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What Do I Blog About On My Brand New Blog?

Sharon Vornholt
4 min read
What Do I Blog About On My Brand New Blog?

Last week I covered most of the steps to setting up a new blog in a post called “The Benefits of Blogging for Your Business”.

I also went over why you should be blogging which is to “build your expert status”. When I talk about expert status, I am simply saying that if folks are going to care about what you are writing, then they have to think you know what you are talking about. It’s a process that everyone has to think about.

Popular Types of Content

Pillar Content

There are several popular types of content which are typically called “pillar content”. These topics will often be evergreen topics or things that will be just as relevant a couple of years from now as they are today.

Pillar content is often around 500 words and it is intended to teach something. These types of posts will often have a title like:

  • 10 Tips for …
  • 5 Things Every …. Should know
  • 7 Ways To ..
  • How To ….

You get the idea. They are often simple ideas put into a list of action steps. I wrote a post a while back for BiggerPockets called “12 Tips for Being a Good Landlord and Having Happy Tenants” which is an example of pillar content.

This type of content is pretty easy to put together and is generally popular with readers. This is a quick way to put out content especially when you are just getting started. But don’t be fooled into thinking you can get a strong following by always creating quick content.

Fill a Need or Solve a Problem

In addition to teaching something, great content will almost always fill a need or solve a problem. Here are a just a couple of examples:

-If there are a lot of vacancies in your market for single family homes, then put together a post about “10 Tips for Getting Tenants in Your Rentals Quickly”.

-If you have just gotten your mold certification, you can put together a post on “How to Get Your Mold Certification in One Day”.

If you are a rehabber the list is endless. Not only will you have something to report, you will also have great pictures to post on your blog. People love pictures. This type of post often requires less writing too. Here are some examples:

– How To Find Great Contractors

– Finding Great Deals on Granite (or anything else)

– Easy Sink Installation

– The 7 Must Haves for a Great Bathroom

– Rehab Day 7; The Kitchen Installation

– The Importance of the Grade Around the Foundation

– Day 20 of the Main St. Rehab; We’re Almost Done!

Now you may be thinking that you aren’t an expert on these things. I can tell you from experience that you are more of an expert than most folks are especially the guys and gals just thinking about doing their first rehab project. So help them out; share your experience.

Have A Goal to Write GREAT Content; Not just Good Content

Now you have some tips to help you take the plunge and just get started. Once you have done that you have the feel for blogging and have begun to find your unique voice. Just when you are starting to get comfortable, then it’s time to think bigger.

To have a blog that endures over time, you must have a goal to write great content. Average will only get you so far.

One of my favorite blogs of all time is Pat Flynn’s “Smart Passive Income”. Pat is a great teacher, and I have learned a lot from him. He is just about the perfect role model as far as bloggers go so be sure to check out his site. Pat has built a group of over 50,000 followers in just 4 or 5 years.

Corbett Barr also has a phenomenal blog called “Think Traffic”. Corbett said it best when he wrote his post titled, “Write Epic S#!t”. I strongly suggest every blogger follow this site and read this particular post.

9 Tips to Get You Started Creating a Blog that Folks Want To Read

  1. Create the place where you will write every time or your “writing space”. It can be anywhere that you feel comfortable. I write at my desk. Most people write better in a space that is clean and clutter free. You don’t want to be distracted by the mess on your desk or the dishes in the sink.
  2. Decide on a subject. Think about the big picture; what is the “story” you want to tell today?
  3. Choose your title. This is one that often gets folks hung up. You have to have a great title or headline before people will want to read. If it doesn’t come to you right away move on to number 4.
  4. Just start writing; let it flow. Don’t worry too much about getting it perfect. You will edit later.
  5. Always write as if you are writing to one person. If you are making a list of tips for renting commercial property, think about that person that is your audience. Just for today, write your article for that person.
  6. If you are having trouble with any part of this, take a break. Walk away for a while and get a cup of coffee or tea.
  7. Preview your article. Read it out loud and do a spell-check on your computer. When you think you have it right, print out your article.
  8. At this point, I usually walk away for a few minutes and come back to it. I proof read the article again (and I will always make changes). More times than not, I will also have a different title than when I first started. That’s why I said in #3; don’t get too hung up on getting your title perfect in the beginning. Do a final spell-check.
  9. Quit obsessing and hit PUBLISH. Just do it. If you are like me, it will never be perfect.
      Photo: racheocity

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.