Hot topics in real estate ... and how they drive web traffic

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

I often tell my marketing clients that they can boost their online success if they adopt a publisher's mentality. That's because the first step to Internet marketing success is to generate traffic. And nobody knows how to generate traffic like professional Internet publishers.

One of the "tricks of the trade" is to follow the news and cover popular topics on your website and blog. Media coverage increases consumer awareness, which in turn drives Internet search patterns. For example, you hear a lot on the news these days about subprime mortgages. As a result, the number of Internet searches for that phrase have risen steadily in recent months.

The media talks about ... the public picks it up ... and the public begins to research it online. It's a predictable cycle.

So if you cover popular, media-driven topics on your real estate website or blog, you stand to gain more traffic. The more traffic you have, the greater your chances for web-based inquiries and leads.

So what are the hottest topics in real estate right now, as judged by media coverage and Internet search?

1. National slowdown in real estate -- Every time I turn on the news, I hear something about the overall real estate market in the U.S. and how it's taking a dive. Is this happening in your area? How will it affect your key audience? What should they know? Tell them on your website and/or blog.

2. Mortgage foreclosures -- I don't need to tell you how popular this topic is right now. Popular in a bad way, but popular nonetheless. Are mortgage foreclosures spiking in your market area, like they are elsewhere in the country? Do you have advice for people looking to buy foreclosure properties for investment purposes? Can you help people avoid foreclosure through short-sale techniques? Share it through your website and/or blog.

3. Subprime mortgage loans -- Much of the foreclosure "crisis" in this country can be attributed to the subprime mortgage loans that were doled out to unqualified buyers several years back. What should the people in your area know about subprime mortgage loans? Tell them through your website and/or blog.

4. Home staging tips -- Thanks to shows like HGTV's "Designed to Sell" the popularity of home staging has soared over the last couple of years. Home staging companies are sprouting up like mushrooms, and consumers are increasingly interested in home staging tips that can help them sell their home. Can you offer advice on this subject? Share it through your website and/or blog.

If you noticed the links spread throughout this post, you'll notice that I'm following my own advice here. By creating tutorials on most of the subjects listed above, I'm able to increase the traffic levels and general success of my real estate websites. And you can do the same!

Think like a publisher, address popular topics, and watch your web traffic increase.