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Blog the news

By , Monday, February 16, 2009.

A post that Phoenix-based broker-owner Jay Thompson wrote for his blog, "The Phoenix Real Estate Guy," is turning up on page one of Google search results for "home buyers tax credit" -- higher than the IRS, Realtor.org and mainstream news, he Tweets.

The tax credit is a hot topic right now because the new stimulus bill expands the existing $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers (anyone who hasn't owned a primary residence in the last three years) to $8,000, eliminates a requirement to repay the credit, and extends the previous July 1 sunset to Dec. 1.

That's not quite as much as the $15,000 credit for all homebuyers that was in the Senate version of the bill, but the news is generating lots of interest on the Net. Thompson demonstrates how to capitalize on such news events: with a thorough, accurate table comparing the existing tax break to the new one.

Thompson doesn't rank as high if you use the more formal search term, "home buyer tax credit" (with no s after buyer -- both searches conducted without quotation marks). Nevertheless, an impressive accomplishment for a blog to land on page 1 of Google search results.

Another facet of massive stimulus bill that you can capitalize on in your blog because it's getting lost or buried in many news stories: The legislation reinstates the higher $729,750 loan limit in high-cost areas in place for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA during much of 2008 (see Inman News story).

Get more tips on blogging from Thompson and more than 380 other members of Inman.com Real Estate Bloggers group.

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Submitted by on February 16, 2009 - 9:50am.

Well thanks Matt!

Timely blogs of major news events can definitely increase blog traffic. Granted, the vast majority of that will never result in a sale, but traffic begets traffic, and that could lead to local real estate buyers, sellers and investors taking note.

I've written a series of posts on the stimulus bill and specifically the home buyer tax credit. Traffic to the blog has increase tremendously as can be seen in this screen shot from my Google Analytics:

http://twitpic.com/1iut3

The first post in my series also resulted in an aired interview by a local talk radio station and inquiries from other "mainstream media" types. I know for a fact the radio exposure has led to inquiries from prospective buyers.

There are a LOT of people that get their news from Google searches (and a lot of MSM journalist look to blogs for news ideas). I'm no journalist, but there is no question that a timely post on a hot topic can get noticed.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

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Submitted by on February 17, 2009 - 5:50pm.

Jay, your site was the very first thing I found when I went looking for information on the tax credit. And it was that chart - laying everything out - that we used to write an article for our print newsletter. So thanks!
-Russell
http://www.nohasslelisting.com/

 
Submitted by Joe Stampone on February 18, 2009 - 10:11pm.

I have only been blogging about real estate for a short time now, but I've quickly learned about the Phoenix Real Estate Guy, @PhxREGuy. It's pretty incredible that his blog was the top result on the tax credit, he knows how to utilize social media and really understands the game.

Joe Stampone

http://twitter.com/JoeStampone1

 
Submitted by on February 19, 2009 - 12:28pm.

I did a post on blogging time-sensitive topics over at the Union Street blog.

I include the Google search trend on the stimulus and it matches up very tightly with the traffic graphic that Jay has posted.

This tactic can be applied for local events as well as national/international events. Local events will probably result in less traffic volume but relevance of your business to the visitor.

Great win Jay! It's not just knowing how to use the tools, but knowing the when/why and actually doing it.

G. Dewald | Union Street Media | Blog

 
Submitted by on February 19, 2009 - 2:02pm.

Thanks for the compliments folks! I think Gahlord makes a *great* point about local events. Until this recent traffic surge for the stimulus, my three highest traffic days were two July 3rd's and a couple of days before New Year's Eve.

Yep, people looking for info on where to see fireworks for July 4 and local places to go for New Year's. And the nice thing about this traffic, unlike traffic spurred by national news is that it is ALL local.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by Eric Bouler on February 19, 2009 - 6:55pm.

Eric Bouler
Prudential Gardner
New Orleans,La.
www.neworleanscondotrends.com
www.ericbouler.com

I thought the chart was very helpful comparing the two bills. The mistake was limiting it to first time home buyers. Incentives work and many are instant. I wonder if Democrats understand human nature.

 
Submitted by on February 21, 2009 - 6:29pm.

I have been a long time Jay Thompson Fan and it is one of the blog sites that my brother and I visit daily.

I liked Jay's post on the news and always feel that posting news worth topics on ones blog help keep your readership informed.

Jay's blog keeps people informed but in my opinion it is his "voice" or "style" that keeps people coming back and attracted to it.

It is nice to point out Jay's success with Google but I believe that people get too caught up in the search results and in my opinion it is Jay's results with his customers, his market, and his contributions that are truly of merit.

Visit the blog at: http://www.InternetRealEstateSuccess.com
Real Estate Resources at: http://www.OnlineRealEstateSuccess.com

 
Submitted by Ryan Martin on February 22, 2009 - 1:24pm.

Jay has a great online community going with phoenixrealestateguy.com and he deserves all of the credit that he gets. I always look forward to reading Jay's new blog posts. The fact that phoenixrealestateguy.com ranks so well for terms like "first time home buyers tax credit" goes to show the power of well written blogs in Google.

Ryan Martin ~ Realtor®, e-Pro®
Website: http://ryanmartinrealestate.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RyanRE

 
Submitted by Jonathan Phan on March 5, 2009 - 7:48am.

Thanks for the info!

 
Submitted by Manny Gleua on March 16, 2009 - 10:07am.

Inman News story: congress voted on a $790 billion economic stimulus bill that includes a modest expansion of a first-time homebuyer tax credit and restores to $729,750 the upper loan limit in high-cost areas for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA loan guarantee programs. Why did they do that and also what is latest news update about this issue?

 
Submitted by Jeff Stegich on March 24, 2009 - 8:31am.

I want to do that! Write a blog and send it straight to number one. Impressive achievement, way to go Jay!

eff Stegich, Realtor(R)
Richardson Real Estate