Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Starting a blog is one of the most powerful tools that you can use as a real estate agent. It allows you to educate your audience and build a relationship with them that doesn’t involve selling. It’s also great way to showcase new listings and establish yourself as an authority and a genuine resource in your niche. But for a real estate blog to be successful, it has to be built on a solid foundation, no pun intended. Let’s take a closer look at the steps of building and getting a real estate blog off the ground.
Start with a Host and Blogging Platform
If you’re going to start a blog that will be taken seriously, you have to go for a self-hosted one with your own domain name. For this, you’ll first have to register your domain name. Sites like NameCheap or HostGator will allow you to register your domain name for around $10 as long as it’s not already taken. There are also cheap WordPress hosting providers that will offer a free domain name as part of their hosting package.
Choosing the right hosting is important as well. Since you’re just getting started and probably won’t be getting too much traffic at first, a shared hosting package should be enough to get you started. As far as the hosting platform goes, WordPress would be a good choice if you have limited experience. Most hosts will have an easy setup option that will allow you to install WordPress on your host with limited knowledge. But if you want more information on how to install WordPress on your web host, you can check out this tutorial on how to start a blog.
Find a WordPress Theme
While you can start with one of the default WordPress themes, you really want something that will stand out and look professional. You could either ask a developer to create one for you or buy one from a theme marketplace. I would suggest that you start with a premade theme at first since they’re less expensive and you’ll be able to check reviews from other buyers to see which ones are the best. Sites like Themeforest.net have tons of real estate blog themes that you can choose from and they all look very professional, so you’ll be able to get started in no time.
Create Content People Will Want to Read
When creating blogs, you should try to focus on providing solutions and useful information first. Try to answer questions people may have about the selling or buying process. What do I do if I’m receiving multiple offers? Should I be selling the home myself? Is my asking price too high? By answering these questions, you’ll be able to establish a rapport with your readers and they will be more inclined to trust you and eventually hire your services. But don’t forget, while you don’t want to be too forceful, remember to include a call to action at the end of your posts if you actually want to convert your readers into clients.
If you want to start a successful blog that will allow you to attract new customers and help you establish your expertise as a trustworthy real estate agent, make sure that you follow these few tips. A blog is a great way to showcase your brand and organically extend your reach to potential buyers when done properly.
