To start the ball rolling, I wrote a "BlogVoice" post yesterday. A BlogVoice post will garner more and deeper information on the topic at hand, in the comments. You don't have to include everything there is to say about the topic in the article itself. In fact, if you cover everything, you leave no space for the story to unfold more and more in the comments.
That is one of the main differences between "Stream of Consciousness" blogging (which is primarily my style and forte) and writing posts that take four days. Sometimes you just want to say something you want to say, in the moment, as the thought strikes you. Let how you REALLY feel come out in the comments. Sometimes the commenters change your mind! Watching it happen is like watching Reality TV, and we all know how popular that is.
Don't forget the LOG of BLOG...the story unfolds...and here are some GREAT "BlogVOICE" posts from AR.
I have to start with Broker Bryant, because that man's Got VOICE (kinda like "Got Game") I don't agree with his thrust and aim from a consumer perspective and from a business perspective. But if you want to compete with BB (BlogBoy) for the one of the top spots in "most subscribed to blog in AR, then he's the guy you want to mirror and emulate.
BB has SO many excellent BlogVOICE posts, it's hard to choose one from the many. So here's his latest, after you skip past him playing with his new toy :). The Title sucks, but boy is it a great post! It has everything all rolled into one. You really feel like he's talking to you, you personally. That's BlogVoice at it's best!
Here's an excellent example of how a blogvoice post will then garner comments that expound on the discussion and set the conversation moving forward beyond the post material:
BB,
So let me see if I understand this correctly....You sent me an offer that said the buyer would be putting 5% down and wanted $3,000 in closing costs. Sounds like something I could live with, if the buyer is willing to pay just a little bit more for the house. (Not going to give it away!). So we present a counter offer and find out that the buyer wants to do 100% financing, so now how am I to respond? I know that market is really tight, but geez, can't they just present an offer, we send a counter offer, then we agree....deal done. Why would someone put their buyer through this and let's not even talk about what this does to the sellers! Guess I will have to do like you do....Move Forward....the power of positive thinking is a wonderful thing...it has gotten me through the last 9 months! Ok.....I am putting on my kick butt boots and MOVING FORWARD!
Caligal
Then BB back to Caligal:
Hey CaliGal, It sucks! I will be confirming the buyer's credit abilities tomorrow morning. If he's as strong as the MB says he is we'll see what we can do. I learned a long time ago "We can't hold the buyer responsible for his REALTORS(R) incompetency". It's hard BUT if he does indeed qualify and we can get him where we need him we need to see if we can put it together. Hang in there!! It really felt like a let down though. I just wish folks would be honest up front. The sad thing is after speaking with the REALTOR(R) I truly believe he just doesn't know any better. They sure make my job difficult. Set the boots aside for a little bit. When the time comes I'll use mine. They're much bigger:)
Now it doesn't do me any good to write an anonymous post if you stop by. I like it though. I actually think it's a good training session for newer REALTORS(R) to see how we communicate with one another and for them to see how strong our relationship is. We are open and straight forward. That's the way it should be. No surprises and no secrets. Thanks CaliGal.
A good BlogVOICE post will turn into comments that volley and barely touch the ground. So managing comments (topic of another post) is key if you are writing in BlogVoice, Stream of Consciousness style.
I'm going to skip Turner and go straight to Brian Brady, as Turner is more about his topics being of interest than his "VOICE" per se. Turner has style, grace and social skills more than "voice". You usually have to get Turner ticked off for his voice to come out :)
On the other hand, Brady likes to be ticked off and often puts himself in that mode, much like me and BB :) Voice often shines its brightest when the poster is ticked off about the injustive of something affecting someone else...as opposed to a RANT which is when the poster is ticked off about something that happened to them personally.
As expected, Brian Brady does not disappoint. I go looking for a BlogVoice post on his blog and front and center, numero uno post is VOICE!!! God he's got a HUGE voice and it's aim is almost always right on target. Unfortunately he gets too many backslappers in his comments which is a turnoff. Maybe he needs to leave the topic a little open-ended to promote discussion or ask at the end "Do YOU think your lender has to be close enough to grab by the neck?". My answer Brady is a big fat YES!!! I DO! But not if my client is the cream of the crop with regard to borrower credentials. On the fence kind of borrower? I want a neck to grab. See?...VOICE, makes you want to talk back to him. Volley.
There are many voices around here I can't stand, just as they can't stand mine. One thing about having VOICE is that you become a love 'em or hate 'em type. I'm OK with that, but some people want everyone to like them, and voice isn't going to please all of the people all of the time. Choose pleasing future clients, NOT other agents!!! unless you just want to be popular in AR. And that IS what some people want to be...so go for it. Personally, I talk to future clients and don't give a RA if other agents like me or not...but that's me.
OK, before I end this I have to find a woman in AR who's got VOICE besides me. Hmmm. Laurie Manny has voice, but you have to talk to her on the phone to hear it. TLW's got voice, but it's not a business example, so not a good link for instruction purposes. Teresa Boardman's got voice, but you have to go into a closet and let her whisper in your ear to get anything out of it. Tisza's got voice, but she's all over the place and revealing things she shouldn't, like how green behind the ears and how brand spanking new she is in her business.
Maggie Dokic has got VOICE. Let's see if I can find a post where she aims it correctly. Nope! All of her good voice posts are "Members Only" and "insider rants". Karen George has "Got Game". Laurie Manny's "Got Game. Game is GOOD, just not the subject of this post. Neal Bloom's got plenty of voice, but I'm looking for a woman here.
This is going to surprise you, as it surprised me, but you know who I would put at the top of the list of Women Who Have VOICE? It's Loreena YEO, which is kind of odd because I'm very Jesus knocking down the tables in the Temple when it comes to people using religion as a calling card. That whole cross thing as Justin's photo bugs me to no end.
But Loreena's use of her religious beliefs in her blog and in her business is just who Loreena IS, and her VOICE is crystal clear and of great value to her blog and to her clients. So, SURPRISE, BEST FEMALE BLOGVOICE is Loreena Yeo. Loreena Yeo proves you don't have to carry a big stick to have an effective BlogVoice. Like Maggie, Loreena hides her voice behind the "members only" curtain way too often, but she shouldn't (and Maggie should) as Loreena's posts would absolutely bring her more clients, even when those posts are talking to agents. I'd hire her in a split second; hands down.
I think I have something to learn from Loreena today. See, when you write a blog post in Stream of Consciousness style, sometimes the person who learns the most from the experience, is the writer. Thanks Loreena!
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