Localism tends to be the direction I send most of my posts.  I'm working on it...diligently.  I have the same goal as you and am determined to make it happen.

Thanks!

I post frequently to Localism, but you won't see me in every town I serve. We have to post to each town individually, and there are too many to post to individually. Look for me by county, and it's another story.

Think about it, though.  If you can at least rotate through the towns that you serve, your presence will grow.  If I had any idea about counties in New York, I might have located someone-but being from out of state, I'm looking for a town.  Gotta think like a consumer. =)

Leigh,   This is good advice.  I wrote about my hometown of Annapolis and had some great comments and with it appearing on Localism, looking for some feedback from the Google posting.  It is a great way to market our area and listings. 

Leigh, great post and right on points.

Good point Leigh. Currently, I post to individual towns only when I am referring to them by name in my blog, but there really is no reason to be so inflexible.

At least you can copy and paste and hit the different areas! It's a pain but would be worth it with one extra lead. =)

At least you can copy and paste and hit the different areas! It's a pain but would be worth it with one extra lead. =)

I agree that raising the dust in your backyard is important. However, Rosario's point is well taken. In the Chicago area there is a new zip code and different name every 2 or three miles, and in the city of Chicago the zip code is crucial on reaching the right agent because there is a different zip code every few blocks.

I try to do something with each town that I have done business in on a rotating basis, but that means that I hit a town about every 2 or 3 months. 

And that makes sense as well-but consumers are more likely to search by city than zip, yes?  even in large areas?  Of course, I speak from my personal experience and we're not THAT big quite yet.  Of course, it's not that hard a trick to embed zip codes as keywords in posting so you can hit more targets with one shot...

Localism is pretty much the $$ of the activerain community.  If you intend on making any money off of blogging on Activerain, you must post to Localism so the consumer can see you!  

Although, I do suppose referrals over Activerain do pay too, but not as much as self-generated leads =)

Leigh,

Has a very valid point, get out there and make your self known. It is the only way we can operate. The negative stuff will not movitate others to want to use us.

I agree with your post.  "FREE Marketing" are two of my favorite words, which is why AR and Localism are such great tools.  To put in a little bit of time to be visible seems like a simple enough task for the potential rewards.  Good job.

Leigh, I could not agree more. I think that posting to Localism is absolutely the best place to post. I often read criticisms on here about posts which don't contribute to the active rain community. Well, the active rain community ain't (yes, I did say ain't) paying my bills. My local community is where I get paid from. So, obviously, I agree with you. Great advice!

Leigh - Good post and I am never complaining about the market because I am having a good year and if I were not, I would not complain about it but do something about it!  Yes, I embrace Localism and it has been good to me.  Keep up the good work.

I find that my posts are MUCH MORE geared towards localism these days than they used to be....I definitely agree with you!

Great advice - I think I will go over and post to Localism right now!

Wow, I'm 'learning' to blog and am having trouble shifting from technical 'selling' to personalizing info, still hoping to accomplish lead generation for my team.  Great content and example for us novices!

TY :)

Did you read my recent post ? My goal too, anywhere on page one I am happy. It is HARD work but it is free, tweek, tweek, tweek. You rock. Great post.

Nothing points us faster to the front page than good ole Localism! Anyone not making time to post is losing business. period.

Great job getting featured!

See ya at the UNC/ Miami game ?

Leigh - Thanks for blogging on the subject. I am learning how to use AR to improve my business. I just discovered Localism and didn't realize the power of it. Thanks for the tip. Time to get busy!

Great post!

I began doing a lot more on Localism early in the spring. The hits from Google keywords is phenomenal.

To attract clients, blog about your area - on localism, on your own blog, on ActiveRain itself - it's nice when you look up a subdivision and find you're not only #1 but you're #2,3 and 5 as well.

If you guys didn't read the comments-slide back up and read the one by Noel Edrich-that's a pearl.  (Missy, I learn a LOT from you, sister!)

Michele-we're planning to be there, I'll connect with you that week beforehand. =)

And I appreciate all the comments-it's always a surprise to get featured. =)

Leigh this can be a prowerfull tool if we utilize it, and guess what the price is write, it is FREE.  Can't beat that.

Shhhh - I call it Sweat Equity - but it works. I am not complaining about slow business.

Leigh, great post!  I'm sold on Localism, it has also helped strengthen my own personal website in the search engines. Another advantage is that it has helped me to REALLY know my communites.   

The price to write a blog is free so we mise well take advantage of as many avenues as possible!

So true, I am the only Realtor in my town that has written anything.

I would have to agree with Stephen Wolfe of Birmingham Alabama Real Estate -- because I, too, have read criticisms on here about posts which don't contribute to the active rain community.  I agree on the subject of putting Localism to use for your advantage, as well as the consumer's.

I have at least 100 posts to localism. I try to do several per week. Been redoing my home on one of my sites. I am about half way through so take a look when you have time. Eric www.neworleanscondos.net

I will talk to David about a reduction tommorow.  

I read everyone of these comments and it will be my weekend goal also to get it going !  I did not understand what it really was or meant until you all made it so much clearer.        Thanks Pat

Thanks for this post.  It is very helpful for newbies like me.  I'm already writing blogs, I just couldn't wait any longer but learning as fast as I can.  Thanks, Ricki

Great advice. You are right on the money with your post Leigh. No matter what the real estate market condition is in your neighborhood,continue to plant seeds (Cold calling,farming,mailings,blogging etc ) and they are eventually going to grow someday.

For some reason, my postings don't show up under localism, even when I select the box. I've tried several ways and they don't seem to appear.

Very good post. Localism is where it is at! I strive to write interesting localism posts that are not boring and that add value and interest to the consumers. I know they work because they are being read by the public. The public rarely comments but that does not mean they are not reading. Many of them do not want to fill in the log in stuff in order to comment. Katerina

I have to say, I was very impressed,actually amazed, at how quickly these blog posts showed up in the Google Search results. Not as effective with MSN and Yahoo! though. However, any exposure is good exposure, so I think I, too, will go check out localism and do a few blogs aimed at the consumer...

Excellent post, Leigh.....
I'm going to be focusing much more on localism from now on....I don't have time for the politics and I don't want to be involved in it.

We joined AR to better our businesses and the biggest part of that in AR is writing top quality posts for our local consumer.

Jo 

Hi Leigh

Good Luck to being on the first page.  I was amazed how I reached the first page in google in such a short period of time.  Sometimes I am on the first and second pages.  I know it can be done but sometimes it is easier in some areas.

Leigh - Amen Sister - it's always amazing to find that - I Love Localism - I've gotten some great calls as a result!

HI Leigh.... I just became a part of A/R and I thought if I post a Blog it will also show up on Localism. With this information, I will make sure it shows up on Localism...

Thanks for the tip.... Sorry to say I'm from NY... but Now I know.....

Leigh - I could not agree with you more. I think I know what you mean by the drama as well :)!!

Localism is great...Other Realtors have not figured it out in our market yet though.

Hi Leigh,

It's difficult to create a balance between posting on Localism to attract the local audience but not garnering up all of those points for comments and writing to attract the comments/advice of other AR agents...my two cents.. I will say - Posting to Localism Works!! I am a poster child for direct leads in my area.

Leigh,  Thanks for the additional tips.

Leigh, you bring up some good points.  All of mine end up on Localism.

Leigh, I just found this but wanted to support your rant.  I have my own blog and then post both on AR and Localism posts.  The balance in my case it how many of my blog posts do I also post on AR because I don't want to jeopardize my Google ranking of my personal blog.  AR gets you there faster and then it is my understanding, once our personal sites reach the top we should phase out of localism posts on AR.  Thanks for bringing all this up!  (FYI  Curtis Pond has some serious issues, have you heard?)

I post pictures for localism, but I need to get busy and write some stuff as well.  Thanks for the reminder to all of us.

I've never posted to Localism, but your approach is well noted.  I'll have to get on and post!

Post to Localism, to the retail sphere.

Comment to agents for conversation.