As in financial services marketing, content sharing on social media has become key to engaging clients and prospects in real estate. How can real estate professionals craft effective commentaries on articles they share online? In this post, we invite Lisa Logan, a real estate writer, to illustrate different ways a real estate agent or mortgage broker can craft commentaries that are engaging.
Selecting an article to share
How Many Hours You Need to Work a Month to Afford a Mortgage in Each City
Forbes.com, Contributor: Amy Dobson, October 30, 2018
Credit: Getty Royalty Free
This article offers information about something people think about before moving to a city. How many hours will I have to work to live in this city? Work-life balance is something everyone should consider before taking on a new job or moving to a new location. So, you know this article will hit a communal nerve. Why not hitch a ride on this article and tap into that nerve?
Commenting on shared article
1) Speak to something your audience cares about
Just as I mentioned above, this article hits close to home for many. A lot of people wonder, “How many work hours will it take to live in New York City (or another city)?” This speaks to the person’s quality of life, so selecting the right city to live in is a big deal.
Commentary:
“Are you tired of renting and feeling like your dream of homeownership is being frittered away in rent month after month? Forbes recently published an article about how many work hours are needed to afford a mortgage in several popular American cities. Read on to find out if you’re making enough to buy.”
2) Relate it to a personal story
If you have a story about your own experience that relates to the topic, then start off by sharing this in your post. People love to read personal accounts. It’s a hook because many of the readers will relate.
Commentary:
“When I was young and a bit naive, I thought I could pack my bags and move to Los Angeles, California to pursue my dream of being a Hollywood screenwriter. I thought wrong when I learned how much money it would take to afford a home in Los Angeles. Forbes recently published an article addressing this question: How many work hours does it take to afford to live in each city?”
3) Give a Summary
A lot of people lack the time to read through a full article. So, if you make it easier for them by giving a brief summary, they will greatly appreciate it and see your profile, blog, or website as one that gives value (saves time and educates). Remember, people want the main gist of the article and any supporting facts.
Commentary:
“Have you ever wondered how many hours it would take to afford a home in NYC or L.A.? Forbes compiled a list of how many work hours it would take to live in cities such as these. Most of the list lies on the East and West coasts with California cities ranking high on the list. These cities required the most monthly work hours to pay for a mortgage payment. Your dream city may be on the list.”
4) Share Your Opinion
Do you feel strongly about the topic of the article? If so, give your opinion as long as it’s not an offensive one. You’ll be surprised how many people will agree, and it may garner your profile more attention and likes.
Commentary:
“According to a list Forbes recently published about how many work hours it takes to live in specific cities in the U.S., California ranks in the top 10. While this may be disheartening if you wish to move to the Golden State, it shouldn’t discourage you from doing so. There are many locations on the outskirts of these big cities that offer home buyers affordable options.”
5) Tie it What You Do
Look for the relationship between the information in this article and your job. Find out if it has anything in common with the value you give your clients. This article is about how many hours per month a person must work in order to afford to live in the listed cities. This topic relates to potential home buyers. You could even narrow the focus to first-time home buyers.
Commentary:
“Renting an apartment, condo, or home for so long can give you the feeling of being stuck. Many people don’t pursue home ownership because they feel that they don’t make enough to afford a mortgage payment. Find out if your salary and work hours measure up to mortgages in popular American cities. It’s a joy for me to help first-time home buyers realize their dream of owning a home especially in the location they desire.“
Contributed by Lisa Logan
Lisa Logan is a real estate writer in North Carolina who writes for real estate agents throughout and outside the United States. She specializes in writing articles for realtor blogs & newsletters
LisaLogan9@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/lisalogan1
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