Ideas come from life, buyers, sellers, touring with buyers, previewing, speaking with lenders, studying the market, driving down the street, or the usual, what I had for breakfast.

I've did a fun article on my keyboard. 

Just do it.

Hi, Vicky!  Don't worry about writing on the same topic as everyone else because you're writing for YOUR blog.  It should have the content that you feel is of value to your clients.  That said, it should all be ORIGINAL CONTENT.  Using the same topic is OK, but do it in your own voice and style.

It's your blog, make it whatever you feel a blog should be. 

For ideas on local content, please look around our Localism Brainstorming Group. 

Vicky:

I have to agree with Lenn Harley, in fact, after looking at her blog, I went out and took pictures of some of my subdivisions and posted them.  Still have alot more to go.  Localism offers so many opportunities to feature your area.  And this week it started paying off for me by way of clients knocking on my door.

Blogging is fun when you "find your voice".  I enjoy investment properties and clients.  Sure, I sell "regular"houses here and there.  But you wouldn't know it from my blogging.  I like talking about what interests me.  Happily, there are people out there who apparently like reading what I have to say on the subject.  So I just keep writing. 

I would ask you "what's your passion?"  when it comes to real estate.  Go from there.

Who are you writing the blog for?  Our blog is specifically for our clients.  Our niche is working with out of state buyers and sellers, so everything I write is focused on questions they bring up, things they wouldn't know unless they were here, etc. 

Every so often I also get a hankering to write about the RE industry - most of those posts are members only  and I love that the AR format allows me to do that as well. 

I carry a notebook with me; the Black n' Red book that you pick up at staples. I keep all of my pricing scenarios in there. It comes in handy when I'm meeting with my Sales Team to discuss their scenarios or when I'm meeting with an Agent or Business Partner. But it also comes in great use when I have an idea I want to talk about. 

We get ideas all times of the day, we just don't have something to write on. I keep it handy so that I don't forget what it was that I wanted to talk about. So next time, first thing that comes to mind about Real Estate, grab your pen and paper and start writing. It's like everyone else has said though, it's ok if it's the same topic. The difference is that it's in your own voice and that's what really matters.              

Vicki, that is a great question. Write about your day, your business, articles of interest to your audience, anything you feel strongly about...Just write. Remember your audience, what interests do you have and how might you be able to connect with others that have the same interests. There are a million things you can write about, just be creative, don't be afraid, and just start typing. Have a great weekend.....and then write about it! (Big Smile).

Wow...there's so much in the world to blog about.

That house you showed with its purple toilet! And, why, do agents take pictures of bathroom toilets? It seems that those shots are the ones that get sent out in MLS.

That buyer who drove up to your office in a 20 year old car that had duct tape holding it together...but bought a 2 million property for CASH. If you read about many millionaires you'll discover that they drive old, beaters and save in the process. Now there's an interesting idea to blog. What do agents in your market drive?

I just put up an interesting award that the Village of Woodridge received and have NO idea why it's featured?

Or, blog about socks...hey, Teresa did the other day...and it was a funny, light-hearted blog.

As someone said...just do it!

Hi Vicki,

I am as brand new to blogging as a miraculous new baby that takes its first breath. My first entry was my market forecast. I have no idea what others think about it or if infact it is even useful but I did it anyway. This industry is so rich in experiences and difficulties too! As the professional, I am sure you have come home tired out from the day and thought to yourself that life was good and that your felt awesome and though you can't say it loud, you were so happy you wanted to almost scream. A client perhaps said something that made you so proud you wanted to share it but didn't, thinking others wouldn't understand the context of it. Or a deal was put together so smooth you almost doubted if it was real or not. Knowing all along it was a gift to you because you needed it. And of course we have all had those other days when that wasn't the case and you felt so frsutrated you almost wanted cry or perhaps did.  This kind of personal stuff that has a point and can make someone else feel no so out there all alone, feeling unique in all the wrong ways

How about the most amusing thing that ever happened in your career or even embarassing thing in your career. If you set standards that others aspire to, share those too. I am not sure why I read your blog but providence has always played a very big part in my life and , blah blah blah, I read it and wanted to respond.

 I am a natural mentor and as such it sort of tickles me that I may have an opportunity to share something that could make a mark on someones life. You may be just the same sort of person giving till it hurts. If you are, you likley have years worth of stuff stored inside of you just busrting to get out.

When you said you shared documents that were in your listing presentation, that sounds pretty useful to me. Expand on it and create the "perfect marketing presentation". The whys and why nots.

I hope that you will read one of my blogs one day ( only wrote the one today-new to this as mentioned) and something in it will inspire you in some way that you will have kind and wonderful thoughts that someone saw a need and filled it.

I haven't decided on my next post but for about the last 5 years, I kept a little ity bity journal with reminders in it of storties I wanted to tell someday I if I were ever lucky enough to be able to figure out how to write a book.

Any ideas yet? Ask your most favorite client in your entire career why they hired you in the first place and build on that as a model for a newbie to emulate. The event is not so important but the details of it are!Remember, just like the retirement fund that multiplies on itself with small deposits, so to will be all the seeds you plant that helps those in our industry realize their professional dreams. Did I mention that helping others build their dream most often builds your own? You do it everyday with your clients and thought you only listed and sold houses,:-)

May the very next step you take find your feet at the fortune in life you dream of.

Sincerely,

William Johnson

Hi Vicky,

I think your getting the hang of it.  Don't discount the idea writing about your personal life, your cat, dog, your last vacation, etc...  Those stories if written well will help you in building rapport with your customers and it shows them that your a real person.  This is especially important for marketing yourself online.

Vicky, I agree with so many comments here, they are all great ones.  I really agree that you need to place yourself into your blog.  Don't ever discount your experiences, they are priceless, and mean so much in our business.  I hope to see more of you on here.  Good post too.  Is there something that happened in your community that you care about, and want to share with your clients?  Just a thought.  Good luck.

Hummmm, when I write I usually try to talk about something I just experienced regarding real estate.  Sometimes I write about gadgets and such that I think might be helpful to another realtor.  I too write about my listings or something about my area.