Use Your Blog to Expand Your Network and Grow your Reputation
In today’s ever more interconnected world, the power of a strong professional network cannot be underestimated. Blogging about the hot industry topics of the day is a great way of building your reputation as an expert in the property business, as well as expanding your network of fellow estate agents.
Perhaps the best example of just how influential a good quality blog can be is Brian Clark, the founder of Copyblogger. He started out in real estate back in the 1990s, and started blogging as a means of promoting his own enterprise. His growing reputation led to more website conversions, and ultimately created a virtuous circle, leading to him currently being seen as one of the most influential online marketers in the business.
So, what is his secret, and how can you promote your own skills and talents through your blog?
Write for your readers
Just because you think something is interesting and useful, that is no guarantee that anybody else does. Think about who your readers are, what they want to know about and what problems they might have that you can help to solve. Think about your tone, too – your task is to put your message across in such a way that it conveys passion about the estate agent community.
Keep it fresh
Your objective should be to cultivate a dedicated readership who will keep coming back for more (and will tell their friends). That will only happen if you keep delivering fresh, new and interesting material. This does not necessarily mean that you need to update it every two hours. Aim for something that you can comfortably maintain – weekly is usually just fine – and keep to it. The most important thing is to be consistent.
Invite interaction
Your property blog might feel like your megaphone to the world, but it will really work better as a networking tool with some interaction. Invite people to like or comment on your blog, and make sure you make full use of social media, especially LinkedIn, so that it can be shared and distributed more widely throughout your professional circle and the industry.
Monitor your performance
If you feel like you are calling out to a big empty world, there are tools to find out just what kind of readership you have. Use Google Analytics to see who is reading your blog, and what sort of articles are proving the most popular. You can then adjust your strategy accordingly to provide more of what your adoring public love the most.