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My Life as a Blogerator - Real Estate IS Blogging

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting

We are off and running with the company blog! After two 10 hour launch days filled with training, tips and education I am happy to report we are up and running. We are still adding features, organizing and tweaking the site, so we are still technically in the "soft launch" phase - but my agents and staff are blogging their fingers off!

I am personally moderating each post - teaching and pointing out a few things along the way. I just finished moderating the 600th post - all of which came in over the last 48 hours. I coined the term "Blogerator" ( remember you heard it first here) which is my new night job as I teach and train bloggers through moderation.

Not only am I teaching, but I am learning. I am amazed at the new attributes I can attribute to the company that have bubbled up through blogging. So here are a few new things to add to my "Who Knew" list.

1. We have many foreign language bloggers. I knew we would get posts in spanish an many of our agents are native spanish speakers - but what I didn't know is that culturally they are inherently incredible bloggers. The spanish speaking culture is deeply rooted in story telling, so blogging just comes naturally. My spanish reading comprehension has grown exponentially and we have had to add a spanish spell check to the editor.

I was blogerating late last night and I thought I was losing it when I opened a post and didn't really understand much of what was on it. It was in Italian. I just pushed publish because I have no idea what the blog was about.

In the draft cue right now, there is a french post, a russian post and 2 portugese posts - I am a 2 language blogerator - I'm already in over my head.

2. We have some really interesting people working at EWM. We have someone offering a good affordable wine as a weekly feature. The there is someone studying the effectiveness of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale when it comes to construction quality. There is a Brazialian economist who wonders why the FED is lowering the discount rate. The aforementioned Italian describes that American interior designers only know about the worst Italian marble. The list goes on and on. I love my peeps, but I never knew how diverse and fascinating they can be.

Beth as Spock

3. Life on the internal blog is fun and active. My favorite part of the blog is where it resembles active rain - the "private" ramblings of the agents. The story telling, the questions they pose and how so many are commenting and sharing. Commission cutting, mortgage fraud revelations, and loving the blog are some of the favorite topics so far. I received an email from one of the agents, who was quite vocal in the classes yesterday, expressing his concern about the company image being tarnished through blogging. He had been researching and found an article to make his point. I emailed him back and told him to blog about it - and he did - the comments are running. Someone put up a post that they like the blogging thing but ask if the blog is successful that the management not dress like Star Trek anymore. (BTW, that is me as Spock - it went over big with most of the crowd)

4. The internal blog is a great way to give our vendors and department heads direct access to our agents. Today, Jeff Turner posted about Real Estate Shows. He will contribute on a regular basis as we start to introduce RES as a new company tool. Our company trainer is offering night classes in English at a mutually convenient Starbucks. I can offer regular suggestion from the Blogerator to everyone.

5. The blog is a morale booster. The South Florida market is among the worst in the nation. The excitement generated by the blog has given a huge shot of energy and excitement to many of us weary warriors. Everyone is talking about it, searching for their stuff, patting themselves on the back for learning how to upload pictures and find new ways to describe their tired listing inventory.

I could go on and on and remember I am only 2 full days into this. I am overwhelmed by the positive response and just want to say that the company blog is simply the most amazing tool for real estate since the telephone. I just got a call from one of our top producers, who has already posted 20 articles (and they are pretty darn good stuff) saying he is quitting real estate to blog. I simply told him... REAL ESTATE IS BLOGGING.

Check out our blog- which for now is hosted at blog.ewm.com - poke around, comment and have fun. Stop by often as it will change and improve everyday. I'm off to blogerate. And just in case you wonder what this blogerator thing is about...

Comments (34)

Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL

Toby - so awesome you can say you have 100% adoption rate!

MAggie- thanks - and I hope you will take advantage of all we have to offer.  THe company blog is especially beneficial for blog-stars like you.  I am happy you are with us. 

Aug 23, 2007 11:50 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Beth, did you know you can add a translater widget to the blog. Brad Andershon posted on it last week. I am going to add it when I get a few extra minutes.
Aug 24, 2007 12:07 AM
Arlyn Mendoza
HomeServices Lending LLC - South Miami, FL

Hi Beth,,, LOVED THE VIDEO!  lmao!  You are really incredibly good at this.. Well, I shouldn't say incredible b/cause of course it's credible,, ITs You! 

We are starting our blog meeting in South Miami on Tuesday Mornings. I'm excited and can't wait to see who is actually going to blog! I also wanted to tell you that I thought Jim Cronin was incredible at the meeting. He had all his info lined up and it all made so much sense! I'm really glad to see that he is working on the EWM blog. I'm going to have to talk to Scott to get with the program. don't you think? We should have our own blog over at HSL.....hmmmm... I smell a project coming on.......

 

purpurea: this is what cat's get from purring too much!

Aug 24, 2007 04:09 AM
Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL

MIssy - I know about the translators but it is hard get them to pick on the the colloquialisms that are involved in blogging - so they just dont read right.  So for now, we will do it the old fashion way - one word at a time with human translation.

 

Arlyn - Thanks - I will be there on Tuesday and was speaking to Scott yesterday telling him his loan officers were showing him up.  You all are amazing!!! - He needs to get busy! 

Aug 25, 2007 02:13 AM
Bob Carney
Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales - Mc Henry, MD
Licensed MD/PA Real Estate Agent
Beth...YOU ARE AWESOME!!!  I am taking notes and will most likely be calling you in the near future.  Great job.  So, when does the book come out?  My Life as the Blogerator, by Beth Butler.
Aug 25, 2007 04:42 AM
Angie Vandenbergh
Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN
A Crye-Leike Blogger

Hi - Sounds like it is starting off a success! That is really great. I like the term you coined - blogerator.

I have a comment/suggestion for you. Something to consider.....

I took the rss feed of your company public blog a few days ago. I've been following it along with the other blogs I read. I see a ton of listing blogs. As I scroll through the list of the over hundred new posts, since I last read two days ago.... I find myself scanning and reaching for the delete button because I don't feel like filtering out listing blogs. There is certainly a place to blog about listings, but maybe there is a way to consider putting those blogs in a different category or maybe having different types of rss feeds. Maybe a feed for featured posts... or more breakdown somehow. I'm not sure what that would be. But I wanted to share my honest reaction...that I probably would not follow this blog, but may search back if I was looking for more info and/or commentary on a particular piece of property. I'm sure there are tons of good posts on other topics, but I am missing them.

I hope the critique is well received. I think it is really great what you guys have put together.

 

Aug 25, 2007 12:43 PM
Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL

Bob - Thanks for the rave!  My book is in process... hahaha - no time to blog, too busy blogerating

 

Angie - a subscriber!!! I am so happy - your point is well taken - we are still getting the feeds and things going - so you will soon be able to subscribe by category and can omit the listings category. (although, maybe we can entice you to move down to Miami??)  ALso - week one was a listing contest - so a couple hundred of the 900+ posts were listings. Please continue to provide great feedback - I love the advice.

Aug 25, 2007 12:58 PM
Angie Vandenbergh
Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN
A Crye-Leike Blogger
ok - cool Beth. I'm going to keep checking it out. I'm really curious how it develops.
Aug 25, 2007 01:06 PM
Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

You certainly have your work cut out for you here. Those that get it will be better and more productive at their craft... It just happens.

Glad you liked the iPod button on our site. Thanks again....

Aug 25, 2007 03:39 PM
JoAnn Hostutler
EWM Realtors - Weston, FL
Beth, The response was more than I expected!! I think it has been a morale booster, if nothing else.  When I was at FAR, one of the "tech" classes said no one should take on the liability and I disagree.  I think this is awesome and hopefully they will see business out of it.  Thanks for being "one step ahead". JoAnn
Aug 26, 2007 11:45 AM
Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL

Gary - work it is - but it is a worthwhile pursuit.

 

Joann - curious about liability - that is so random- you will have to tell me more about that

Aug 26, 2007 11:52 AM
Kevin Tomlinson
One Sotheby's International Realty- Miami Beach Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach Real Estate

I know what she means.  Don't say or do anything because of the liability issues.  Someone could sue.

 

Yada, yada.  No?

 

DECENTRALIZATION!!!!

Aug 26, 2007 11:55 AM
Monica Rich
Berkshire Hathaway Florida Realty - Coral Gables, FL
Coral Gables Real Estate

600 POSTS!!!   Amazing.. I agree with you.  Blogging is as essential as a telephone and I'm VERY new at this.  I have learned so much from so many of you.  It's all about being and staying connected. 

Aug 28, 2007 02:59 PM
Brian Miller
Weichert, Realtors - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate Entropy

Congratualtions, Beth -
I just read about your site on The RE Tomato's blog.  Your site is great...

Aug 29, 2007 01:33 AM
Janie Coffey
First Coast Sotheby’s International Realty - Ponte Vedra, FL
Uniting Extraordinary Homes w/ Extraordinary Lives
what a great idea Beth and kudos that you got everyone so enthused and excited and the whole project up and running so quickly and efficiently.  I am sure there are tons of blood sweat and tears behind the scenes to work out the kinks, but it will be WELL worth it, and appears to already be so for you internally!  Congrats again, I am sure this was not a small task!
Aug 29, 2007 10:58 AM
Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL

Monica - Blog on girl!

Brian - Thank you - the Tomato did an awesome job!

Janie - we are having fun - it is a ton of work - but the energy the blog creates is getting me through.  Thanks! 

Aug 29, 2007 02:08 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
That is a terrific video.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  Well done!
Aug 29, 2007 06:52 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Beth, As blogerator (great word) you're not going to be able to keep up. I suggest that you start by delegating the other languages. Just a thought.

This is a great idea, but can a "smaller" operation afford it?

Thanks for sharing.

Bill Roberts

Sep 04, 2007 02:42 AM
Nina Gail Betancourt Morgan
NatureWise Realty - Evans, GA
From Waterfront to Mountaintop
Beth - I absolutely love the video. Congratulations on the company blog. Sounds like it's already a HUGE success. I sat next to Tom at the Super Sales Day at FAR last month and he was s-s-o-o-o into his blogging. Little did I realize that your entire company is just as zealous. Way to go!!!
Sep 17, 2007 10:27 AM
Beth Butler
Beth Butler - Big Mouth Consulting - Miami, FL
Nina - where have I been?? When did you move?  Thanks for stopping by... would love to hear about Blue Ridge Mountains
Sep 17, 2007 01:53 PM