Niches posts are most powerful.  Generic posts that compete with general advice sites for real estate are good filler for a web site, but not a primary attractant.

Providing specific real estate information (patio homes, new construction, subdivisions) with links to current homes for sale has been the most productive posts for us.

Anyone who "promises" quick results in real estate or anything else should be looked upon as highly suspect.  

Be Yourself.  Know your business.  Be consistent.  If your blogging strategy includes ActiveRain, understand the "game" and play nice on the playground.  Be involved. 

Of course, one needs to decide if blogging is the "right" fit.

Blogging is not a "quick" business generator.  However, there are things that can be done to build readership and get your message to your audience sooner than waiting for SEO.  Develop a strategy for building readership. Blog regularly about the things your audience will find interesting. Proofread before hitting publish, preferably by someone else to pick up spelling errors and grammar mistakes. 

• Decide on who your audience is and write with them in mind
• Localism topics
• Local market stats
• Local & Market stories that educate or captivate readers
• As Richie Alan Naggar stated, use titles and tag-lines that grab attention (I use humor and double entendres often).
• Constancy: I'd pre-write a few and stay ahead of the surplus, releasing them weekly if not daily. (It's what I did in the early years).

Post about your listings.

Post about what is going on in your market.

BE FREAKING ARTICULATE. Learn how to write well if you don't know how.
You are PUBLISHING something that shows you are smart or not smart.

Convey information that 'you wanted to know starting out'.

Real Estate is like a box of chocolates.  The bigger the box the more inside.  

Real Estate is also a tough business that requires knowledge, dedication etc.  etc.  Blogging is a discipline that forces you to learn and practice what you learn.  

The best tip is to develop a plan then stick to it and change as required. 

My colleges here mentioned recently that market reports as being a leader in getting responses.  That means you need to learn your local market and stay top of mind with those folks who are in the market.  

I wish I knew... I do and have done everything Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor e-Pro, CRS, RCS-D, Vets suggested for years and years... still waiting for that business to generate.

There are actually six essential ingrediants.

1. Know who your audience is.

1- must be public

2- great headlines that are likely to be long tail searches

3- link to homes for sale on your own site

Bill Spear is right.... write about your niche and make sure you have links to sites that reflect that niche....

Be prolific

Post frequently

Interact frequently

Quantity does trump quality, though the message is important, the flood of tons of lesser posts, comments and questions will do a much better job of getting your name out there and seen.

I like Susan Emo 's answer.  Ron and I have always preached niches and localism.  And times have changed, there is a definite push to human interaction.  I think that should be first course of action, and then blogging.  Like I have mentioned before, the majority of our clients do not blog and do very, very well.  A

I agree about niches and being hyper local.  Community info is always appreciated and for me, dining and decor give me a lot of feedback on the street.  My home is affectionately known as Emo's Eating Emporium and people reach out to me about those posts which I have linked to series of gourmet kitchens in my listings and outdoor cooking with others.  Linking my personality to my business is what attracts new clients for me and reminds others that I'm still alive and kicking!

A catchy "tag-line" which promotes familiarity and recognition for one. Repetition for another and lastly meaningful content or what is the point? Consider also to finish what is started and respect the long-term

Niches to riches.

Consistency.

Long-tail keywords.

Professional attitude.

Easy to read format.

Proper grammar.

Blog hard about one subdivision or area and own it. We don't have subdivisions here but I chose an area with a lot of condos and write constantly about that. I've gotten lots of attention with it - a few sales and lots of almost-sales. But people are always looking at those posts.

Know the target market, create accurate market reports, post in several places and be sincere in your efforts!

I have not yet discovered that secret formula.

Realize that it's a long term play.  It's not likely that you'll generate business from a blog in the short term, especially if it's on a new site (google sandbox and all).

You also have to write for what people are searching for.  "Newly Remodeled Pool Home" is a fair title, but it's not likely to be something people seach for.

Blog hyperlocal. I had good success in highlighting other businesses and giving weekly Real Estate market reports.

Blog daily. Blog about something local. Blog about your listings. Blog about neighborhoods in your area. Do NOT make it look like an ad. Do not brag. Make it short, sweet and packed with something they want to read. I like using examples of what works or what did not work and how i fixed it, helping a client. 

I used to be able to pinpoint that. Now, the only posts I'm getting calls from are the evergreen posts - nothing new. But, that's okay because we learned how to write them, tag them and use longtail keywords back in the beginning and Google LOVED us! 

That is no longer true with new posts but, again, those evergreen hyperlocal posts are still driving business our way.

Pick a niche or neighborhood and blog consistently.  If you do a couple times a week, Google will value your content.

First step - talk to a successful blogger first and listen to what they suggest. Step 2. Do it exactly as they tell you.  Step 3 Lather, rinse, repeat over and over and over and over again. Have fun too!

Have links to your website, facebook page, twitter account, listings and anything else that allows them to get in touch with you.

Niche for certain.  However, I would never suggest that a blog will generate anything "quickly" or most quickly.  It takes time but we know niches do work and when we are found online for the niche, whatever it happens to be, the phone rings. 

That's the problem.. looking and expecting quick blogging and then talk about the leads and money rolling in. It does not work that way. You start daily, you build momentum and many bail out because they expect the quick route. Hard work, dedication, blog posting something worthwhile that saves time and money for your followers. It takes years to fine turn the business generator.