First and foremost, happy 2012! I know everyone is ready and raring to go this year. Whether 2011 was great or downright miserable, it’s time to step into high-gear. As real estate virtual assistants, we have the grand opportunity of figuring out what the priorities are of many real estate agents when it comes to their social networking and marketing strategies. One of the main things we see realtors neglecting is a huge part of maintaining an active presence in the networking world. What could it be, you ask? It’s not Facebook. It’s not Twitter. And surprisingly it’s not keeping up with their LinkedIn and Google+ profiles, either.
Ok, I will tell you.
Blogging!
I know it’s hard to stay on top of your blog when you have 1,000,000 other things going on. But that’s where your real estate virtual assistant is here to help. Blogging is imperative in today’s real estate world, as it drastically helps with your SEO and can be fed to different places including your LinkedIn profile, Facebook profile and Twitter feed. Posting to your blog regularly will also define you as a credible source for community and real estate info in your area. If you’re already blogging regularly, or plan on starting, here are some great ways to build up an awesome following.
Turn Clients into Readers. Your current clients can be an excellent source of quality readers for your blog. In fact, your clients are the main people who should be reading your blog, and they will be the ones to pass the link to their friends and so on and so forth. Here’s why they’re great: they are already apart of your target demographic, they’re familiar with you, and most likely they know someone who could use your services. Once your blog is up and running, include a link in your email signature or send out a newsletter inviting clients, friends and colleagues to join your following.
Use Descriptive Headlines. A descriptive headline engages readers from the get-go. A headline that veers too far from the topic can leave your readers confused, or even upset when the content of the blog doesn’t match the title. For example, if the title of your blog reads “Short-Sales” but the blog is actually about how short sales are affecting the housing market, some confusion can arise. Although the difference is minor, it can have a major effect on whether or not someone actually reads your content.
Speak to Your Audience. Once you’ve identified your target audience, make sure your blog posts are catering to their interests and needs. You want the blog to be concise, focused and professional, while still maintaining a voice that is casual and inviting. For example, rather than writing a blog about foreclosures, compose a blog about the effect foreclosures have on other homes in the same neighborhood. This keeps the blog informative and specific, and answers questions of your target audience.
Stay Consistent. Posting to your blog consistently will not only increase your credibility, but it will also help you remain loyal to your readers. If you are posting once or twice per week, and then all of the sudden miss a week or two of posting, your readers are left missing something from their own weekly routine. A set routine will also distinguish your tone and voice, which your readers will learn to expect and become familiar with.
These are just a few ways to keep your blogging momentum going. If you ever have any questions about blogging, contact your real estate virtual assistants. One of our several professional copywriters will help you get started. If you have any questions regarding social media, listing marketing or listing presentations, we can help with all that stuff, too!
Have an awesome day!
Lauren Wille
Marketing Coordinator
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