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The Power Of AR - Why It Pays To Upgrade Your Outside Blog

By
Real Estate Agent with St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners

After sitting on the fence for a long time about upgrading to an AR outside blog, I took the plunge about a week ago.

I'm amazed already at the results!  I've had a spike in traffic to my website from my outside blog - about 43% of my visitors this week have come from my blog.  Awesome, right?

It gets even better...

In that time frame I have received two very good buyer leads, one buyer that is just in the preliminary stages of their search and two seller leads.

All in the first week.  If you're on the fence like I was - get off! :)  Where else can you spend $19 a month and get these results? 

It's great for teams as well - my team mate Nancy can contribute her articles to the outside blog too.  That way we aren't trying to maintain up to date information on more than one blog.  It's a great investment.

Hyper-local blogging along with the SEO provided by the outside blog is a recipe for Internet marketing success.

Thanks, AR!

Comments (67)

Ginger Moore
Wilkinson & Associates Realty - Gastonia, NC

I got to read up on this outside blog.  have not seen one. thanks for sharing!

Sep 03, 2009 02:39 PM
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

I wouldn't know the diff. I upgraded when I joined AR. Should we all be taking the extra time and effort to spell out Active Rain instead of AR. Does that help the little spiders crawl around a little more? Just a thought.

Sep 03, 2009 04:51 PM
Jenny Durling
L.A. Property Solutions - Los Angeles, CA
For Los Angeles real estate help 213-215-4758

I've been hearing so much great stuff about outside blogs that I'm ready to do it really soon. I just need to get myself into daily blogging mode. I'm great at commenting on other blogs but still find it tough to post something worth reading to my own blog daily!

Sep 03, 2009 05:49 PM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Great to hear Kristina. Continued luck and success. I need to use my Blog much more often

Sep 03, 2009 06:13 PM
John J. Woods
Big Dog Press, LLC - Winder, GA
Going where no man has gone before - wouldn't you?

HELP!  I'm lost.  What is an AR outside blog?  If it's outside, how can it be an ActiveRain blog?  I can't seem to find anything useful easily using SEARCH or Help/FAQ.

 

Sep 03, 2009 07:30 PM
Damon Gettier
Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

I haven't received any leads from my blog yet but I have from AR....actually ratified my first AR referred contract today!

Sep 04, 2009 02:33 PM
Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Kristina,

I am definately going to check this out; thanks for sharing.

Sep 05, 2009 10:13 AM
Bryan Fagan
Law Office of Bryan Fagan - Houston, TX

Great advice thanks for tip I have been thinking of upgrading so this was timely.

Sep 05, 2009 07:06 PM
Carol Hanson Sheehy
Prudential Florida Realty - Naples, FL

I am new with blogging and Active Rain, but I am moving towards an outside blog.  Thanks for the great comments.  I just need to committ to the effort!

Sep 06, 2009 12:33 AM
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Kristinia, I will have to seriously consider the outside blog. I have not done anything with this. Thanks.

Sep 06, 2009 05:36 AM
Marcia Hawken
WILLIAM RAVEIS - Naples, FL
Naples Luxury Specialist

Kristina, When I first went on AR, which is about a month ago, I was told that I HAD to have an outside blog.  I think you will see the benefit very quickly.  I have.

Sep 06, 2009 08:53 PM
Alma Fernandez
DRE 01236358 Keller Williams - Northridge, CA

As many others that commented, I too have been thinking about upgrading.  I think I need to be pushed off the fence.

Sep 06, 2009 09:02 PM
Kathleen Garvey
HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO
Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Thanks Kristina!  What a wonderful investment and appears to be well worth it...been thinking about it for some time.  Appreciate your thoughts!

Sep 07, 2009 11:22 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Christina,

You rock, girl!  Congrats on the feature, too.

Mike in Tucson

Sep 07, 2009 11:34 AM
Beverly of Bev & Bob Meaux
Keller Williams Suburban Realty - West Orange, NJ
Where Buying & Selling Works

So being a rainmaker gets your blog to the public that visits AR and helps with the juice. Putting it on an outside blog, lets the blog become a page on your website? I'm just trying to make sure I understand the difference because I do get public viewings from the AR rainmaker membership. Hum? I'm still torn. I guess it allows another place for your blog work to be posted and therefore your name and message is out there more times? Need more clarity says "Bev on the fence".

Sep 07, 2009 12:38 PM
Kristina Pratt
St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners - Edwardsville, IL
REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com

Just wanted to post a follow up to some of the comments.  Sorry I can't respond to each and every one of you...

If you signed up for AR and began blogging before 2009, the cost is $19/mo.  Otherwise, it's $29.

The outside blog is sort of like having another website out there with your content on it.  I'm currently re-designing our website, but I plan on having a link on the main page that goes directly to my outside blog.  The biggest benefit I have found is more exposure, and lots and lots of Google juice.  According to my Google Alerts that I have set up, my outside blog pages are indexed very quickly and they show up at the top of a lot of different searches.

For example - I recently blogged about one of my favorite pizza places in Edwardsville.  When I go to Google and do a search, my outside blog post is number six in the results.  My regular AR blog shows up as well.

Hope this additional information helps.  You can find more info on outside blogs by checking out Brad Andersohn's blog http://activerain.com/activebrad

Sep 08, 2009 12:34 PM
Lisa Wetzel
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Carson City, NV
CDPE, SFR carsonvalleyland.com

Great post and a very good point!  Thanks!

Sep 08, 2009 04:05 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

You motivated to me get going on my outside AR blog.  Unfortunately, I am trying upgrade my own website/blog at the same time and I am neglecting my day-do-day business.  However, I look at it that this can be another marketing avenue for me.

Thanks.

Sep 10, 2009 03:57 AM
George, Cheryl, & Ben Brunton
Walk - In Real Estate - Peoria, AZ

Well, you have gotten me interested

Sep 11, 2009 11:17 AM
Roy & Gail Barnhart & McKay
Barnhart & McKay Realty Advisors - Hudson, FL
Barnhart & McKay Home Selling Team

I have been on the fence for a long time about an outside blog. I  think I am going to drop my 1-800-hotline and get the outside blog.

How is the market in Edwardsville? I used to go there to vist family when I was a kid, Good times.

Sep 13, 2009 09:14 AM