What If I’m Not A Good Writer But I Want To Be An Effective Real Estate Blogger?

We can't say enough about these insightful, easy-to-follow tips for improving your blog writing. Seriously, "use the cookbook recipe format" - brilliant! We spotted this masterpiece by contributor Jim Cronin on The Real Estate Tomato blog.

I’ve written a lot of posts.
Some might say I have the hang of it now – but this wasn’t always the case.

I used to hate writing.

I did poorly in English classes in high school, poorly on the Reading/Writing portion of the SATs, and got a C- in the only writing class I had to take in college.

A future as a writer was not in the cards.

But I love discussions. I love to share experiences. I love to teach. I love solutions. I love being a consultant.

The Real Estate Tomato was born from the idea that my (online marketing) advice needed to have a more permanent location. The progressive ideas escaping my mouth and passing into the collective ear and out the other of my audience was unsatisfying and (I believed) under-appreciated.

I needed to reach an audience that was going to leverage the knowledge I had to share, and not just nod in agreement.

I started reading blogs about my own interests to see how others were sharing their insight online. I was sold immediately. I had to try and be a blogger myself. It seemed the perfect medium to be heard and appreciated.

The fact that I am no Ernest Hemingway couldn’t compete with my determination and enthusiasm.

Looking back on some of my first articles (you’ll be hard pressed to find them) I cringe at their state.  But after plugging along and reading 100s of articles from bloggers better than I, the format to developing an effective article became clear: Give the audience what they came to read as quickly and obviously as you can.

We’re all consultants, right? We spend our time with clients either answering questions/concerns or teaching and sharing wisdom.

It would seem that since we have no issue communicating effectively enough to have people continue to do business with us, we should be able to deliver this same message, just as effectively through the keyboard.

The trick is the following:

1. Don’t be afraid to jump right in.

Your audience when you first start blogging is you. No one is going to laugh at you, or point out how terrible a job you’ve done. There is no criticism to fear.

2. Blog about what you know & don’t over think it.

Pretend you are composing an email to a new client. You are direct, clear, confident and helpful.

Don’t try to sound like a writer. Compose on topic and make it easy on yourself and your reader.

Don’t try to write everything you know in one article – leave something on the bone.

Don’t try to be clever/funny if you’re not.

Get comfortable delivering sound information and you’ll find your voice.

3. Learn to write effective headlines.

This advice is the linchpin to your success – and I have written a ton about it and so has Copyblogger.

4. Use the Cookbook Recipe Format to compose quick and easy-to-appreciate articles.

Delicious Title.
Scrumptious Picture.
Warm Intro.
Tasty Bullet Points.
Satisfying Conclusion
Sweet Calls-To Action

Leave them wanting more.

5. Develop the habit.

Consistency is key to your success in the search engines and with your readers.

6. Bad artists copy. Great artists steal – Pablo Picasso

Learn from the bloggers that you most respect. Be inspired by their techniques and leverage them as your own. To be successful, you learn from the successful.

To view the origianl article, click here.