Are You Outstanding in the Rain?

Are you Outstanding in the Rain, or are you out standing in the rain?

Whether you are new to the real estate business, or have been around since the Louisiana Purchase was the talk of the industry, you must understand that the Internet is the driving force in our industry.

On-line multiple listing services, IDX feeds, agent web sites, property web sites, commercial amalgamators, real estate blogs, and so on, and so on.

And, of course, the #1 real estate blog site is ActiveRain.  That's why we're here.  With over 180,000 real estate professionals (and growing!) sharing knowledge.

So take some time to make sure you are Outstanding in the Rain, and not left out standing in the rain:

•·         Your blogging audience needs constant care and feeding - please blog on a regular schedule.  And by regular, I mean daily!

•·         People are visual.  Regardless of how good your blog is, unless there is something visual - a picture, drawing, word art - to draw the reader in, they might just overlook your post.

•·         Be original!  Don't just rehash other people's ideas.  And never plagiarize!  Nothing ruins a good reputation faster than being a copycat. 

•·         Encourage participation!  Ask your readers a question in your post to get responses.

•·         While content is king, formatting counts, too.  A single block of dense words can be off-putting.  Use paragraphs!  Use bullets!  Insert pictures!

•·         Encourage peers and competitors alike to join the world's largest on-line gathering of real estate professionals.  Remember what your momma told you - sharing is good.

•·         Reach out to people whose posts you admire.  Margaret Rome called me the other day about a post I wrote.  It meant the world to me!  Never knew her before, but I do now!

•·         Leave comments on other people's posts!  Whether you agree with their ideas or disagree - it's that conversation that helps us all learn.  But stay away from "Good idea - thanks for posting!"  Comment spam stinks.

•·         Update your profile!  This is how your peers and potential clients will find out about you.  If your profile has the boilerplate "Use this section to write about yourself - don't be shy" - what does that tell people?

I could go on and on -- but that takes me to my final point.  Be brief.  Not so brief that you are not saying anything, but don't write a book, either!

And when in doubt, post pictures of your pets. People love that.  (that started out as sarcasm, but now that I think of it, some of the most commented on posts I've seen have been ones with pet pictures!).

So I challenge all of you!  Be Outstanding in the Rain -- or be left out standing in the rain.

Natasha, Gombe and Dekoe