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Why do you blog? And what do you blog about?

By
Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

If you're the only one (like me) in your office who blogs, you've probably heard these questions.

So why do you blog?

And what do you blog about?

Furthermore, where do you blog?

People have different reasons for blogging. Let me share mine:

Why

  • Online search. Home buyers and sellers search online for information that help them, in their opinion, in their decision-making process. So wherever they are, that's where I want to be
  • Competitive advantage. There are still fewer agents blogging. So being one of a few helps position me as one who embraces new technologies, new marketing ideas
  • Inexpensive. Relatively speaking, online activities are so much less expensive than other normal means of marketing oneself, such as print advertising, door-to-door knocking, direct mailing, etc. Because I have limited funds for marketing, I focus on the medium that gives me more bang for the buck
  • Greater market coverage. How can I measure how far-reaching my blogs are? Google metrics may provide some idea, especially when blogging on a topic that is of interest to my target audience.

What

  • Listings. Thankfully, various other programs provide a means by which the listing information looks appealing when you copy/paste the html. I use Postlets.com and Vlfyer.com
  • News about the market --- recently, our California Governor signed the bill to have California conform to federal guidelines regarding mortgage debt forgiveness
  • Questions. When I'm stumped, I blog about it hoping that kind bloggers will help me out. And they do.
  • Answers. When I run into a situation that I was able to resolve, I blog about it in the hopes that it will help other people, too.
  • Knowledge sharing. Just like the others, when I run into something that I think will help other folks as well, I blog about it.
  • Success/challenging stories. A day in the life of a REALTOR is never dull. We always have something new, something exciting, something challenging to talk about (or vent about). It's like an online diary
  • Fun things. Okay, so I play a little and post things like mind exercises.

Where

  • ActiveRain. Natch!
  • Examiner.com -- local info about real estate. This also gets linked on my Facebook
  • Trulia.com
  • Personal website. I have a widget that picks up my blogs on Active Rain.
  • Others. I also answer questions on Zillow and provide links to my blogs whenever appropriate

There's a lot more that I can do...just give me time.

Results?

Looking at my closed transactions for the first quarter in 2010, is there any doubt where I should focus my energies?

Comments (17)

Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Pacita~  I am not very good about blogging!  The few that I have done have definitely paid off! 

Apr 15, 2010 10:15 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

A lot of my blogging is the interaction with my new friends.  It is also an addicition I can live with!  You make a great case as to why and I can endorse them also!

Apr 15, 2010 10:16 AM
Carol S Snyder
TheStyleStagers, LLC - Erie, PA
Design Consultant To Property Investors

Thank you for the insight into blogging. We are just getting started and still learning the ropes of blogging. Your information is very helpful.

Apr 15, 2010 10:26 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Vickie --- I "lurked" in the background for a long time, and started by commenting. Blogging could be as easy as writing in your diary about your real estate activities. Except that this would be a very public diary. Brian Buffini encourages people to write in their journal. So this is my way of "journal-ing"

William --- interaction is great. Even better when it generates referrals and leads

Apr 15, 2010 10:27 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Carol and Sharon -- lots of great information here. to get you started, scroll down to your screen, and click on Help/FAQ tab. You'll be amazed at all the good tips you'll find there.

Good luck!

Apr 15, 2010 10:28 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Pacitia......delighfully said and done....I ask the same, be gentle with me as I am learning too!

Apr 15, 2010 10:37 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Blogging has paid off for me in a big way.  I currently have 15 transactions in progress and have more coming on line this weekend.  I won't say that all of them are from blogging but blogging did start a chain reaction for me that is paying the bills and then some!

Apr 15, 2010 10:39 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Richie --- how delightful to see the word "delightfully".....we are all learning. The day we stop is when we're dead. Hope that's not gonna happen for a long time. Still a lot of blogging to do! :)

Cindy --- congrats on being such a busy lady. Love it when we're busy.  That means we have clients!

Apr 15, 2010 10:43 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Pacita - I really love your graphs and am so jealous.  I have tried numerous times to insert graphs into my blog posts and they never come out right.  AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Anyway, impressive numbers too.  I just did my numbers recently and blogging is still not a huge resource for me.  My current production numbers are 58% from referrals from my SOI, 29% from my farming areas and 13% from the internet (blogging).

Having said that though, 45% of my current pipeline (pre-approved & actively looking) started out as leads from the internet.  Although, my production from blogging hasn't produced any significant numbers worth bragging about, I really think this year my numbers will start to climb the charts.

Apr 15, 2010 11:17 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Donne --- I still do Working by Referral (reduced program, though) so I still have access to reports where I track my transactions and sources. I can pull up the information and it automatically translates into this pie chart. One of these days, I'll learn how to do it via Excel. On my things to do list :)

Apr 15, 2010 11:39 AM
Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS
iTexas Realty Co. - San Antonio, TX

Hi Pacita-

I'm afraid that on our schedule lately, we don't have as much of a focused effort as you.  Thanks for inspiring me to GET ONE!

--Sara in San Antonio

Apr 15, 2010 12:03 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Sara --- that's the beauty of Active Rain. We help each other.

Hey...that's a good blog topic for you....Consider it like your assignment: "Why I need to blog"

Have fun!

Apr 15, 2010 12:25 PM
Antonio M. Cardenas Broker Associate
RE eBroker Group - San Leandro, CA. - San Leandro, CA
"The Realtors In Motion"

Pacita, I totally agree with you, blogging is fun, it is scary at the beginning, but once you are going, things get easier and easier, I would suggest to those who are on the fence to simply begin putting their thoughts on paper, rather on line. The best way to learn is to go out there and expose yourself, have fun, tell it like it is and before you know, people will notice. My blogging has given me about 1/4 of transactions so far. Your numbers are impressibe however, congratulations.

 

Antonio

Apr 15, 2010 03:34 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

What wonderful examples you have given here..almost like a refresher course ..Thanks

HELPFULHANNAH

Apr 15, 2010 04:47 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Antonio --- the results validate my efforts. And for that, I am thankful

Hannah --- thanks for the compliment. Have fun blogging!

Apr 15, 2010 05:10 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Here there are very  very few realtors who can spell blog...it's a word in...a leg up...an awareness you can't get any other way...and oh yeah...requires work and discipline...which may be a clue to the "no spelling" thing ! Blog on !!!

Apr 15, 2010 11:08 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Here there are very  very few realtors who can spell blog...it's a word in...a leg up...an awareness you can't get any other way...and oh yeah...requires work and discipline...which may be a clue to the "no spelling" thing ! Blog on !!!

Apr 15, 2010 11:09 PM