I sat here making an effort to finish writing an article covering the 2 most crucial things to consider about your website when I was derailed by the topic below.
The following is based on a phone rant that I have let loose so many times that I’m starting to feel myself on auto-pilot, almost thinking about something else, as I explain the basic formula to guaranteed blogging success. It struck me that I need to write this down before I mistakenly consider it to be no longer relevant. The fact is that it couldn’t be more relevant for new and struggling real estate bloggers.
I am adding this article to the Pre Class Homework that all of our new clients will receive, for it is the foundation of their path to blogging reward.
1. Define Your Target Audience/Ideal Reader
In a past article I wrote this:
Your knee-jerk first thought: My audience is far too diverse to have a specific Ideal Reader in mind when I write. It’s the same argument I hear when I try to pin an agent down to commit to focus on one specific niche community with their early blogging efforts; I’ll work everywhere, why would I want to pigeonhole myself to one location? I will be missing such a greater audience.
The answer is that it is much easier to write fluidly and constructively on a micro level then it is when approached broadly. Sure the topics seem endless, at first with the broad stroke, but the value comes in your ability to hone in on the endless topics of a narrowed focus. It is much easier to position oneself as the expert on a limited range of topics than on everything, everywhere.
Who you are writing to works in a similar manner. When you can visualize the reader, it is much easier to explain things to them. What’s easier, explaining something to a friend or to a room full of strangers? When you ‘know’ your audience, it will be much easier to deliver your ideas. My advice: force yourself to consider who you are writing to; define them, and write to them.
All of the above absolutely applies, but I think I can drive this point home, and make it clear as to why this is the number one thing to do to ensure your success.
Stop thinking like an agent that will drive 20 miles in any direction to help any potential client, in any neighborhood.
The Bad News: You can't be all things to all people.
The Good News: As a blogger, you have the power to create your audience, and attract the types of clients that you want to work with.
Do the following:
Ask yourself, “Who do I enjoy working with?” and “why?”.
Now name your ideal reader. Mine is “Sue”.
List everything you can about them.
How old are they? Are they married? Kids? Household Income? Profession?”
Where are they from originally? What interests do they have?
Where do they want to live? How much do they want to spend?
What are their concerns/questions/challenges/dreams/plans?
There is a beautiful thing about blogging; if you write to them,they will come.
2. Define What You Are Going To Write About.
Your Real Estate Blog Is Your Newspaper
The above linked article tells some of the story on this step to success, but again, this point needs to be made absolutely clear in order for you to pause reading and commit to this action.
Clear topics and organization of your content is everything.
You have an opportunity to make an amazing impression on your visitors. What you choose to write about will deem you an expert on those topics, if you make it clear.
Choose the pillars upon which your entire blog will stand.
If you are just starting out, limit yourself to no more than 10.
Those categories need to be something that you can commit content to regularly.
If it is a topic that you can’t write inexhaustibly about, then omit it from the list.
You can always add to this list as you develop as a blogger.
If your aim is to have some whimsical content, then create a category for all of it (“Whimsical Wednesday”, for example).
You'll thank me later.
If you don’t take this approach, your blog will make the impression that you are all-over-the-place and not an expert in any topic. It will be too overwhelming to your visitor to know what to expect from you, and they will not subscribe. Your best categories will be buried by the clutter.
At the end of this post I do offer some ideas of what to write about, but I know nothing about you, your expertise, your area of focus, your goals, your ideal reader… so don’t rely on me, or others to establish the pillars of your content. Think very clearly about this task. This is how your audience will be getting to know you, and there is nothing more important when it comes to them trusting you as their expert agent.
3. Goals - What Do You Want To Achieve From Your Efforts?
“More business” is not exactly the right answer.
There's plenty more of this article left!
To read the remainder, you'll just need to click over to its original location at the Real Estate Tomato Blog:
How To Approach Real Estate Blogging And Ensure Your Success, Guaranteed
IT HAS BEEN CHOPPED BECAUSE THIS IS A SYNDICATION OF THE ORIGINAL, AND IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT FOR SEO PURPOSES IT IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY TO POST THE SAME ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY IN MORE THAN ONE LOCATION.
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