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Home : Blogs : Bob Stewart : It's Raining......ActiveRain

ActiveRain Challenge: Never Answer the Same Question Twice (5000 points)

Whether they choose to acknowledge it or not, most agents are doing a form of blogging every day. It's called email. When a client sends them a question via email, they take 10 or 15 minutes (or sometimes much longer) to respond to that person, giving them some of their valuable expertise. They sit at their computer, type up the response, and hit send. Those 15 minutes are wrapped up in a nice bow and delivered to the client, so they can absorb the answer at their own convenience.

Why would you waste that opportunity?

What opportunity? The opportunity to inform any of the millions that go to Google (or their search engine of choice) every day for answers to their questions. You didn't think your client was the only one that ever had that question, did you? When you wrap that little email up with the bow and hit send, you have just informed one person, instead of having the opportunity to inform millions.

For a lot of you reading this, it's old news. You have already bought into blogging as a way of informing your current clients, as well as building a library of content to reach potential clients. But I'm sure there are a few of you that still think, "I don't have time to blog". Or if it's not you, it's the person sitting next to you at the office saying that.

It's hogwash! (HA! I love that word!)

The reality is, you are doing it every day. You are answering questions from your clients via email and choosing to only share with one person, instead of millions.

For our next challenge, I'm asking you to share the emails that your clients are sending you where they are asking for you to explain something to them. And then I'm asking you to answer their question in a blog post. Of course, don't use any personal information, or feel free to change the email a little bit so that doesn't divulge exactly who your client is, or what their particular situation may be.

I'm going to give you until February 11th to submit your blogs. Since the holidays are upon us, and things get hectic this time of year, the extra time will give you plenty of occassion to pull together some questions which your clients have posed. Feel free to go back in your email archive and find questions clients have asked you in the past, where you only emailed them a response instead of created a blog post out of the answer. Keep a sharp eye out over the next month for questions your clients send you that would make for good blog fodder.

Here are some of the more popular questions people have asked in the last 30 days that have landed them on an ActiveRain blog:

How to attract great renters
How much does it cost to refinance a house
How accurate is Zillow Zestimate
How does Foreclosure work
How much does a septic system cost
How much earnest money to put down
How to tell if you have Chinese drywall
What does BPO stand for
What does sale pending mean
What does short sale mean
What does HOA mean
What is an origination fee
What qualifies for a short sale
What expenses to expect when selling your house
When is earnest money check cashed
Who pays transfer tax
Who chooses the title company
Who pays closing costs in a short sale
How fast can a turkey run (maybe not your area of expertise, but 15 people landed on AR last month in search of the answer)

These are just a TINY sliver of the questions consumers are asking on a daily basis. Many of these questions are obvious to you, but your clients often have no idea what the answers are. And potentially more important, neither do your future clients.

In addition, many of these questions (or search phrases) show up in our analytics with geographic indicators. 'Who pays transfer tax' is a question that often is followed by 'in (state, county or city)'. So I would encourage you to use geographic terms in your posts that will lead local consumers to you. Remember, like in last challenges, I would encourage you to review Brad's post about writing content consumers will find and, if you are a little new to the site, take the time to take one of our ActiveRain University classes about search engine optimization (SEO).

As in the past, I ask that you don't half-ass your posts and know that if you do, I most likely will not give you any points. In fact, I might take some away. The point of these challenges is not to get points, it is to encourage you to write about things that will help your business. If you throw something together at the last minute and make up some lame question, and give an equally lame answer, just to get the points, that's not going to fly. (it's so dumb I have to say that, but I'm sure a few of you are shaking your head in agreement)

You can do a maximum of 5 of these posts for points. Each post will be worth 1000 points. (But if I were you, I would be doing this type of post all the time) I ask that you leave all the links to your posts at the same time in one comment on this post. I repeat, put all five of your links in one comment on this post. Posts must be submitted by 11:59pm on February 11th. It may be that you write one post a week for the challenge, but don't leave the links as a comment until you have all five done (or if you only do 3, then leave the comment with your links once you have 3 done).

Ready? Set.......Go Answer your client's questions!

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Posted by Bob Stewart on 12/21/2010 03:33 PM

Comments (483)

ActiveRain Challenge in the ActiveRain Channel

activerain challenge

Short URL: http://actvra.in/46

Post is included in group: ActiveRain Contests

483 Comments on ActiveRain Challenge: Never Answer the Same Question Twice (5000 points)

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 24 25 »

FEB

2011

Howdy and evening to you Bob

Bob, here are my five links for this here mighty fine challenge. I'm going to keep doing blog posts as these along with the other kinds that I do.

Your Home and Passive Solar Heating-Never Answer The Same Question Twice

Question about the Foundation for an Addition to our Home

Selecting and Hiring a Water Well Drilling Company Claremont New Hampshire

Hydronic Heating System Saves Energy Claremont New Hampshire

Plumbing Water Sewer Vent Pipe Vermont

Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire

Here's ours:

1. http://activerain.com/blogsview/2131675/what-is-the-most-expensive-home-in-lake-tahoe-

2. http://activerain.com/blogsview/2132647/what-are-the-median-and-average-sale-prices-around-lake-tahoe-

3. http://activerain.com/blogsview/2131418/what-are-the-benefits-of-buying-real-estates-in-california-versus-nevada-in-lake-tahoe-

4. http://activerain.com/blogsview/2131446/what-are-bmps-in-lake-tahoe-

5. http://activerain.com/blogsview/2131427/what-is-trpa-in-lake-tahoe-

http://actvra.in/5fT What is a lease option.

Bob, I am so sorry but I could not get post to work tonight, Everything keep freezing and disappearing. I lost this post when I tired to post it with the first post. I tried to re write. I hope you will understand/

Thanks

Okay, here are my 5 posts:

Why Should I Hire A Real Estate Specialist For Short Sales, Investments, Foreclosures or Land? Aren't All Real Estate Agents The Same?

What Is The Best Way To Buy Foreclosures In Roseville, California?

How Do I Buy Properties At Trustee Sales In Placer County, California?

What Is The Difference Between Preforeclosure, Auction and Bank Owned Properties?

Do I Still Need To Pay Rent If The Landlord Is Not Paying The Mortgage?

Leilani

Hi bob,

Here are my enteries.

How to buy a bank owned foreclosure

How to buy a house

what is a short sale

How do I sell my house

Will the seller take less than the asking price.

thanks for the challenge.

The system is really moving slowly and I want to meet the deadline. I will submit the urls in my next comment.

Thanks again.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2132671/how-to-buy-a-bank-owned-foreclosure-in-san-diego-ca-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2131619/how-to-buy-a-house-in-san-diego-ca-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2126715/what-is-a-short-sale-in-san-diego-ca-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2126626/how-do-i-sell-my-house-fast-in-san-diego-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2124554/will-the-seller-take-less-than-the-asking-price-finding-a-motivated-seller-in-san-diego

FEB

2011

Thank you! Kristine :)

Bob, thanks for doing this contest...it inspired me to write this post:

What Do You Do With Your FAQs Blog Posts? (Inspired by the AR Contest "Never Answer the Same Question Twice")

Leilani

FEB

2011

Dear Bob--

Late? Yes, but I loved it. I have been working on this project rior to the announcement of the contest and thought it was very streamlined and beautifully supports what we do everyday.

Here they are:

1. Sellers Net: SHow Me The Money http://activerain.com/blogsview/2128125/texas-walker-county-huntsville-sellers-net-show-me-the-money-

2. Property Taxes for "Non-Experts" http://activerain.com/blogsview/2126407/texas-walker-county-huntsville-property-taxes-for-non-experts-

3. Title INsurance: What is it? http://activerain.com/blogsview/2048312/title-insurance-what-is-it-

4. Why It's Great to Relocate to Huntsville TX ! http://activerain.com/blogsview/2015131/texas-walker-county-huntsville-real-estate-relocate-to-huntsville-tx

5. How to Winterize your Outdoor Pipes http://activerain.com/blogsview/2003970/texas-walker-county-huntsville-winterize-your-outdoor-pipes-complete-how-to-what-you-ll-need-where-to-find-it-and-a-video-showing-you-how

Mari Montgomery

CRS, GRI, QSC Platinum

AR Lover

FEB

2011

I'm impressed... Only one Johnny Come Lately tried to post past the deadline (two days past the deadline) and still get the points. Everyone else had to get theirs in by midnight on the 11th, and they did.

P.S. I just realized, Johnny Come Lately didn't even follow the post rules, answering questions... they're just blog posts???

Bob, Thanks for doing this challenge. I added a different twist to mine as I made 2 of them videos. The goal was to create something that others could use. Thanks, Michael

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2126828/never-answer-the-same-question-twice-home-inspections-purpose-and-scope-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2115579/never-answer-the-same-question-twice-what-all-do-you-inspect-pilot-video

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2091948/never-answer-the-same-question-twice-would-you-buy-this-house-

Bob,

I couldn't remember where this post was. I just found it. I did all of my blog posts before the deadline of 2/11 @ 11:59, but couldn't find where to submit them. Hope they can still be counted.

Why Do I Need a Home Inspection. I am Buying New Construction 1/7/11

What is the Benefit of Signing a Buyer Agency Contract? 1/9/11

I Don't Want to Pay Full Price 1/18/11

What Happens If My Refinance Money Is Stolen? 1/25/11

Colorado Real Estate Contract Contingencies 2/11/11

FEB

2011

I've included 6 instead of 5 to be safe, because I wasn't sure of start date. I read this as meaning we had to have all of our posts submitted by 2/11, which I did, but I'm just now posting here. My last post for this contest was on 1/23. Oh no..I hope I didn't screw this up...!!

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2040132/redesign-etc-home-staging-consultations-in-houston

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2052072/january-new-years-resolutions-declutter-my-house

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2054015/does-home-staging-work-on-all-price-points-of-houses

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2056105/what-rooms-should-be-staged-in-a-vacant-home

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2094606/how-to-get-the-cheapest-electricity-rates-in-houston-dallas-austin-all-of-texas

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2094812/should-we-stage-our-house-before-we-put-it-on-the-market

Hi Bob~ Just wanted to let you know that your contest inspired me to start a group so that we can continue our efforts and not drop the ball! Thanks! :-)

Bob,

Sorry about the mix up, I had sent the link to a message attached to a point message (contact)

http://actvra.in/5pl

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2115522/luxury-real-estate-web-design-3-ways-to-create-a-sticky-website

http://actvra.in/5pn

http://actvra.in/5pq

http://actvra.in/5ps

Here they are, I did not realize I wrote 6, this was a fun way to do posts. Thanks for the opportinity

Crud I just found this post today, too late for points buy I love the idea and its now on my to-do list!

FEB

2011

Bob,

Here are my 4, although the last one (this evening's) is after the deadline - Just too busy having fun with short sales and foreclosures! The contest did cause me to learn how to post charts - well worth it.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2139544/what-is-mold-remediation-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2064977/comparing-assessed-valuation-to-sale-price

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2060788/the-in-s-and-out-s-of-winterizing-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2058383/what-is-a-walk-through-

MAY

2011

Day late and dollar short.....I missed this one but I got some really great blogging ideas....thanks.

DEC

2011

Bob, I missed the opportunity. It was a nice contest. May be something will come sinilar soon !

JUL

I missed the opportunity too...

wow! 500 comments:) It would take some time to go through all those comments.....:)

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Bob Stewart

Bob Stewart - Community Evangelist, ActiveRain

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Howdy and evening to you Bob

Bob, here are my five links for this here mighty fine challenge. I'm going to keep doing blog posts as these along with the other kinds that I do.