You know it... you've heard it... you've probably even said it... BLOG! The phenomenon of the web log (blog for short) has revolutionized media, the internet and has even been known to sway popular opinion. But how? Why? Where did it come from? Where is it going? How can I do it? Should I do it? What's in it for me?
     We want to try to explain in the most simple way possible, and then we can get into the heart of how it can affect you... so we went to a source you may be familiar with to help you fully understand what a BLOG is, how it works, and what the big deal is all about.

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     Okay, now that you've seen and heard the most basic of explanations of what a BLOG is and how they work, you may seem with 70 million blogs created, what is the point of your own...
     We've stressed all real estate agents to become experts in their neighborhoods, local community and among other real estate professionals, and your personal perspective can give you an edge over your competition. A blog can become your collection of detailed and specific information posted in one location for easy reference.

     So you say you can't write? Here's a tip... start collecting bits of information about real estate and post it on your blog. Give credit where credit is due, but just copy and paste information from your local newspaper, community newsletter or anything else that pertains to your business. This information becomes essential for buyers and sellers to find information from you, in one source, about everything real estate in your area. With this, you become the expert.

     So you say you don't have time... really? How long do you spend checking email every day? How long do you spend on tasks that are not directly related to your income or professional development? Writing your BLOG (if you're actually writing it) should take no more than 20 minutes - keep it short and to the point! If you are copying information from other sources it should take less than 10 minutes - given that you read the information and know what you are adding to your BLOG.

     What do I say if I write my own? Number one rule: keep it about business... If you were looking up properties in the MLS and found out that 6 homes closed the previous day and 4 more went pending, that is enough information. You don't need to list the addresses, or how much the selling price was, just the market activity. Remember to keep it positive too - nobody needs to here 12 listings expired - just feed the positive news - your blog is about building your business, and negative information is only reflective on you business.

      Do I have to do it every day? Part of the reason for the popularity of the BLOG is because it is updated on a regular basis. The most popular blogs are updated daily - and some even several times a day. It isn't necessary to update your information unless you have blog readers posting 20+ comments to your every blog. If you can't update information daily, you should several times per week.

     How do I get people to read it?  This goes back to the business basics... "if nobody knows you're in business, you're out of business." How do you get people to read it? Tell them... send emails to your clients with a teaser like: "Want to know which neighborhood just raised taxes?" or "Did you get the city notice about...", these types of email teasers are leading your client list directly to your blog and your website.

     Should I link my BLOG with other blogs?  That is a business decision you will have to make... if you like the content of another blog, just consider if it has relevance to your blog. If it is not related, or could potentially offend visitors to your blog, then you may not want to link to it from your professional real estate blog. Remember, a blog is an extension of your website, business card, and other marketing material - post your blog with the same expectations you have in regard to your other material.

 Did you forget your plan?
How much are you doing to build your
business every day?

Schedule an appointment with yourself
every week for ten minutes!
KEEP THE APPOINTMENT!
Review your business goals and plan.
Make sure you're still on track!
It will pay off... just keep working your plan!