Why Don't Most Realtors Get Business from Blogging?

They don't blog. They don't blog well (or consistently).  [In response to a reader, you may blog well but your market may be bad. You may blog consistently but not providing content that buyers/sellers find valuable.]   Now for the long answer.....

1.  Only quitters are losers. Every successful person has failed experiences but the ones who rise above it become stronger. 

2.  Your mental position is everything. The Little Engine That Could says it all. That may be the best book of all times to share with your kids. It sets the life stage.

I share these two life truths to set the stage since I know there are online marketing neigh sayers reading.  I have over 10 years of marketing experience, a BBA (Marketing) and a MBA (Strategic Marketing), but it doesn't take a MBA to be successful, just follow successful people (see my dad's comment below), the MBA just creates a faster learning curve.

I started blogging in May 2011 and did what I always do, I find people that are better than I am, then emulate.  Some blog as a hobby. Some blog long-winded pointless stories.  Some blog inspirational or funny thoughts, which are fun to read. Some are informative. Some blog to be a celebrity. Some just like to be cantankerous who have a chip on their shoulder (my least favorite). But my very favorite bloggers are the ones who either set the example of quality marketing (Anita Clark & Dick Greenberg) or serve as online coaches providing great advice & tips (Rebekah Radice, Tammy Emineth, & Craig Daniels to name a few). The bottom line,

I like "Results Driven People."

Here are a few things I've learned that you can tweak to suit your own personal style.

1. Hyper-local posts rock!

• Chamber web site
• Visitor Bureau
• Read the newspaper on or off line
• Subscribe to journals
• Find anything related to your city that promotes your city & blog it
• Read bill boards

2. Market Reports

• Go for Hyper-local.
  
• Use graphs, charts, or tables to drive your point home or clear up any confusion.
  
• If you are in a strong market, compare to the national and show how much better your market is.

3. Community Reports

• Pick 5-10 communities & blog them regularly
• Include photos & videos
• Write about schools
• Write about religious institutions. (I'm not Jewish but I will be blogging on a Jewish community that was developed by the Jewish council located across the street. Very interesting project.)
  

4. Post to other blogging or social media platforms

• Social media is communication, which is language based. Not everyone speaks the same language. Facebook & Twitter users are generally Gen X & Y. Linked in is generally Boomers. Google+ Blogger, and Pinterest are relatively newcomers so early adopters generally Gen X & Y are drawn to these platforms. Tumbler is a quasi-blogger site, more like Pinterest in that it used photos.  All this being said, they all have  one thing in common - nothing. If you want to be multi-lingual, then use as many as you can.

• At the highest level we are professional marketing people, so be one. Learn about cutting edge opportunities to be a good listing agent. If they just wanted a sign in their yard they could go to Home Depot to do that. If they wanted to be on the internet only then they could just use FSBO.com. Don't wait until you have it all figured out, just do it and learn along the way how to make it work better.

 5. Reach out to your clients about your blogging

• Your friends & family want to help you. Tell them about you. Tell your clients. I always mention in my monthly newsletter that I blog and many of them read and share what I write. Show you are not just about selling, but like me, that you care about people and your community.

6. Optimize your search engine. I'll just hand you over to Tammy's blog

How to Use Internal Linking to Boost Your SEO

Just a thought to share and why I'm always striving to improve....

My dad used to tell me, "Cathy, if you want to know where you'll be in 5 years, then take a look at who you're around today" - a wise man that I didn't always acknowledge when he was alive.  He always worked hard to be #1. He has letter after letter from his supervisors and even one from the base commander thanking him for this or that saying he was top notch. I found some amazing things in his briefcase when he passed, including my 2nd grade home made birthday cards. Kinda cool that my construction paper cards were mixed with the base commander accolades. I can feel him smiling now.

Oh, just for fun.... Here are my mom and dad when I became the first child to obtain a 4 year degree in my family.