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Why Real Estate Blogging Makes You A Better Realtor, Part 1 of 3

By
Real Estate Technology with Real Estate Tomato

Improved-RealtorThere are many unintended, yet beneficial consequences of real estate blogging.

One that continues to reveal itself to our clients is how their blogging efforts continue to improve their skills as a Realtor.

 

Blogging to an audience, for your business, forces you to approach topics much differently than a business conversation in person. 

A sound blog article is one that has been:
Researched
Had it facts checked
Considered from all angles
and Well organized.

Take for example how one might explain, in person, the complete understanding of Closing Costs to a buyer, or the even the role Zillow plays in the perceived value of a client's home.

Face-to-face, on your feet, these concerns may not be handled to the best of one's knowledge or ability.  However, with the blog, you have time to research, consider and present your understanding of these topics in a clear and organized manner.  You may even find that you have educated yourself in the process.

 This helps you accomplish two things:

1. The impression your audience receives from your article is the 'best foot forward' on topics that may be more challenging to handle 'on the fly'.

Current and future clients will have a greater understanding on complex topics and appreciate the effort you have made for them.

To Continue Reading the rest of Why Real Estate Blogging Makes You A Better Realtor, Part 1 of 3 please follow our link to the Real Estate Tomato

Comments(15)

Teresa Boardman
Boardman Realty - Saint Paul, MN
says who?  :)  is this based on experience?
Sep 22, 2007 11:52 AM
Mary Warren
Las Vegas, NV
Being the negative person that I am, I have to say that I hate blogs that take the person AWAY from Active Rain to another blogging site to continue reading it.  I may miss out on a lot of information this way but I refuse to click on the link and go there.  If I want information posted to a blog on  another site I will google for it, or find it on my own!
Sep 22, 2007 12:03 PM
Elaine Reese, REALTORĀ® in central Ohio
Real Living HER, Powell Ohio - Powell, OH

So, I must ask if your "4 facts" have come from actual research?

I agree with Mary ... I don't do the "read more" links.

Sep 22, 2007 12:16 PM
Real Estate Tomato
Real Estate Tomato - Cottonwood, CA
Real Estate Website Design Done Beautifully

These 2 points are based on daily conversations that I have directly with hundreds of Realtor Bloggers.

From 7AM to 7PM, I work with Realtors that are very aptly leveraging the real estate blog to be more successful online and offline.  Feel free to ask them yourself:  http://www.tomatoblogs.com/testimonials/

As for the Link Away.  This article was originally published at the Tomato.   The topic of 'outbound linking' has been hashed out dozens of times here on the Rain... and if I am unable to earn your click, with the time, effort and thought that I pour into an article, then I guess we both lose.  

 

 

Sep 22, 2007 12:27 PM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes

Jim,

I have definitely experienced this myself. It's interesting how you identify questions you need answers to when you plan a blog. I'm then able to speak much more effectively to buyers or sellers because I've synthesized the information for my blog posts.  

Sep 22, 2007 12:29 PM
New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor
RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, Real Estate - Morristown, NJ
Nice blog post. informative, Nice pictures, and not to long.
Sep 22, 2007 12:50 PM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley
I think that TALKING with other agents can make a person a better Realtor - the exchange of information and ideas is much better than working in isolation. By the same token, I think a good blogger who's engaged in the blogging community can benefit the same way. No guarantees, of course, but I think the potential is definitely there!
Sep 22, 2007 01:24 PM
Roberta Murphy
San Diego Previews Real Estate - Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad Real Estate and Homes

Jim:

I can say without a moment's hesitation that blogging has made me a better Realtor. I am constantly searching and researching information that sat on the back burner in the old days. This is information I can share with clients and other agents with whom I work.

We all win.  

I'll also settle for double clicking until this duplicate content thing can be worked out. What a pain.... 

Sep 22, 2007 01:40 PM
Fran Gatti
RE/MAX Integrity - Medford, OR
Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity
I have found this to be true. Just preparing my market reports has helped me know more about my market and be prepared to talk about it at a moments notice.
Sep 22, 2007 03:59 PM
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate
Jim, AH, we were talking about this just the other day!!!  It is true!  I've found that I work out what I would say to a buyer or seller in my blog and find myself explaining it that way the next time I get the question.
Sep 22, 2007 09:48 PM
Geordie Romer
Windermere Real Estate / NCW - Leavenworth, WA
Serving Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, and Plain

Jim-

First an aside. Ignore the anti-click through crowd. The world is not flat - the blogosphere does not end at AR. We are all guilty of not having subscribed to a Tomato feed. For that failure, we get to click through..

I agree with your points whole hardily. Anytime you write about a topic it forces you to know the info and to be able to organize it in a way that allows you to communicate with others. Ever talk to someone who can't write a Freshman level 5 paragraph essay? They can't organize their thoughts and just ramble from one topic to another.

Consumers like dealing with an expert who can share their knowledge of the market. Blogging helps us do that.

Sep 23, 2007 02:57 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Welcome back, Jim - haven't read you here in a while. I don't mind the link-aways, especially since you always have something of value you post here for those who don't follow the link. I'd have a problem if there was no information here. Most times I'll link over, and them get caught up in other links.
Sep 23, 2007 02:57 AM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699
Tomato, couldn't agree with you more...sometimes we refresh our own memory when researching, I know I do. And of course, I never mind clicking on over!!
Sep 23, 2007 03:21 AM
Carolyn Galant
Coldwell Banker Residential - Madison, NJ
MBA - Coldwell Banker - New Jersey Real Estate
tomato, the tone of this is very pedantic and lecturing.
Sep 25, 2007 02:12 PM
Real Estate Tomato
Real Estate Tomato - Cottonwood, CA
Real Estate Website Design Done Beautifully

Carolyn,

Forgive my tone... as a precisionist I find my writing ends up on a soapbox of sorts.  Our business model is built around the development of extremely proficient real estate  bloggers, which entails a ton of teaching and skill honing... sometimes it's hard to come down from the podium.

Sep 25, 2007 02:48 PM