Sometimes with blogging the biggest challenge is coming up with a topic. There's a LOT out there to cover, but some days the neurons just aren't firing.
What to do...what to do....
The answer may very well be in your email Inbox!
In our local current market new construction is a big segment of the homes for sale. Depending on the locality, 25-50% of the homes listed in MLS may be from the builders. And of course that's just a sampling of what they have!
Most major builders in our area have VIP type mailing lists. And of course being a builder's rep is pretty competitive, so if you build a relationship with a few of them, between the builder's distributions and the rep's emails you're going to get plenty of information, and some of it is worthwhile to turn into blog posts.
In the last 14 days, 5 posts have basically been dropped into my lap via email:
- Announcement of a new community in Northern Kentucky that will include patio homes. Right in my sweet spot for niches!
- A local patio home builder offering 50% off on options through $50k? Double BOOM. That's a mic drop right there!
- A builder announces a return to a popular golf course community and a new phase. Not patio homes, but we've sold plenty of business in Shaker Run, so you bet that's post worthy!
- Another builder in Shaker Run has their condo model home now open. Low maintenance living, new construction, golf/pool community, do you think buyers want to know about that??
- A builder is running a holiday sale with some fairly significant discounts on market ready homes. Hmmm, new construction, ready now (instead of 6 months out), mostly priced above the median price for our market...you better believe I want to get the word out on that!
And that's just a sampling of post opportunity ideas that drop in my Inbox.
It's information you KNOW the consumers want. It's information Z and R.com and the other big portal sites DO NOT offer. It's information MOST of my competition won't publish. It's the perfect storm of sweet spots.
Not every post will pay off, but they nevertheless accomplish a few key tasks.
1. They keep me updated on my niche.
2. They're digital breadcrumbs, and plenty of them leading back to our main site.
3. They help buy me some goodwill with local builder reps. The reps I work with know if they provide me advance word on incentives, new phases, etc., that I'll help publicize. And let's be realistic, while I'd like every buyer to come to me before going to the builder (and despite that advice in every new construction post), some buyers will still go straight to the rep. So between the clients I directly bring and the prospects that go straight to the rep, that rep is going to have a better chance of getting paid too.
And it's not like new construction emails are the only source of posts delivered to our Inbox. A buyer asks you a question? There's a good chance other buyers and sellers want to know the same thing, so if you can localize the post with the right keywords you may just get found for something more generic. Examples:
- How do I save on my utility bill? (Ohio has an apples to apples utility comparison site, so we've covered that in the past).
- What are homestead taxes? (Saving on taxes? Under the right condition, it can be done).
- What can I ask for from the home inspection?
- What happens after our offer is accepted?
- Should I get a home inspection?
- What does the HOA fee cover?
- Are there any condos with lake views?
All ready made topics coming from our clients, and again, just a sampling of emails and calls.
So next time you have blogger's block, take a look at your Inbox. There just might be an idea waiting for you!
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help!
Bill of Liz and Bill aka BLiz
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