{"id":9004,"date":"2022-05-25T14:04:50","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T21:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyninja.com\/blog\/?p=9004"},"modified":"2022-06-30T12:15:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T19:15:05","slug":"your-guide-to-running-a-real-estate-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyninja.com\/blog\/your-guide-to-running-a-real-estate-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Running a Real Estate Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Figuring out what to blog about is one of the toughest roadblocks real estate agents face when starting a blog. This is the one thing that can stop someone from ever trying in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking to make a change to your marketing strategy, word of mouth referrals will always be the most powerful strategy when it comes to lead generation. Old school marketing tactics such as mailers, bus bench ads, and strategically placed business cards are an effective strategy, but today\u2019s savviest agents know content creation is key to catching the eye of today\u2019s buyers or sellers. In today’s digital world, people are turning to the Internet to consume content, ask questions, and find answers. If you’re looking to incorporate another lead generation channel to your marketing strategy, blogging is a fantastic option! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before we dive into how to start a real estate blog, let\u2019s first take a closer look at why you should even be blogging in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why real estate agents should have a blog<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably already noticed your clients are active online. They\u2019ve viewed homes before they even call you, they\u2019re mentioning stats they\u2019ve read online and they\u2019re hungry for information. Where are they finding it? Likely by searching for and reading blog posts on topics that interest them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re viewing homes and researching neighbourhoods \u2014 all online.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that online content marketing has become the new frontier for real estate agents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s inexpensive, highly effective, an easy way to establish trust and credibility, and a great lead generation tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your blog is like a salesperson who works nonstop when you\u2019re busy meeting clients and showing listings. It gives potential clients the information they\u2019re looking for and helps build your authority in a way that moves them through the sales funnel on their own. They want to learn more about a specific topic. They type their question into Google. They come across your blog post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Because of this process, they\u2019re already further down the sales funnel than some of your other leads. They\u2019ve expressed interest in some part of your business by reading your blog, and a clear call-to-action in every blog post \u2014 sign up for my newsletter, call now \u2014 can encourage engagement from your readers. Next thing you know, you have a new lead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that\u2019s not enough to convince you to start a real estate blog, it\u2019s worth mentioning that blogging helps boost your SEO by positioning your website as a relevant answer to peoples\u2019 questions. One of the first places you go when you have a question is likely Google, and your potential clients operate in the same way. Blog posts that use a variety of on-page SEO tactics can give you more opportunities to rank in search engines and make your site more appealing to visitors \u2013 aka it\u2019s a great way to get your name in front of as many eyeballs as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though SEO is one of the main benefits, don’t write for search engines. Google looks at the quality of content when determining your SEO score \u2013 and that means you should be concerned with content quality, too! <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our motto is: write for the people, and the search engines will take notice. If your text is written in such a way that it\u2019s relevant to your target audience, it will be successful with search engines also. Use simple language to explain complicated jargon and share real-life examples when discussing real estate concepts.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The logistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How often to post: <\/strong>Blogging is a long-term commitment. Don\u2019t expect your blog to generate incredible results and dozens of leads if you\u2019re only posting twice a year. We recommend posting once a month \u2013 once every two months at least\u2013 to ensure you\u2019re keeping your audience engaged and interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many words to write:<\/strong> A blog post should contain at least 600 words in order to rank well on Google. However, long posts (1000 words or more) will rank more easily than short posts. We recommend focusing on posts of 1000+ words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long for results: <\/strong>Building authority takes time. Remain consistent and you should start seeing incremental spikes in traffic around the 6-month mark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you should blog about<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The key to starting a real estate blog is simply carving out some time to sit at your computer and start typing. Easier said than done, we know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many agents get stuck at this step. \u201cWhat should I write? How do I know if people will care about this?\u201d We know writer\u2019s block can sometimes get the best of you, so here are some quick ideas on how to get the words flowing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Tailor your content\/topic to your specific audience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been in the industry for awhile, you probably have a list of commonly asked questions. If a handful of clients asked a specific question, there\u2019s a good chance it\u2019s something other people are wondering and turning to Google for the answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educational content is a great place to start. You have more real estate knowledge and experience than the average person. Are home sales up or down? Is this a buyer\u2019s or seller\u2019s market? How do mortgage rates affect local buying? How much property taxes can buyers expect in specific neighbourhoods? When\u2019s the best time to buy your first home? These are all great topics to dive into for your first blog post!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many, buying or selling a home or condo is a major financial decision and life event. And the people where it isn’t… well they’re not reading real estate blogs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Your next potential client doesn\u2019t just want to know that you have the proper license to help them buy or sell a home. Ultimately, they want to know if you sound like someone they can trust. The more value you can provide through your content, the more comfortable they\u2019ll feel signing on as a client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Ask your audience for ideas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Coming up with blog ideas really can be that easy! Real estate is one of those industries that people have a general understanding about, but it\u2019s complex enough that there\u2019s still a lot of knowledge gaps. Your network is a gold mine of content ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask your newsletter subscribers, current clients, and network what they would like to read more of \u2013 and then give it to them. What confuses them about real estate? What was the hardest part of buying\/selling a house? What burning questions do they have?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Use targeted searches to ask the internet<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We mainly use the Internet to search for answers to our questions, but have you ever used it simply to find questions? This is one scenario in which falling down Internet rabbit holes can lead to something good: an abundance of ideas you can write about and questions you can answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Use the following tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n