Overview

Overview

Stories is your built-in blogging platform for creating and sharing real estate content. Write compelling blog posts that establish your expertise, attract organic traffic, and convert readers into leads.

What You Can Do:

• Write and publish blog posts about your local market
• Organize stories with categories
• Feature important stories on your homepage
• Save drafts and schedule posts
• Add images and rich media
• Track engagement and views
• Share stories on social media

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Accessing Stories

1. Navigate to Stories from the main menu
2. Your stories dashboard displays all stories by default
3. Use tabs to filter by status: All Stories, Published, Featured, Draft

Quick Stats (top of page):

• Total stories published
• Featured stories count
• Draft stories awaiting publish
• Total views this month

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Stories Dashboard Layout

Main Components

1. Filter Tabs

• All Stories: View everything you've created
• Published: Live stories on your website
• Featured: Stories highlighted on homepage
• Draft: Unpublished stories you're working on

2. Story Cards

• Each story displays as a card with thumbnail
• Shows title, category, publish date
• Status badge (Published, Draft, Featured)
• View count and engagement metrics
• Quick actions menu (Edit, Delete, Feature)

3. Action Buttons

• New Story: Create a new blog post
• Invite Blogger: Add team members who can write
• Categories: Manage story categories
• Settings: Configure blog settings

4. Search & Sort

• Search stories by title or content
• Sort by date, views, or alphabetically
• Filter by category

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Why Blog for Real Estate?

SEO Benefits

Rank for Long-Tail Keywords:

• "Best neighborhoods for families in [Your City]"
• "How to buy a home in [Your Market]"
• "[City] real estate market update 2024"

Build Domain Authority:

• Regular fresh content signals active site to Google
• More indexed pages = more ways to be found
• Internal linking strengthens site structure

Local Search Dominance:

• Hyperlocal content helps you rank for local searches
• Answer specific questions buyers/sellers ask
• Establish yourself as the local expert

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Lead Generation

Attract Organic Traffic:

• People searching for information find your posts
• Educational content builds trust
• Readers become leads

Capture Contact Info:

• Lead forms embedded in stories
• Download premium content in exchange for email
• Newsletter signup calls-to-action

Nurture Relationships:

• Email new posts to your list
• Keep past clients engaged
• Stay top-of-mind with sphere

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Establish Authority

Demonstrate Expertise:

• Market analysis and trends
• Neighborhood insights
• Transaction guidance
• Investment strategies

Build Trust:

• Educational content shows you care
• Transparency builds credibility
• Helpful information positions you as advisor, not salesperson

Stand Out from Competition:

• Most agents don't blog consistently
• Quality content differentiates you
• Become the go-to resource in your market

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Story Types for Real Estate

Market Updates

Monthly Market Reports:

• Sales volume and median prices
• Inventory levels
• Days on market trends
• Year-over-year comparisons

Neighborhood Spotlights:

• Profile a specific neighborhood
• Local amenities and schools
• Recent sales and price trends
• Why buyers love this area

Market Predictions:

• Interest rate outlook
• Seasonal trends
• Economic factors affecting real estate
• What buyers/sellers should know

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Buyer Guides

How-to Content:

• "First-Time Buyer's Guide to [Your City]"
• "How to Make a Strong Offer in a Competitive Market"
• "Understanding Closing Costs"
• "VA Loans Explained"

Property Type Guides:

• "Condo vs Single-Family Home: Which is Right for You?"
• "Investing in Multi-Family Properties"
• "Luxury Home Features to Look For"

Process Guides:

• "The Home Buying Timeline: Week by Week"
• "Getting Pre-Approved: What You Need to Know"
• "Home Inspection Red Flags"

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Seller Resources

Preparation Guides:

• "Getting Your Home Ready to Sell"
• "Top 10 Home Improvements for Maximum ROI"
• "Staging Tips That Work"
• "Pricing Your Home Right"

Selling Strategy:

• "Should You Sell Now or Wait?"
• "How to Sell Your Home Fast"
• "Negotiation Strategies for Sellers"
• "Understanding Seller's Market vs Buyer's Market"

Success Stories:

• Case studies of homes you've sold
• Challenges overcome
• Results achieved
• Testimonials from sellers

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Neighborhood & Lifestyle

Living Guides:

• "10 Best Restaurants in [Neighborhood]"
• "Best Parks and Recreation in [City]"
• "Top-Rated Schools in [Area]"
• "Where to Shop in [District]"

Community Spotlights:

• Local business features
• Community events
• Historical background
• Upcoming developments

Lifestyle Content:

• "Best Neighborhoods for Young Professionals"
• "Family-Friendly Communities in [City]"
• "Waterfront Living: What You Need to Know"
• "Walkability Scores Explained"

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Story Categories

Organize your stories with categories:

Common Categories:

• Market Updates
• Buyer Tips
• Seller Advice
• Neighborhood Guides
• Home Improvement
• Investment Strategies
• First-Time Buyers
• Luxury Real Estate
• Market Analysis
• Community Events

Benefits of Categories:

• Readers can find related content
• Improves site navigation
• Better SEO organization
• Professional blog structure

Learn More: See Categories guide

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Story Status Types

Draft

• Not visible to public
• Work-in-progress
• Edit anytime
• No URL yet assigned
• Perfect for planning content

Use When:

• Starting a new post
• Collecting ideas
• Waiting for information
• Needs review before publishing

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Published

• Live on your website
• Public URL active
• Indexed by search engines
• Appears in blog feed
• Can still edit after publishing

Best Practices:

• Proofread before publishing
• Check all links work
• Optimize images
• Preview on mobile

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Featured

• Published AND highlighted
• Shows on homepage
• Gets prime visibility
• Drives more traffic
• You can feature multiple stories

Feature These:

• Your best market updates
• Important announcements
• Seasonal buying guides
• High-performing content

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Publishing Workflow

Typical story creation flow:

Learn More: See Publishing Stories guide

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Story Content Best Practices

Writing Quality Content

Keep It Readable:

• Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
• Bullet points for lists
• Subheadings every 200-300 words
• Conversational tone
• Active voice

Structure:

• Strong opening hook
• Clear main points
• Practical takeaways
• Call-to-action at end

Length:

• Minimum: 500 words
• Ideal: 800-1200 words
• Long-form (2000+): For comprehensive guides

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SEO Optimization

Title:

• Include target keyword
• Under 60 characters
• Compelling and clear
• Example: "Miami Real Estate Market Update - January 2024"

Meta Description:

• 150-160 characters
• Include keyword
• Enticing summary
• Call-to-action

Content:

• Keyword in first paragraph
• Variations throughout (natural)
• Headers with keywords
• Alt text on images

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Images and Media

Featured Image:

• Required for every story
• 1200x630px minimum
• High quality, relevant
• Appears in social shares

In-Content Images:

• Break up long text sections
• Illustrate key points
• Compress for web (under 200KB)
• Add descriptive alt text

Video:

• Embed YouTube or Vimeo
• Increases engagement
• Great for market updates
• Keep under 5 minutes

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Story Engagement

View Tracking

Metrics Available:

• Total page views
• Unique visitors
• Average time on page
• Traffic sources
• Device types

Use Data To:

• Identify popular topics
• Write more of what works
• Optimize underperforming content
• Plan future content strategy

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Social Sharing

Built-In Sharing:

• Share buttons on every story
• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Email
• Pre-populated share text
• Thumbnail preview

Best Practices:

• Share immediately after publishing
• Reshare top posts monthly
• Create quote graphics from posts
• Post to relevant groups

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Comments (Optional)

Enable comments to:

• Engage with readers
• Answer questions
• Build community
• Get feedback

Moderation:

• Approve before displaying (recommended)
• Respond to all comments
• Delete spam
• Foster constructive discussion

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Content Calendar

Planning Ahead

Monthly Calendar:

• Schedule topics in advance
• Align with market seasons
• Plan around holidays
• Mix content types

Example Monthly Plan:

• Week 1: Market update
• Week 2: Buyer/seller tip
• Week 3: Neighborhood spotlight
• Week 4: How-to guide

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Consistency Over Frequency

Realistic Goals:

• New blog: 1 post per week
• Established blog: 2-3 posts per week
• Minimum viable: 2 posts per month

Batch Writing:

• Write multiple posts in one session
• Schedule throughout month
• Maintain consistency during busy periods
• Reduce decision fatigue

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Team Collaboration

Invite Bloggers

Add team members to write stories:

1. Click Invite Blogger
2. Enter team member email
3. Set permissions (Write, Edit, Publish)
4. They receive invitation
5. Can start writing

Permissions:

• Writer: Create drafts only
• Editor: Write and edit others' drafts
• Publisher: Full publishing rights
• Admin: All permissions + settings

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Review Process

Typical Workflow:

1. Writer creates draft
2. Editor reviews and edits
3. Publisher approves and publishes
4. Admin features top content

Best Practices:

• Establish style guide
• Use consistent voice
• Fact-check all claims
• Proofread before publishing

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Mobile Stories Management

Full mobile functionality:

Mobile Features:

• Write and edit stories on phone/tablet
• Upload images from camera
• Publish from anywhere
• Quick idea capture
• Voice-to-text writing

Mobile Best Practices:

• Draft ideas immediately when they come
• Take photos for future stories
• Quick edits on the go
• Final formatting on desktop

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Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Monthly Market Update

1. Gather market data (MLS, county records)
2. Create draft with "Market Update" category
3. Write analysis and trends
4. Add charts/graphs
5. Include featured listings
6. Publish on first of month
7. Email to entire contact list
8. Share on social media
9. Feature on homepage

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Workflow 2: Neighborhood Guide

1. Research neighborhood
2. Take photos of area
3. Draft outline (schools, amenities, lifestyle)
4. Write compelling description
5. Add local businesses and highlights
6. Include current listings
7. Optimize for "[Neighborhood] homes for sale"
8. Publish and promote
9. Link from area library page

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Workflow 3: How-To Guide

1. Identify common client question
2. Outline step-by-step solution
3. Write comprehensive guide
4. Add examples and visuals
5. Include FAQ section
6. Create downloadable checklist
7. Gate checklist with email capture
8. Publish guide
9. Use as lead magnet

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Stories vs Social Media

Stories (Your Blog):

• You own the content
• Permanent and searchable
• SEO benefits
• Professional presentation
• Detailed, long-form content

Social Media:

• Rented space (platform owns it)
• Temporary visibility
• No SEO value
• Casual, short-form content
• Good for promotion

Best Strategy: Write on your blog, share excerpts on social media, link back to full post

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Quick Reference

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