Top 10 Articles from November

It's December. While we're still wondering how exactly that happened, let's take a moment to reflect on the month that just ended.

So what was on the mind of real estate professionals in November? Craigslist (or "Hurricane Craig" as one of our contributors called it) definitely caught the attention of our readers. A rule change at the classified ads website has forced agents to re-think their posting strategy (see article #2 below).

Agents and brokers are also beginning to think about the year ahead, judging by our round-up of November's most popular articles. For more on what your peers are reading, see our list below.

1. How to Lose a Listing - by Emily Williams
My neighbors really like their original real estate agent, Agent One. They wanted to work with her again. But they tell me that they probably won't choose her to list their home. This is pretty catastrophic for her, whether she knows it or not, because repeat and referral business is a real estate agent's bread and butter.

2. How the New Craigslist Changes Affect Real Estate Ads - by Properties Online
Craigslist has recently made changes to its posting guidelines, specifically around what HTML tags are allowed in their sales categories. The Craigslist changes are having a dramatic effect on the real estate industry, because images and links posted using HTML code or the use of images to link to external pages do not work post-change.

3. Write Listing Descriptions That Sell - by Shannon O'Brien
Writers are admonished to always remember their audience. Real estate agents would do well to remember that advice too, but to also keep in mind that their audience is two-pronged: buyers and other real estate agents.

4. 4 NAR® Member Benefits You Should Be Using - by Emily Williams
The REALTOR® Benefits Program brings members of NAR® discounts and special offers on real estate products and services. The value of the Program isn't just the financial savings; it also ensures that the products offered are carefully selected to meet the needs of real estate professionals like you. It's about receiving a quality product for a quality price.

5. 5 Ways to Use RPR to Impress Buyers - by The National Association of REALTORS®
RPR can help you secure that next listing. But that's only half the story. RPR can help REALTORS® impress buyers too. In fact, by making RPR part of your process with buyers, you can help ensure they will refer you to their family, friends, and those they overhear talking about buying or selling a home.

6. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself for a Successful 2014 - by RE Technology
"What's written is real, what's planned is possible," says real estate coach, author and speaker Mike Lindstrom. According to Lindstrom, too many agents only talk about what they want to do when it comes to marketing their business without investing time into setting specific goals and plans to achieve those goals.

7. Buying a New Tech Tool? The First Question to Ask - by Emily Williams
You can't exactly describe the relationship between the real estate industry and Apple computers as a love affair, but they're certainly warming up to each other. As more agents purchase Apple computers, more vendors are developing solutions that work on the Mac OS. However, there is a lot of real estate software that will not work.

8. Negative Agent Reviews: What to Do - by Geneva Ives
If you come across a negative review about your services, don't panic. The occasional bad review can happen to even the best agents. Whether it stems from a disgruntled client, genuine misunderstanding or total stranger (and liar), here are four steps that will stop you from making a mountain out of a molehill.

9. 5 Techniques for Better Neighborhood Marketing - by Kelly Phelan
Focused local content is a potent lead generator because it gives buyers exactly what they want. Before a consumer zeroes in on the home they want to buy, they already have an idea of the neighborhood they'd like to live in. They may be attracted to the schools of a particular area, its proximity to work, or the lifestyle it offers.

10. Your 2013 Holiday Blogging Plan - by Kelly Phelan
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's easy to let your blogging habits fall by the wayside. The festive season presents a wealth of easy post ideas, however, so make sure you're not neglecting your blog!