One of the benefits of blogging is if you do it properly, you can post and forget about it. If you're careful about how you write and what you do and don't include, a post can still be effective a decade (or more) later.
We have certain posts that continue to generate contacts year after year, but you have to set yourself up to succeed. Evergreen posts don't happen by accident.
Let's face it, what real estate agent isn't busy more than not? So do you want to have to routinely go back into old blog posts to make sure they're current? No, right? So posting evergreen information is critical.
Including information that quickly becomes stale or makes it obvious you don't update the information might not be in your best interest.
While things such as HOA fees may stay close to the same amount and putting the qualifier "approximately" in front of the dollar amount, other pieces of information are more volatile. Sold prices for homes can move quickly up or down, and unless your post is coupled with dynamic IDX information, the information becomes a sign that you're not up to speed when it's not updated.
Other pieces of information are stable and answer important consumer questions:
What are the community amenities?
School district?
Typical house size?
Typical number of garage spaces?Lot size?
Ease of commuting?
Big community? Small?
Age of homes? (say built starting in 2003 vs. "10 years old")
New construction available? (Important info, but you will need to loop back and clean up the post when the last homes are built)
Community builder(s)?
Specific pros or cons of the community?
Pictures of homes give a feel for the community and prove you've been there.
Making a point of posting evergreen posts that are pure real estate related accomplished positive things:
1. You're doing work most of your competition won't (or can't) do
2. Long tail results for SEO purposes have a better chance of success than short tail
3. Do enough of the hard work early and you can ease your blogging later (more posts, more web presence, better ranking, better chance of being called)
4. Getting out and about in your desired communities gives you additional expertise
5. Meeting builder reps in your target communities can lead to more business.
Bonus: endorphin rush when you get reinforcement that your blogging works every time your phone rings...even when all they want is the property manager :)
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,
Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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