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DO YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD REAL ESTATE BLOGGER? GRAB A CAMERA AND GO TAKE SOME PICTURES...

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

Wow things have changed.

Two years ago people said I was wasting my time writing a real estate blog...

Now they are asking me to teach classes on how to write blogs.  Things have changed, indeed...

Do you want to be a good real estate blogger?  If so, grab your digital camera and go take some pictures...

One of the common excuses for not writing a real estate blog is "What would I write about?"

Everyone gets writer's block from time to time, but nothing loosens it up like taking some pictures...

You say you aren't good at taking pictures?  Take a bunch and you will get better.  I promise...

What should you take pictures of?

 

1. Take pictures of real estate:

Home in Wheatland South, Naperville     A home in the Historic District, Naperville    Home in River Run, Naperville

You will be able to use these for your local real estate market reports.  I have found my local Naperville market reports generate more leads than any other lead generating activity I have tried...

 

2.  Take pictures of local attractions

Kuiper's Apple Farm  Lighting of the Christmas lights in Naperville   Bass Pro, Bolingbrook

You would be amazed at the traffic generated by posts on local attractions.  My post on my Valentine's Day at Bass Pro Bolingbrook has been read more than 700 times...

 

3.  Take pictures of your favorite restaurant...

Clara's Pasta, Lisle

Again, local posts draw huge traffic...

 

5.  Take pictures of beautiful things...

 A snowy day in Naperville  The Moon  A flower in Naperville

A beatiful picture can make a good post great...

 

6.  Take pictures of you doing the things you like to do...

Ken and his bass          Ken Tracy and friends at Bolingbrook Golf Club

 

7.  Take pictures of company events...

KW Care's Blood Drive Naperville 

 

8.  But most importantly, take pictures you find funny in life...

Mailbox in Naperville

This picture inspired one of my most popular posts to date, "What does your mailbox say about you? Mailboxes in Naperville."

 

So go have some fun.  Take some pictures.  You will become a better photographer, a better blogger, and probably a better Realtor...

You never know what picture might inspire your next great post.

Ken

Read my post "6 Simple Steps to Building your Real Estate Business Online."

Comments (23)

Melanie Hedrick
Elite Texas Properties, the best homes from McKinney to Dallas! - McKinney, TX
972-816-7205

Good one!  I'm going to do everything on your list!  I've started collecting funny photos for a while, too.  Being out around town so much, you're just going to see some unusual stuff -- love having my new tiny camera with me all the time.

Jun 09, 2010 05:21 PM
Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

A digital camera and a local Chamber of Commerce calendar and your have an istant blogger paradise.

Jun 09, 2010 05:56 PM
Wade Kawahara
Dominion Real Estate Partners, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

That was a greaat post.  I have just started blogging and I think it will turn into a good asset.  I like Clara's too.  I used to live in Hinsdale.

Jun 09, 2010 05:57 PM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Ken... your blog has alway been a great one, showing balance and useful information.  I always look forward to what you write! 

Jun 09, 2010 06:37 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Ken, I have followed you for a long time and watched you grow into your blogs lol.  You know I agree totally with the photos.  It was the blogging that inspired me to become interested in photography.

Now I upload to Flickr and have lots more "photo friends" who just like AR comment back and forth and become virtual friends.

I think we have all grown so much here and today I was a panelist for a Social Media 101 session given to members of our Board. 

There are many like you and I who have been here a couple of years and have gone from students to teachers.  And we owe much of it to what we have learned here.

Jun 09, 2010 06:49 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Ken,

I do need to take more photos.  You are so right about them giving you the motivation to write.

Jun 09, 2010 11:26 PM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Ken...

Great post, and top-notch inspiration.

Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"

Jun 10, 2010 01:08 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Richard, Don, Jenny, Steve, Wade, Randy, Melanie, and Gary.  Thanks for reading.

Richard, as a photographer, I thought you would like this!  Thanks for featuring.

I love that my smartphone doubles as a nice camera.  You never know when you will have a picture that inspires the post...

Thanks again everyone!

Ken

Jun 10, 2010 02:32 AM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Great job, Ken.  Blogging is fun and blogging about our local market is THE MOST FUN!

Love the mailbox!

Jun 10, 2010 03:39 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Ken:  I think you're a man I need to hang out with more!  You golf!  Your love Clara's!  You take great real estate property photos!  Me?  I love to golf ... love to eat at Clara's (just down the road a couple minutes from son #2 and oldest brother) ... and as a former real estate appraiser, houses are the best pictures I take! 

Now ... when can I line-up a golf game with you at 7 Bridges????

Gene 

Jun 10, 2010 04:38 AM
Michael Delaware
North Sky Realty LLC - Battle Creek, MI
REALTOR®, CRS, GRI

This is so true.  I take my camera with me everywhere, and I shoot photos of all kinds of things that interest me.  Photos help you tell a story.  You gave me some great ideas.

Jun 10, 2010 05:42 AM
Joseph D. Federico
MVP Realty - Naples, FL
Southwest Florida Homes with Joe Federico

Ken-Great idea, love the pictures.

Jun 10, 2010 06:42 AM
John Thomas
E3 Green HOMES - Boulder, CO
EcoBroker, MSEE, MBA

Ken...excellent post. I agree with you, photography is a great way to blog. After all, pictures are worth a thousand words.

Jun 10, 2010 07:05 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi John, Joe, Michael, Gene and Jenna.  Thanks for reading.

Clara's is awesome!  The bread and oil is so good...

We can play 7 Bridges either after I straighten out my tee shot or they change the first hole...:)

I never really took pictures until I started this blog.  Now I am always looking for a cool shot.

Thanks again everyone,

Ken

Jun 10, 2010 07:20 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Ken:  We ARE alike ... lol      Gene

Jun 10, 2010 08:47 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Gene.  You have a nicer head of hair!:)

Ken

Jun 10, 2010 10:19 AM
Kevin O'Shea
Coldwell Banker - White Plains, NY
White Plains, NY Real Estate

Hi Ken,

Great ideas. THanks for commenting on mine, hope all is going  well.  I drifted away from blogging and have a goal of starting regularly again.

All the best!

Jun 14, 2010 06:53 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Kevin.  I understand...

It is still one of my most productive lead generation tools...

Thanks for stopping by,

Ken

Jun 15, 2010 07:49 AM
Terrie Leighton
Ferrari-Lund Real Estate - Reno, NV
Reno Real Estate Agent ~ Selling Homes in Reno

Times have changed! Good for you for taking the time to teach others how to be a better blogger! Taking pictures to go with your blog is really important. I just got to my office from taking pictures of an area I wanted to post about  today and  realized my camara cord is at home so I cannot transfer my pictures over! Frustrating!!

Jun 18, 2010 09:01 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Terrie.  W/ technology comes headaches!

Good for you out and about...

Thanks for reading,

Ken

Jun 18, 2010 10:27 AM