Get Free Content for Your Real Estate Blog

If you've been thinking about starting a real estate blog, but you've hesitated because there are so many other demands on your time, get ready to jump in. You don't have to generate constant new ideas for posts, and it might not be the formidable challenge you think it is. 

One notable blog is already thriving, and it's only about 14 months old. It carries a current Google PageRank of 4, holds position five on the first page of search results for the most competitive key phrase for its market, and it's published 785 posts.

Yes, that sounds formidable, but here's the catch – the blog owner didn't write anywhere near all of them. He wrote somewhere in the neighborhood of 65 to 75%. So where did the others come from?

Where to Find Free Blogs 

Those other blogs came from a town employee whose task was to promote the town to residents and tourists, and they didn't cost the blog owner a dime. The town employee regularly sent out weekly emails, sometimes as many as two, three, or four a week.

The emails would highlight things that were going on in the community, town meeting agendas and minutes, and other government and business information. They were usually anywhere from 500 to 1000 words long. They were not posted on the town's website. They were sent to an extensive email list. 

The blog owner asked her permission to post them on his blog site. She was thrilled at the prospect. The blog owner got great original content relevant to the town that even touched frequently on real estate topics. All he did was take her emails, copy out the text and images, and paste them into blog posts – with her permission, of course. 

If you don't have a helpful town employee at your fingertips, consider local homeowners associations. Subdivisions, smaller incorporated towns, and major organizations also often send out email newsletters. They either don't have websites or they don't have the ability or the money to have this information placed on their sites in a timely manner. All you have to do is offer to help them with getting their information out there by putting it on your website.

A Few Pointers

Make it easy on everyone involved by taking the copy straight out of the email newsletters. It's usually just a copy and paste activity, and you can put up one of these posts in just a few minutes, even if it's 1,000 words or more. 

Keep in mind that this applies only to emailed newsletters and the like. Do not lift copy off someone else's website. That's piracy and theft, and it could have legal ramifications. And don't even lift from newsletters if you haven't checked with the source to make sure it's okay. 

This isn't just about getting content. It's about networking in a new way as well. These people will appreciate your blog for promoting their interests, and it will become second nature for them to say, "Go to this real estate blog to get our latest newsletter if you missed the email." You're networking and making friends with groups who appreciate your help with their promotional efforts.

And don't give up on writing a little of your own copy, too. Nobody knows your business like you. When you do have a little time, relax and dash off something smashing to give your blog a little extra oomph.