Anyone who’s tried their hand at writing knows that there are no easy jobs in the field. Even if you’re talented, becoming a real estate writer means putting in the time and effort to get good at your craft but it’s worth it! In this post, I’ll share some of my experiences as a newbie writer and offer tips for how to break into this competitive industry. If you want to become a full-time freelance writer, keep reading!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Real estate writing involves understanding the industry’s nuances and trends. |
| 2. Building a strong foundation in basic real estate writing principles is essential. |
| 3. Crafting compelling property descriptions and bios is a key aspect of the role. |
| 4. Real estate writers often contribute to marketing strategies for properties. |
| 5. Finding your first gig may require networking and showcasing your skills. |
| 6. Improving copywriting abilities can enhance your effectiveness as a writer. |
| 7. Collaboration with realtors and agents can broaden your opportunities. |
| 8. Embracing continuous learning is crucial in the dynamic field of real estate writing. |
| 9. Marketing insights and SEO knowledge are valuable skills for success. |
| 10. A combination of creativity and industry knowledge sets successful writers apart. |
Before You Break Into Freelance Writing, Do Your Research
Before you break into freelance writing, do your research. You’ll need to know what the job market looks like and how much you can expect to earn as a freelance writer. You’ll also want to do some research on how freelance writers get started and what steps it takes for them to succeed in their field.
For example, if you’re interested in becoming a real estate writer and want to know what it’s like being an expert on all things home buying/selling/renting, then consider these three questions:
What is the market like right now?
How long does it take me to expect my first paycheck?
What are my chances of success at this point (this is especially important if there are no other writers in your area)?
Building a strong foundation in real estate writing starts with understanding the basics of real estate writing. Mastering these fundamental concepts can pave the way for a successful writing career in the industry.
Learn How To Pitch Editors And Publications
As a real estate writer, you’ll need to know how to pitch editors and publications. You can build your portfolio by pitching stories that are relevant to your audience and the publication you’ve targeted.
Before you start, make sure you’re familiar with AP Stylebook (the gold standard in terms of style guides) and have a good grasp on the rules of grammar (like knowing when “less” is used as an adjective versus “fewer”). You’ll also want to spend some time researching how others have approached similar stories before pitching them yourself.
You don’t need any professional experience as long as you show off what makes YOU unique. As long as your writing is clear, concise, and compelling enough for an editor or publisher to pay attention and then do something about it you can get started right away.
Build Your Portfolio And Online Presence
If you want to be a real estate writer, you must have an online presence. This is because the internet is where most people search for information, and buyers will typically go to Google or other search engines like Bing and Yahoo 96% of consumers visit local websites before they make any purchase decisions.
Now if you’re serious about becoming a real estate writer, then I recommend that you build up your portfolio first. For example, one way would be through having a website with content from previous articles that are related to real estate writing as well as interviews with other professional writers in this field (like myself).
You can also create an online portfolio with links that lead back directly into your website so prospective clients can easily find more content on topics related to what type(s) of writing services do best at delivering results when working together.
Crafting an engaging and informative real estate agent bio can greatly impact your online presence. Learn the 7 essential steps to writing a bio that captures attention and resonates with potential clients.
Keep Track Of Your Finances
As a real estate writer, you need to keep track of your finances. Before I started writing about real estate and investing, I was very bad at keeping track of my money and budgeting. Now that I write about it daily, I’m more aware of how much things cost and how much money I spend each month.
I recommend getting an app called Mint that helps you keep track of all your expenses and income so that you can see where the money is going (and isn’t).
It’ll also show you how much money is coming in versus going out each month so that if there are areas where there’s not enough cash flow coming into the household then it may be time for some adjustments to save some cash!
Manage Your Time Well
You should make a habit of planning your day, your week, and even your month in advance. Use a calendar to schedule all of the activities you have going on throughout the week.
You can also use a to-do list to keep track of tasks that need to be accomplished each day. Review it first thing each morning, so you know what needs to be done and when it needs to get done.
It’s important not only to prioritize your tasks but also to say no to things if they aren’t getting done. It’s easy for us writers because we have deadlines!
Your boss won’t care if you leave an hour early on Fridays if he knows that no deadlines are coming up next week; however, if he knows that this article needs to be finished by Friday afternoon or else someone will miss their flight back home from Europe…well then maybe he’ll be more understanding!
Another important tip is not multitasking it makes you less efficient (and probably less pleasant). Try not to work late at night unless necessary; this can lead to burnout mode very quickly!
Learn How To Self-Edit And Proofread Your Work
Make sure to check your work for errors. There’s nothing worse than getting paid to write something and then seeing all the mistakes in your writing. It’s not only embarrassing, but it also reflects poorly on you and your professionalism.
There are lots of ways to make sure you catch those mistakes before they get published, like reading through what you’ve written out loud or even having someone else read it aloud for you.
You can also use a dictionary and thesaurus to make sure you’re using appropriate words in their correct context, as well as check for any plagiarized material by using tools like Microsoft Word’s “Plagiarism” function (which comes preinstalled on newer versions) or Turnitin if needed.
You may also want an editor who has experience with real estate writing and/or editing if so, contact us today!
Elevating your real estate copywriting skills can lead to more compelling property descriptions and marketing materials. Explore these 15 ways to improve your real estate copywriting to create captivating content that resonates with your target audience.
Familiarize Yourself With The Ap Stylebook
As a real estate writer, you’ll be expected to write in a professional manner that is consistent with widely used publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. For example, if you’re writing an article about the sale of an investment property, do not use terms like “flip” or “turnkey.” Instead, use terms like “resale” or “complete turnkey.”
The AP Stylebook is the authoritative source for writing style and grammar usage in news reporting. It contains more than 8,700 entries on many topics from commas to foreign names to numbers and it’s an invaluable resource for anyone who wants their writing to be consistent with industry standards.
When You’re First Starting, Expect To Work For Cheap Or Even For Free
There’s no way around it: when you are just getting started, you will probably have to work for free or cheap. You will need to build up your portfolio, get your name out there and build a track record before you can expect to make much money in this career.
Use The Right Tools
Use a good word processor. I use Microsoft Word, which is the industry standard. I also have Google Docs for spreadsheets and Quickbooks for accounting.
Use a good writing program. Scrivener is what I use, but there are others out there that you might like better (like Writing Kit).
Use a good database. My database of choice is ACT!, but there are other options as well if you want something simpler or more robust than what ACT! provides by default (or vice versa). If you’re not sure where to start with databases, then simply go with whichever one your real estate agency uses assuming it’s not Zillow Real Estate IDX!
Specialize In A Certain Type Of Content Or Niche If You Can’t Decide On One Industry
You should also consider specializing in a certain type of content or niche if you can’t decide on one industry. For example, I’m currently writing about how to buy and sell real estate in the Bay Area and that’s pretty much it. I don’t write about any other topics related to real estate because my focus is narrow and specific.
The reason for this is simple: It’s hard enough to keep up with one industry, let alone a whole bunch of them! If you try and do too much at once, you’ll get overwhelmed quickly and won’t have time left over to earn money as a writer (at least not as much).
If your goal is simply “to make money as a writer,” then perhaps it makes sense to specialize in several different industries at once but if your goal is “to build my brand” or “become an expert on something,
Then narrowing down what exactly that something is will help take some pressure off yourself while also giving potential clients more than just another generic writer who covers every topic under the sun (and ends up boring everyone).
Searching for your first gig as a real estate writer can be challenging, but following these 15 tips on how to find your first real estate writing gig can help jumpstart your career in the field. Discover strategies to land your initial writing opportunities.
Patience Is Key When It Comes To Becoming A Freelance Writer Starting From Scratch Takes Time And Effort
It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re working on writing and can’t see the end in sight. Let this go, and remind yourself that there is no magic trick that will make your work sell itself. You have to work at it every day, or else nothing will happen.
Patience is key when it comes to becoming a freelance writer starting from scratch takes time and effort.
Expectations are often set too high for new writers, so try not to put pressure on yourself right away; instead, consider every piece of writing an opportunity for growth as a writer and as a person who wants more out of life than just earning money (which is never guaranteed anyway).
Be Open About Making Mistakes And Learning From Them
Your readers should know you’re not perfect. It’s better if they know you’re not perfect because it gives them confidence in the quality of your work and advice. So be open about making mistakes and learning from them.
Don’t be afraid to admit that there are some things that you don’t know and that’s okay! You can always ask for help or advice or feedback so long as it doesn’t come off as arrogant or snobby (which isn’t always easy).
If a reader knows what kind of human being they’re dealing with before reading any given article, then they can better decide whether it’s worth spending their time on it or not based on what kind of person wrote it in the first place.”
Write About What You Know, But Don’t Be Afraid To Learn About New Topics. You Never Know Where An Opportunity Might Take You!
The most important thing to remember when writing about a topic is that you need to understand the basics. Otherwise, you may end up making mistakes or embarrassing yourself.
For example, if you’re writing about real estate and don’t know what an appraisal is or how it works, then your readers will notice those mistakes and they won’t trust your opinion in future articles.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that asking questions is okay! This might seem like an obvious point, but many people are afraid of looking dumb by asking questions when they don’t understand something.
But that shouldn’t stop anyone from wanting to find out more about something new and interesting unless of course there’s someone else who already knows all about it. Someone like me!
Stay Connected With Other Writers And In The Industry By Reading Publications And Attending Events (Like Conferences) When You Can
Read industry publications, like CREJ and the CORE Group.
Attend conferences, like the National Association of Real Estate Editors’ (NAREB) annual event or the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Online Retail Conference & Expo.
Network with other writers and editors. Talk to them about what they do, how they got into writing—and especially what mistakes they made along the way that you can avoid yourself!
Get feedback on your work from other writers and editors who will be honest with you but also tell you what works in your writing style so that you can improve over time.
Talk With Other Writers About Their Experiences Starting So That You Can Learn From Them Too
The best way to learn is to talk with other writers about their experiences. Learning from your own mistakes is okay, but learning from the mistakes of others is better for two reasons. First, it can help you avoid making similar mistakes yourself; second, it will help you know what you need to do differently if you do end up making those same mistakes anyway.
Learning from other people’s successes can be just as helpful as learning from their failures because they’re an important part of the writing process too (even if they weren’t successful). By talking with other writers about their experiences and successes, we can all become more effective real estate writers by using each other as resources and inspiration!
Effective real estate writing often aligns with successful marketing tactics. Explore innovative real estate marketing ideas that can yield tangible results and enhance your ability to reach and engage your target audience.
Becoming A Real Estate Writer Isn’t Easy, But It’s Worth The Effort!
Becoming a real estate writer isn’t easy, but it’s worth the effort!
For those of you who are just getting started with your job search, here are some things to keep in mind:
It takes hard work and commitment to become a successful real estate writer. You might have to work long hours at first, but once you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field and built up a bit of experience under your belt, there will be plenty of growth opportunities.
The best part about being a real estate writer is that it can be so much fun! Not only do you meet many different kinds of people every single day (and get paid for doing so), but there are also plenty of opportunities for networking and collaboration with other writers trying to build their portfolios.
If you’re looking for work/life balance, this might not be the right line of work for you but what matters most is making money while having fun doing something creative and engaging. Well, there may not be any better options than being a real estate writer!
Conclusion
As you can see, becoming a real estate writer is a challenging but rewarding career. If you’re willing to put in the work, there are many opportunities for you to succeed as a freelancer. And the best part?
You get the chance to be your boss! While it might take some time before you start making money from your writing, keep going and don’t give up. Your hard work will pay off eventually if you stick with it long enough (and who knows what else could happen in between?).
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic of real estate writing:
What People Look for in a Real Estate Writer: Discover the key attributes and skills that clients seek when hiring a real estate writer to enhance their marketing efforts.
4 Reasons a Realtor Should Work with a Real Estate Writer: Learn about the benefits of collaborating with a skilled real estate writer and how it can boost a realtor’s business.
Real Estate Broker Career: What You Need to Know: Gain insights into the real estate broker profession, including the required skills, education, and potential earnings.
FAQs
What are the essential skills for a successful real estate writer?
Successful real estate writers should possess strong communication skills, a deep understanding of the real estate industry, the ability to craft compelling property descriptions, and proficiency in SEO techniques for effective online marketing.
How can a real estate writer benefit a realtor’s business?
A real estate writer can add value to a realtor’s business by producing high-quality property descriptions, blog posts, and marketing materials that engage potential buyers, enhance online presence, and showcase listings effectively.
What are some common misconceptions about real estate writing?
A common misconception is that real estate writing is solely about property descriptions. In reality, it also involves creating informative blog content, market analysis reports, and engaging social media posts to attract and educate clients.
What is the role of a real estate broker, and what skills do they need?
A real estate broker serves as a middleman between buyers and sellers, overseeing real estate transactions. They need skills in negotiation, market analysis, legal regulations, customer service, and effective communication to succeed in this role.
How can I pursue a career as a real estate broker?
To pursue a career as a real estate broker, you typically need to complete the required education and licensing requirements in your jurisdiction. You’ll then gain experience as a real estate agent before advancing to the broker level, where you can oversee your own brokerage or team.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.