FHA and Investor Specialist

Okay, so this post ushers in the 5th installment of a series entitled 'Developing a Social Media Strategy.'

Thus far, we've discovered that "Social Media is a Conversation, not an Advertisement!"

We've explored "The 'WHY' of Social Media?" (Why Social Media should be a part of your Annual Marketing Plan)

The key strategy of "Taking AIM" (Audience, Image/Brand, and Message)

And becoming a skilled chef by serving up "Social Media Sushi"

This episode is called:

"Attack of the Killer Blog!"

or

5 Top Secrets of a Successful Blog

Maybe you've just recently started your blogging adventure. You've heard all the hype and hoopla, and ended up here on ActiveRain. Perhaps you've even plopped down your hard-earned cash in order to subscribe to RAINMAKER status. You've tossed out a few 'posts' in an attempt to test the waters, but you're starting to question their effectiveness. You wonder if you're wasting your time and money.

You've observed others whose blogs appear to be very popular and draws tons of comments. You constantly hear testimonials of how people have received clients, closed transactions, and increased business due to their blogging.

However, your ship hasn't come in yet. You've attracted little, if any, new business through your blog, and you're beginning to think, "Gee, do I have blog breath?'

Fortunately, effective blogging is not rocket science. The path towards developing a 'Killer Blog' simply requires an understanding of the basic components of a successful blog, and your commitment to consistently invest the necessary time and effort.

So what are the basic key components of an effective blog, you ask?

1 // Content is Elvis

One of the most basic and important elements of an effective blog is publishing good, relevant content - sharing information that is meaningful to your intended readers - writing articles that are engaging, interesting, practical, and helpful. One of my own personal catch phrases is 'Knowlegeable Empowerment." Many of the articles that I write contain helpful advice and insights from years of actual experience as a real estate professional. This content educates and empowers my readers/clients to make better, prudent, and informed decisions.

For additional reading: Kreating Kwality Kontent  Writing Quality Content

2 // Keywords are Key (Full, but not Stuffed)

Achieving the right percentage of Keyword Density in your blog articles is another vital step towards improving your 'Find-a-bility' Factor (how well you rank with the search engines for your targeted primary search terms). Don't sacrifice readability by stuffing too many keywords into your post (keyword stuffing). Read through your article just prior to publishing. Does it have a natural or comfortable flow? Or does it sound more like a boring tech manual? There are several FREE tools online to help analyze your Keyword Density, like KeywordDensity.com, SEO Chat, and Googelrankings.

For additional reading: Keyword Density

3 // Pimp Your Blog

Consumers are fickle. In organic search results, you only have a few brief seconds to effectively entice and capture their interests, or they'll quickly pass over your permalink and choose something more to their liking. It begins with creating fun and alluring blog article titles that draw readers to your article. Then, equally attractive 'lead-in' teasers (excerpts) that  reveal a condensed 'Reader's Digest' version of what the full article has to offer. Nice aesthetic formatting also dresses up your article and makes them easier to digest. Good relevant graphics/pictures help to reinforce your message, improve the 'stickiness' of your blogsite, and provide 'Alt Tags' to further strengthen your keyword density.

For additional reading: Tantalizing Titles are Tantamount

4 // Getting to Know You

The beauty of blogging is that it allows you to engage/converse with consumers and reveal parts of yourself to readers/potential clients through your writing. By reading your blog, a meaningful connection is made, a sense of familiarity is established. When you finally meet your client face-to-face, it's as if they've known you for years. The usually awkward and uncomfortable 'courting' period with new clients is effectively eliminated from the process.

For additional reading: The 3 Powerful P's of Blogging

5 // Dare You To Move  (listen to Switchfoot during this point)

A good way to close your blog post is with some form of 'Call to Action.' What next step(s) do you want your reader/potential client to take? What action will best reinforce or apply the information you have provided them in your post? It may be something as simple as subscribing to your blog or RSS feed. It may be an open-ended question designed to solicit comments.

For additional reading: What's Your Call-to-Action Doing for You?

ACTION POINT:  So what is one thing you've learned here that you can begin to implement today as part of your social media strategy for 2010?

~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~

Blogging since 2005, Rich has published over 1000 articles, most related to real estate. He enjoys using the tools of social media to brag/boast about the quality of Life on the picturesque Kitsap Peninsula in scenic WA State. He is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Crabbing in the Hood, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

35 Writing Tips to Help Your Blog Rise to the Top in 2010!

As an ambassador for Active Rain, I'm committed to helping members write posts that are more effective in capturing new business.

Many real estate agents and business owners avoid starting a blog for their business, primarily because they are intimidated by the thought of updating their blogs regularly with well-written posts that will capture the public's attention and make them want to come back for more.

A blog is an excellent way to keep the consumer aware of current trends in your business, promotions your business may be putting on and to help educate them as to what you and your business offer that a competing business may not.  Business blogs help your business to STAND OUT.

Learning how to write effectively will have an exponential growth on your business as your readers subscribe and recommend your blog to others. Soon you'll be receiving contacts from potential new clients worldwide and the more often you write, the easier it will come to you.

Don't be intimidated! Set up a blog today (Active Rain has an excellent 'Rainmaker' blogging platform that allows you to have a domain name of your choice) and let your imagination take over.

 If you need any guidance or help with writing for your blog, please feel free to contact me anytime.  I'll do whatever I can to help you on your way to having a successful blog of your own.

Over the past couple of years that I've been a member of Active Rain, I've put together a list of blog writing tips.
In an effort to help bloggers become more proficient and comfortable writers, here they are :

 

• Always put yourself in your target audience's shoes when you fashion your post. If you are writing for a homebuyer or to attract a homebuyer, consider how you would want the post to read or what information it should impart in order to inspire a feeling of trust and further interest.
  
  
• Always include the title within the first line of the body of your post and make sure it is in bold. This helps Google to recognize that your post is definitely about the subject matter in the title and will help your search engine placement.
  
  
• Make sure to include your keywords in approximately 4 % of your post. If you don't want to sound repetitive, you can use the keywords as titles for some of your images.
  
  
• In localism posts, always mention the location and relevant keywords in the last line of your post and once again, bold them.
  
  
• When thinking about what keywords to use in your title and post body, use Google's keyword tool. It's free and will give you many ideas of keywords you could incorporate that are perhaps not quite so commonly used in searches, hence giving your post more opportunity to appear on Page 1 in browser searches.
  
  
• Don't use lingo or trade-talk when writing your posts. The public does not want to read posts written as they were written for other people in the home industry field, they want to read posts that are written for someone who has no knowledge of the home industry lingo. Lingo and trade talk may put up an emotional wall between you and the person who's trust you are trying to gain.
  
  
• Offer to give further resources on the subject if the reader would like to contact you. By this I mean, do not give everything away in your post (s). Indicate that if they would like brochures, packages, personalized service, etc, to feel free to contact you and you will provide the service/information for them.
  
  
• Keep track of the posts that seem to be gaining the most readership. Download SiteMeter.com and do a careful study of the keywords that are drawing readers to your posts.
  The posts that rank the highest in google searches are often the ones that have the most relevant subject matter and the best use of keywords (coupled with the power of Active Rain, of course). Careful analysis via your sitemeter results can sharpen your skills with respect to title, keywords, and content.
  
  
• If you find your brain is on overload with a million thoughts and you are unable to relax into writing mode, try gazing out the window at the clouds or take short walk in a natural environment.
  I find playing classical music also motivates and opens up my writing channels.
  Sometimes there are so many things going on in our lives that we become bogged down and can barely think clearly enough to write.
  Taking a break from it all not only refreshes your creative spirit, it will open up the channels and give you fresh ideas.
  
  

• Keep a thesaurus handy or use the online thesaurus and insert less commonly heard words into your articles to spice them up and add interest.
  
  
• Practice discipline.
  Writing for localism or for your blog is not something you are doing for fun (although it can be a lot of fun). It is something you are doing for your business and if you decide that it must be a regular part of your business activity, you will make the time to do it.
  Pencil it into your appointment book or organizer as a daily appointment and work on the assignments you've chosen for yourself.
  
  
• Summed up in a quote from Charles "Tremendous" Jones, "There are essentially two things that will make you wiser-the books you read and the people you meet.".
  In short, if you are planning an article on a particular subject, read anything you can find on that subject and talk to people who are in the know.
  Ask questions.
  People love to be helpful when it is something that they are knowledgeable about and if they give you the ok to quote them in your article, it lends your post greater credibility and interest. 
  With regards to books, perhaps you could link to a few journals or books that deal with the subject matter of your post.
  
  
• Set weekly goals for post categories and number of posts and   record your commitment in your organizer or Blackberry.
  According to Jack Canfield, 'A goal without a number is just a slogan.' and I agree with him completely.
  In setting your weekly writing goal, you have to prioritize the post as an appointment you have with that post for the coming week, and you will find yourself more successful with achieving those goals if they are physically recorded.
  The added bonus to writing down the posts that you want to write about is that your subconscious mind will go to work for you on them and you may find yourself waking up with the post already fully written in your mind, just waiting to be written down!
  
  
• Add pictures to your post to make it more visually appealing and to break up the words.
  There are numerous posts here on Active Rain that explain how to add images to your blogs and you may even decide to go a step further and add a video!
  If you're having trouble with any of this, please don't hesitate to ask a member who appears to have this skill down pat.
  You'll find the majority of AR members are more than happy to help you out.
  
  
• When choosing something to write about, choose something you are passionate about or find something about that subject that you are passionate about and go from there.
  
  
• Try not to be too structured as you write. Just write what you feel and when you are finished your 'rough draft', you can go back and make revisions or corrections.
  
  
• Many members have lost posts that they were in the middle of and it is a good idea to always write your posts in WORD, Google Documents or some other platform before transferring them to your Active Rain blog.
  
  
• Avoid having paragraphs that are too long. Break your thoughts up by making your paragraphs short and adding appropriate images or links.  Vary the kind of text you're using by bolding some lines, italicizing others and perhaps underlining the more pertinent points in your post.
  Using the bullet or number feature in the Active Rain posting platform also makes your post more visually appealing and easier to follow.
  
  
• Plan your post and what you would like to say in it by making a point form 'skeleton'  and build  from there. As Napoleon Hill once said "Every well-built house started with a definite plan in the form of blueprints.".
  
  
• Use plenty of adjectives in your sentences. This allows the reader to more fully experience what you are telling them. Try to use adjectives that cover more than just the 'sight' sense. For instance, if you are describing a park, you could use adjectives like 'fresh', 'serene', etc.
  
  
• If you have writer's block, try picking a specific subject to write about and focus on it. This will get your brain working and your writer's block will dissipate as you begin to tell about the subject you're writing about.
  
  
• Don't start with a headline/title. Instead, write about your subject and while you're writing, you may notice a certain string of words jump out at you as being ideal for the title of your post.
  
  
• If you're having a problem writing about a certain subject, pretend you are telling your best friend or a family member about the subject or answering a question they've asked you about it.
  
  
• Try to write in the morning when your mind is fresh and uncluttered from the day's activities/events. Put a do not disturb sign on your door, and work away.
  If someone is upset that you're spending this time writing and need privacy in order to do it properly, explain to them that it is part of your business activity and is a necessary part of your marketing and prospecting for business success.
  
  
• Project 'feeling' into your descriptions. For instance, rather than saying a meeting is held on the second floor of a certain building every second tuesday, say something like 'as you ride the elevator up to the second floor meeting hall, you might be fortunate enough to meet the guest speaker!'
  
  
• Interview someone who is directly involved with what you are writing about and ask their permission to quote them directly and/or to include their picture. Readers love this personal approach and who knows, you just might meet some new potential clients while doing your interviews!
  
  
• If you're stuck somewhere in the middle of your post, put it in draft mode and leave it for later in the day or some other time during the week. You'll find a fresh approach will remove the writer's block and you'll likely have mulled some bright new ideas to include that you hadn't thought of before. The subconscious mind loves to be given a task to work on.
  
  
• Make sure to use pertinent keywords in your post title, post body and tags. This will optimize your SEO and bring you to the top for any searches on that subject.
  
  
• Provide valuable outgoing links....google likes this and your post will attain higher search engine placement.
  
  
• Have 'call to action' buttons or links at the bottom of each post. For real estate related posts, make sure you have buttons that tell the reader how to contact you and/or a place they can go to search for properties. These are linked back to the appropriate pages on your website (ie. the contact me page, the homesearch page, etc).
  
  
• On posts that are of a general nature, make sure you have a way for them to contact you at the bottom. In addition, tell them who you are and what you do for  a living at the bottom. This sets you out as being the expert on community happenings/information in your area and if they HAPPEN to be considering making a move in the future, they just may contact you or remember your name when they're ready.
• Always put yourself in your target audience's shoes when you fashion your post. If you are writing for a homebuyer or to attract a homebuyer, consider how you would want the post to read or what information it should impart in order to inspire a feeling of trust and further interest.
  
  
• Don't use lingo or trade-talk when writing your posts. The public does not want to read posts written as they were written for other people in the home industry field, they want to read posts that are written for someone who has no knowledge of the home industry lingo. Lingo and trade talk may put up an emotional wall between you and the person who's trust you are trying to gain.
  
  
• Offer to give further resources on the subject if the reader would like to contact you. By this I mean, do not give everything away in your post (s). Indicate that if they would like brochures, packages, personalized service, etc, to feel free to contact you and you will provide the service/information for them.
  
  
• Keep up to date in what is going on in the field you are writing about. This includes reading community
  newspapers,  local magazines, newsletters, etc.
  Keep clippings or take notes whenever you find something you may want to incorporate into a blog at a later date.
  Some real estate bloggers even go so far as to attend monthly town/city council meetings and take extensive notes in order to be 'in the know' when it comes to changes and upcoming events in their area.
  
  Above all, don't get discouraged!
  Not every post has to be perfect.
  It's better to put up a small post with attractive photos and interesting content than nothing at all.
  
  Keeping your business blog updated daily or at least 3-4 times a week will keep your audience interested and give you a higher search engine ranking for greater placement when internet users are looking for information.  Soon you will find your blog on page one of almost every relevant search!
  
  
  

©2009JoSmith

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com

 

 

1.  Sign up for a writing course! One of my favourite Christmas gifts this year is a 10 week writing course taught by  book editor, writer and creative writing instructor Brian Henry .
The course starts in February and for a few hours per week of my time, I'll be polishing up my writing skills and learning new ones. I can't wait to start!


2.  Make it a habit to carry your camera with you everywhere you go. Of course, many of the new phones have fairly good cameras built right in so you can always be at the ready if you see a photo with a story for your blog attached.


3.  Take a photography course!  Readers love to see pictures of the subjects we are writing about and professional looking pictures add to a blog immensely. This is an area I need to work on this coming year.


4.  Subscribe to your local papers so that you'll always be up to date on local news. Some of the items you read may lead into a blog post so you're sure never to run out of ideas!


5.  Spice up your blog!  If you're in the habit of consistently writing the same kind of blog, vow to mix it up a bit for the coming year. Spicing up your blog keeps it interesting and has readers always coming back for more.


6.  Give your  blog a more personal touch with the odd blog about you and your family. This is how our readers get to know the real us, the us that goes beyond the computer screen.


7.  Review this list of blog ideas and pick a few off the list every day so that you keep your blog updated regularly :

'On the Move'~ Write a post outlining the steps/things a home buyer/seller should be aware of or do leading up to moving day and on moving day itself. You could include 'making special provisions for pets', companies to notify of your move, etc.


Explain the 'essentials of the listing agreement' to the client in your area. Each area has it's own type of listing agreement and it may be helpful for a client to have a chance to review the listing agreement in advance of listing day and to understand what they will need to have ready, what questions will be asked, etc prior to the day they meet with you to do the actual listing.


Choosing the right neighbourhood is a very important aspect of the home search, if not the most important. Write a post guiding your client through questions and considerations they should acknowledge when considering the kind of neighbourhood they would like to live in.


Write a post about 'closing the deal' ~ ie. a post that outlines the steps, once a buyer has signed a contract to purchase and it has been accepted, that take place between then and closing day. Advise the buyer of his/her responsibility and things they'll have to remember to do along the way to make sure that everything goes smoothly.


Write a post about some of your favourite places to shop in your area outlining what is exceptional or special about each one.


Write a post about the company you work for and the benefits to the consumer of dealing with you and this company.


Write a blog about one of your community libraries (perhaps it could be the first of a series on the libraries in your area) detailing the history, what it offers, weblinks with special events and services offered, etc.


Write a blog post that incorporates the use of a google map that you have created. For instructions and ideas read Angie Vandenbergh's    10 Ideas for Localism Posts Using Google's New "My Maps" Feature.


If you live along or near a water body, write a blog about one of your local marinas.


Write a blog about special activities and events that are available/occurring in the coming week (eg. from this Friday to next Friday) in your area (this kind of post may require regular updating once you start it, or if you don't want to be updating it regularly, you could give various links to sites that tell of upcoming events for future reference ).


Write a blog that outlines the steps a first time buyer should take when they have decided to purchase a home in your area.


Write a post detailing things to watch for when buying a country property. eg. wells, septic, etc.


Write a post 'spotlighting' a certain interest group in your area.


Pick a heritage/historical area or building in your region and write a post about it. Make sure and post it to the Heritage Properties, Historic Sites and Antiques Group while you're at it!


Write a post outlining the initial steps a seller should take when considering selling their property.


Write a post about the local flora and fauna of your area, in particular, bring to the reader's attention any dangerous/poisonous plants or animals that a newcomer should be aware of.


Continue on in a series that you've started in one of the previous weeks. For instance some people are writing about 'buying your first home' and would write another article in that series for one of this week's posts.


Choose a community within your area and do a post outlining what it offers, average property prices, etc. Perhaps you could include a google map where you've overlaid the community (please see previous category posts to learn how to create and embed google map).


Write a post about things to watch out for when buying an older or heritage home.


Write a post outlining the annual festivals your area is known for.


Write a post about home inspectors and reasons buyers should use one when purchasing a home.

Write a post about buying a cottage or waterfront property and all of the things the buyer should be aware of before making a decision. Many things, such as shoreline property rights, are particular to each geographic area and it's a wise buyer who researches and finds out about these things before buying.


Write a post about purchasing a condominium and include relevant information a purchaser should be aware of (eg. common elements, etc).


Write a post about the prominent sports teams in your area. (ok, Jeff Safrin, I know you've got this one nailed!).


Write a post about the climate of your area and when the various seasons arrive and what the average temps are, etc.


Write a post detailing the costs a seller can expect to incur when they decide to sell their property, starting at the point of pre-listing and taking them through to closing day.


This idea comes from a search someone recently did on google and ended up accessing one of my blogs. Their search keywords were 'kind of garden soil in Oakville, Ontario'.  Write a post detailing the growing season in your area and the types of produce that are available.
Perhaps you could include something about the festivals that pertain to the fruit/vegetable that your area is known for.


Write a post detailing the best places to go swimming or fishing  in your area. Include directions, features, costs, etc if you are able and also things that a new community member should be wary of when bringing their family there to swim or fish.


Write a post about the basics of preparing your property for sale. What improvements give the best payback and what things buyers are most concerned about when looking at a property.


Write a post about insurance issues in your area and things that buyer's/seller's should be aware of when considering selling/buying (since these may affect whether or not the property will be insurable by a new owner). These could include things like concerns over galvanized plumbing, aluminum wiring, wet basements, etc.


Write a post about service clubs and groups in your area complete with contact information. This post could cover groups like the Lion's Club, the Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Chamber of Commerce, etc.


Write a post for sellers with guidelines on how to prepare their house each time there will be a showing. This could include the reasons why it is better if they are not home during showings, things they can do such as turning on lights in advance for sales representatives and their clients, leaving summer pictures out for viewing, perhaps baking banana bread prior to a showing, etc.


Write a post detailing what takes place during an offer presentation and negotiations for either a buyer that you are representing, or for a seller.


Write a post that outlines the main features of a mortgage and talks about the types of mortgages available.


Write a post about your town or city's city hall, including it's history, what functions it serves in the community and perhaps a bit about the present city council/mayor, etc. Include pictures.


Write a post about septic systems including things to watch for when purchasing a property that is on a septic system and how to care for a septic system.


Write a post that details the conservation and recycling efforts that your community has undertaken to preserve and clean up the environment.


Write a post about the wildflowers that can be found within your region and when their blooming periods are. Perhaps you could include some traditional uses that the plants had in pioneer days and also some pictures if they are spring time flowers.


Write a post that details all of the bookstores in your region, including off the beaten track sources for books like The Salvation Army store or any used book stores and flea markets that newcomers might not be aware of.


Write a blog about the different kinds of mortgages and the advantages or disadvantages of each. Include links to your favourite mortgage companies or banks along with a rate table that updates regularly.


Ideas for blog articles are only limited by your imagination. Being a member of Active Rain gives the business writer a wealth of ideas and knowledge to utilize when planning a blog and keeping it stocked with fresh material daily.

Make sure to incorporate a business blog into your 2010 business plan!

 

©2009JoSmith

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com