If you're not already writing a community blog, it may be time to consider it... if you already are, you may be running out of topics and ideas right about now, so here's some tips to kick around. Remember, you are aiming your blog at CONSUMERS, so think about what a consumer considering buying or selling a home in your farm area would be interested in.
1. Write compelling headlines, or they'll never read any further. Did my headline for this article get your attention? I hope so! Think of how you read the newspaper (if you do!) or how you scan your email subject lines. If the headline doesn't get your attention, you don't have time to read it. You've got to capture them QUICKLY! Here's an example:
New Farmer's Market Opens in "Your City"
vs.
Where I found the freshest, cheapest, best selection of produce I've ever seen, right here in "Your City"
Which one makes you want to read the rest of the story? Try a catchy headline on your next Blog!
2. Show some personality! It takes a very special type of person to be in our industry. We have to be outgoing, love people (for the most part!), and in today's market, have a great sense of humor! Remember the old saying, "People do business with people they like"? To create a relationship through a blog, you'll need to share some of your personality and your personal life (but not too much!) Look at how I squeeze in little bits about my doggies, my husband, and even the Gators! Your readers will like the fact that you have humorous things happen in your everyday life too!
3. Try to mix your blog up with a little bit of real estate stuff and a little bit of community stuff. If you write a lot about your community and events, your readers will not understand if you know REAL ESTATE or not. If you write about ALL real estate stuff, people will never get to see your personality.
4. Talk about charities, special events, and happenings, but talk about them from EXPERIENCE! Volunteer to work on the events and invite your readers down to meet you in person at the "such & such" booth on Saturday afternoon. You will be promoting a worthwhile cause AND inviting them to meet you in person (and solidify your relationship!) Clue: I've mentioned such things as the Sanford 4th of July festivities...come see me at the Budweiser Booth by the main concert stage!
5. Network while you research for your blog. When you go to a new restaurant, don't just sit, eat, and leave. Introduce yourself to the proprietor and explain that you're a local real estate specialist and you often review local businesses for your community blog. You are NOT fishing for free food! I want you to get to know the manager and your wait staff (remember, they could be potential clients!). Then when you write your blog about it, it will be way more interesting, like:
"When Tim & I recently ate at the new L' Frenchie Restaurant, we had the opportunity to chat with the owner, Pierre, who grew up in the Champagne Valley of France. In fact, his first job was dusting off bottles in the "Caves" of Mumm's Champagne! When we asked him where he got his inspiration for the menu, he said that they are all old family recipes that have been passed down through the generations and now he wants to share them with "your city"
Now doesn't that sound like an interesting place to go eat? By the way, when you write your blog, be sure to forward a link to Pierre to read! In fact, bring him a printed copy! Maybe he'll hang it on the wall as his first "review" (and when he needs real estate help, who do you think he's going to think of first!)
6. Write a few blog posts and keep them "in the can" for a rainy day. No matter how prolific of a writer you are, you will have a time where you are too busy, too tired, or sometimes just forget! Notice I tell people I send my newletter "somewhere around Tuesday of every week" and 95% of the time I'm on it... if you have a few generic (meaning not time sensitive) blog posts then you can keep them and post on short notice if you don't have anything to write. (And no, today's was not "in the can" I'm sitting here at 9:47 pm writing and watching Tim play Wii Tennis!)
7. Anytime you are going to use numbers in your headline, like the "Top 7 Million $ Ideas to Turn Your Blog into an ATM Machine" it is best to use odd numbers (3,5,7,9, etc.) Don't ask me why, but marketers have done studies and odd numbers catch your attention the best! Exception to the rule: Top 10 lists are always good!
8. Give more than you promised, such as item number #8 and #9 on this list!
9. Have a CTA (Call to Action). Unless you are INSANE, you are not doing all of this writing for the fun of it! You want to get some business too! End each blog post with a CTA such as: Call me today to find out what your house is worth! and ALWAYS have your contact info in EVERY blog.
Thanks for reading today!
Andy
P.S. To thank Andy monetarily for her awesome and motivational writings each week, just shove a bunch of money in an envelope and send it to her at PO Box 952674, Lake Mary FL 32795. (there's my CTA. Hey, It works for those "put all your gold jewelry in an envelope and mail it to us and we'll send you a check" people! I figured I'd give it a shot!)
P.P.S. My REAL CTA is this: to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter, just to to www.AndyTolbert.com and put in your name and email...no pressure, unsubscribe anytime, but I think you'll like it! And I give great tips to improve your bidness!
P.P.P.S. People read P.S.'s!
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