And here is Part 3 of the article "To Blog or Not To Blog" from the SoCalCRS newsletter.

Here is Part 1

And here is Part 2.

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New bloggers often ask "what should I write about?" Well, the answer is anything and everything. Sure, that may be literary exaggeration, since I can think of a few dicey topics that might not be suitable for your real estate blog. But the point here is that you have an incredible range of things you can talk about in your blog. As long as it relates to the world of real estate and your market, I'd say it's fair game. Think about the things people might want to know about buying and selling, and the communities you are familiar with (e.g., things to do, restaurants, events, town government). What sorts of questions do you get from clients? What counseling and educating do you do with buyers and sellers? Got the idea?

Certainly you should keep in mind the audience you are writing for, or want to write for. Before launching into your blog you really should give this some serious consideration. You can't effectively write for everyone on the planet, so decide on your focus, whether it's first time buyers, a farm area, or a particular community. This will make you a better writer, you will focus on topics of interest to your intended readership, and blogging will have the side benefit of generating leads of the type you desire.

There is certainly much more to know about blogging, and many more issues to ponder. But consider the title of this piece…to blog or not to blog.

That really IS the question. Is it right for you? Do you like writing and working on the Internet? Can you commit to the time needed to write regularly? And do you want improve your search engine ranking and generate leads? I can't give you the answer. It's your choice. I've made mine.

Only about 4% of the nation's REALTORS, according to NAR, are actually involved in blogging. SO, if you are, or you are seriously thinking about it, you have a competitive edge.

One of the questions new bloggers often have in our business is...what should I write about?

Well, the answer is...pretty much anything and everything you want (except of course certain dicey topics like politics and religion). A key focus should be on information that consumers want and need. Your blog should be consumer-centric, and NOT focused on you and how wonderful you are. Nobody really cares, and your blog will just appear to be a self-promotional marketing piece. Avoid that at all costs.

Here are some ideas on general topics, just to get you started.

• The buying process - everything and anything to do with buying a home
• The selling process - anything and everything to do with selling a home, including preparing it for sale, from start to finish
• How to choose a REALTOR - what consumers should know and do about finding the right agent, for listing or buying
• Community information - what would buyers want to know about the community(ies) you service - restaurants, services, parks, beaches, mountains, things to do, tourist stuff, town government and issues, buildings and development projects. Think of yourself as a tour guide and THE EXPERT on your town.
• Housing - what kinds of housing are available in your area (styles, pricing, sizes, subdivisions and neighborhoods). What are the market conditions and are they changing, and if so how? Market reports and statistics are often popular with buyers and sellers

Got any questions? Let me know, I'm happy to help.