If you're like many real estate agents, you know that you need a blog on your personal website. But where do you start? This guide explains the real estate blogging basics every agent needs to know.

Real Estate Blogging Basics Every Agent Needs to Know

Although your broker has a website, it's important that you have your own. And if you have your own, you need to do what it takes to show up in search engine results pages. Typically, that involves adding a blog to your website. Your blog can bring in prospective clients who are asking a wide range of real estate-related questions and after they arrive on your website, you can take the opportunity to show them that you are the only agent they'll ever need. With that said, heres what you need to know about real estate blogging:

1. If you dont have time to do it yourself, you should consider hiring a professional.
2. Your content needs to be unique and original.
3. If you provide valuable answers, the rest falls into place.
4. You need calls-to-action in every blog post.
5. Blogging is a long-term strategy, not an overnight fix.

Heres a closer look at each.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Real Estate Blogger

If you have the time and skills necessary to blog on your own website, go for it! Your grammar doesn't always have to be perfect, as long as your personality shines through and you provide valuable answers to your readers. Remember, Internet searchers will use your blog as a means of getting to know you; your blog is the curb appeal for your real estate services. But blogging takes time. You should expect to invest a few hours each week crafting great content for your real estate blog. If you can't do that, or if it turns out that you'd actually lose money by spending this amount of time on your blog, it's probably best for you to hire a professional. You can talk to your broker's marketing department to see if they have anyone they recommend, or talk to other agents who have successful blogs on their websites to get a recommendation. Related: 5 brilliant branding tips for REALTORS®

You Need Unique, Original Content

All the content you put on your website needs to be unique and original. That means it comes directly from you and isn't copied from anything that other agents have on their websites. This is important for several reasons. The first, and most obvious, is that you don't want to get caught plagiarizing another agents content, which can result in all kinds of trouble. The second reason is that major search engines know when content is very similar. In fact, When Google discovers two pieces of content that are very similar, it only chooses to include one in its search engine results. If another persons content was on the internet first, Google will completely ignore yours and that means you wasted your time copying it and putting it on your website. Related: 3 things you can do right now to grow your real estate business

Its Up to You to Provide Valuable Answers

When people search the Internet, they're looking for specific answers. That's what blogging aims to address. You can provide answers for specific queries (things that people type or speak into search engines) To create a gateway for people to make their way to your real estate website. For example, though you may not show up in the first result for Nashville homes for sale, its entirely possible for you to show up as the first result for a  specific question related to staging, boosting a credit score to get a mortgage, what to look for in a condo, or anything else related to real estate.

You Need Calls-to-Action in Every Post

Every post you put on your website needs to have a good call-to-action. That means there is some kind of text, contact form or listings carousel within each of your blog posts. That way, buyers can take a specific action that involves getting in touch with you when they find your website through your blog posts. Related: How REALTORS® can use email marketing to get more clients

Blogging is a Long-Term Strategy

Remember that blogging is a long term strategy. It's not something that will bring you mountains of website traffic overnight. In fact, it can take several months for your blogging efforts to begin to pay off. But when they do, you'll enjoy increased traffic from everyday Internet users. These users will find your website on the search engines and begin to click around, and some of them will provide you with their contact information and end up working with you. Related: The three branding tools every agent needs

Ready to Explore Your Career With Benchmark Realty, LLC?

If youre an agent whos ready to explore your options with a brokerage that has your back, discover Benchmark. Take a few moments to learn about our company and what we offer including:

• Three simple broker plans, all with 100 percent commission
• Cutting-edge marketing tools and consistent training, all free to you
• 24/7 access to any Benchmark office
• No franchise fees, no desk fees and no technology fees

When youre ready, apply to join the Benchmark family. With offices all over Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, Clarksville, Cool Springs, Murfreesboro and Hendersonville, theres a place for you to be better Be Benchmark. [gravityform id="12" title="true" description="true"]