog in my newspaper ads. In the picture below you can see I am marketing two houses. This ad was in this week's Owasso Reporter newspaper. I don't know if you can read it or not, but the ads say, "Google "Paradise Valley Owasso, Oklahoma" and "Google Bailey Ranch Estates Owasso Oklahoma." I decided to use that wording because it is easy to do. And when someone Googles those search terms, my blogs usually pop up in the number one or two spot for these homes. If I were to put http://activerain.com/blogsview/1264175/welcome-to-15605-east-94th-street-north-in-paradise-valley-owasso-oklahoma-", I don't believe anyone would take the time to write it down and use it.
When I run ads like this my Goole notification usually gets pretty busy for the next couple of days, so it seems to be working (I believe).
Another way I use my blogs to connect with prospective clients is through my first contact email. I have several lead generator systems where I get leads via the internet. This includes requests from my website and other "sources." Whenever one of these leads comes in, I have a pre-typed email I send to them. It thanks them for contacting me, tells them they'll be getting houses via email shortly and then say's...
"I'm including a couple of links here to blogs about buying homes in today's market. Feel free to read them, if you'd like.
Do Your Homework before you buy that next home
The 10 Commandments Buyers Must Follow when Buying a Home"
All they have to do is to click on the title of the blog and it will take them right to the piece I wrote. Right now I'm using one blog I wrote and one blog I reblogged because I think it was well written. I will eventually use only my blog material, but I don't have enough yet.
One final way I use my blogs is to connect to my sellers. I custom write a blog about each home I list. I then take it, printed in color, to my home seller to be proof read for mistakes or errors. Once they sign off, I send them the online link and print color copies. The color copies go not only in the home, but in a second flyer box I put at the home as well. So far, my sellers have loved this.
And this is a great marketing tool in the listing presentation too! I always take a copy of one of my blogs along with me to show the prospective seller. Because I am the only agent in my town who does this, I almost always impress the socks of the client. It usually seals the deal for me.
So there you go. If you are new to Active Rain, these ideas should help you to be inspired to write and write and write and write. Make lots of comments too, but write about real estate and pretty soon, you'll be connecting to people too!
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