Real Estate Blogging

The Basics Marie Episale, REALTOR, e-PRO

Broker-Salesperson

Introduction

Marie Episale, Broker-Salesperson Sales Manager/Trainer Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Pompton Plains, NJ 973-646-7423 office direct 201-314-0106 cell

mcepi@aol.com I blog on

ActiveRainWordPressRealEstateTomato

We will discuss

What is a Blog?Why Blog?How to write a blog.Where do I submit my blog?Marketing my blogBlog TopicsYour Blog Plan

What is a blog? Sort of a website, but different. Quick, easy to submit “Posts” are read “newest first” to “oldest” Readers can leave comments and “converse”

with you Can include text, pictures, videos, sound and

slide shows, widgets & gizmos. Updated more frequently than websites Indexed and caputured by search engines

quickly.

http://activerain.com/marieepisale

Sample blog sites

Active Rain

Word Press

http://marieepisale.wordpress.com/

Why Blog?

Opportunity to learn & perfect your skills You get to share your personality, business

practices and knowledge. 24/7 Exposure…. All year long Network with other professionals You become a search engine search result. Buyers and Sellers will FIND YOU! Gives you “credibility” and “authority status” on

your listing & buyer appointments.

Sample Google Searches

Marie Episale blog

Lionshead Lake Wayne NJ Real Estate

How To Start a Blog

Start with these: More in Blogging Part II class

www.activerain.com

www.wordpress.com

Word Press

www.wordpress.comClick on Sign Up NowChoose User Name and Password

Blog will be www.username.wordpress.com, so choose user name purposely. Best bet: use your firstlastname as user name

We will set up your account in “hands on” session to follow

Active Rain

Click on hyperlink: join # professionals on the world’s largest real estate network

Fill out form and continue to follow instructions

Hint:

Have your photo and bio ready ahead of time, so you can just “copy & paste”

Save to your “thumb drive”

Create folder labeled “bio stuff for websites and blog sites”

Write your bio, philosophy, about you, business experience, areas of expertise, testimonial quotes from your clients etc.

What to blog about? Blog topics:

Read other blogs - “google search” real estate blog (topic or no topic) - read www.activerain.com blogs - read www.realestatetomato.com blogs

Get ideas from your clients or colleaguesBlog about what is important to youBlog about what is timely in the market

Marketing your blog

Put your blog site everywhereFlyersBusiness cardsWebsiteAdvertisingE-mail signaturesMailingsSign riders

More Marketing & Prospecting

Ask yourself why clients might connect with you.KnowledgePersonalityYour background, education & experienceYour business philosophyWhat you look like Your market saavy

The Internet is ALWAYS OPEN

The Plan

Blogging and Social Media sites are the 'must do' in real estate internet marketing. To be part of this, you must have a Plan.

Plan Your Strategy: •You need to make a commitment to consistently blog.•Identify your mission statement and stick to it•Determine what return you want from your blog, then blog for those reasons.

Next Steps and other things

Post Articles: Write as often as you can. Schedule fixed time to write articles. Start as many 'good idea drafts' as you can -

this ensures a reserve of good content. Stay on subject (no one cares about the

weather, or how busy you've been). Don't be wordy Many short is way better than a few long.

Post often, at least 2 to 3 times a week. Keep your posts short and on topic. Blog readers have short attention spans. Write with keyword rich content.  Mention the town, area and local local market several times in your post.  The search engines will pick up these keywords. Use hyperlinks that will give the reader excellent resources: Official town websites, your website, demographics, school information.Put yourself in the shoes of the consumer and write for them.  Online consumers will not respond to posts that are not relevant to anything or that are obviously just to advertise you.  Consumers read blogs for information, so that’s what you must give them.Use spell check.  If you have a lot of spelling errors, the educated consumer may look over you when picking an agent. Be yourself in your posts. Be authentic to yourself. This is the forum for that. This is your time and your space to be you and to share “The Professional You” with the world!

Tips to Success with a Blog

The End