Blogs are like the Cosa Nostra of websites.  They are connected to one another, bribe their way up the search engine results and peddle their wares to readers...  But just like the mafia, if you don't give a blog what it wants in return, you might just get wacked.  Here's the skinny.  According to Technorati (AKA the blogfather) there are 35.3 million blogs out there. The most concerning thing about all that competition is that Technorati also reports that only 55% of people who start a blog today will still be blogging 3 months from now.  Needless to say, it's a blog eat blog world out there and you need to do everything you can to keep your real estate blog out of the fertilizer business, if you know what I mean.

Read also: Do you know the 6 signs of blog death?

Why do blogs get wacked?

The number one reason most agents give up on their blog is that they aren't getting results: leads don't fall from the heavens, traffic doesn't climb and people just don't care enough to leave a comment or contact the Realtor.  So, with no results to show for all their efforts, these agents just pack up their keyboards and enter the blogosphere protection program.  But, what you have to realize, is that these bloggers probably bored their readers to death and likely earned the results they got.  So, how do you keep your blog off the hit list? Simple, you put a little ba da bing in your posts and start entertaining your readers. 

Read also: Killing me softly with your blog

5 Secrets That Will Keep Your Blog From Pushing Up Daisies

1. Make the user experience intuitive and easy to navigate.

The casino syndrome is the experience a user has when they visit a site and they simply can't find where they are going or even get back where they were.  Your blog needs to be easy to use.  It should have a search tool, an RSS subscription system, an easy to find contact button and links for your most popular and most recent posts.  You should make the blog as user friendly as possible with an easy navigation system that guides users through the site naturally.

Read also: Features of successful blogs

2. Write posts using proven blog copywriting techniques

Give readers and search engine what they want with well structured formatting, quality content and keyword rich text.  Use forward links to reference your sources and build credibility while utilizing internal links to keep readers moving through you site.  But most of all, select topics that engage readers.  Create a little controversy, tell readers how each post will make their lives better, faster, richer, easier... Basically, become a must stop online spot for your local readers.

Read also: Formula for a Successful Blog Post

3.  Avoid the most common rookie blogger mistakes

One of the biggest mistakes companies and real estate professionals alike make is looking at their blog as just another way to get the same old marketing message out in the same old corporate mumbo jumbo way. Blogging is about connecting with people by having a personal one-on-one conversation not about a sales pitch.  So, you need to give your blog the "it" factor.  That single thing that will make people want to read it.

Read also: Real estate blog rookie mistakes

4. Choose content wisely by targeting your local market

Most people focus just on local readers that are interested in looking for or selling a house now.    But that is a mistake.   You are limiting your reach by choosing only people interested in real estate.  The blogosphere is still very small on a local level, so position your blog as a local resource rather than just as a local real estate resource.  You need to attract both those readers looking for real estate services now and in the future.  That means, you don't always have to talk real estate turkey.  Write like a journalist and review a restaurant, interview a local golf pro, talk to the local historian, etc.  People love to see their name in print, so interviewing towns people is the best way for you to leverage your online presence and some off line word of mouth marketing.

Read also: Shhh... Is Your Blog Full of "It?"

5. Market your blog Soprano style

While most blogs have built in marketing services like pinging and RSS subscriptions, you still need to get the word out on the street yourself.  The two most effective ways to market your blog are to seed your posts to social networks like Real Estate Voices and Digg and comment on other industry and local blogs. 

Read also: Guerrilla Blogging Marketing Strategy

Read also: Commenting for Traffic

Read also: Using Social Bookmarks to Promote Your Blog

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