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Steve Shatsky, the Dallas Real Estate Blogger?

By
Industry Observer

There are so many benefits to being a member of the ActiveRain community that I have experienced first-hand.  In addition to the wonderful friends I have made through A|R, one of my favorites is the visibility that blogging on ActiveRain has brought me among prospective clients and other Dallas Real Estate agents.

This week I received a call from buyers I have been working with.  They thought they saw a home that would be perfect for them and someone had just put up a "coming soon" sign in front of it.  I checked MLS, no record of it, so I called the agent whose name was on the sign.  I did not know the agent personally, so when she answered, I gave her my name, and before I could get any further, she interjected "Oh wow!  Are you Steve Shatsky, the blogger?

I laughed.  I had never received such an enthusiastic response from an agent I didn't already know.  I responded that, yes, I was that Steve Shatsky, and that when I am not blogging, I also sell Real Estate in Dallas.  We had a nice laugh and visited about Blogging and ActiveRain.  She has recently started blogging and I offered her my assistance if she needed any pointers.

Anyhow, I asked her about the home and she explained that it was not in showing condition because the owners were in the process of moving out but that it would be available in a few days and she would give me a call the moment she had the OK to show it.

I called my clients and when I told them that they would have the opportunity to have the first showing on this home, I looked like a hero to them.  The Dallas Real Estate market can be a very competitive one, so an agent who is recognized and connected in the community is an invaluable resource.   I have always kept a visible presence professionally, but it is clear that while making connections on A|R with agents across Texas, the U.S. and Canada has benefitted my business, as more local agents join the ActiveRain ranks, the effect on my local visibility in Dallas has risen as well.

How has your ActiveRain or Localism blogging increased your visibity locally? 

Comments(13)

Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Steve - Sounds like a RainMaker upgrade conversion opportunity. LOL.

I've never had such enthusiastic response but I've been interviewed in the Frisco local newspaper. That was kinda cool in my world.

Jul 18, 2009 12:33 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Steve - This is always a cool experience.  Get used to it!  I have had this happen a number of times here in Austin.  Great feeling!

Jul 18, 2009 12:51 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Steve, this is a very cool story!  Way to go!

Jul 18, 2009 01:20 PM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

How neat!!   I'm waiting for people up here to learn how to spell 'blog' first!!!   Great job.

Jul 18, 2009 01:27 PM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Awesome Steve,  I've had several situations like that too.  AR is wonderful for advertising ourselves with customers and other agents.

Jul 18, 2009 01:29 PM
COMPASS PALM SPRINGS | Stewart Penn
COMPASS - Palm Springs, CA
COMPASS Palm Springs - Broker Associate

Steve - Another great example of "The Power of Blogging".

Look at the credibility you had the minute the Listing Agent recognized your name.

I wholeheartedly believe that blogging is an integral part of the future success of Real Estate Brokers. 

I have a good feeling you'll be selling that new listing soon ... lots of luck!

Jul 18, 2009 01:41 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hey Kiddo - Glad to know that when you aren't blogging you are actually selling real estate lol.  I had a call a few days ago from someone from California moving here to Oakville with a job transfer for 2 years. 

They arrived yesterday and we looked at rental properties.  The wife said she has always picked her REALTORS from the internet and after checking me out, they felt I would be able to assist them.

As an aside, they also said they had lived in Connecticut for 10 yrs before moving to California two years ago.  They loved their agent in Conn. and became good friends.

They said their Agent in California kept trying to persuade them not to buy the house they ultimately did buy in a golf course community.  Needless to say that agent will not be getting their listing now.

Jul 18, 2009 03:36 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Steve:  Congratulations on getting recognized like that.  It's nice when we get recognition like that... and also when it really hits us that someone out there is actually READING our blog.  Way to go, Steve.

Jul 18, 2009 06:04 PM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

As the first person to recognize your name as an ActiveRain blogger, I applaud your continuing efforts to stay connected to buyers, sellers, and other agents through your blog.  I'll never forget joining a table of agents at the Oak Lawn MLS meeting and seeing your name on your name tag!  It was instant name recognition.

Jul 19, 2009 01:54 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Loreena... She's already a RainMaker!  Drats!  The newspaper attention is great too.  It feels good, doesn't it?

Hi Jason... I have had it happen before... but the feeling never gets old!

Hi Pat... Thanks... it came at the end of a long day, so it was really quite a nice way to end it.

Hi Susan... LOL.  Thanks!

Hi Ricki... The networking I have had as a result of my ActiveRain involvement has been nothing short of amazing!

Hi Stewart... I completely agree!

Hi Jenny... I try to squeeze in some real estate to pay the bills!  LOL

Hi Karen Anne... I know what you mean... I love it when people actually pay attention to what I write!  :)

Hi Lorrie... Yes, you were the first, and I still remember how nice it felt to be recognized.  Like Jason said, it's a great feeling! 

Jul 19, 2009 05:36 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Steve.  That is a good feeling.

Dallas is a big city, and you are already known.

Congrats.

Ken

Jul 19, 2009 11:37 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Ken... It really is a nice feeling!  Thanks for stopping by and commenting.  :)

Jul 20, 2009 05:20 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Steve Shatsky, the blogger? ...I am so glad we have had the opportunity to meet here on AR. Let's grow into famous real estate bloggers together!  LOL.

Jul 25, 2009 04:05 AM