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Defining Blogging Success

After being in and out of ActiveRain over the past couple days I came back online to ActiveRain to see what was up. The first thing that popped up was an anonymous comment for an older post I wrote in the beginning of the year. The details don't matter anymore..the significance to put out there what I've learned in my time of blogging on ActiveRain is.

It's about those that haven't even tried it that sit there and condemn.

No matter how many years one has in the Real Estate Industry surely does not matter when it comes to bragging about it and trying to puff ones self up over another person. No matter how many years, points or milestones one achieves on ActiveRain it doesn't matter when the behaving in a professional humane manner...... goes out the window.

Hopefully, the anonymous commenter will read this and try to understand the importance of using blogging in their marketing IS one of the best tools there is:

Success in blogging is not measured by how many posts, how many points or how many comments I have but measured by how much effort and how hard I worked to get to where I am today. Okay...so it does matter but we receive those points, features and comments from continuous hard work and effort. Lenn Harley taught me that it it good for the soul :)
Success in blogging means connecting with peers. Katerina Gasset sent a gift of appreciation for helping her get documents here in Honolulu for her case in Latvia. We help each other out and give back to each other and the community.
Success in blogging is the understanding that there was a starting point (a 'birth' if you will) and one day 'may' end on this network...but it's what I did in between that matters. What kind of Legacy do you want to leave behind?.
Success in blogging is a constant learning lesson regarding the way I interact with people on line. I have learned that the majority of people here are sincere and that the few that are deceitful and play games are just a drop in a bucket. ActiveRain's Weltanschauung is a great guideline of principles to live by in this blogging world.
Success in blogging means the keep growing, keep learning and the best example I can give of a teacher is Brad Andersohn. He KNOWS his stuff and I have learned so much from his tutorials and posts of learning tools. Read his: AN ACTIVERAIN ACTIVE-BOOK
Success in blogging means I am content with the leads and the clients I have received through my hard work and effort. Blogging does pay off and is one of the best marketing tools in the Real Estate Industry. Because of Laurie Manny and Lenn Harley I have learned so much about the importance of blogging and how the 'juice' is found.
Success in blogging means that I keep balance in all I write to keep my readers not only interested; but entertained too. Whether it be Localism, Real Estate or a Life Lesson post, I try to make sure I am contributing not only to the community but to the public as well. Rich Jacobson understands the importance of balance in writing in ActiveRain - "A Purpose-Driven Community" and Jon Washburn in What makes a good real estate blog post.
Success in blogging is earned from respecting others and NOT running over them to prove my point or views. Nor does it mean that I keep commenting continuously when someone doesn't agree with what I said .....to prove my point. It is not my job to be your moral judge nor yours to be mine. And written very well by Lisa Hill in Blogging & Commenting Protocol. Know your Netiquette!
Success in blogging is the gut feeling while clicking that 'submit' button that I did not write it to create havoc or intentionally try and hurt anyone. It is not my job to criticize but it is my intent to support you. Midori Miller and Never Forget Your Humble Roots! Pay It Forward! surely got me going on this post :)
Success in blogging allows me to grow and learn and not stay stuck in my own mind. I change like a chameleon in life; and so the same in blogging. The things I may have disagreed with you before I may agree with you today. Appreciation and Gratitude to Colleen Kulikowski who helped me with titles and content.
Success in blogging means that I want to leave the reader with the impression that I am the person who is typing ....and if they want to find out they can pick up the phone and call. I am reachable and what you 'see' is what you get. No games or hiding behind the keyboard. Bob Stewart also wrote Who sets the tone? and not only do we need to be available BUT also, being mindful of how we are answering the phone
Success in blogging has allowed me to meet many professionals and expand my network of referrals nationwide. I make sure that I get to know the person I may refer to and will not refer just because they are members of ActiveRain...but that they are qualified. Kathy McGraw in "Traveling the Road of Aloha....The ActiveRain MEETING with Peers" and MANY friends in 2008 First Hawaii ActiveRain Gathering a HUGE Success! and Breeding Friends Through a REAL Estate Network: ActiveRain are stories about all the people I've met. There are some I have not met but I am connected to as well. MANY! (I do have to mention my good friend William Johnson though :)
Success in blogging happened because I was given this opportunity on ActiveRain to utilize all that was given to me to learn, expand and grow in my business as well as connecting on a positive level with my peers. Thanks to the ActiveRain Gang!

Each and every member will make their own Success in Blogging if they are willing to be consistent, work hard, put a lot of thought, a lot of effort and keep it real in their writing. I interact with the public, clients and our peers every single day in real life and real life here. I have learned that it becomes a meeting of the minds and it's the respect we have for each other on ActiveRain that makes us all successful with our interactions with others as well as our business.

What we write here is a reflection on who we are as well as our professional attitude in our industry.

Bring a bad attitude online and it will surely depict an attitude carried offline.

We share our knowledge, input and opinions and show the consumer /peers that we know what we are talking about. We show our demeanor through our writing so that the consumer / peers can grasp a little of our personality within that knowledge. We connect.

Blogging For Business and Connecting with Peers. For me, that IS Success in Blogging.

What's YOUR Story?

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate on 06/02/2009 01:20 PM

Comments (25)

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25 Comments on Defining Blogging Success

JUN

For me, I felt like a successful blogger the day one of my clients told me the last thing she does before turning off her pc for the night, is read my blog. I aim to write a blog that is useful to my potential buyers and since most of them are out of town, I try to write about information about our area that will assist them in making an informed decision.

Write on!

That was a grea blog Celeste and pooh pooh to that anonymous criticiser. Nice thing to do anonymously....

I love the way you define your success. In the past, I've let the world defined my success by monetary value or number of transactions closed as a result of blogging.

For me, it's having to tell a story and when others write back - whether in a comment or personal emails to thank me, in turn becomes inspirations for me to keep coming back to share my stories, that's how I define my success.

I love to tell stories and I never knew I was good at it until I found Active Rain.

Amen. In this tech-centric world, blogging is one of the most valuable tools we have at our disposal. Nice presentation, Sally!

All of your points are right on target. I think as you've stated, there are multiple benefits of reading and writing blogs.

Sally, there is really not that much more to say, you didn't leave much of anything out.

My success is in education, which will later translate into more business I am sure. I have found a voice, through words and photographs. I have made, in my short time here, friends that I look forward to seeing every day. I have learned volumes about which direction I need to move my business activities in. I have also learned more in the short time I have been here about the changing face of real estate. I have never gained as much knowledge from any class or seminar I have attended throughout my career as I have learned here on AR. There are so many more things that AR has brought me, or brought out in me I should say.

Thank you for a great post! I will go back and check out your links. But for now, I am doing work on my own website and just needed an AR break, LOL.

I love this place and everything you have pointed out..to me one of the key factors of blogging success is the relationships you build prior to meeting someone face to face! I just realized we haven't chatted in sometime..may have to play catch up with you sometime next week! Awesome post and thanks for the mention..

Hi Sally - Completely off subject....just stopped by to say "hello" haven't talked to you in awhile and hope all is well : )

I haven't found anything that compares to what ActiveRain has to offer. We are so blessed to have this platform, and each other. I also have a long list of those that continue to support and help me as I try to improve my blogging skills. I just wish I had more time lately......so busy!

Sally, such well thought out ways to look at success in blogging. I really think it is defined by the individual. To me, it keeps me off the street and out of trouble for a little bit of time each day ; )

Sally, I am with Andrea, you covered it all, and left nothing for me to throw my two cents in ........ LOL

George: I felt ill after going back and forth with the anonymous commenter....I deleted all those back and forth comments and left the link to this post. ...... Do I ever leave anything undone? :)

Gary: It is defined by each individual ...and yes, keeps us 'off the street' and minds in the gutter and gives us a reprieve with positive, enlightening, educational reading as well as connecting with each other.

Ann: I agree. And yes, I've neglected commenting and could only get up a couple posts the past few days after being sick with bronchitis. Now I just have to catch up on chores.....just washed the dog...now going to dye my hair....after a few more comments...just a few more...lol!

Sandy: Yup...I had to run by your too!

Midori: Hey girl! yup...long time...we get so caught up don't we?

Andrea: Yeah...you gave George something to add to this lol I'm in total agreement with you....there is NOTHING that compares to AR. I know...I'm a loyal fan of 2 yrs. 3 mos. :)

Jon: Yes there are....I didn't realize ...until I became a member here....i have learned more here than anywhere....and it kept me interested for sure!

Gary: It sure is! Some would like to presume that the ones who blog don't do any work. By golly, I make time for this like some do for a drink in a bar....or golfing....which I do neither lol.

Loreena: I think many define their succes that way. I think you know...with a little one ...that family is one of the priorities....the personalization in our blogging is what defines us ...it makes us more than just.....words.

Kathy: Yup...had to catch myself...we all start getting caught up trying to defend our views...but sometimes it just has to end.....agree to disagree... but nope...the person kept coming back. Geez. Get a life. :)

Linda: It's amazing what young ones think. My broker's grandchild thinks I'm the world for writing the Profit from Technology with 8 other members here. I love that attention! An innocent, ya know?

Sally, Every single one of those points have a lot of merit. I am here for the same reasons and can't think of a better place to be. Blogging has been a treasure trove of things I hadn't expected and blogging on AR has brought me things I hadn't dreamed of including wonderful friends and lots of business. This is a wonderful post and I, too love that we leave a legacy behind.

Carole: Oh...the joys of our membership here on the rain my friend... All I know is that my legacy includes connecting with more of my peers...networking and actually making friends...we need a phone call going on soon....I think that's what's missing...I haven't connected the past week....too sick :)

Sally I hope you are feeling better. Success is when a client calls because they have read my blog. Success is when another agent calls with a referral because they read my blog. Success is feeling that I'm making a difference one day at a time.

Hey cindy...still not 100% but got enough to go out and take pics for putting up listing tomorrow. I think any contact from my blog or website is success....it means I'm doing something right :) I bet you are making a difference too!

Sally...

As you may or may not know, I have been the victim of a local blogging naysayer that continually attacked me and my cohorts here at AR.

The upshot was he was hastily dispatched to his own private pit where all of the lonely complainers go ... good riddance says I!

Excellent post, full of passion!

Sally- All those people that taught you, taught you well. You have been a consistent Poster, consistent defender of all that is Professional in Real Estate, and a good friend to boot. No one can take that away from you or anyone else here, especially when they do it anonymously.

Off subject...today I was at the AAA and they had lei's all over and buttons and stuff saying Hawaii For Sale...I tried to get you a button, and thought it was cute..Hawaii for Sale :)

WOO HOO,Welcome back and hope you are feeling better. I was going to call but know when you are feeling crummy, the last thing you want is to talk on the phone. But then you know I was watching from afar and making sure you are OK. So that said, this is something of a blueprint form those that want to understand how to connect, how to write and how to build your friendships that you do so well. There are lots of to do's and not to do's but if you have heart and try, the most important part of blogging will be realized and that is Connecting. Friends, Clients, other related professionals, it all comes about the same way. Putting yourself out there and giving it the best you got and adding some heart for good measure. Formula for success ( defined by each individual in their own time and way). You set the standard Sally.

JUN

Richard: I don't usually get those kinds of comments....I guess once in awhile is not so bad :)

Kathy: Yeah...I know...it's just irritating...and I was still sickie and stuff. Hawaii for Sale...cute.

William: Still not 100%...this stuff lingers. I seem to have lagged a bit...but that's okay....I'm working too...one buyer in contract, listing signed :) All while sick. :)

Connecting is key to blogging for sure. We connect with each other, the public, the consumer and friends and it doesn't stop there.

Success can be defined in a lot of ways, for me success means that I have reached people through my blog. It doesn't have to mean something great, just a connection made.

Sally- Thank you so much for mentioning me in your post. I will forever be grateful for your help. We are going to trial again next week. Keep your fingers crossed!

I get those nasties too. The good thing is they are not so evident here on the rain. There are some places out there in the real estate online world where nasties live for the next agent to be mean too! I started in those places, learned to bite my tongue and kept telling myself I was just there to get the link to our website.

Then one day, I found your blog on Hawaii. Since Hawaii is a part of my soul and my favorite place I've ever lived- well I read more, and then I realized what a good writer you are and your photos and stories were the last thing that I read each night before I went to bed.

One day soon after that, I joined active rain and that is all she wrote, LOL!

BTW- they are gorgeous!

Hi Sally - I'm glad you seem to be feeling better. You have put a lot of effort and organization into this post and filled it full of links to references to help anyone who is having questions about how to be a successful blogger and how blogging can benefit us. You are a very giving lady and I'm glad to be one of yor AR friends.

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