Do you ever find yourself writing your blog or a social media post and wondering, “Am I doing this whole ‘content’ thing right?”
You’re making the effort to create valuable content, yet maybe you’re not seeing the results you desire.
It’s a common issue, even for some heavy hitters in the industry.
Doing it “right” requires planning, a strategic vision, time and effort. And you already have your hands full with attracting and serving customers. I know… it’s a grind. But it’s also really important in today’s marketing world.
Here’s why I bring it up…
I recently had a special guest in my office. While he was here, I asked my marketing team to assess and critique his online presence – particularly his social media platforms and his blog – and to come up with some suggestions on how he can “level up” his efforts.
What we discovered is that many of the mistakes he was making are actually common problems I frequently see committed throughout the industry. So I decided to share that advice here in today’s blog. You can also read our full guide to real estate marketing.
Common Marketing Mistake #1: Not Doing Enough!
Some of the content this guy had posted across his channels was really great information. I’m sure you have some valuable content on your website, blog or social media pages as well.
Here was the big problem, though: The last time he posted was almost a year ago!
I know the same dilemma exists on far too many agent sites and social media accounts.
Do you know what a devastating message that sends to potential buyers and sellers in your market? A consumer who sees you haven’t updated anything for a long period of time will assume that you are no longer in business. Even if they give you the benefit of the doubt, they won’t view you as a serious player.
I’d contend a neglected blog or social media account is potentially more detrimental than having no presence at all.
What’s the Solution?
Here are two tips to overcome this pitfall: One, bring consistency to your posts by establishing a set publishing schedule – and sticking to it. For instance, in my case, you know every Tuesday will bring you a new #TomFerryShow and every Thursday a new blog article. Don’t get too ambitious! Set a reasonable schedule that won’t eat up all of your time, which brings me to…
Two, if necessary, hire a copywriter or a freelancer to pitch in to ensure you establish and maintain consistent content creation.
Bonus tip: If you fear not having enough to say, calm down. You have a lot of valuable knowledge to share. Use a “notes” app on your phone to jot down any potential topic ideas as you conduct your daily business. Anytime a client asks a good question or you resolve a dilemma, that’s potential content that can help other people out there! Add it to the list and execute on it, or share that list with your copywriter.
Common Marketing Mistake #2: Headlines That Don’t Get Clicked
Consumers are inundated with content every day. Never forget that. So when you’re writing a blog or a social media post, you’re fighting for their attention for just a few precious minutes.
And that takes some convincing!
That’s why your headlines on blog articles and titles on social posts need to be more than a straightforward synopsis of the topic.
As long as you’re taking time to create content, make sure it actually gets read by making it compelling for the reader!
What’s the Solution?
That means when titling a post or writing your headlines, always opt for the specific over the generic.
Now, you don’t want to create click-bait headlines, but you want to achieve a level of intrigue that makes it almost impossible for someone to resist clicking on it. You can key on one vital piece of information revealed in the article or use words like “Why…” or “How…” to begin your headlines. Tap into the consumer’s thought process and see if what you write would cause you to click on the article.