How to Get Your Blog Read

Many of you have ventured into the world of blogging.  Welcome!

Blogging can create many different outcomes.  It can be fun.  It can be an outlet for a frustrated writer.  It can be a business building tool.  The reasons for blogging are virtually endless.

Today I want to talk about your blog as a business building tool.  Much like your website, your blog isn’t any good unless people not only find it, but come back to read your posts on a regular basis.  Here are some thoughts on how to accomplish that:

1)  Promote your blog on all of your printed material.  Everything from you business cards, to your stationary to your e-mail signature should include a link and directions to find your blog.

2)  Be conversational.  Part of the fun of blogging is that you can write as if you were speaking to your readers directly.  One way to think of this is the write as if you’re talking directly to a client or a friend.

3)  Pick a specialty.  Focus your blog on a narrower area of interest not the larger market in general.  Many of you have heard me say, narrow your focus.  This is true in blogs as well as your real estate practice in general.  Pick a specific demographic to write to or a geographic area. 

4)  Allow Syndication.  Synda what?  Through RSS or “really simple syndication” you can distribute content across the web and to individuals who subscribe to receive it.  I use Google Reader to capture all syndicated blog post I have interest in.  It’s free and easy to use.  Try it out at www.google.com/reader.  Within most blog formats you can set up syndication with just a few simple steps.  Make sure you take the steps to complete this.

5)  Be Opinionated.  OK for some of you that might be really simple, for others not so simple.  Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and opinion on your sight.  Your opinions get word of mouth going, thus increasing your blog visitors.

6)  Don’t talk about your listings.  This is a tough one.  I’ve actually created a seperate blogsite to post our listings (http://danecountyrealestate.blogspot.com/) vs. incorporating them into my regular blog (www.centralmadisonliving.com) Consumers have many places to go to get listing information.  They want to learn about YOU on your blogsite.

7)  Post Regularly. OK we all struggle with that four letter work T I M E.  If you’re committing to make this a part of your business development, time block it into you schedule just like you time-block your lead generation, customer follow up, etc.. Some suggest posting daily to keep interest high.  The good news, short posts can be very effective.  No need to write a novel each time.

8)  Comment on other blogs.  Read other real estate blogs and leave comments on their postings.  Blogging is a dialogue not a monologue.  The value is the conversation.  In addition, most blog platforms allow the comment poster to leave a link to their blogsite as well.  Another chance to bring a reader to you.

9)  Register with Blog directories.  That way people searching for real estate blogs can find you.  Technorati is perhaps the best known.

Have fun!