Real Estate Blogging So Easy - Even a 12th Grader Can Do It!

By
Real Estate Agent with CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty Inc.

The Universal Problem!

Everyone knows maintaining a blog while doing all the "stuff" we do in our real estate business can be a serious challenge. Keeping fresh content on 2 blogging platforms is even more challenging. If you were to take a look at our Sheridan Blog, you would quickly notice we need to be more disciplined and diligent about posting more frequently. Here at our Active Rain blog, we often take the easy way out and use "Postlets" to feature our listings. Frankly, we really need to take the time to write more fresh, linked content. The Dakno team keeps telling me we are missing all the awesome SEO link power of Active Rain by not taking advantage of linking original content back to our Sheridan real estate website and our Sheridan Community blog. With that said, they asked this question, "How can we make it easier for you to have fresh content added to your Sheridan Blog and to your AR Blog as well?" Here is the genesis of a short term - high impact solution!

Implementation is Key!

The suggestion was made by Dakno team member Leslie Vegter to conduct a Creative Writing Contest at the local Sheridan High School on the topic "Why Living in Sheridan is Great!". We agreed to reward the winning 3 entries with cash prize awards. CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty is heavily involved in greater Sheridan County and we saw this as an opportunity to support our young people and showcase their creative writing skills on the community blog.

A Full-on Marketing Campaign is Unleashed!

Talk about making the most of an idea, take a look at this marketing campaign. Below is a graphic that offers a step by step progression of what was (and will be) implemented to make the most of this creative idea:

The Seed Blossoms!

As you can see, what started out as a simple "kernel" of an idea by Leslie has blossomed into a full blown marketing campaign that used multiple websites, blogs, social networks and a press release to create even more "industry buzz".

Blogging So Easy Even a 12th Grader Can Do It!

We invite you to click over to our Sheridan Area Blog and take a moment to read the winning entries. Feel free to make a comment while you're there. We think these students did an amazing job! BTW - You might even consider taking this idea and implementing it in your backyard.

Until my next post,

Bruce Garber
Your Sheridan, Wyoming Real Estate Resource


Comments (9)

Jim Dolanch
CENTURY 21 Frontier Realty - McMurray, PA
Peters Township Real Estate
What an awesome idea Bruce! Those folks at Dakno know their business.
Apr 25, 2008 05:43 AM
Bobby Carroll
Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC
Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator
Bruce - You guys are a CLASS ACT! Working with you is a supreme pleasure. I'll make sure Leslie sees this post.
Apr 25, 2008 05:46 AM
Katie Graham
Cherry Creek Properties, LLC - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate
I absolutely love the idea. Everyday I get such great ideas from reading the blogs here on AR. Those Dakno guys are awesome.
Apr 25, 2008 05:52 AM
Brad Carroll
Dakno Marketing - Knightdale, NC
Real Estate Web Designer
Hi Bruce, Glad you were able to run with this concept. And it looks like things are paying off. You guys own all keywords related to sheridan real estate! 
Apr 25, 2008 06:01 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Bruce-with all these keywords of Sheridan, WY I am sure your contest will have many different effects.....The kids got to contribute+self esteem and community involvement.  You got some fresh ideas and community involvement.  You also increased traffic to your site, another plus.  This sounds like the perfect win-win situation .....nice job.
Apr 25, 2008 07:39 AM
Brian Chase
Roy Wheeler - Wintergreen Resort - Wintergreen, VA
Charlottesville & Wintergreen Real Estate Broker
Bruce - This is an outstanding idea and for the life of me can't understand why it wasn't featured!
Apr 25, 2008 08:01 AM
Betty Cutler Favier
Peaks Real Estate - Telluride, CO
Telluride Condo Real Estate
Hi Bruce - What a great way to get the community involved plus have the interesting perspective of teenagers writing about your area! This post has "featured" written all over it!
Apr 25, 2008 08:16 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Betty - I featured it in the e-PRO Group, and hit the little red flag and tell AR if you want it featured :)
Apr 25, 2008 08:34 AM
Betty Cutler Favier
Peaks Real Estate - Telluride, CO
Telluride Condo Real Estate
Great thanks....
Apr 25, 2008 08:37 AM