Hey guys! I wanted to share some thoughts on “Becomming  The Area Expert” with blogging. 

 This is a very true statement when talking about the preceived value blogging has to consumers.   Consistant and focused blogging can certainly brand you as an area expert aslong as you follow these helpful tips.

Tips on Branding

1. Do Not Re-Create The Wheel! -  There is no need for you to be creating your own content every single post.  There are sources (News, Realtor.com, etc) out there that do a great job of recieving and delivering fresh area and/or industry information daily.  Your goal with your blog is not to have solely your own content .. but for you to become the BEST distributior of great content.   Your comments, opinons and views are openly welcome on a blog aswell.
2.  Get Personal  – Show us your TRUE colors!  if you are what you say you are where is the proof?  Talk about YOUR business and your business interactions.  People want to hear what your doing and what your up too.  Dont hesitat to share perosnal success stories with the public expesailly if in side that story is great advise for consumers in similar situations.   IE:  First time home buyer concerns, etc
3. Be Fresh - Being fresh means dont hestitate to post!  if you hear somthing write about it.  There is a time value of information… if your the first you win.  : )

Thanks for reading! your comments are encouraged.

Inside Real Estate offers fully managed and optimized blogs! Want more info?  let me know!

This is a HUGE questions for 2010! ”How in the world do I actually grow my business online through blogging??”  Below is a list of  Tom’s Top Tips for 2010!

Tom’s Top Tips

1. Don’t Be Faceless, Get on Facebook! -  I know… this sounds elementary, especially for those who have been using Facebook for years now.  But, even those who have been SOCIALLY using Facebook don’t really know how to use it for business.   Tie your blog into your Facebook!  This can be done sly through the use of widgets, etc.  
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       • WHY?  – Because it works…People (and your sphere of influence) are sitting literally 5-7 hours a day on Facebook because they want to know the freshest news they can!  don’t keep them in the dark about your blog, tie it together and keep your sphere of influence warmer than you ever thought possible.
2. Post VALUE – Don’t Post things that wont be of value to the consumers!  that might sound harsh.. but seriously… only touch on the issues that are real.  The best way to do this is to put yourself in your consumers shoes, find there concerns or questions and answer them!
3. Market your Blog! – “What!? I thought the blog was going to market me!?” haha… it will! BUT.. remember to drive your current clients to your blog through word of mouth.  Nothing jump starts a blog better than you pushing active clients to your blog and inviting them to comment,subscribe and ask you a question online.  Use it as a resource for them to have a 24/7 conversation with you.

Guys! you are going to do great with this! Agents or Offices interesting in Blog Training, etc contact me and Inside Real Estate would be happy to arrange either a Webinar or In office Training for you.

Also, If you want great results online and a professional designed and managed blog consider Inside Real Estate… We garenteee our results!

In order for blogging to be productive, you need to ensure your posting is valuable to both your immediate sphere of influence and to those who find you online while searching.

I want to share some advice on how YOU can best provide value to consumers and clients with blogging. Remember the game online is VALUE FOR VALUE. Consumers will only become your customer after they see the value in your content.

1. Post with a Voice! – Remember when you are blogging you are really speaking! you are speaking your mind,heart,opinion, and expertise.  Make sure you come off that way!  There is nothing that will drive value away faster from your blog than not being you.   The best tip I can give you is to read your post out loud the way you would say the sentence and see if thats how you want to sound.
2. Be Fresh! – I love this word! Fresh, Fresh, Fresh! Your Sphere wants to know exactly what is going on now.  AND those who find you for the first time need the assurance that your blog is uptodate and is the one resource that will have it all…have all the pertinent information regarding the area and the updates.   Being fresh, means branding you as an expert in the area!
3. Be Consistent – This goes without saying.. being consistent ties the other two points above together.  Inside Real Estate’s protocol suggests posting 2-3 times a week.  My personal suggestion would be that you just schedule a time every week that is your “blog update time”  don’t spend longer than an hour or hour or two a week with posting.

I would love to hear your comments!

Seriously though guys.. its 2010!  Its time to jump on the blog train and enjoy the benefits of Real Estate Blogging.  Now is the time to say no to the Brontosaurus in side of us that is scared of Social Media. 

Instead of eating the leaves of the past, its time to munch on the fruit of the future! (Social Media)

After training offices around the country for the past several years, we have identified the THREE main reasons agents wont readily engage in blogging (or readily engage in Real Estate 2.0).   My intent with this post is to help you and every agents around to simply OVERCOME the Brontosaurus appetite of holding on to the past.  Now is time to engage in Social Media.

Top Three Concerns of Real Estate Blogging:

1. What will I write about!? -  This is one of the first concerns we hear…. and a very valid on at that.  What will you write about?  What ultimately will be valuable to the consumer?  What will you be talking about week after week?   Well.. its easy.  Talk about Real Estate!  Being a Real Estate Professional in your specific area gives you the authority to speak about the market! You know exactly what you need to talk about.  Think of the questions you get on a daily basis about your housing market-That is exactly what you talk about!   If you ever have the concern of what to write about then you need to be doing some more Real Estate research yourself.  There are so many resources for you to use. Realtor.com , Cnn.com , etc.  Your Local News might also be a great place to find fresh information.
2. I dont have the time to do this! – Valid concern, but to say it simply and not to sound overly blunt… make time!  Guys, you need to invest your time into your business and your online presence.  Keep in mind this is YOUR presence online… it needs your influence and your touch.  Take the time to write a quality blog post that will benefeit others.   Of course you dont have time to do things of no worth… but blogging will bring you business, remeber? so take the time to educate your consumers on whats happening.  Be the expert in the area and update us weekly.
3. But.. I’m not tech savvy!?? -“I didn’t grow up on this!”,  Let me just tell you that if you can send an email… you can write a blog post.  Don’t worry about being the most tech savvy person around…. you can still do it!  I don’t know anything about mechanics and I still drive a car!  the point is we don’t need to know more than just the basics.

I want every agent to know that you can do this! you can be involved in Real Estate 2.0 this year!  and you can begin today.   Inside Real Estate has a great blogging network for you to begin with.  Let us help you get setup today!  Call us or Email me.

Inside Real Estate has announced it will continue to provide Free Real Estate Association and in Office Trainings in 2010!

Hey Guys,

I wanted to let you know about  IRE’s Free Blog Trainings in 2010.  During these trainings are focused primarily on how agents can effectively use Social Media tools such as Blogging, Facebook and Twitter to gain visibility and branding online.

The trainings are highly interactive and are a powerful way for you and your office to get a jump start on actively using Social Media for the New Year and not wasting time with it!

If you are searching for a training for your Association or Office, Feel free to send me an email and I would be happy to anwer any questions you may have.

Best Regards,

Tom Clark

Network Trainer

In the Past two years there has been a HUGE push for agents to begin blogging and blogging well.  The NAR stats show agents are getting upwards of 60-70% more business as they really learn how to wrap their arms around this stuff!

So…. if blogging is really this effective… How do I post effectively?

The Answer is easy… focus on these 3 steps:

1. Be Fresh! – Don’t blog about the past . Consumers around the country want to know exactly what is going on in your area.  They care about the community functions, they care about the new construction going on, they care about new school policies and they CARE that you care!  So be fresh, write about whats happening now and let us all know what your thinking about about it.  This might sound obvious… BUT with the “Fresh” mind set in place, I promise it will change what you blog about and it will open your eyes to blogging topics you never saw before.
2. Be Interesting! – You should feel compelled to share your information.  Obviously people are more compelled to read somthing that is interesting.  The key is to first  be interested in what your actually blogging about.  If its interesting to you, it will be interesting to the reader.  If its interesting to you, the detail and quality of the post will follow.  If its interesting to you.. then ultimately it will increase your level of conversion on your blog.  People follow or subscribe to blogs when they feel a connection with them! You can sense a level of quality of writing that only comes from someone who really cares, is passionate, and KNOWS what they are talking about.  Quality of content is a direct reflection of the value you provide to the consumer.  Commit yourself NOW right at the beginning……. that you will provide the most value possible to the consumer… and stick to it!
3. Be Your Self! – We want to hear from you : ) .  Nothing ruins a blog post faster than a artificial author.  Think about it…. its all about you!  Don’t worry about what people will think, don’t worry what “everyone” else is doing… do your thing!  Ultimately YOUR the blog……YOUR knowledge and YOUR expertise will shine through everything else.  Now.. this isn’t a inspirational talk (haha) BUT! its just a true principle.   Stick to being you when posting, don’t hesitate to voice your opinion and don’t hesitate to give your advice.  When a agent really stands up and voices his or her professional opinion (and you guys are professionals) that’s when the blog comes alive and gets sticky (Meaning.. people will want to keep reading). 

Let me know your thoughts! Feel free to comment and share your feelings!