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You didn't stop just because you were no longer getting points? Did you????

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

Please tell me that you have incorporated some of the challenges we've done over the past year into your blogging schedule. What? You don't have a schedule.....hmmm, maybe that's the problem.

It doesn't matter how you do it, whether it's by following a schedule, or by waking up each morning with a great idea, but you have to come back to what works. When I set out to put a challenge together, I thoroughly investigate our Google analytics to make sure that what I am going to have you spend time on, is worth spending time on.

So, by raise of hands, how many of you have continued to write about local events, since our local events challenge way back in October? It's fewer than it should be, I'll bet the farm on that. You know how I know? Because I don't see hundreds of visitors for different local events around the country. I know those events are still happening in your local communities, and I know people are still searching for them...........but (me thinks) since we aren't giving 1000 points to post about them, you've stopped.

I want each and every person reading this to have a successful year in 2011. Exposure will play a large part in that. In the 80's, if you wanted to get more exposure as a real estate agent, you did what? Knocked on doors, bought print, radio and television advertising, threw your picture on a billboard or bus bench? In 2011 you can get massive exposure by being the go to source for information about what's going on in your town. And the posts are simple.

Look at this one about Queen's Feast in Charlotte NC. Anyone want to guess how many people have been on that post since it was posted on Jaunary 11th? That was 20 days ago.........

1434 people in 20 days have read that post. The event ran from the 21st to the 30th of January and there were about 70 people every day that were finding out about the pertinent facts on Queen's Feast from Jody's blog post. Now, I'm not picking on Jody, but how many other event posts do you think she's written about since the calendar flipped? Probably the same number you have, zero.

Maybe you are thinking, I'm a real estate agent, not an event planner, or a darn calendar for my community. That's one way to look at it. The better other way would be......at the core of your business, you should be a marketer. And a successful marketer figures out a way to take advantage of opportunities where their target market is already gathered. Jody's target market is people who live in Charlotte, NC. I can almost guarantee you that anyone searching for 'Queen's Feast, Charlotte NC' or 'Restaurant Week Charlotte NC' is going to be part of her target market. Each of those visitors spent an average of 38 seconds on her posts, and each of them saw her calls to action within the post.

This event is a little different because it's a 'week', not just a day or a weekend. And my guess is, it was taking place at different venues around the city. But let's say there was a main day for the event, at a main location. Wouldn't it have made sense for Jody to be there, networking and enjoying the event with her community? There are certainly going to be a few people there, at the right time and place, because of Jody's blog post.........maybe one of them will be looking to buy or sell, or know someone who is.

If nothing else, "hey, you're the lady who we found online that gave us the info on this great event". Once that door is opened, it's up to you to know how to take advantage of it!

The events never stop, and the people never stop searching for them.....you just stop writing about them!

Posted by

Bob Stewart
ActiveRain Ambassador

 

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Comments (167)

Sean Railton
Park City Realty Group - Park City, UT

Someone said something about flowers for valentines day and I am on it as I am in a ski resort!  Thanks

Feb 06, 2011 06:21 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Bob - Thanks for the reminder.  I've gone all out on my Valentine's post.

Feb 06, 2011 06:08 PM
Karen McLinden
Beautiful Day Real Estate - Westport, MA
Relax and follow me...I know the way home.

Thanks for giving me an idea of what to write about! I'm going to try it!

Feb 07, 2011 07:00 AM
Brian L. Sirota, Esq.
Bristar Realty (Realtor/Attorney) - Orange, CA
For Solutions: (714) 501-7660

Great stuff!   I need to resurrect a personal 31 challenge.  The blog and posts, alike, are crammed with helpful tidbits.  Thanks!

Brian L. Sirota, Esq., BriStar Realty, Orange County, California

Feb 07, 2011 02:39 PM
Anja Kerstens, 669.270.8034
Compass - Morgan Hill, CA
GRI, NHCB, CDPE, CHS. Silicon Valley Homes

You are absolutely right.  I missed the challenge back then but since I was working/on vacation in Europe last month I couldn't write as much about current real estate or activities as I wanted to and started blogging more about local events abroad and that attracted many visitors too.

Feb 07, 2011 04:43 PM
Wayne Weaver
ERA Team VP Real Estate - Bemus Point, NY

So true Bob, great post and motivation to stay with it.  Thank you

Feb 08, 2011 01:24 AM
Kim & Kristine Halverson
Sotheby's & Knipe ERA - Bend, OR
Sisters, Realtors
Thank you so much. Please post more frequently about blog topics and frequency. You have the inside scoop. Kristine :)
Feb 08, 2011 04:20 PM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Thanks for the kick-in-the-pants, Bob. I love writing about local events, but lately, none of them look interesting to me. Am I so ego-centric that I can't realize that they might be interesting to other people?  Time to push through and do something that I genuinely believe to be important...get back to writing about local events.

Feb 09, 2011 06:01 AM
Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS
ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group - Worcester, MA
'Helping You Make the Best Move"

Good morning Bob!

I missed the challenge in October but I am always blogging about local events in my area!

Got two calls this week for blogs I did on two events here in Worcester!

ACTIVERAIN WORKS!

Feb 09, 2011 10:21 PM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

Absolutely! We are educating about our area and culture! That definitely incorporates local events!

Feb 10, 2011 02:05 AM
AmeriFirst Winston-Salem
AmeriFirst Financial (Winston-Salem, NC) - Winston-Salem, NC

Ouch.  It hurts because it's true.  Yikes.  We all need to get on the ball.  Thx Bob.

Feb 10, 2011 10:45 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

                                          

Feb 14, 2011 01:19 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Actually attending local events & blogging about them is better than just announcing them.

Feb 17, 2011 01:27 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Bob, my blogging has slowed down quite a bit, but only because I am very busy.  I have a backlog of topics I want to blog about, but have been short of time...

Feb 17, 2011 08:12 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Bob, my blogging has slowed down quite a bit, but only because I am very busy.  I have a backlog of topics I want to blog about, but have been short of time...

Feb 17, 2011 08:12 AM
Tina Maraj
RE/MAX One - Fullerton, CA
Celebrating 30 Years of Real Estate Sales

I did not even realize I was not getting points for writing Local Event blogs. I just like to write them!

Feb 21, 2011 04:41 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Bob,

I enjoy your posts because you bring up different ways to look at the same view.

Points are fun -- and add a bit of incentive to participation!

Thanks!

Have a happy day -
Lynn

Feb 22, 2011 12:30 AM
Jayson Hoffer
Jayson Hoffer Insurance Agency Inc. - Tempe, AZ
Mesa AZ 480-948-6115 Home, Auto, Life Insurance

This post gave me the inspiration to post my comedy event I am holding for charity tonight. Thanks, oh also, by commenting here I get another 25 points. Thanks for this blog post!

Mar 04, 2011 06:11 PM
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

I have an outside blog called "365 Things to do in Cary" that I write as the Cary Concierge. And everyday I am writing about local events that no one seems to know about, which really is sad because there is So much more to do in Cary then anyone realizes. I have not stopped local blogging, I just recently added a few to that channel. But what you say is very true. There is always Something going on. It helps to get the word out.

Jul 12, 2011 05:34 AM
Matt Robinson
Professional Investors Guild - Pensacola, FL
www.professionalinvestorsguild.com

Bob, I actually just implemented a blog schedule, but now the hard part is keeping up with it.  Easier said than done.  I posted twice last week, once so far this week, and have 2 drafts ready to edit and post...one local and one general real estate post.  It's almost a full time job just to keep up with the blogging, much less all of the other responsibilities of running my real estate business.  I don't know how other people do it...and have a life.

Sep 12, 2011 06:20 AM