I started blogging less than a year ago and haven't looked back.  In fact, it's been very disappointing to not have enough hours in the day lately to post or comment as often as I would like. 

The good news is, in my opinion, my lack of time to blog is a direct result of my blogging!! 

When I joined Active Rain, I gave serious consideration to the message I wanted to send with the majority of my postings.

I saw this forum as an opportunity to position myself as the Manalapan New Jersey Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!  I've lived in Manalapan almost 17 years and have been raising 2 daughters through the school system.  I'm a Girl Scout Leader and community volunteer.   What better place in which to specialize?

I started posting about community, school and local area events.  I'd post my Manalapan listings.  I'd write about market trends in Manalapan Real Estate.  Working with my Weichert colleague and fellow Manalapan resident, Gail Szeluga, we've been working toward buidling a focus toward reporting on the different communities that make up Manalapan Township.  Soon thereafter we expanded our Manalapan presence via Facebook, Twitter and other Social Networking forums.  Join us (and the 286 other Manalapan residents) on Facebook at the Manalapan Residents Group.

Almost immediately, the phone starting ringing. 

Buyers would find me via posts on Manalapan homes for sale.  Sellers started to stumble upon me when searching for information on Manalapan Township.

I've been thrilled with the response and felt I was making great strides toward my goal of being seen as the source for Manalapan Real Estate information.

Recently, I received a phone call from Ms. Jill Capuzzo.  That's when I KNEW the plan was working!

Jill is a reporter with the New York Times!  She was writing an article on "Living in Manalapan" and needed a local professional to show her around town and fill her on on the local market.  She found MY blog which then led her to my website and finally to my listings!  Don't you just love when a plan comes together??

About a week later, Gail and I had the pleasure of meeting Jill and touring her around Manalapan! 

We visited neighborhoods throughout Southern and Northern Manalapan, as well as East and West of the Route 9 corridor. 

We talked about the award winning Manalapan-Englishtown and Freehold Regional High School Districts.  We covered the newly expanded Manalapan Recreation Center and the recently rejuvenated Thompson Grove Park.  We toured many Manalapan landmarks, including the municipal building, 9/11 memorial, Old Tenennt Church, Holiday Park Duck Pond, Millhurst Mills, historic Englishtown and Pine Brook Golf Course.  We talked about the attraction Manalapan holds for New York City transplants looking for a little extra elbow room while still enjoying a reasonable commute.  Good schools, affordable homes, reasonable taxes... what's not to like?  The time flew by!  Once you start a realtor talking about real estate, good luck getting them to shut up!  We had a blast!

What a thrill it was tonight when I felt my blackberry buzz and looked down to see my most recent Google Alert...

REAL ESTATE   | June 28, 2009
Living In | Manalapan, N.J.:  High Marks for Space, Schools and Location
By JILL P. CAPUZZO

I scanned the article quickly.  As promised, Jill highlighted my Manalapan listing at 9 Old Queens Boulevard.  What I didn't expect was that she would give mention to both myself and Gail!  What a treat!  A great afternoon showing off all our real estate know how, talking about the town we love AND a mention in the New York Times! 

Me!!  In the New York Times!!  Excuse me while I go call my Mommy!! :-)

Jo

JoAnna Siminerio
Weichert Realtors - Marlboro / Manalapan
732-598-6823 cell 732-536-4400 x152 (office)
JoSiminerio@optonline.net
www.JoTheRealtor.com

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