It seems like everyone is blogging these days, but should you jump on the bandwagon?

The answer is a resounding yes!

Blogs help build content quickly on your website, and the more content you have, the easier it is for a potential buyer or seller to find you through a search engine. However, once you have your blog ready to go, what do you do with it?

What is a Blog?

A blog is really like an online journal. You can write as much or as little as you want, about any topic that strikes your fancy. It’s a great way to talk about new listings, open houses, and any special events coming up.

Getting a blog up and running is simple. Check out the various blogging services, such as blogger.com or typepad.com, and decide which one best meets your needs.

How Will My Blog Bring Me Business?

Search engines scan your blog at a higher rate than the pages of your website, so updating as frequently as possible and using keyword-rich text will bring new business to your site in droves. The easiest way to get into the swing of using a blog is to begin a routine of entering new listings. Open two windows, one with your blog page and one with the MLS. Begin with the subject, or title, of your blog entry. Use keywords that will cause your listing to show up in search engines. For example, using the title “New Listing at 123 Main Street” won’t do you much good unless someone searches for an exact address. Using a title like, “Beautiful New Listing in the Detroit Suburbs with Lake Access: 123 Main Street” will gather more viewers. People are much more likely to search for “Detroit suburbs” or “lake access” than an address.

Adding Your Blog to Your Website

Being able to easily integrate a blog is a major reason why it is important to have a quality website, customized to fit your needs. If your new blog can’t be easily added to your site, you’ll want to invest in a new and improved design. It’s worth it to be able to have the latest technology, because buyers and sellers will respond to your cutting edge site!

Remember that the first two hundred words of each blog entry will be seen on your site, even if users don’t click to read that entry, so make sure that you include the most important information early on. Use keywords that will catch potential buyers’ eyes. When customers don’t have to click all around to find the information that they want, they will be more likely to keep coming back to your site.

Copyright 2006.