Why Blog?

Here at HomeQuest, we developed the IDX Blogger platform to be the next generation of blogging by tying your blog posts to your IDX Search map.  The public IDX map is a beautiful tool all by itself, but it is greatly enhanced when your geolocated blog posts appear on your map as well.  This allows clients to see your expertise and knowledge of the area through your blog posts at the very same time they are looking at homes.

Blogging is not required on IDX Blogger.  You can “hide” the blog related pages if you would still like a great looking IDX site, but you do not wish to use the blogging functionality.  Click here to see how to hide pages.

What are the advantages of blogging?  I am already busy being a realtor, why should I spend my time being a blogger too?

Search Engine Optimization: One of the first reasons to blog is to increase your ranking with search engines.  A site that remains stagnant for long periods of time without any changes ranks much lower on a Google search than a site that has a lot of content and gets updated on a regular basis.   You will also receive more traffic from Google for non real estate related terms.  For example, if I post a blog on Washington Park, my blog post is eventually indexed by Google and website visitors can then find my site if they were searching for “Washington Park”.  Without that blog post, my site would never have been found by this visitor.

Make your website a resource: Internet visitors to your website are looking for information, not just a home search.  They might be looking for information on public schools for their children, they might be looking for information on a particular neighborhood, or they might even be looking at the local music scene.  If your website is a great resource for community information, you are more likely to get visitors on your IDX search, and therefore more likely to gain a potential client.  Your website is not just about you as an agent, your website is a tool that visitors will use on their home search journey.

Show what you know: Who knows the area neighborhoods better than your friendly local realtor?  Prove what you know about your community and the local schools, restaurants, events, attractions, and everything a potential client would want to know by filling out your website with content, content, and more content.

Connect with your audience: Be personal, be funny, there is nothing wrong with a non work related post on the blog.  Keep a balance though, your blog should be personal yet still completely informative and topic driven.  Remember, appropriateness and professionalism are still important even if you are making non work related commentary about a sports game with a bad ref, or a restaurant you didn’t particularly care for.