This article published at Inman.
Okay, the holidays are in the rear view mirror and you’re gearing up your marketing to get ready for the spring market. Maybe you’re rebooting that sadly neglected blog you started last year. Maybe you’re re-booting the monthly newsletter to your sphere that hasn’t been sent out in a while. Maybe you’re just trying to get some ideas for some new, fun social media posts so that you can get your name and expertise in front of family, friends, fans, and followers.
Not sure where to start? Never fear -- this list has enough topics to keep you writing all year long.
Caveat: For my blogging clients, I recommend a ratio of 2:1 market-specific to evergreen topics. That way visitors to your blog or your Facebook page will see hyper-local content that shows your market expertise, plus tried and true topics that show your experience and process knowledge.
Evergreen Topics
Perfect any time of year, these tried and true topics let potential clients get a sense of your experience and approach to the questions all Buyers and Sellers eventually ask.
Rent vs. Buy: [Your City]
Rent vs. Sell: [Your City]
[#] Best Tips for Downsizing
Ultimate Guide to the Buying Process
Ultimate Guide to the Selling Process
Most Cost-effective Home Improvements
[#] Best Tips to Make Moving Day Easier
Streamlining the Lending Process
Decorating-related Topics
If you love Pinterest, you probably already know a lot about these topics. Add fun photos to make them really pop.
Improve Your Curb Appeal
Bathroom/Kitchen/Outdoor Re-decorating On a Budget
Top [#] Renovations That Add Value
Best Decorating Ideas for Children’s Room/Playroom/Family Room
Sprucing Up Your Outdoor Space
Decorating Your Small Space
Changing Your Decor for Summer/Winter
Best Holiday Decorating Ideas
Market-related Topics
Take all of those market stats and make them mean something to potential clients by adding your own analysis and observations.
Monthly Market Stats/Snapshot
Market Trends for [Month/Quarter/Year]
Most Popular Home Styles in [Your Market]
Most Expensive Homes Sold This [Month/Quarter/Year]
New Construction in [Your Market]
Biggest Home Value Increases: [Your Market]
Care and Keeping of the Home
These articles help do-it-yourselfers and first time homeowners keep up with all of the little tasks that need to be done around their house.
[Name of Month] Home Maintenance Checklist
Spring Cleaning Checklist
Top [#] Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself
What Do You Need In a Well-Stocked Toolbox?
Lawn Maintenance 101
Front Door Makeover
“Ask a Handyman” (Q and A with a local home repair expert)
“Best Of” Topics
Top Tens, Best ofs, and other listicles to let people know about great local businesses. An excellent tool for outreach to business owners and a perfect place to add your own photography.
Best of or Top Ten…
Family Restaurants
Independent Coffee Shops
Bookstores
Ice Cream Parlors
Places to Workout
Parks/Recreation Areas
Brunches
Outdoor/Rooftop Bars
Happy Hours
Pizza Places
Hamburger Joints
Barbecue/BBQ Restaurants
Seafood Restaurants
Spas/Salons
Seasonal Topics
There’s always something fun going on in your area, right? Let people know (1) where the action is and (2) that you’re always out and about.
Local Fairs and Festivals
St. Patrick’s Day Events
5Ks, Fun Runs, and Marathons
4th of July Celebrations
Back to School Tips
Best Halloween Celebrations
Holiday Light Displays
New Year’s Eve Events
Local History or Human Interest
Whether you live in a quaint New England village with a historical home on every corner or in a suburban enclave, there are always places that are one of a kind and special. Show your local knowledge by sharing the history of these places.
Interview with a long-time business owner
Feature about a building on the National Register of Historic Places
Famous People Who Hail from [Name of Your City]
Feature about a local museum
Interview with the town’s oldest resident
History of the town’s oldest church/house/building
Interview with the town’s newspaper editor
Interview with the mayor / city council representative
Feature about the grand opening of a local business
Whether you want to show off your own knowledge or highlight local people and places, you’re sure to find a topic that will make a great content marketing feature. And remember to repurpose content -- choose a topic, write a blog post about it, shorten that post for your email blast, then promote it on social media. Whatever topic you choose, have fun and let your personality come through. You can’t go out and meet every potential client personally, but you can use your writing to create a “virtual” meeting they’ll remember.