You know the best way we've found for blogging to make our phone ring & email inquiries to hit our Inbox? Giving area home buyers and sellers SPECIFIC, LOCAL real estate related information that they can't find elsewhere. Niche blogging is the gap that Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and the rest of the big websites can't cover. It's the realm of the agents on the street, all of us, the bloggers of Active Rain!
And with it being June, it's the perfect time to get out in your neighborhoods and get to know them better, and share that knowledge! Trees are green, flowers are blooming, and there aren't any major holidays that will date your photos with jack o' lanterns and inflatable Santas! Wait, photos you say? That's right, to get points for the Know Your Neighborhoods challenge, you (or your hired mercenaries assistants) need to get out into your neighborhoods and provide some LOCAL photos particular to that neighborhood. And to be clear, just a photo of the housing entrance facade isn't going to cut it. No one lives in the entrance, buyers don't buy the entrance no matter how attractive. You're welcome to include that entrance photo, but we want house/condo pictures because that's what buyers want to see! And if those communities have pools, clubhouses and parks, go for it (but not mandatory)! Slideshows and videos count too if that's your preference!
These posts can be working for you for YEARS!! Especially if you've got the ability to add a live link for searching for homes for that community!
And did we mention that Active Rain has made this challenge SOOOOOOO easy that even a caveman can do it? That's right, they've provided TEMPLATES! Now you don't have to use them, but we kind of think Bob and company know a thing or two about blogging and making your phone ring. So if you want the NEIGHBORHOOD BLOGGING TEMPLATE, just click the link and look for the two links under the video for the html code and a link to a sample neighborhood post so you can see exactly how it's done!
So what's it going to take for you to get 2000 bonus points??
You must in the month of June 2013: NOTE: DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 14 2013
- Write 6 posts, each about a unique subdivision, condo or location in your market area. These posts need to be about something you can list or sell, NOT local businesses and parks (although those are important too!).
- 200 words minimum. Give the consumers useful info, you know they want school districts, HOA fees, price ranges, home styles, what can I do here, etc. Nothing mandatory, but the better you do at representing the neighborhood, the more likely your phone rings!
- Media must be included. Home photos and/or video at a minimum. Maps are cool, but not required, but you'll probably never find a better opportunity to put your Google custom map skills to work!
- Leave ONE comment in the comment section of this post with links to all 6 of your posts once you've completed the requirements.
What happens after that? We get a list to our esteemed Kerrie and she'll credit your points in July! And you know there's a holiday in early July, so no bothering her about your "missing" points until at least July 12th!
What else do we expect to happen in July? We expect you to NOT stop at 6 subdivision posts! Get out there and know your neighborhoods! Take more pictures, make a field trip out of it! Stock up enough to keep you blogging for months and through the snow season if need be (no comments from the warm area peanut gallery about snow....we have to take it in account for our market and our blogging plan!).
Okay, home inspectors, stagers, mortgage specialists, flooring people and other non-agents, we're not forgetting about you! In lieu of neighborhood posts, strut your knowledge in a different way, show you KNOW YOUR SPECIALTY! Give us six posts that either address a Frequently Asked Question, a niche of your business, or something else specific to YOUR area and expertise! The intent is the same as the agents with the subdivision posts, posts that will continue to work for you long after you click submit! And yes, still a minimum of 200 words and some eye candy! Just post your six links after you're done! Easy Peasy!
Any questions, leave them in the comment section below!
Know Your Neighborhoods and Your Stuff!
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
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