In recent articles, we’ve touched on the importance of having a quality website and strong online presence for your property management business. One of the most important components of your online presence is a blog. For some, the idea of keeping up with blog posts can seem nothing short overwhelming, especially given the busy and fast-paced nature of our business. But having an active blog is important for a variety of reasons, and it’s not as time consuming as you might think. Here are a few of the benefits of blogging for your property management business and some tips to make the task a bit more manageable.

Blogging Benefits

• It positions you as an expert. If you post relevant content, your readers will begin to view you as a trusted resource and your audience will grow as a result. People will also feel more comfortable renting from you, since they’ll be able to see that you really know your stuff.
• It’s great for SEO. The whole point of establishing an online presence is to get your business and your properties found on the web. Search engines favor websites that feature fresh content, so updating your blog frequently can boost your ranking.
• It’s a tool to connect and interact. In your busy day-to-day activities, you probably have little time to connect with your clients or reach out to prospects. A blog provides that intermediary that brings you into direct contact with the people who mean the most for your business.
• It helps you share information. Have an announcement to make? Got some helpful information that might benefit your tenants or property owners? Your blog is an easy tool to help you instantly get the word out to a large audience.
• It builds relationships. People who feel that they know their property manager tend to feel more comfortable staying on as tenants. Your blog provides an opportunity for them to see the personality behind your logo and develop a long-term relationship that will hopefully reduce vacancy rates.

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Tips for Blogging

• Keep it short and sweet. Blog posts don’t have to be novels – in fact, even just a few paragraphs should suffice, as long as the content is interesting, relevant and keyword rich for SEO purposes.
• Make a list of topics. Believe it or not, the hardest part of writing a blog post is coming up with topics. If you take some time to sit down and develop a list of topics, the writing part will be easy.
• Divide and delegate. Managing a blog can be a daunting task, but when you divvy up the work between everyone else in your office it’s much more feasible. Delegate your posts out to coworkers and then designate one person who will be responsible for editing and posting the articles.
• Use a schedule. Schedule time to write posts, and use a calendar to plan out which posts should be published on which dates. When you plan ahead, it makes the entire process go much more smoothly.
• Interact. Whenever possible, respond to comments and interact with your audience. This shows them that you’re there and you value what they have to say.
• When in doubt, ask. If you’re really stuck for topics on what to write about, why not reach out and ask your audience what they’d like to read about? The more you deliver content that interests your readers, the more loyal your following will become, and the more likely they’ll be to share your content with others.

For most busy property managers, the concept of blogging can seem like more of a hassle than it’s worth. But keeping an updated, relevant blog plays an important role in the success of your business – both online and offline. By following the tips provided here, you’ll be able to incorporate blogging into your other important tasks and start reaping the benefits in no time.
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