Best Blog Post Practices – Examples
February 18, 2009
Best Blog Post Best Practice Example #1
So why does this post work? There are 3 solid reasons. #1 – Tech Crunch tweets it posts on Twitter to its large and ever growing group of followers. #2 – They use an existing controversy and add their own twist. They link to the people who started the controversy to enlist support. #3 – They are not afraid to aim “uphill” and take on bigger issues (like Facebook) than themselves. To win long term, you must do that consistently. Your blog always starts small and the only way to make it grow is to take on big issues. Don’t be afraid. Just be right.
Now on to a real estate related example or two.
Best Blog Post Best Practice Example #2
This post on the Jay Thompson’s blog is great because it is IMO a new way to paint a picture for an audince of what life in Phoenix is all about. He acknowledges the hot summers and then explains the other good parts of like there. From a purely SEO point of view, he did a good job of linking out to local sites and attractions in his post. Does that help? Yes. It networks you in the local business community and that is invaluable.
There are two main sources of links for a REALTOR. There are the “watercooler” type of links you get by networking with other REALTORS that are so common. Then there are the links from other local businesses. They are less common, but more valuable, because they come from folks who can actually buy a home. (Believe me, Jay does a great job of earning the watercooler kind of links as well. He works hard at it and deserves it.
Last example of a well thought out post IMO. This one is from Jay as well. Before you go thinking “Why is he glossing Jay so much?” Simple. It is because he deserved it for this post.
This post is a perfect example of what you do ONCE you have some readership, but it also is how you get readers and links. Yes, the $15,000 got cut back…but Jay was actually beating the newspapers to the punch on the actual sausage making that was in the bill. He was posting it blow by blow. Using the strength of his blog, he was ranking on Google for all sorts of terms like “$15,000 tax credit” “$15,000 tax credit phoenix” and tons of others. This was newsy. It was one that news junkies would come back to and connect with him on. **and link to as well** It is exactly what blogs were designed to do…shorten the news cycle to non-existant and profit from getting the jump on the papers.
Ok, now it’s your turn. Send me some examples of great posts (even if they are yours…grin) I promise that I won’t tell anyone that you sent them to me! If I can use them here on EricOnSearch(or elsewhere) to demonstrate great blogging, you’ll get a link and some notoriety!
Ok, you’re on. Here’s a nice post and why I think the entry is good example. Perhaps slightly different from the points you made above, but relevant nonetheless. What I’ve done is taken our client’s property and posted various versions of the same blog entry across several of our blogs looking to garner longtail searches for the property. In the above cited example, if a person searches for ‘west richland home by william wiley elementary school’ (or similar variations) our blog entry is usually #1 or #2. In other words, I want targeted traffic for folks wanting to purchase a home in a desired school’s boundary. We have the same blog entry ranking for the other schools in the area as well.
That’s a great example Joe and a good point about beginning with the end in mind. The end would be attracting likely local buyers to your blog / site.
Thanks for sharing. That was EXACTLY what I had in mind.
Others?
Thanks for the kind words Eric! You highlighted two of my favorite recent posts. I agree completely that getting links from local businesses / non-real estate people is key (and not easy, but can be done).
That stimulus bill post (and the others in the series) led to a *ridiculous* increase in traffic. And I just finished speaking with the 4th reporter to call since I wrote them and have two more mainstream media interviews scheduled today. It’s amazing the reach that some posts can have.
Hey Jay…
Not a problem. You earned it. You are exactly right about the stimulus bill post. Well written and targeted posts have tentacles far beyond the basic SEO consequences.
I have found that getting local Chamber of Commerce level links is difficult, but worth it. They truly directly connect you to people who can buy.
Have a good one!
Eric
I think Jay is a case study of great blog entries. I can think of several, but this one is one of my favorites. Many folks relocating to Phoenix would want to know ‘phoenix average temperatures‘
Eric. I will certainly try to get more local links that are non real estate related. Is that considered a dollar bill link versus a penny link? Either way, just being endorsed and making a relationship none real estate related is worth the effort all together.