Apr
8
How to Spot a Bad Blog
Filed Under blogs | Leave a Comment
I’ve been writing a lot lately on social media. Frankly, the reason is because that seems to be the topic real estate agents want to know about most.
Case in point: A couple days ago I wrote a post in responses to a question by a reader: 7 Correct Ways Real Estate Agents Should Use Social Media.
After that post, I find myself wanting to write about the topic more. But come at it from the other direction, while focusing just on blogs.
So here’s six ways to tell if you or someone else has a bad blog.
1. Writer Behind the Blog Is Dull
The problem here is that the blogger is just flat-out boring. You know, talks about things other people don’t care about–the fine print on a contract, tax law or himself. The last one is the worse…and a sure killer of anyone reading your blog on a daily business. Or maybe he’s just a bad writer.
2. No Engagement
This blogger posts and then disappears. Someone might comment with a sincere question…and all he hears is crickets. Bad. Bad blogger. Instead, he should, as much as possible, treat every person who comments on his blog like royalty. Having a one way conversation is enormously annoying.
3. Isn’t Very Smart
…or experienced. You can spot these bloggers because they make rookie social media mistakes like the above…or try to generate a huge following early on by spamming prospects or using auto devices…or maybe write a wall of text that’s nothing but a run-on sentence. The list goes one.
4. Doesn’t Have Data
A bad blog will spout opinions and substantiate nothing. In addition, the blogger will stiff arm people who disagree by attacking their character rather than there arguments. Also, they may just delete comments they don’t like. Bad blogger. Bad.
5. No Links in His Blog Posts
Bad bloggers don’t share links on their blogs. Either because they don’t know or are simply too lazy. Either way, they are not sharing in the conversation. There are other great ways to share blog posts…but links in your own blog does wonder for building community with like-minded bloggers. Besides, you might need the help in the future.
6. Isolates Himself from the Blog Community
Blog communities grow over time. Only, however, if you avoid the last five mistakes. Otherwise you are doing nothing but talking to your self. That means if you visit a blog with articles that do nothing but talk about the blogger, ignores the comments and is without links, data or intelligence, you, my friend, have stumbled upon the mountain man blogger. Or the hermit. Leave him alone. Immediately.
So what other bad behaviors have you seen in terrible bloggers? Please share! And by the way, got a topic you’d like me to write about? Let me know what it is. I’d love to take a crack at it.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, leave a comment or subscribe to thereal estate marketing Blog by email or news feed.
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Apr
6
7 Correct Ways Real Estate Agents Use Social Media
Filed Under Real Estate Blogs, Real Estate Marketing, Social Media | Leave a Comment
Do you know what a good real estate blog looks like? Could you spot an influential social media marketer? And what makes a real estate agent like Trey Pennington a successful online networker?
If you answered “no,” “no” and “I don’t know” to the previous question, then this blog post for you.
While social media is not a barn-burning profit maker…it is a great tool to emphasize who you are [personal brand] and what you are trying to do [business strategy].
The bad news is if you don’t know how to use social media properly you could foul up your personal brand and hose your business strategy down the drain.
But the good news is you can learn how to use social media correctly. Just mirror these seven traits of successful blogs.
1. Personality
The person behind a great blog or Twitter stream is exciting, risky, interesting and perhaps even flamboyant. In other words, he or she stands out. And the cool thing about social media, even introverts can stand out.
2. Engagement
You need to interact with the people who read your blog or follow your Twitter stream. This means responding to comments. Replying to tweets. Sharing links.
3. Unfiltered
While not a must, the more fluid communication flows [comment moderation on your blog isn't on] the more real and personal and authentic the social media tool seems.
4. Intellegence
Another trait behind successful social media mavens is smarts. Book smarts. Street smarts. Business smarts. Marketing. Writing. Real estate. It doesn’t matter in what field their wisdom lies…as long as they share. [So if you aren't wise, start reading. That's a simple solution.]
5. Data
Original research and analysis is a great draw. Can you share first-hand discoveries you found after a simple, informal survey you took in the shopping mall parking lot? Got a bead on a statistic you churned out after burning housing data through software programs all night? Share it.
6. Links
You add value to your followers when you share links in your blog posts and Twitter and Facebook streams. You also support other people in the social media community, which builds your whuffie [reputation].
7. Builds Community
The endgame for successful real estate social media is community building. Drop the cut-throat, scarcity mindset and get comfortable with working and supporting everyone. [Naturally, the scum of the earth you can avoid.]
Did I miss anything? Please share your thoughts!
And if you like what you read, subscribe to the real estate marketing Blog by email or news feed.
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Apr
2
Social Media Habits for Introverts
Filed Under Social Media | 2 Comments
Like I said last week, extroverts are really, really good at social media. They get it instantly as if social media was made for them.
Just think Greg Swann. Or Burslem.
Then there’s the rest of us. The introverts. The quite ones. Who, well, can become pretty vocal when you put us behind a laptop or iPhone.
What can happen is that someone who is typically a wall-flower becomes the life of the social media cocktail party. Maybe even the aggravating boor who won’t shut up.
No doubt their are pitfalls in social media that all personalities can fall prey to. But I think one of the worse ones is to launch a social media campaign [you know, join Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube] all in one day…
And then abandoned it four weeks later.
When people visit those places you’ve set up, it’s like a ghost town. Where did everybody go? Don’t do that. Especially if you want to gain some traction in your social media efforts.
Instead, follow these eleven habits of highly successful social media introverts.
1. Don’t spend too much time on it.
Commit to just 15 minutes a day…just like you would if you were cold calling. And then do it. Everyday. [Except the weekend. You need a break, you know?] If you find you need more time, the following week bump it up to 20 minutes a week.
2. Invite people to join you.
If you wait for people to follow or friend you, you’re going to be waiting for a very long time. Hunt people down. Follow them. And say hi.
3. Share things you like.
Be true to yourself. Don’t try to impress people. Social media like Twitter and Facebook are about one percent business and ninety-nine percent fun. Have fun. This is not only web 2.0, but Business 2.0.
4. Analyze your results.
You’ve heard the saying: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t grow it.” Well here are ten ways to measure social media.
5. Find the key players in the network.
Don’t find a marketing person, find someone who knows lots of marketing people and then invite that person to join you. And bend over backwards to bring value to that person.
6. Attend events.
Yeah, that’s right. Stand up, close the laptop and go to a local Tweet-Up. Can’t wait to get invited to one? Organize your own Tweet-Up.
7. Seek out structure.
Sometimes you need to plan a theme for your social media day. Or week. Focus on one topic. Maybe it’s a featured home or event or giveaway (people like free stuff). That way you’ll gain some traction.
8. Avoid the crowds.
Instead of spam-following people (joining one thousand people in one day, which will probably get you banned anyway) systematically join people who you think you’d enjoy following and would enjoy following you. Being deliberate is important.
9. Prepare what to say.
Some people may not like this, but feel free to put together a dozen or so things you’d like to say on Facebook or Twitter and then share them in one frantic fifteen minute social media episode. Or heck, schedule tweets.
10. Promote by publishing.
This is the most important piece: Create content on your social media. But NEVER to the exclusion to your blog. Blogging is not dead. In fact, it’s possibly the most important component of social media. Don’t neglect it.
Leave a comment if this post was helpful or if you have anything you’d like to add. And if you like what you read, subscribe to the real estate marketing Blog by email or news feed.
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