According to the National Association of Realtors, 92 percent of buyers use the internet during their housing search. However, reaching buyers and sellers involves much more than simply having your listings online and setting up social media accounts. One of our 3,000+ writers wrote the following real estate sample post and could help with the outsourcing of your real estate blog.
One of the most searched industries online and offline, real estate will always retain popularity as long as humans aren’t living in caves. It’s one of the few industries that will always be in demand.
In fact, a study from Harvard predicts over the next decade, as more than 2.7 million millennials enter their thirties, we’re going to see a huge increase in demand for housing. Which begs the question—how will individual agents reach more potential clients?
It takes strategy. A strategy that targets multiple demographics, integrates various forms of media and sets you apart from your competitors. Strategy best anchored in a blog, meant to educate, inform, and empower the reader, speaks volumes to a potential customer about the integrity and knowledge base of a company or agent.
Without further ado, here are some experts in the real estate industry doing blogging right.
Do Real Estate Blogging Right
1. Make social media work for you.
Just “doing” social media isn’t enough. “Likes,” “connections,” “recommendations” and similar social media recognitions are used liberally. If having lots of them indicated success, then every real estate agent with a social media account would be raking in new clients and sales. But we know that’s not the case.
Your social media strategy must have a unifying aspect that links content across mediums in an easily digestible, sharable, and accessible form. Zillow shines as a great example of this, leveraging multiple social media channels to distribute its blog content. The online real estate giant posts ridiculously often, which in itself is commendable. However, it also incorporates popular industry channels like Pinterest to push its content even further, earning its spot as an industry leader and among the choices for content marketing excellence.
2. Make it look pretty.
You understand the importance of “staging.” A pretty home sells. A similar principle applies to blogs. No one wants to read content that doesn’t look appealing.
Fact is, a blog is 94 percent more likely to be viewed if it has an image associated with it. There’s no doubt that percentage increases exponentially for the image-heavy real estate industry. Be picky, though. Only display truly enticing images and be sure they are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner and of high resolution/quality. This is not a case of “more is better.” You don’t want to end up featured here.
This is another area where Zillow shows it understands what matters most to buyers, providing a slideshow-driven platform that is easy to access and easy to use from any device.
Another great example is Real Estate Tomato, a real estate blog that sets the bar high when it comes to visual impact and style. (Turns out they can help create them too!)
3. Become more approachable.
Let’s face it. Your face on a billboard or bus bench just doesn’t give people that warm, fuzzy feeling. You are a person, after all, and not just an advertisement.
Develop your reputation as approachable and personable. Provide helpful tips, respond to feedback and answer questions via your blog or social media, giving yourself a distinctive voice and affording potential clients the opportunity to interact with you and forge a trusted relationship.
Boulder Realty’s blog, House Einstein, does just that. It’s an authentic mix of educational value and entertaining content/voice.
4. Cross demographics.
One of the biggest challenges for real estate agents is targeting content. Unless you’re an agent for a very niche market, your audience will inevitably cross demographics, and marketing tactics for each won’t be a “one size fits all.”
As a result, you must cast a wide net, intelligently targeting multiple audiences. Bigger Pockets does a great job of this, including this post geared toward millennials. This group is often overlooked because statistically, most are not in the market for a home right now. However, they will be. Notice the post includes video and references that are relevant to millennials—smart and not coincidental. Investing in an online reputation now with this group will pay off.
Trulia also does an excellent job marketing to off-the-beaten-path audiences and drawing them in, especially with posts like this one about tiny houses. Blogging provides the perfect platform to reach multiple audiences, both large and small.
5. Stand out.
Think beyond blogs about homes. Stand out from your competitors with fresh content that offers a wide scope of material that will attract even casual visitors. Use educational blogs to start conversations and build trust. Discuss news about interest rates, changes at the FHA or lending strategies, and answer questions from your readers related to other topics of interest. They want to know you care about and can speak intelligently to their issues and pain points.
Check out Movoto, a real estate blog that has adopted listicle-like features that set its blog apart. Listicles are a natural draw, when used correctly, and extremely shareable.
Outsource Your Needs
An effective blogging strategy is the best way to distinguish yourself from the other two million active real estate agents in the U.S. Outsourcing is the best way to meet your blogging needs without taking away from your time in the field.
Continue to grow your business, while receiving quality content that you oversee. Here’s why it works.
- You’re busy. You’re a real estate agent who needs to physically be out showing houses and making sales.
- Keeping someone pushing out properties is important for your business on more channels than just social media. You want your content to reach more than just those who already follow you.
- You’re so close to the properties, you need a somewhat objective voice to give a fresh spin.
Verblio (formerly BlogMutt) currently writes for dozens of companies in the real estate industry—whether you’re in Florida, Maine, Pakistan, or Australia, you’ve found your home for content here. Verblio provides a professional network of writers to help you meet your blogging needs. Submit the form below to learn more.
