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Get benefits of a real estate blog without blogging

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with PropertyMinder, Inc.

Real estate is a face-to-face business. You're not selling a product, per se; you're selling your services. So how do you build rapport online and turn a stranger into a lifetime customer?

In an automation era, replete with automatic follow-up campaigns, people long for personal attention and authentic communication. That's the point of need.

Rethinking real estate websites, a blog is a conversation starter.

Like any exchange, there's the requisite give and take. As interest ensues, quality interactions lead to personal relationships. Recognizing the value of these relationships is essential to your business.

By frequently providing quality content, a REALTOR® gains credibility. The blog platform gives an agent a channel to market her greater knowledge base. Since potential clients prefer doing business with agents they "know" and respect as experts, blogging agents generate more leads than non-blogging competitors.

Know your target audience

For 40-plus consumers, blogging does not yield the same ROI. "They are not yet embracing social networking or blogs, despite what recent hype would suggest," according to a survey by ThirdAge and JWTBOOM.

"This audience values word-of-mouth recommendations, expert opinions, trusted brands and privacy online."

What's more, "boomers...are interested in connecting and interacting with others in their community around shared interests and common life experiences."

Niche Marketing

Seniors Real Estate Specialists® best target the midlife market. REALTORS® "counsel clients age 50-plus through major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home."

Following suit, capitalize on your ability to provide a unique service that is of great value to the customer; go after a niche market and minimize short-term competition.

To increase brand awareness online, develop a relationship with influential bloggers in your niche market and post a comment on their websites. By including a link to your real estate website in your comment, you automatically drive traffic back to your site. A relevant and informative comment can be as little as 140 characters and still have the desired effect.

Read full article ....

Lisa Lambert
The Law Offices of Elisabeth A. Lambert - Fresno, CA
Esq. 1031 Exchange Expert

Anne-Marie:

You've made some very good points regarding how to pick a medium to meet your target audience. Great post.

Lisa

Jun 18, 2008 04:13 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Is it within the neticette to include a link to your site in the comment? I know that some people do it, but I thought is was a "no-no" on AR.

Would be interesting to hear what oters think...

Jun 18, 2008 04:24 PM
Pam Winterbauer
Pam Winterbauer Real Estate - San Ramon, CA
"Providing Blue Ribbon Service"

Anne Marie.....you have some interesting points here and it is most definately target marketing.

Jun 18, 2008 04:28 PM
PropertyMinder (AccelerAgent)
PropertyMinder, Inc. - San Jose, CA
Modern Tools for the Modern Agent

@Jon Zolsky: Thank you for your comment -- and conversation starter.  By virtue of commenting, your name links back to your website (by evidence of ActiveRain).  But, again, an informative and relevant comment leads to quality interactions -- and personal relationships -- with passionate bloggers. Please see this case study for more information on blogger relations. AM

Jun 18, 2008 04:45 PM
Glenn Sanford
eXp Realty & Working The Magic, LLC - Bellingham, WA

I read a stat that suggested that 20 somethings don't read a newspaper.  They get all their information online while those 65 or older don't use the internet...  So in the middle its a hybrid...

Obviously those under 40s are buying homes while those over 60 are selling homes...

Online for Buyers...  Offline for Sellers...

It's a generalization...

All the Best,

Glenn

Jun 18, 2008 04:57 PM