Real Estate Marketing Drips: September 2009

Conversations on the Sidelines:  A Look at Google Sidewiki

Google has launched a new application that allows website visitors to comment about a webpage they are visiting and read other visitors comments.  These comments appear as a sidebar on the left-hand side of the page called Sidewiki.  Users are also able to rate the comments as useful, not useful, or report abuse. 

In true sharing fashion you can share the sidewiki comments on Twitter, Facebook or via Email.  Brings a different sort of meaning to the power of referrals.

You can install the Google toolbar with Sidewiki here.

I took a walk around the worldwide web this evening with Google Sidewiki and took a few snapshots

Mashable

Zillow

I just couldn't resist so I took a quick jog over here before heading home

I strolled by the top real estate franchises, but only found one, Re/Max, that had a sidewiki comment.  I suspect that will change.......real soon.

Sidewiki seems like the user friendly app. it was meant to be and I am sure there will be some tweaks and changes along the way.  Most importantly, in my view, it will enable the flow of conversation and empower users with feedback from hopefully many impartial parties- i.e. other consumers or business folk who do not all have a commercial interest in the webpage.

As to real estate brokerages, offices, and real estate professionals....just another reason to be active listeners and engage in two way conversations on the worldwide web.

If you liked this post about the Google Sidewiki you may be interested in reading,

• Why Digging Delicious Is Easy To Do
• Oogling Google~New Goods for Those Who Love Freebies
  
• The Four Letter Word That's Making A Difference In My Life

Subscribe to Blogging In The Rain, A Real Estate Marketing Blog

How can you manage the barage of information, conversations, and shiny new tools that is Web 2.0?  Call Rebecca Levinson, dba Real Skillz, Real Estate Marketing Consultant-#262-203-5231 and let's talk about creating a social media marketing strategy that makes sense for your business or Email rebecca@realestateskillz.com.

Developing great real estate content on a consistent basis doesn't have to be a chore.  If you mix a cup of planning, with a generous tablespoon of research and a dash of commitment you are on your way to a tasty blog.

Here's An Easy Bake Recipe for Consistent Real Estate Blogging

Step 1 - Research Post Topics

What are the timely topics that are creating a buzz in the real estate industry? What are topics that will have some shelf-life and be archive worthy on your blog? 

• Check your favorite keyword research tool to see how real estate topics are searched and the traffic they draw.
• Do topic research using Twitscoop (which tracks twitter trends),google trends labs (tracks google trends/keywords), google insights for search, (gain insight into seasonality of your keywords). 
• Use Digg and StumbleUpon to see what real estate topics are attractive to the worldwideweb at large.
• Check for real estate specific topis on Reuters, APwire, and businesswire.com
• Find out what real estate topics citizen journalists are blogging.
• Extend your research beyond print by searching real estate topics in video and audio here, here, or here.
• Add your own three cents when you are out on the street and are inspired by real life events (i.e. pavement pounding, house showing, broker tours, client meetings, etc.  Transcribe your Epiphanies for future blogging reference by writing a simple notepad and paper that you tote around, recording on a smartphone device ( I am really loving the record feature on my Blackberry), or calling into a microblogging service from your mobile phone that will store and publicize your thoughts in a public time line.

Step 2- Add Two Lists to your mix

Make two lists for your blog.  The second list will be a list that separates your current blog into categories to make sure you are staying on target with your blog.  Both lists are essential.  These will keep you on target (real estate focused) with your blog as well as enable you to re-purpose your content into e-books, white papers, vlogs, and slideshows.

Create the first list in a mind mapping software or a whiteboard software so you can refine each of your ideas. The goal of the first list is to refine the topics you gathered from your research in Step 1 into solid ideas you can mold into solid real estate post topics. 

Create the second list as a simple football goal list in Google Docs.  This list will keep you on target (real estate focused) with your blog as well as enable you to re-purpose your content into e-books, white papers, vlogs, slideshows, articles and offline marketing materials.

Step 3:  Create An Editorial Calendar

The last step in the easy bake recipe for consistent real estate blogging will be a snap if you have completed Steps 1 and 2.  You will create an editorial calendar that will list both post topics and the keywords you should include in the posts.  This timeless post by Andy Wibbles contains an editorial calendar that you can download in Opensource or OpenOffice Format.

A few huge benefits to a blogging editorial calendar

1.  Keeps your blog on the task of remaining real estate focused.  Once you have filled up your calendar with real estate specific posts, you will have room to add off topic posts about family, technology, hobbies and interests and still remain in line with your goal-MORE REAL ESTATE CLIENTS, REFERRALS, BRANDING, BUSINESS.

2.  Helps to lighten the blogging load- Once you have created an editorial calendar you can upload it to a platform like Google Docs and share it with your second team of professionals- local business vendors, real estate vendors/suppliers etc. to see if they would guest post on some of your blog topics.  This will continue to provide depth to your content and keep the goal of 3-5 posts minimum/week front and center.

3.  It will increase your blog exposure on the worldwide web-  By October 1st or thereabout, Google Docs "...will allow published docs that are linked to from a public website to be crawled and indexed".  So upload your blog editorial calendar to Google Docs, publish it and link to it from your website for a common sense SEO/SEM move and one that will provide an opportunity to gain some exposure from perhaps some  news venues using search engines to look for sources for real estate topics.

Dust off your apron and get your blog on by following this easy bake recipe for consistent real estate blogging.

If you enjoyed this post, you should check out these three on blogging:

• Stealing Bases Won't Hit It Home Everytime with Social Networking and Blogging
• Aspiring Real Estate Bloggers Are Becoming Ventriloquist Dummies? Say It Ain't So- A Rant with a Few Solutions
• Top 7 Tips to Connect with Blog Comments
  

Need a Plan for Consistent Real Estate Blogging? Consider a blogging tune-up.

For those bloggers who are working diligently on consistently creating good content you deserve a reward.  Reward yourself by stepping up and out of the usual places and seeking your consumers where they are active and willing participants.

Extend your reach beyond Twitter, Facebook and Linked In by engaging in networks where consumers, bloggers and local businesses build relationships.  I will give you fair warning, these places may be "unusal" as they are not networks and platforms of the unusual real estate suspects.

 

 

Social Networks~Go Viral with Your Blog In All of the Unusual Places

1.  (B2C)-Make Money with Kindle-

I admit I have had a love affair with the Kindle since the beginning of this year.  When I learned that blogs could also be displayed on the Kindle I quickly wrote to find out how I could get my blog on this digital train.  Well, I quickly forgot about my email until I was on Mike Mueller's Facebook Fan Page today and saw his Kindle Link.  It took me all of a minute to go and sign up and now my marketing blog will be available on the Kindle too. 

Blog Readers on the Kindle have to pay a subscription fee to Amazon.  Of course the blogger gets paid too.

2.  (B2B)Socialize about Social Media-

This is an online social network for social media marketers, bloggers, marketers, PR and media professionals.  You can add a feed to your blog once you join as a member (Free) or you can write blog posts about social marketing and read others whose job it is to be "in the now" on the latest tools and best practices.

It may spark a few new ideas to take a breathe of fresh air and step outside the real estate industry.

3.  (B2B) and (B2C) Get Your "Woman On" BlogHer-

An online social network of diverse women blogging and connecting on topics from soup to nuts and everything in between.  You can add an RSS feed of y our blog, a link to your website, write fresh blog posts on this platform AND write updates called "chatter" which will then feed to Twitter and Facebook.

Oh, and one othe thing...you can participate in groups OR create your own group (hmmm....create a group and network with local woman online...hhhmmmm....interesting)

4.  (B2B) and (B2C)- Get your Blog On AllTop

- AllTop was created by Guy Kawasaki and is described as an "online magazine rack" of popular topcs.  It's a no-brainer choice really.  Fill out a short form with information about your blog.  You will receive an email notifying you if your blog gets listed in this virtual online rack under Real Estate.

You will also receive a badge when approved that you can display on your blog like the one in my right margin

SCROLL UP AND TO THE RIGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE------------------------------------------>>>>>>>

5.  (B2B) and (B2C)- Merchant Circle-

An online community for merchants to advertise their services to locals.  There is a fee and paid service.  The free service will allow you to create a profile page for your business with contact information, a google map, a link to your website and/or blog.  You can offer a coupon as an incentive to consumers AND you publish blog posts on your profile page.

Not only is this a great tool for online local advertising, but you can network with other local business through this platform. 

And it just might be a good way to research potential local guest bloggers as well as businesses who perhaps believe in online networking and advertising and some cross-promotion.

If you are still asking why you should extend yourself beyond your standard networks I'll give you three reasons:

• You want to face your markets- both B2B and B2C
• You want to listen to your markets and find your opportunities
• You want to market yourself in the corners where people go and you realize they are wide and vast because it is the worldwideweb

And one more.....you realize that being online-available-visible-and connected makes opportunities knock upon your virtual door.

These are just five and if you look you will find more....go viral with your blog in all the "unusual places".

If you enjoyed this post on social networks, here are three more for your reading pleasure,

• Stealing Bases Won't Hit It Home Everytime with Social Networking and Blogging
• The Misconception of Social Networking:  Magic, Miracles, or Just Plain Movin' and Shakin'
• Your Social Connections and SOI are Birds of a Feather Meant to Flock Together

Need a Social Media Marketing Strategy that makes business cents?  Contact Rebecca Levinson dba Real Skillz, Real Estate Marketing Consultant #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@realestateskillz.com