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Are You Keeping Your Readers Engaged?

By
Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

What makes a good blog?  Obviously, the content has to be interesting and the title attractive to lure the reader in.  There are many topics to choose from and though many may not agree that some topics are not Real Estate related; they need think again. 

 

REAL ESTATE IS ALL AROUND US!

 

LOCAL AREA and NEIGHBORHOODS:  If I am to be considered the “local expert” I better know my area. In Growing Up in the Mililani Community I not only give information about the Mililani Community but also HISTORY OF OUR MARKET throughout the years. Being a long time resident of the area gives me the extra expertise on our local area and neighborhood but all the businesses around my area too. If your client asks about the restaurants, where the library is and nearest schools in the district where they are planning on purchasing a home do you have the knowledge?

MARKET REPORTS:  I know my market and research to compile data on the number of sales and sales prices for each month compared to the month before and for the same time the year before. Anyone can do a market report but are you making it interesting enough to keep the reader engaged?  Adding  a few pictures or a chart to my Hawaii Homes Market report gives my Mililani Market Report for October 2011 a wonderful pop!  

PERSONAL POSTS:   Writing about ourselves does not mean to only let the public know about what we will do for them.  I write about my family, experiences, trials and tribulations and showing a bit of me and who I am throughout my writing.   It gives the consumer a peek into who I am and will also be the determining factor that tells them to pick up the phone and call that “person behind those written words”!  Remember, the words written are only words unless the writer can put those words into life! 

REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY INFORMATION:  We all can tell the world about contracts, loan programs, staging importance and more. KNOWING my state laws and contracts is a must but do I give my post on any topic added zeal to keep the reader interested?  I write as if I am walking alongside the reader as if conversing face to face. While writing I am in the mode as if I am speaking WITH them and certainly not AT them. In this way it gives a personal touch to the information I am giving the consumer. Again, words are only words unless I put those words into life!


 

REAL ESTATE IS more than just buying and selling property.

 

It’s knowing my laws, contracts, my community and more…

 

…and it’s about this person behind my written words!

 

Are YOU engaging your reader? 

 

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Posted by

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2015 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's

Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

Comments (37)

Pat & Steve Pribisko
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West - Westlake, OH

Sally, you are on point; however, you do have an advantage---Hawaii.  I am fortunate in that my family has been to Hawaii for vacation.  But, there are times in Northeast, OH when I have a lack of content, especially when we have a blizzard!

Nov 06, 2011 12:31 PM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Hi Sally - excellent post and I completely agree with you about being local and knowing the events that go in your community.

Nov 06, 2011 12:35 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Sally, this is a warm & straightforward post that shows the secret sauce in making one's love of real estate work for you...thank you.

Nov 06, 2011 12:56 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Lisa: I dug deep inside of myself before I started blogging. What I would discuss with anyone I meet is what is here online. I may give more of myself face to face with a friend more so than online but all in all...a bit of myself means...just being open and 'conversing' as if face to face. It's really not hard to do if being real :)

Pat/Steve: No matter where we are there is something to write about....go out and take pictures and THEN...write a post to match your thoughts on the picture. A snowstorm can bring many a story to mind. Not necessarily about the storm but something that happened that made it seem like one. A flower could mean something as simple as ... taking time to notice. Restaurants in your area? Things to do?  But alas...the scenery here can bring many a post come to life... :)

Nov 06, 2011 12:56 PM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Sally,

It's been awhile! I hope you are doing well. Nice reminder how to keep folks "engaged."

Nov 06, 2011 01:02 PM
Ted J. Macy
Top Agents Atlanta Metro - Milton, GA

"Sally", Blogging is about sharing information, including our lives, personal and public. This blog was an inspiration to me and should be to others.

Nov 06, 2011 02:12 PM
Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I sometimes wonder if I am keeping my readers engaged. On AR, I do not have nearly as many blog subscribers as I want to. Great tips.

Nov 06, 2011 04:08 PM
Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Sally - this is an excellent and well deserved feature!  It is a struggle to keep a balanced mix of posts remembering while writing to cover the necessary SEO mix, add photos, links, good title, name photos, videos, etc.  Is it worth the time and trouble?  You bet it is!!!

Nov 06, 2011 11:23 PM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Sally - I have shied away from personal posts but now I am rethinking that.  It might be good to show readers that there is a human behind those words.  One that they might relate to.

Nov 07, 2011 12:19 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Sally, I think this is the main reason why blogging has become so popular with the public. A great source of information and learning about the person behind the blog.

Nov 07, 2011 01:03 AM
Aram Arakelyan
Realty Needs Network - Glendale, CA

Hardest thing for me is to write  a personal post.  Blogs should be  interesting, or they don't work!


Aram Arakelyan

Your LA Broker For Life!

Realty Needs Network

House Value Check



Nov 07, 2011 02:11 AM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

Good points Sally, we have been trying to incorporate some personal blogs to share our lives with the reader. We try to blog about our past times, restaurants, events we went to, and some good trip photos too.

Nov 07, 2011 02:16 AM
Cheryl Thomson REALTOR Ret Army
United Real Estate DC Metro Region (703.216.5635) cheryltee47@gmail.com - Prince William, VA
Associate Broker in Northern Virginia

Hi Celeste.  Thanks for keeping it real.  When we post it is absolutely necessary to address who our readers are.  Great post!

Nov 07, 2011 02:19 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Interesting thought , I enjoyed your post today.  Good comments as well,

 

Thanks, and Happy thanksgiving.

 

Patricia Aulson/ Seacoast NH & ME REALTOR

Nov 07, 2011 02:33 AM
Joan Congilose
New Jersey Properties - Manalapan, NJ
Helping Sellers & Buyers

Points well made, blogs do have to be a mix of personal and professional to attract attention and keep the viewers interest, thanks for sharing. 

Nov 07, 2011 02:37 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

You are the perfect example of your post....little bit of this and a little bit of that....all good Sally

Nov 07, 2011 02:54 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Sally, Great blog and reading it makes it sound soo effortless..Clearly, you have mastered the "Art of Blogging"

Nov 07, 2011 04:35 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Sally, Yes, I want to engage my readers and hold their attention. Mixing personal into your posts lets the readers know who you really are. Barbara in comment # 27 makes a good point about keeping everything in mind while writing your posts. I hope to be a very effective blogger one day.

Nov 07, 2011 08:32 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Richie...to put it simply....yup! 

Jerry: And believe me Jerry...YOU DO!  In the short time you've been her you've gone through leaps and bounds to be where you are today....and believe me..there is a piece of you in every post you write!

Nov 07, 2011 03:32 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Sally - I really love that photo of you with the little one.......grandchildren are such a blessing!

Nov 08, 2011 02:09 AM