I am slammed. We took 7 listings this week, which brings our total close to about 40 homes for sale in Colorado Springs. I am also a real estate trainer and technology coach. Basically, I am a full-time, top producing real estate agent … a DOUBLE agent who teaches other agents how to be as busy as me. All that AND find time to mess around with my kids an maybe do a load of laundry here and there. … Oh, and then there is Twitter and Facebook.
HOWEVER …
A HUGE chunk of my business comes to us from our blog. When we were moderately busy, I could always find time to squeeze in well-thought-out and super-researched original posts. But now I do not have the time to dedicate that much time to my blog … at least not now. (In fact, I think I have accidentally cloned myself in order to write THIS post…)
So Now What?
I am smart. No, that is not bragging. It is just fact. I may not have much common sense, but I have brains. So, I decided to use my “brains” and come up with a way to un-creatively add good content to my blog without exerting too much effort. No -I do not plan on doing this ALL the time, but I needed something to fall back on when I am as busy as I am right now. Here are the Top 6 Ways to Un-Creatively Add Good Content to Your Real Estate Blog … with some examples.
6 Good Ideas
- Bring the Blog – I signed up for their real estate blog content a few days ago. When I absolutely HAVE to have something posted, I just browse through their articles, pick one out, add my keywords in a few places and schedule it to be posted on my blog. This is great for when I am going to be out of town for days at a time, training. Kind of like a blog babysitter – not the same love an affection as Mom, but hopefully they know CPR.
Example: Simple Colorado Springs Real Estate Definitions: FICO - Guest Writers – I often have lenders and other real estate related folks send me articles. When I am busy, I just plop one of their articles in an WHA LA! (or viola … or whatever) I suddenly have content that I did not have to think about.
- Videos – People love videos, and there are PLENTY OF suitable real estate videos on You Tube that can provide MINUTES of education and entertainment for your readers. Just throw in a 2 sentence synopsis with one of your keywords, and you are set.
Example: How to Buy a Bank Owned Home in Colorado Springs - Pictures – I have spent the better part of the last 3 years married to my camera(s). I have taken so many fricken’ pictures of Colorado Springs that I could easily never leave my house ever again. (Although that would make me more crazy than “some people” would say I already am …) When I am short on time, I just post pictures of a specific area with a short blurb about it and a link to “Search All Homes For Sale” in that area. People love pictures. And people love searching for homes in an area that they can “see.” (Or, just link to someone elses photos: Building Neighborhoods – Photos By Alex MacLean)
Example: Things to Do – Break the Law by Hiking Manitou Incline - Links – I spend 5 minutes browsing the news readers for real estate articles and just post a list of some interesting links.
Example: National Real Estate News Update - Blatant Laziness – Pose a question to the real estate community (via Facebook and Twitter) and post all the answers you get. I was QUITE impressed at how awesome this turned out to be, so I will be doing it again.
Example: Real Estate Thoughts – Short Sales
So, hopefully you are SO BUSY that you, too, can take advantage of these ideas for YOUR blog.
Mark Green
April 10, 2009 at 9:58 am
LOL, what a great article. Ironically, I’m about to conduct a live webinar about this very subject with Dan Green who is the owner of Bring the Blog :).
These are some great tips for coming up with fresh content on the fly. Thanks for sharing.
Brendan Aiello | San Mateo Real Estate
April 10, 2009 at 10:01 am
Our blog is struggling with content and our writers struggling to squeeze our newer blog into their schedules. This post is being printed out and used at our next team meeting. I am doing #6 right away and going to try to find some guest authors so I can add a new style in every now and then.
Thanks for the wise tips Mariana!
Jill Wente
April 10, 2009 at 10:17 am
Great ideas on how to quickly write a blog post.
I hate to admit how long it takes me to write some of my posts.
Missy Caulk
April 10, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Cyndee Haydon told me about Bring the blog this year at KW, she came over one day. She told me it had pulled her out of not posting for a few days when she is busy.
I just need to do it !!!
I do use helpful video’s too, with key words and that is helpful too.
JB Brookman
April 10, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Mariana- I have been dealing with the same issue, during this refinance boom… These are some fantastic ideas for keeping great content on our blogs. Thanks! JB Brookman
real estate syracuse,
April 11, 2009 at 3:20 am
A great idea to the beginners who want to write blog…..
Mariana Wagner
April 11, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Mark – I love Dan. Sounds like a great webinar!
Brendan – Thanks and good luck!
Jill – I am all over the place. Some of my BEST posts are whipped out in a mere half hour, while others ones plague me for days.
Missy – Took me a long time, but now I am so thankful I subscribed!
JB – Thanks!
RES – So long as beginners understand that this is SUPPLEMENTARY and not meant to replace original content.
Bill Lublin
April 13, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Marianna; You make such an important poitn about using your time and your resources to effectively communicate without needing to author every word that comes out on your blog – and you demonstrate that even people who are not comfortable as authors can contribute and share content in a wide variety of ways –
Once again – YOU ROCK !
Dru Bloomfield
April 16, 2009 at 8:02 am
This post goes on my virtual bulletin board. I’ve been struggling to create content when business is strong. It’s the same old issue that I think others have dealt with before, just in a different medium. It seems that I’ve been hung up on the idea that I must continually put new, creative content online. With this mindset, my posting has really slowed, so your ideas come at an opportune time -“when the student is ready”.
Thanks!