Benefits of Blogging (for RE Pros)

Why Should Real Estate Agents Blog?

1. Blogs are better indexed than websites by search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and MSN. Why? Search engines are voracious readers, they like frequently updated, new and relevant content, which blogs provide. As a Realtor, they allow you to login to their back-ends and enter new articles daily without knowing a lick of HTML.

   BENEFIT: Increased search engine results rankings on Google, Yahoo! and MSN

   Basically, a blog helps you get found in searches on popular search engines better and improves traffic to your site, which ultimately results in more leads and listings.

2. RSS feeds syndicate your blogs content across the net. All blogs have a built-in marketing tool called RSS. RSS allows individual subscribers to sign up for your feed and have your new content delivered directly to their feed reader, email or website in real time.

   BENEFIT: Increased web presence and brand awareness.

   When another website chooses to syndicate your content, you benefit by an increased web presence, branding and more traffic to your site. Built-in marketing mechanisms like ping services and RSS help drive more traffic to a blog than a regular website.

3. Agents that write blogs perform more research to keep up with their local markets than Realtors who don't blog. This greater knowledge base becomes a significant competitive advantage over non-blogging Realtors.

   BENEFIT: Blogs build a Realtors' knowledge base and credibility as an expert in their field.

   A blog platform gives the Realtor a channel to market their knowledge, so visitors tend to think of the Realtor as an expert.

4. By frequently providing quality local content on hot button issues, s Realtor builds credibility within their community. They connect with their audience (read potential clients) on a personal level that makes them feel as though they already have a relationship.

   BENEFIT: Blogging agents generate more leads than non blogging agents.

   People like to do business with people they know and respect as an expert, therefore, blogging agents generate more leads than non blogging competitors.

5. Blogs are better indexed by search engines, syndicated through RSS feeds and many offer free social networking ping services. Through these mechanisms, your blog content is constantly marketed across the web and consistently driving traffic back to you.

   BENEFIT: Blogs drive more traffic than websites.

   Blogs have many more automated web marketing tools than websites and are better indexed by search engines. Your customers can find you more easily, driving far more quality traffic to you than a website that tends to be static.

6. Any blog that is driving reasonable traffic can be monetized. Once a blog has at least 100 pages of content and proven traffic, an Amazon affiliate shop and Google AdSense helps defray marketing costs.
   BENEFIT: Blogs can be monetized to provide an alternative income source.
   Due to the potential for blogs to drive substantially more traffic than traditional websites, monetizing them can boost a Realtor's bottom line during good times and carry them through lulls in the market.