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Forgive me Cecily, for I have sinned.

By
Real Estate Agent with Laura Gail Gwyn Properties

 Forgive me Cecily, for I have sinned.  It has been too long since my last confession.

I started this Active Rain blog as a newbie.  My good friend Cecily Parks turned me on to AR to learn, build Google juice, etc.  Well, I am sorry Cecily, I failed you.  Hopefully it is temporary.  I hope to make you proud in the end.  It is just that I wasn't super thrilled so I wasn't excited about spending a lot of energy here.  I have figured out what I want and I am going after it.

My initial idea was to post my personal stuff on blogger and business on Active Rain.  It didn't work.  I didn't like blogger at all.  It reminds me of a kiddy Ferris wheel.  So I didn't invest any time there either.  My complaint about AR is that I didn't feel the general public read it like a newspaper. 

Everyone kept telling me about Wordpress.  After much thought and getting thru my busy summer months, I have launched it.  I hope to have more flexibility, and the overall eye presence I am looking for.  My day to day Wordpress blog is here.  I will have it better organized by topic.  My focus is more on the folks I work with.  I am working with tenants and owners now as much as buyers and sellers.  I will occasionally post realtor topics there but more localized. 

I am keeping my Active Rain account to post and read information about homes and realtor topics both locally and nationally.  I have found this to be the best source of realtor to realtor communication I have seen.  I am very impressed by this stand point and will do a better job getting to know more realtors.  If you are a realtor, comment so I can get to know you and send you referrals.

I use Facebook personally.  So please put a message with your friend request if you want added.  I get so many requests that I wonder if they are just trying to build a huge database.  If they don't talk to me I usually end up deleting them.  I want to keep it personal.  If you would invite me to a BBQ, send me a friend request, but otherwise, I'll pass.  Just between us, I hate Facebook.  It doesn't work well at all.  I am there because my friends want me to be, but don't spend a lot of time there.

Well that is my thought on how to better organize all my social and information sites.  My brain is very full and I am looking forward to having the information better organized.  If you are reading this, please leave me a comment so I know you stopped by.  I want to get to know you.  I assume it will be here, on AR, but if you want to meet in another playground, please let me know.

 

 

Loreto Stribling American Canyon
First time home buyer specialist - American Canyon, CA

I am in the same boat trying to figure out where to put all my energy for the most results. It's a huge world out there and a bit overwhelming. I am trying to gather as much info on blogging as humanely possible. I look forward to checking out your wordpress blog.

Sep 18, 2010 07:46 AM
Martin Dorgan
Prudential Indiana Realty - Columbus, IN

Laura don't forsake ActiveRain or your wordpress blog, both will do you proud in the end. Embrace twitter and Video!  And please stay with Facebook.  You should see the number of searches that are focusing on Facebook, it's surpassing Google!  But I do understand, it's a daunting task to stay up with the scenario, and do real estate properly!

Sep 18, 2010 07:50 AM
Martin Dorgan
Prudential Indiana Realty - Columbus, IN

Laura don't forsake ActiveRain or your wordpress blog, both will do you proud in the end. Embrace twitter and Video!  And please stay with Facebook.  You should see the number of searches that are focusing on Facebook, it's surpassing Google!  But I do understand, it's a daunting task to stay up with the scenario, and do real estate properly!

Sep 18, 2010 07:50 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Laura, I agree with Martin. You are better off posting duplicate posts on your WordPress site and ActiveRain. You will get more juice from AR than your own. I know it takes time and works best with a system.

Sep 18, 2010 07:56 AM
Victoria Linton
First American Title Company of Oregon - Beaverton, OR

Laura,

I use Wordpress and I sill use Activerain as well, and you know I'm a big Facebook fan. I look at Facebook more as a communication tool like my cell phone or email, only better than either.

I love that you are looking for new ways to get results and better ways of using your time to getting the results you want. Persistence pays off and you will find the right mix for you and your business. :)

Sep 18, 2010 08:11 AM
Mel Wagner
Knipe Realty - Salem, OR
Principal Broker/Agent Salem Oregon Real Estate

Great blog Laura!  I also do both Wordpress and Activerain.  I've only really been getting more active here lately.  I post to my Wordpress blog first, and then to Activerain.  Although I do have a ton of posts that haven't made it to Activerain yet ;-)   I encourage Facebook, although I also use it personally.  Nevertheless, I have gotten business right through Facebook. 

Good luck on figuring out what will work best for you!  I'm looking forward to reading your blog posts.

Sep 18, 2010 08:30 AM
Laura Gwyn
Laura Gail Gwyn Properties - Salem, OR

Loreto - Jump in with me.  The water's warm!  lol...  You need to post sista' !!!  Just start with me.

Martin and Kathleen - Thanks!  As I told you, I appreciate all the advice you can give me.  I'll watch/read your sites.

Victoria and Mel - I'm glad I'll be seeing you both in person now monthly at the Salem Business Bloggers Group and not just online!

Sep 18, 2010 12:34 PM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Oh Laura,   Are you, "super thrilled," yet?

Stick with it my friend I think that it is like doing the Ironman Triathlon.  You must start running, swimming and biking.  And be good at all of them!  

...........Or drinking coffee, writing snippy comments, and in general causing trouble in your circle.  Ya' know what ever floats your boat.

Oct 06, 2010 03:07 PM
Laura Gwyn
Laura Gail Gwyn Properties - Salem, OR

Jim - I have mastered the bottom set!  I'm working on the top set but triathalete I am not.

Oct 06, 2010 03:39 PM