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Number 123 In The State of Texas...But, Hey, I Got Here The Hard Way

By Claire Record

Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country

July 30, 2010 02:38 AM

All right! All right! I confess...I do look at my ranking on Active Rain in hopes to one day be a little farther up the board. So, I peaked at my competition to see what they were blogging about...just for grins. I figured...maybe their blogs could give me ideas for future blogs. It didn't take me long to realize that most of their blogs were their new listings. (Insert air being let outta my idealistic balloon here).

Here I was thinking that all of those Active Rainer's that were ahead of me were blogging their little hearts out with riveting, helpful, material for us up-and-comings and those outside of Active Rain. Sigh... What was really happening was they were posting and re-posting their listings and all the while racking up more points. Not that that's wrong, mind you... This site was partly created to market our listings...

So, what's an agent to do that is starting all over in new city to do? I currently have no listings...just buyers, and a love for blogging and the rural lifestyle. I guess this is where I insert the "slow and steady wins the race" quote into my thinking...smile...and move on.

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Pam Sitterly

RE/MAX VINTAGE - Magnolia, TX

CRS Magnolia-Tomball Texas

If you love the rural lifestyle and want to attract buyers, that's what you write about. Who cares what your ranking is as long as your blogs are serving their purpose. Good Luck and keep on blogging!

Jul 30, 2010 02:50 AM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Pam, you're absolutely right... I guess it's that competitive spirit in me that wants my name farther up the list. :) Lists, however, don't mean diddily if you are living your dream. Thanks for stopping by!

Jul 30, 2010 03:07 AM

Shelley Rowton

Move To Realty - Austin, TX

ABR, RSPS - (512) 507-5779 MoveToRealty of Austin

Blog about the great Hill Country surrounding you! There is plenty of hyper-local content for you, and this will lay the groundwork. I wish I had blogged when I was new to Austin and wondering where my next deal would come from. It would have made the transition so much easier. Oh, and I would be closer to #123 than the #318 I am now... Watch out, I'm coming!

How's the garden?

Jul 30, 2010 03:47 PM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Hey Shelly... Thanks for stopping by! I have been blogging about the Hill Country and also the rural lifestyle... I enjoy it too. The few listings I have had I have blogged about as well... I could cut and paste stuff...but that's not how I roll. I'd rather each blog be uniquely mine.

I will be looking for you on my heels... I have only been doing this for a year...so, it will be good to see where I am next year at this time.

The garden is doing great. We plant pickling cucumbers and spinach tomorrow. One of my favorite parts of living in Texas is being able to garden in the fall...

Jul 30, 2010 04:13 PM

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

Claire,

I have noticed the same thing about just blogging about ones listings over and over. I have even seen one instance where they were blogging about a listing that I know was not theirs.

I am debating reporting that to TREC.

Jul 30, 2010 11:30 PM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Thanks, Richard, for stopping by... Before you report anyone to TREC...you might ask if they had permission from the listing agent to market it. We have a form we use within our office that gives us permission to "co-market" a property as long as written consent is given.

The folks that I would report are the ones who have those banner ads on different sites giving prices for short sales and foreclosures at the minimum price...only to find that it's not their listing and it leads them to their web site as if it was. I nearly lost a client over that in that they thought I was the one not being honest. They thought I was holding something back from them...when in reality...I was telling them the truth about how those deals work.

Jul 31, 2010 01:56 AM

Shelley Rowton

Move To Realty - Austin, TX

ABR, RSPS - (512) 507-5779 MoveToRealty of Austin

I pickled some cucs for the first time last week, and the recipe called for about 3x as much salt as I think it needed. I used a half sour recipe, and think my next attempt could be a winner...I'll let you know!

Jul 31, 2010 07:30 AM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

I will look forward to hearing. We just planted our next round of pickling cucumbers. I hope we can get a good crop out of it before it gets too cold. I missed the spring planting and I am low on pickles. If you end up finding a good recipe for dills...let me know.

Jul 31, 2010 08:41 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Claire: For me, a pickled cuc is a great cuc. Write about that. Write about anything that conveys your personality, your area, your family, your horses, your cucs and pickles. I just HATE it when I am low on pickles. Unfortunately for me, some medication I am on prevents me from personally "getting pickled." Darn.

Really... write a post, and submit it to Localism as well... on your own shortage of pickles. I am serious. Both buyers and sellers will remember you.

If there is any way I can help you get going with some blogging ideas, please ask. I just might have already written a good Active Rain tutorial about it. I nivite you to read my posts... and see the wide variety of stuff I write about. You just might get some ideas.

Take care... and have a great week-to-come. <smile>

Aug 01, 2010 05:34 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Claire: I looked at my "tutorial library" LOL... and found this post I wrote about a year ago. Blogging... What Should I Write About ? I hope in some way you might find it helpful. If you choose to read it... make sure you read all the comments, if you have time. They are really great ! Take care...

Aug 01, 2010 05:58 PM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Hello Karen... thanks for stopping by a few of my blogs. Thanks too for all the ideas. I do post most of my blogs on Localism and also have a link from my husband's web site to my Localism site. I have been received warmly by many from outside AR when I write about the rural lifestyle... It's always my pleasure to share my blessed life.

I will take a look at your blog on what to write about as well... I am always looking for ideas.

Can't wait to harvest a bunch of cukes for pickling... Hoping to do some tomatoes too. I am nearly out of all that I canned last year.

Aug 02, 2010 02:02 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Claire: Speaking of tomatoes, I wrote a post about tomatoes as well. Way, way back... when I was about eight or nine, I can remember planting my own "garden." Twenty tomato plants... four rows of five, each row planted one week later than the last. I mean... I REALLY love tomatoes. I can remember when the first row "came in"... I can remember lying on the ground, beneath the lowest-hanging tomato, and eating it while it was still connected to the vine.

Strange, perhaps. But... that we me back then, and it's prolly still me, now.

Aug 02, 2010 02:52 AM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Not strange at all, Karen... You sound like me when I was a little girl. One of my favorite sitting spots was in a mulberry tree just outside our back door. It was viney and created a nice seat for me to observe the world around me. I also used to dig holes (big enough to sit in) in my Dad's garden. I used a table spoon and thought...if only I could dig a big enough hole, I could have my own swimming pool. A girl can dream...can't she?

Btw...I subscribed to your blog. I am looking forward to reading more. God bless!

Aug 02, 2010 03:28 AM