I recently saw this question posed on another forum, "Is the blog the most important part of online presence?"

 

The answer is not cut-and-dry for me. My blogs are part of a system of tools designed to drive traffic to my website, capture leads, incubate those leads over time, and generate revenue.  Blogging with no end in mind or system in-place is going to produce little results.

 

Let’s look at my basic formula: Revenue = Blogs + IDX + Lead Capture + CRM.

 

Blogs have to be written with an end in-mind. That end defines the keywords to be targeted. Getting a consumer to find and read your blog is the first step.

 

Why do consumers come to real estate websites? It’s not to find an agent. They come to websites to find properties. So a solid IDX is critical. Every blog should bring the consumer to a landing page on your website where they can find properties discussed in the blog that got them there. If you’re blogging about Golf Course Homes, the link from your blog to your website had better show them Golf Course Homes. If not, they’re gone.

 

Once you get them on your site looking at properties, you have to have a way to capture their contact information. There are no exact answers; it’s more of an art. If your IDX is wide open and you’re hoping someone will contact you, you’re going to be highly disappointed. You have to offer them something in exchange for their contact information.

 

Now that you have their contact information, you have to incubate the lead. This is where the CRM tool comes in. Incubation is usually done with a drip campaign with multiple contacts over time. Too many contacts and they’ll unsubscribe. Low quality contacts and they’ll unsubscribe. Generating leads without a way to follow-up with them is a waste of effort.

 

If you’re new to blogging or not seeing any success from your blogging efforts, ask yourself if you have a system in-place.

 

Photo: Licensed from iStockPhoto

 

Tom Branch and Gina Branch, The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, service the greater North Dallas suburbs including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Lewisville, and Carrollton.  While Gina concentrates on traditional listings and buyer/tenant representation, Tom specializes in assisting distressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure.  Tom and Gina have published two books (Achieving Rock Star Status and The Field Guide to Short Sales) and are available for speaking engagements in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Subscribe to The Branch Team Blog.

                   

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The Branch Team - Texas Real Estate Broker 547597 | Team Members are Texas Licensed Real Estate Professionals
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