Editor’s Note: At every Agent Reboot, Katie Lance presents on content strategy. In every city, across the country – attendees pull out their iPhones to snap photos of her slides. In this post, originally published on November 30, 2011, Katie lays out exactly what steps you can take to make your posts count! Her insights are just as relevant today as they were last year. Enjoy. -InmanNext
I have blogged consistently for over two years and have written over 300 blog posts. I know first-hand how you can really get into a rut of doing the same old thing over and over again!
If you are a real estate agent or broker and are ready to kick-start your content strategy for your blog or your social media streams, then here are five super simple ideas for you.
1. Stop writing and break out your smartphone.
Tired of writing? Spend a few hours walking around your community and snap photos of all the things you absolutely love about your area.
Your favorite restaurant.
The cool coffee-house.
The quaint downtown.
If you take 30 photos – that could be 30 days worth of content for you!
Plus, with so many fun apps to choose from, it is so easy to make incredible looking photos. Tip: Check out some of my favorite photography apps: Camera+, Dash of Color and Instagram.
2. Write about what others are writing about.
Did you just read an article or two of interest? Use that to jump-start a blog post.
Take an excerpt from each blog (a couple sentences), link back to them, and then add your opinion. Then, post your blog article out on your Facebook page and Twitter stream. Make sure to tag them so you get the re-tweet, share, and like love!
Tip: Read an article about real estate from Inman.com and then write a blog post about your opinion about those article(s). It’s a great way to build your expertise! Just make sure you are not copying/pasting the article onto your site (that’s a big ‘no no!). Or, just post the link to the article on your Facebook page but write an interesting sentence or two about the article and why you think it is interesting!
3. Create theme days.
Not ready for a full blown content calendar? Just need a simple Monday-Saturday blogging or social media plan?
How about Photo Friday? Or Story Saturday (where you share the story of a client). Or Tip Tuesday?
This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to freshen up what you’ve been doing and it also gives you a quick kick in the pants when you have that moment of, “what am I going to post today?”
Tip: You don’t need a catchy titled theme every day. You could just have a general theme for each day of the week to keep you on track.
EXAMPLE 1:
Monday – Photo from community
Tuesday – Tip for sellers
Wednesday – Fun video
Thursday – Tip for buyers
Friday – Local event
Saturday – Secret real estate tip
EXAMPLE 2:
Monday – Client photo/story
Tuesday – Short sale tip
Wednesday – What not to do when buying/selling (funny)
Thursday – Economy article
Friday – Why I love (city) (photo)
Saturday – The coolest house you’ve seen this week
4. Talk about local events – but do it strategically!
How can you do this strategically?
Example of what NOT to do: Write about a local event. Post it on Facebook and expect to get a lot of shares. Then, get bummed out because you received 1 like and no shares. What happened? See below!
Example of what TO do: Go to your Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association websites and look at the events for the next two months. Pick 3-4 that you are excited about promoting. Put them on your calendar.
Do a blog post about an upcoming event one week out including a link to the event website. Contact the event coordinator, introduce yourself and tell them about your article.
Tell them you are excited about it and that it will get posted out on all of your social media channels. Tell them you are interested in doing an article about the event and telling your clients about the event. Ask for 5-10 comp passes.
Send a hand written thank you card.
Contact your 5 best clients and invite them to the event – mail them the tickets or arrange to meet for a coffee date (your treat) to give them to them in person.
2 days before the event: post your blog post on your Facebook page and Twitter and “tag” your downtown or event coordinator.
Day before the event: post it out again with a “See you tomorrow!” message on your social channels.
Go to the event and take 5-10 photos (with your clients). During the event tweet out a photo or two making sure to tag the association or event coordinator.
The next day, do a post about the event – remember your “who, what, where, why and how.”
Include photos and mention any note-worthy people. Post your article out on your social channels, and again tag the downtown association and/or event coordinator. Call the coordinator and thank them again. Let them know about your second article and offer to send them the link to put onto their website or Facebook page as a great testimonial.
It sounds involved but it’s that little extra effort that makes it worth it.
This is a prime example about how to leverage social media and build a network as well as bring your online to the offline.
Tip: Imagine if you used a similar strategy with people you do business with – your mortgage broker, your stager, your favorite landscaper. The possibilities are endless when you think beyond what everyone else is doing.
Jay Thompson swears by his annual Fireworks post and does a great job of showcasing local activities and events.
5. Write about what you are working on now.
Working with first-time homebuyers? What are the questions they are asking you? Each question could be a blog post. Remember, a blog post doesn’t have to be an essay – it could be 2 paragraphs and a photo.
Keep it simple! Think it’s too simple? You are wrong. You would be amazed at how many “simple” things in real estate most people do not know or understand.
Tip: Take ten minutes and brainstorm a list of 20 topics off the top of your head that you get asked all the time. Each one of those could be a blog post!
I could keep going, but I these five easy ideas should give you a big jump-start to your content strategy. I’d love your comments as well as any tips you have about content strategy that are working for you. Leave me your thoughts below or share them on Facebook or Twitter!
