The top 3 barriers to blogging

Success means different things to different people, but what I do know is that there is no magic pill, no easy fix. Money is earned, not made and ‘hassle-free’ cash, as I have just seen advertised, is a myth – you have to work hard, have grit, determination, and gumption.

I understand why so many estate agents start and then stall when it comes to blogging; 6 years ago I had no idea what a blog was either, let alone how to write one. Never an English aficionado, I enjoyed reading but my then career in theatre was worlds away from where I am today.

Writing is a craft, and like all crafts it can be learned; when I read some of my early attempts I cringe, but that’s okay, I had to start somewhere. When I launched my personal blog it was because of requests from my Twitter following. I stumbled around WordPress and created a basic site, but I struggled to know what to write, and more importantly, how to write.

Nevertheless, something inside me said that this was something I needed to do, although I had no idea at that time that it was to become my business. Almost every day I posted something, whether it was a dream home, interiors, or just telling people what I had been up to. The more I put pen to paper (so to speak!) the more it started to feel natural. Now, I am not saying that the quality was there, but it wasn’t about that – it was about growing my own confidence that I was able to write.

Fear of failure

Perfection is an aspiration, but as estate agents you can get caught up in trying to be ‘perfect’ in all that you do. Are you telling me that when you first rode a bike or started to play football that you were perfect? No, because you have to practise, the more you practise, the better you become, and although you may spot some flaws, you work harder to become the best you can be.

Needing instant results

You are results driven; a sale is a win, a let is a win. So the idea of investing in something that doesn’t give you that instant gratification that we all seem to need today feels alien, and like a waste of money. You want to spend your marketing budget on things you know – the unknown, especially one you don’t understand or believe you don’t have the time to do – well, let’s face it, it seems pointless.

Fear itself

You are strong and confident people who I admire, but I also know that blogging scares the bejesus out of many of you. That’s okay; it scared the bejesus out of me too, and it still does today. Putting yourself out there for people to read, comment on, and potentially criticise – that’s hard, and frightening.

Like learning any new skill, I have made so many mistakes along the way. I too have stalled at times, and I have failed, but I have also succeeded. Over the years I have felt so rewarded by helping others discover a passion for blogging, and also seeing them excel and be recognised for their achievements.

What is your barrier?

I hear the same questions and statements from agents over and over again:

Will it win me business?
I never have anything to write about
I have no time
I know what I want to say, but can’t put it into words
Does it work?
I’m not a writer, I’m an estate agent

These are barriers to starting or restarting your blog, but the thing with barriers is that they can be broken, and overcome. You might start by chipping away at the edges, and then a boulder will fall, and piece by piece your confidence and ability will start to grow.

It isn’t that you can’t blog, more that you can’t see a way around the wall you believe exists. I understand; I’ve been there, and so have thousands of others.

My challenge to you is to start. You don’t have to press publish to begin with, and you don’t have write an essay, but just write. Write crap, write perfection – just write.

Written by andrea@citruscontent.com

 

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Tracker – 01/07/25

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.57% -0.05% -0.83% 5-year fixed 4.55% -0.04% -0.45%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.69% -0.13% -0.98% 5-year fixed 3.87% -0.01% -0.36%   Average…
Read More
Breaking News

Housing Insight Report Covering May 2025

Sales On average, there were around 11.5 homes placed for sale per member branch in May 2025. Lettings The average void period reported by member agents increased to just over three weeks in May 2025. We are seeing an average of 37% of housing transactions taking longer than 17 weeks to complete. The timescales are…
Read More
Breaking News

Rental Market Hotspots Drive National Growth

New analysis from FCC Paragon reveals modest national growth in rental demand across England in Q2 2025, up by 1.2% to 29.4%. However, this overall increase masks significant regional variation, with several counties experiencing substantial quarterly surges that are driving the market forward. The research shows that rental demand across England strengthened in Q2, up 1.2%…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide House Price Index for June 2025 – Thoughts from the Industry

Nationwide House Price Index for June 2025 shows House prices fell by -0.8% between May and June of this year. On an annual basis, the average house price increased by 2.1% although this rate of growth had slowed from 3.5% the previous month. As a result, the average UK house price now sits at £271,619.…
Read More
Breaking News

Clarity still needed on key areas in Renters’ Rights Bill

Ahead of Report Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Lords later today, 1 July 2025, Propertymark is urging the UK Government and Peers to amendment Bill, so it is fit for purpose. There remain long-standing concerns about the capacity and capability of the Courts, with the time from claim to hearing…
Read More
Cozy Pet Cat Tree Grey
Breaking News

Pet deposits only option following UK Government U-turn on Renters’ Rights Bill

Ahead of Report Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Lords which kicks off later today, Tuesday 1 July 2025, Propertymark is urging Peers to support an amendment that would allow for an additional pet deposit now that the UK Government has tabled amendments to remove pet insurance requirements. Since the introduction…
Read More