The How and the Why to Write Articles for Active Rain and Localism.com

Step #1:  Open a blank page on a word processing system or e-mail.  MS Word is a good place to write.
I prefer my Eudora e-mail system because it's so simple. 
Step #2:  Type your name.  You're off to a great start. 
Step #3:  Think of the first subject that comes to mind.  Don't spend time trying to think of subjects. 
All you'll succeed in doing is losting time trying to improve on the topic.  Just start writing about the
FIRST subject that comes to mine.  A few suggestions could easily be

        What you had for breakfast.  "What does that have to do with real estate?" you ask.
        Well, for one thing, if all you had was coffee, you must surely have had an early appointment.
        Ah hah! ! ! !   And what was that appointment????  Were you meeting a buyer or seller????

                                   

Looking for homes to tour???   Write about the homes included in the MLS
and how it is easy to find good homes to visit w

        SUGGESTED SUBJECTS  "I missed breakfast this morning because. . . . . . "     
        Were you on the way to a home inspection??  Were you on your way to the office weekly
        meeting???  I understand many large offices still have those weekly meetings where agents
        discuss new listings, the broker or office manager suggests that you do XYZ to spend some
        money.  Or, perhaps what took you away from your breakfast was meeting a buyer to show
        some homes.  Now, if there ever was a subject for an article, that is an easy one.  Touring homes
        for sale with or without buyers is article material.  It's on point, can lead in many directions
        and gives the writer material for a Localism.com connection. 

http://activerain.com/blogsview/56068/ADVENTURES-OF-A-HARD
http://activerain.com/blogsview/55629/PREVIEWING-FOR-HOME-BUYERS
http://activerain.com/blogsview/52546/ADVENTURES-OF-A-BUYER

        
Step #4:  You've got your subject and now you need to start writing.  Some writers are quite organized.
They begin with an outline.  Many of us just go with the flow and put write what comes to mind because
there is always more to write about than there is time to write or space in which to put your article. 
So, just write.  One way I have found to get new agents to write about a house for flyers is to ask them to
do more than just list rooms contained in a home, but to also describe the color, decor of a room and
write about it.  Rather than simply say "nice landscaping", write about the plants, trees, flowers, walkways,
to get a written description of landscaping.  Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, but
The synergy of the Internet requires more than just photos or images.  Articles need "GOOGLE FOOD".
"What's Google food?"  Keywords, keyword phrases, words that describe your keywords, words that
are similar in category to your keywords, words that are synonymous to your keywords.  If you're writing
about a listing, think of the possibilities for Google food. 

         "Lovely landscaping with blossoming ornamental plants decorating the well
         maintained lawn for this wonderful home in Lovettsville.

Why is "home in Lovettsville" highlighted??  Because it is a very important keyword phrase.  Another
example for a different area might be:
        
        "Enjoy this roomy home in Montgomery County.  This home offers excellent value for Potomac
        Maryland real estate.   Well maintained home in Potomac Maryland in the sought after community
        of Fox Hills.  Come visit and enjoy this home with acreage in Potomac Maryland. 

Good Grief ! ! !   There are four good keyword phrases in that one short descriptive paragraph.  Still not a believer??  Take a look at the Google SERP for the keyword phrase "home with acreage in Potomac Maryland".

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Results 1 - 10 of about 77,600 for home with acreage in potomac maryland. (0.21 seconds)

Real Estate in Potomac, Maryland. Information and Home Buying Tips ...Home buyers in Potomac, Maryland will see homes for sale with photos, maps, ... new construction, unique homes, antique homes and homes with acreage. ...
http://www.thehomebuyersmall.com/potomac.shtmlhomebuyersmall.com/potomac.shtml - 17k - Cached - Similar pages

HOMES AND REAL ESTATE IN POTOMAC, MARYLANDFor All Maryland and Virginia home buyers. POTOMAC MARYLAND REAL ESTATE NEWS ... club and the vast acreage that is preserved in wooded areas, ...
www.potomac-real-estate.com/ - 20k - Cached - Similar pages
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Those web sites are a part of the Homefinders.com network of local web sites.  The entry for the web site,
Homefinders.com is further down the page, but the keyword phrase "home with acreage in potomac maryland
produces several sites with that keyword phrase in the content.  The keywords don't even have to be together.  Google puts them together.  What more could anyone ask for to be found by buyers and sellers on the Internet.

So, what to write about??  Write about the last homes you showed to buyers.

                      WHAT DIDN'T MY BUYERS LIKE ABOUT THE HOMES THEY TOURED TODAY.  For the
                             first home we visited, reason was that the home was very cluttered.  Sure, we can look
                             behind the clutter.  But, the buyers kept thinking that if the home was so badly kept, the
                             owners probably didn't maintain the home well either.  What about the furnace filters??? 
                             Good questions.  The second home had a very strong pet odor and the buyers, on their
                             agent's advice didn't consider it because pet orors can be very difficult to remove.

You haven't even gotten half way through an article and you've already got keyword phrases that Google will
love and you are well on your way to writing an article about the appointment that put you on the road before
you had breakfast.  

                Food for the body or food for thought???


See how easy it is??  Just do it.  Sit at your computer and start to type.  Write about what you had for
breakfast or what kept you from having breakfast.  Write about your first appointment for the day.  Write
about the contract you wrote this week (if you were lucky enough to write one).  Write about some homes
you saw previewing this week.  Write about your last settlement adventure.  Write about the neighborhood.  Write about the listing you didn't take because the seller wants to list at 10% above market with falling prices.

Don't be concerned about folks criticizing grammar or spelling.  Ignore them.  WRITING IS AN ACQUIRED SKILL.  The more you do, the better you'll be. 
Just WRITE IT.

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