How to Blog: Getting Started

Contacting a real estate agent is rarely the first step someone takes when they decide to buy or sell a home. Usually, they do a bit of research first, searching online to find out how much it will cost, how long it will take, and what it will entail. They use the internet to figure out as much about the process as they can so that when they're ready to make a decision, they will feel confident about it. Only then will they use the internet to find or contact an agent.

That's why blog content is so important. It's an SEO magnet and an opportunity to build trust with future buyers and sellers. Rich with keywords and helpful information about buying or selling a home, a blog is one of the best places potential leads can go to get the answers they're looking for.

Step 1: Connect a Blog

If you already have a website, setting up a blog is easy. Most websites make it easy to add a blog plug-in connecting your blog to your existing website. WordPress is a great blog host for beginners because it's free, has a lot of different templates and layouts, and is easy to use.

Step 2: Get Organized

Once you have a blog plug-in installed, you'll need to decide on some basic keywords and categories. Using a good system from the beginning will keep your content more organized and scalable as your blog grows. The keywords and categories you decide on now will also help you plan content in the future. Most of the time, people visit your blog because they're looking for an answer, so think about the kind of audience you work with and tailor your keywords and categories to fit their needs.

Step 3: Create Content

Creating content is one thing. Creating content people actually want to read is another. A big part of that is creating an engaging title. For each blog post you create, brainstorm several title ideas and choose your best one. Also, make sure your blog is easy to read. If it isn't, your visitors might get confused or frustrated and leave. Ideally, this means avoiding unnecessarily large words and using keywords where they naturally fit, rather than just stuffing them in wherever you can.

Overly long paragraphs and run-on sentences can also drive readers away from your articles, so keep your sentences brief. Finally, remember to include a call-to-action (CTA) in your posts, encouraging readers to take action in some way. Make sure each CTA involves contacting you, whether that be through a form to get a free resource, a landing page form, or a request for a phone call.

Step 4: Make Content Shareable

Readers who interact with your blog content will usually do so by commenting or sharing it on social networks. When they do that, they're not just promoting your content, they're promoting your brand. But how do you create this shareable content? People use social media to define themselves, so if you create content that certain groups can use to define themselves, they are more likely to share it, resulting in more of their followers filtering back to your page.

For even easier social sharing, embed a widget in your blog to allow users to post snippets from, and link directly to, your article. If readers consistently share your posts, you will know that you're successfully building a relationship with them.

Step 5: Promote Your Content

Creating great, shareable content is just the start. Once you've written a great blog post, it's time to get it out there. Decide which social sites you want to focus on for your business and create a blog image, short introduction, and a link to your blog on each. You may also want to consider buying some social ads to promote your blog posts and to drive more traffic to your blog.

To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.