What the Heck Are You Doing Just Standing In the Rain?

In March of 2011 I became a Rainmaker on Active Rain. I gave my credit card information, put my photo on my profile, wrote up a quick little blurb about myself, then promptly forgot about it. Each week I would get a weekly posts update from Active Rain and would simply hit the delete key. To be honest, I had kind of forgotten what Active Rain was. I'm pretty sure I signed up because I had gotten the book Realty Blogging. I was certain blogging would be my path to real estate riches. 

The problem was, I didn't have a plan or a purpose. I was just going to write about "real estate stuff." If that's you, you need to read this article!

Let's develop your plan and your purpose.

First, write out your purpose for blogging. 

• Are you wanting to increase your referral network with other agents?
• Are you wanting to attract buyers in your area?
• Are you going after the seller?
• Do you feel this insane desire to simply share your knowledge with others?
• Are you hoping to increase your business on all fronts? 

When writing a post you need to first determine Who is Your Audience?

Before you write a post you need to ask yourself, "Who is my audience?" This answer is post specific not blog specific. What I mean by that is that when I'm writing my posts, I write them to a specific person. I quickly formulate in my mind who that person is. For this post, I keep thinking of the person on Active Rain who may write an occassional post, but who wants to improve what he's doing, without reading a whole book on the topic.

If I'm writing a post directed at buyers I think, what kind of buyers am I trying to attract with this post? What do they look like? Where do they live? What are their concerns? What information can I give them that will make them feel like they've read something of value? Localism posts with great SEO are also a good way for buyers to find your posts.

Are you wanting to attract sellers? if you are looking to attract sellers, you'll want to make awesome blogs about properties for sale. I know what you're thinking, you write those for buyers, but they are not your target for those. Be mindful of prespective sellers when writing your listing posts. Use lots of pictures and really SELL the house. When you sell the house a prospective seller will feel like you would do the same thing for them. 

If you're wanting to increase your referral network, read and comment on posts! Write posts that help other agents relate to you and then connect with them! (This is a whole other post)

I would say a huge percentage of the people who blog on Active Rain don't really know why they are doing it. They just randomly sit down and write something about real estate, but if you want to attract referrals, buyers, and sellers, it's way more than that! 

You have to come up with your Why, then your Who. Figuring out What you're going to say will follow when you know your Why and your Who.

Don't get stuck here though. Go from Why and Who --- to DO!