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I still don't understand this (as I bang my head against the wall) . . .

I'm just finishing up my first class towards my Resort & Second Home Property Specialist certification. I'm heading towards the end of my second day and this afternoon we are talking about 'building your business'. Of course many things come up in this section of the class. Most having to do in some way with marketing.

Here's my problem.

Why is it that Blogging is just brushed over? Actually, it barely deserves one breath. Total time spent on the topic of blogging was all of 10 seconds, and I'm not even exaggerating. It just amazes me that people don't understand that blogging is the answer to 'meta-tags', 'seo problems', 'fresh website content', content for email and snail mail newsletters, etc. On those we spent 15 whole minutes.

Do you know what this reminds me of? It reminds me of 1995. I put my dad on the web in January of 1995. Granted it was a 'free' service via AOL (that doesn't even exist anymore). But, we were on the web and we started to get business from the web that first year. I felt like a pioneer and being a pioneer was exhausting.

To be a pioneer you have to constantly fight the 'oh yeah, whatever' battles. Trying to explain how phenomenal something is and how much it is going to change how business is conducted is like trying to row a barge with a sewing needle.

This time I'm a pioneer in blogging. So are you if you are blogging too. This time I have a lot of technology and support in this endeavor. Within my own team, it's a fairly easy sell especially after just a few months of being consistent. But, when trying to communicate the value in doing this to other agents, they just don't get it. Even when I use the analogy of door-to-door prospecting.

The thing is, agents don't get the most basic, rudimentary prospecting methods either. I guess I can chalk it up to the fact that 80% of the people in real estate today don't really want to be here. Why do I know this? Because they refuse to do what works, tried and true to build their businesses. I know blogging works. I have proof. But just like door-to-door prospecting it takes time and consistency, lots of it.

Guess I'll remain a pioneer, a lone pioneer.

Posted by Coeur d'Alene Real Estate - Come Live the Life Style - Christina Ethridge on 09/18/2007 09:06 PM

Comments (19)

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Originally posted at: Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate & Property Management: I still don't understand this (as I bang my head against the wall) . . .

19 Comments on I still don't understand this (as I bang my head against the wall) . . .

SEP

2007

Amazingly I just experienced a very similar situation in a CE class that was supposed to give agents the tools to communicate and convert GenX buyers .... and the speaker NEVER mentioned blogging. How can it be?

Well, I think you need to remain a pioneer, but remember that AR is a strong "single voice" in this battle.

Toby - Yes it is. I do plan on teaching a class locally about blogging - and believe me, I'm not worried about 'giving away secrets' cause no one is going to even try them :D

Shhh......don't tell them! Seriously, everyone I have told and who has signed up with AR does nothing! Others don't bother signing up.

What did you think of the class overall? If I take it am I paying to have the designation (like ePro and ABR) or am I going to learn so many new things I will wish I had taken the class earlier (like CRS)?

Geordie - I LOVED the class. It was so relevant to our niche market. It's targeted to second home / vacation home and investment home owners. Excellent class. I plan on finishing this certification as soon as possible and plan on requiring it of all team members, it was that applicable to our market.

Paula - yeah, I don't get that either. I'll be inviting people I networked with and we shall see . . .

Maybe we should be glad blogging is being ignored. I know some think people don't search by the terms "city real estate blog", but if I were looking for a REALTOR today, that would be where I would start. I'd look for blogs and read them. Get a sense of the writer's personality and see if it's a fit for me!

I am certainly glad it is being ignored. Why tell your competition how to compete against you?

Yup, I've notice too that many trainers who are perceived to be cutting edge have not yet recognized the value of blogging. Sad, but true.

SEP

2007

I have talked to the trainers, have watched them make an attempt at blogging themselves (one or two posts), no immediate success and discount it as just another fad. I am just fine with that. With 10 spots on page one of Google and 10 on page two, who needs the competition? Let them teach knocking on doors.

Christina, that sounds like a great course. I don't know whether the impact of blogging will hit the mainstream- some people just don't like writing, so view it as an annoying additional bit of "work". Just a guess.

Bonnie - I'm still traditional, I won't use someone 'just because' they blog and I wouldn't search by "city real estate blog" and most consumers never will either. I have found, just from participating here on Active Rain (let alone all of the 'outside the rain' blogs I read) that blogging does not = experienced. I prefer an experienced, producing agent over a blogging agent. That's the traditional side of me. Now, there are more and more with the full combo, those I love :D

Joanne - Because teaching others to be successful will make you successful. Always remember, your 'competition' probably will never implement what you teach them.

Marlene - I love the classes, but honestly I get my business mentoring and inspiration from the top producers in the industry, not the trainers.

Laurie - I agree - let people give up on their own if that's what they desire, but to dismiss it, just like they did the web in the mid 90's, well, that's typical of agents who don't know how to be flexible and adjust their business with changes.

Laurie (you both are Laurie M's), well, Laurie in NYC - I got some funny questions. Who does your blog? I do. No, I mean who does it, who keeps it up for you. I do. I write every single article. No, who designs it for you and keeps it fresh. I do, I use free blogging templates and I add content at least several times each week. They don't understand.

Hi Christina! Yes, we can keep this to ourselves...LOL! I took the same class in 2006 and blogging wasn't mentioned nor was much about the web mentioned. We did get the demographics ~ which is awesome and we can get creative and use them to our advantage with web advertising!

SEP

2007

Christina--Do we really want them to all know?!! You probably know more than the instructors already...You pioneer you!

SEP

2007

Renee - Over the years I've just learned that it doesn't matter what you tell people, less than 1% are actually going to even begin to do what you teach them. I'm ok with not telling people, but, I do expect NAR ranked classes to include something this valuable.

Teri - ha. Thing is, I am SO not interested in teaching!!

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