Demystifying Real Estate Blogging

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Demystifying Real Estate Blogging

• Jay ThompsonPhoenixRealEstateGuy.com480-235-4447

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Introduction

• My name is Jay, and I have a blogging problem
• Designated Broker, Thompsons Realty
• Blogs I write or contribute to
• Phoenix Real Estate Guy
• Agent Genius
• Geek Estate Blog
• HomeGain Corporate Blog
• NAR Wisdom
• Owner, RealtyTechHelp.com

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Agenda

• What is a Blog?
• Why Blog?
• How to Start a Blog
• Self hosting vs. free hosting
• Blog Topics
• Marketing and Prospecting with a Blog
• The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
• Next Steps
• QA

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What is a Blog?

• Its really just a website
• But different
• Posts (articles) are arranged in reverse
  chronological order.
• Its interactive users can leave comments,
  engaging the author and other users.
• Typically updated more frequently than a
  traditional web site.

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Blogs in Plain English
You can view Blogs in Plain English
at http//commoncraft.com/blogs
Video Courtesy of CommonCraft
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(No Transcript)
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Why Blog?

• Tremendous learning opportunities
• Exposure
• Increased web presence
• Internet search engines love blogs
• Potential mainstream media exposure
• Meet real estate professionals across the world
• Demonstrate your expertise, personality and
  business model
• 24x7x365 marketing and prospecting
• Get real live clients

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Search Engine Examples
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Search Engine Examples
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Search Engine Examples
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Search Engine Examples
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(No Transcript)
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How to Start a Blog

• Two major options self-hosted free hosting
• Self-hosted
• More customizable / flexible
• More challenging to start up
• Some cost (though minimal)
• Branded to you
• Complete ownership and freedom
• Free Hosting
• Free, other than your time
• Limited options / branding
• Some ads included

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Self-hosted

• www.WordPress.org - Blog software (free)
• Domain name GoDaddy.com (9.00/yr)
• Hosting GoDaddy, MediaTemple.net,
  HostGator.com, DreamHost.com (45 - 240/yr)
• SOME hosts will install WP for you (DreamHost)
• Some have 1 click install (GDaddy, MT)
• Some leave it up to you
• You will need to learn to upload and install
  plugins

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Free Hosting

• www.WordPress.com
• Click on Sign Up Now
• Select username and password
• Blog is created as www.username.wordpress.com
• Can pay extra for your own domain name
• Some themes and plugins already installed. Cant
  add additional ones.
• www.Blogger.com
• Click on Create your blog now
• Create account
• Pick username and password
• Blog is created as www.username.blogspot.com

All free hosting will include some ads
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What to Blog About?

• Read read read other blogs inside and outside
  of real estate industry
• Use an RSS reader
• Get ideas, but dont ever take content
• Listen to clients they ask blogworthy
  questions all the time
• Blog your passions, blog what you know.

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RSS in Plain English
You can view RSS in Plain English
at http//commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english
Video Courtesy of CommonCraft
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• 1. A story about your neighborhood.
• 2. Local business, and send them a copy
• 3. Your pet
• 4. Go through your email is there a question or
  comment from one of your clients that can be made
  into a post?
• 5. Listen to your buyers, they give you blog food
• 6. Listen to your sellers, they give you blog
  food
• 7. Conversations with other agents can be a
  source of great content
• 8. Architecture or housing styles in your area
• 9. Historic buildings
• 10. Market statistics for your area, including
  average prices and absorption rates
• 11. Read the blogs and look for ideas to build on
  or spin a new idea from
• 12. Take a picture and write a post
• 13. Home maintenance
• 14. Take a walk
• 15. Senior housing
• 16. Pet friendly housing
• 17. Staging ideas
• 18. Local events
• 19. Your hobby

• 51. Paint and painting
• 52. Pest Control
• 53. Good neighbors
• 54. Bad neighbors
• 55. Over priced homes
• 56. The home buying process
• 57. The home selling process
• 58. Book review of a real estate related book
• 59. Real estate laws
• 60. Real estate terms
• 61. Moving with children
• 62. Moving
• 63. Moving with pets
• 64. Places to eat
• 65. Places to shop
• 66. Commentary on local news stories
• 67. Commentary on local public policy
• 68. Tell a story about a client who was fun to
  work with
• 69. Write about what it is like to be a realtor

Available from Orlando Cazarez at First American
Title
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Marketing Prospecting With Blogs

• The Internet is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Take advantage of it.
• You are an expert, show it.
• Put your blog URL on everything anywhere youd
  put a phone number
• Business Cards
• Flyers
• Sign Riders
• Email Signatures
• Print Ads

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Marketing Prospecting With Blogs

• Real estate is a people business. Clients connect
  with you for a variety of reasons
• Your knowledge
• Your personality
• Your history
• Your business model
• Your looks (sad, but sometimes true)
• Blogging is the single best way to put all this
  on the Internet, for all to see.

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Prospecting Takes Time, and Work

• And so does blogging successfully
• Dont expect overnight success
• Consistency is key 3 posts weekly, more is
  generally better
• Dont blog in a vacuum. Participate on other
  blogs, link out to other blogs frequently.
• Seek out a blogging mentor or group
  (http//azrealestateblogs.com)
• Most bloggers are nice people, willing to help

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• Its OK (good in fact) to be opinionated
• Just dont be too over the top
• Tell the truth. Always. You will get called out
  if you dont
• Have a comment policy. Use it.
• Attack the idea, not the person.
• Link out liberally.
• Avoid politics, sex, religion
• Going off topic is OK, just remember your
  ultimate purpose.
• Avoid baiting, slander and blog wars
• Have FUN!

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Next Steps

• Read blogs. Participate in other blogs and
  networks. Get an ActiveRain account if you want
  to practice.
• Decide (roughly) what the purpose of your blog
  is
• Increased Internet presence
• Networking with peers
• Demonstrate your expertise
• Electronic Newsletter
• Prospecting
• Branding
• Do it!! You can always modify and adapt on the
  fly. There really are no rules in blogging.
  Every blog is different.

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• Questions Answers

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A Few Good Blogs

• Phoenix Real Estate Guy http//www.PhoenixRealEst
  ateGuy.com
• Phoenix Real Estate Home (Brokerage Group Blog)
  http//PhoenixRealEstateHome.com
• Agent Genius http//AgentGenius.com
• AZ Mortgage Guru http//www.AZMortgageGuru.com
• CopyBlogger http//copyblogger.com/
• 4Realz http//4Realz.net
• The Butterworth Group http//www.butterhomes.com/
  blog/
• ProBlogger http//www.problogger.net/
• Future of Real Estate Marketing
  http//www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/
• Inman News http//www.Inman.com Inman Blog
  Network http//www.inman.com/blog-network
• Internet Real Estate Success http//internetreale
  statesuccess.com/
• North Phoenix Agent http//NorthPhoenixAgetn.word
  press.com
• A single property blogsite http//TatumAndShea.
  com