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What Do You Blog For?

By
Real Estate Agent with Kathleen Cooper, Sposato Realty Group 9084437/Brokers

I'm curious to hear some stories of how blogging has effected your life and your business.  What do you blog for?  I know why I do it....we get points!  LOL  Just joking, but I have to admit, getting points on Active Rain for blogging adds to the fun of it.  How do you use your blog to establish your credibility and grow your business?  Who reads your blog?  Do you have followers?  Here are some of the reasons I blog and how I get others to read my blog:

1.) I blog for business - I am blogging to establish a reputation as a local market expert.  I research what my local market is doing and share it with my community through this blog.  I write posts about my new listings, sales and ways for buyers to search for properties. 

2.) I blog for fun! - Blogging is a unique way of expressing yourself.  You can share a mixture of photos and words that show your talents and interests.  You can be silly, professional, or both!

3.) I blog for support - Active Rain is an awesome network of some of the industry's best professionals and I value your opinions and comments.  I love the interaction we have here with other fellow agents across the country, but also in our own community. 

4.) I blog for exposure - With Localism and all of the Google Juice we receive, it's hard not to love blogging.  With an outside blog it is easy for consumers to find topics I've written about on my blog and I make sure that every post links back to my website and a way for them to sign-up for listing alerts.

When I'm trying to spread the word about my blog, I post it everywhere I can.  Here are just a few obvious places you can advertise your blog to capture a larger audience:

  • Facebook - I post the link to each of my public blog posts on my Facebook wall for others to see.  It will even generate a thumbnail photo that you can have beside your post to help the link look more attractive.  If you have multiple photos on your blog, you can click through and find which photo works best for the thumbnail post.  I've found my friends and FB networks have enjoyed reading my 100 Days of Central Mass posts to learn about area attractions.
  • Email - I advertise a "Read My Blog" link in my signatures for my emails so anyone I come in contact with has access to read my blog.
  • Websites - All of my websites link back to my blog
  • Business cards - Post the web address to your blog on your business cards.  For more attention to it, you can have it printed on the back of your business cards across the middle with a larger font. 

Your blog is one of your biggest tools next to your website.  Use it to express yourself and enjoy the creativity you can share within your blog. 

Share your blogging experience and be entered to win a $25 dining certificate.  I'll do the drawing in 30 days from now!

Show All Comments Sort:
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

I'd say I blog for similar reasons as you. It is a fun way to market and build relationships. I just received a referral for a buyer out of AR so it works!

Sep 16, 2009 07:55 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

It is all about business. All the other "stuff" is icing on the cake - like I need cake!

Sep 16, 2009 07:55 AM
Kathleen Cooper
Kathleen Cooper, Sposato Realty Group - Worcester, MA
Sposato Realty Group - Broker Owner

LOL  It can be lots of fun.  I think too many people stress out about it or just post the same old stuff over and over, you need to mix it up a bit!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kathleen

Sep 16, 2009 08:03 AM
Gloria Laughton Allston
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE - Princeton, NJ
Realtor(NJ)/Broker(NY)

I like hearing about real estate issues in other states.  Some are similar to mine and some are not.

Sep 16, 2009 08:05 AM
Gary Coles (Coaching)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Kathleen,  I find that I blog for all the same reasons that you listed.  I did find one very interesting thing about my blog.  My office is in Las Vegas and I also specialize in real estate in Latin America.  This summer I am building a home for my mom in the mountains of Wyoming and I started doing posts on local businesses in Wyoming and Utah.  As I take photos and talk to people, we start talking about real estate.  I have several very promising leads for both Las Vegas, Mexico, Costa Rica and Columbia.  And the business owners are trying now to find even more leads.  it is really hard to say whether this fits in the fun category or the business category.

Sep 16, 2009 06:38 PM
Kathleen Cooper
Kathleen Cooper, Sposato Realty Group - Worcester, MA
Sposato Realty Group - Broker Owner

I hear ya Gloria!

Gary, That's awesome!  I love blogging about local businesses and places.  Teaches me and teaches my audience about places we may have never known about.  What's your blog site for the home you're building for your mom?  I'd love to read it. 

Sincerely,

Kathleen

Sep 17, 2009 01:57 AM
David Cahill
Century 21 Cahill Associates - Boston, MA

I like to share and hear about other people's experiences.  I just posted my first blog about something funny that happened at an open house.  I also enjoy seeing what other people have to say and perhaps getting a referral now and then doesn't hurt, either.

David

Dec 21, 2009 10:07 AM