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October Blog Tour: Name Your Platform!

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

platformOK folks, it has been a long time since I took the helm and announced a blog tour, but it is time to rally the troops and start up again.  Rainers are asking all kinds of questions about outside blogs and what better way get some answers than by looking around at what your peers are doing?

I have also heard a number of people asking what blogging system is best.  Its a question every blogger has to consider. I have blogged on Expression Engine, Blogger.com, Wordpress.com, ActiveRain.com, Myspace and Wordpress.org, and RSSPieces in addition to ActiveRain.  My platform of choice is definitely wordpress.org But I invite everyone who joins to point out to us what platform they are using.  If you can, add a few sentences about it's pros and cons.

Why go on Blog Tours?

Apparently there are a number of us who not only blog on ActiveRain, but maintain other real estate blogs out there in the 'real world.'  My other blog is called miOaklandCounty.com.  miOaklandCounty.com had its second birthday in March.  In the world of real estate blogging that makes me a nearly eligible for a pension or something.  But I have often said that the first 18 or so months were pretty darn crappy.  I was blogging on blogger.com and I wasn't connecting to the other real estate bloggers out there.  My content was boring even to me.  So I was fizzling. 

Then along came ActiveRain.  Maureen McCabe invited me and I found a lot of other people talking about things I wanted to talk about.  Real estate to be specific.  Now I have a much better handle on where I want my blogging to go and how it will help me and my business.  

I've learned so much from my fellow bloggers.  Thank you for helping me to hone this skill set.  The blog tour gives me new inspiration.   I hope we will see some new members joining us.

Who goes on Blog Tours?

Everyone is welcome to read the blogs that will be on this month's blog tour.  You do not have to have an outside blog.  These blogs will inspire new ideas on everything from formatting and platforms to content and commentary.

Here are some posts you can look back on if you are curious about what has taken place in the past.  But, really, its quite simple.  The benefits to the participants are that we often give each other feedback on site issues and you create incoming links to your own site every time you leave a comment.  I also usually pick up some new ideas for future posts.

Here is how it works:

  • Put a link in the comments here with your 'other' blog's URL.
  • Tell us what platform you are using.
  • If you have a post that you think we would particularly enjoy, use that as the landing page.  But the main page is just fine too. 
  • Please only add one outside blog.  Save the others for next time.
  • If you post your own blog here, I ask you to visit at least the two other blogs that sign up immediately before you.   Of course, you are welcome to visit more. 
  • If you add your blog early in the comments, you'll want to stop back later  to check out the new  additions.
  • When you are out visiting, leave a comment to let them know you stopped by. 
  • Optional: You might consider adding someone to your blogroll.  If you don't have an outside blog, you could add them to your "favorites" on your blog settings or as an associate.

We are not judging or competing here.  This is just a chance to get out and see what our peers are doing.  New members, even if you don't have another blog, go take a look around. 

Join us before October 15th to take place in the fun!

If you find out anything interesting while you are out there, report back here and let the rest of us know so that we don't miss it... 

If you want to make sure you don't miss future blog tours, join blog tourists. If you are a real estate professional and you are not a member of ActiveRain, you should sign up here.  It is FREE and it will change the way you do business.

Photo by Stuck in Customs

 

Comments(104)

Shane Leady
Apella Business Solutions - Zolfo Springs, FL

Maureen,

I am back again to say that the blog tour is great! 

I have checked out the blogs and enjoyed many of them.  It is hard to keep up with the growing amount of blogs so once again thank you.  Looks like the list will grow as there are many beautiful with a ton of knowledge.  Cant wait to see more!

 

Oct 08, 2007 11:37 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor: just told me about this group and your October blog tour. 

I posted to Blogger regularly for eight months, but the only comments I ever got were spam.  After ActiveRain, I started three different free blogs on Wordpress and found it very easy to use. My new Tomato blog, FocusOnCrofton.com, will replace two of those. 

I really like the clean simple look of http://www.blogcalabasas.com/ - clearly it is a custom site, head and shoulders above most blogs.  The only thing I would change is to make it easier to figure out whose site it is.  Maybe a name and/or photo in the left navigation bar, or more conspicuous on the "about" page.  'Love the look.

I also like http://www.blogbythebay.com/.  There are nice photos of the local area, excellent posts with photos, helpful info in the nav bar.  The subscribe button was easy, and so was the search box.  Good job.

Oct 08, 2007 12:28 PM
Kristal Kraft
Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO
Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022

So when did Rich Jacobson start blogging?

kk 

Oct 08, 2007 02:29 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Ginger - I have always enjoyed your "Blog-by-the Bay." It makes me homesick!

Who the heck is KK?

Oct 08, 2007 02:46 PM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
These insults are making me teary eyed and nostalgic for the good old days...
Oct 08, 2007 02:52 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Jay changed the whole look of my blog..new theme very blue and no banner picture. I think I like the new look. Now if he can solve the picture issue he is blogging about...poor guy.

 

 

Oct 08, 2007 02:56 PM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
Moni I am so surprised how much has happened on your blog in 24 hrs! It's very cool btw!
Oct 08, 2007 03:28 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

yeah, kinda like sitting in bed late at night and watching "Seems like Old Times" on TBS....

Maybe our next tour should be like one of those "Where are They Now"...celebrity shows on TV. We could call up and interview all those people who used to post on AR, but have been MIA for so long. Possible episodes:

Angus "The Moo-Man" Woodbury

Sara Lipnitz

Joshua Plummer

Rory Siems

David Eiglarsh

Oct 08, 2007 03:38 PM
Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio
Real Living HER, Powell Ohio - Powell, OH

Just a note - I've been using this list to update my blogroll. I have my blogroll set up by state/city to make it easier for people to locate a realtor by the state they might want to move TO.

There are some blogs above that don't mention their state. HINT - HINT ... you might want to see if your blog includes your state somewhere in the blog's copy. Those of us outside your area don't necessarily know where the counties or lakes are. It also might mean you're being missed by Google.

Oct 08, 2007 04:03 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

I just went to Margaret's Blog and love it. She has the neatest contest ...well it's not a contest really but she has a lovely house pictured and if the owner contacts her they get a gift. What a great idea to encourage consumer contact.

Elaine...I like that list idea! 

Oct 09, 2007 12:00 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
Maureen, I'm going to be checking out a number of these blogs.  Right now, my outside blog is on Real Town.  They have changed their format recently on the backside to improve SEO.  It seems to be working better in terms of SEO for me.  My outside blog is http://laudu.realtownblogs.com. I've considered other blogging platforms like wordpress and blogger but have not tried them yet. So, I'm off to check out Monika & Elaine's outside blogs.  Thanks for the assignment. :)
Oct 09, 2007 01:40 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent

Maureen and everyone who has posted their outside blog-

I thought I would do something special and give a gift of link love to  you all. Today's post on my blog Minneapolis Luxury Real Estate features every outside blog so far mentioned in this post. I call it a Carnival of Blogs. Many of us are trying to make a place for ourselves on the blog-o-sphere so enjoy the free links!

Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog!

Oct 10, 2007 03:02 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Aren't you sweet, Jennifer!  Congratulations to Maureen for being one of the top 12 women bloggers according to Sellsius!  We are in great company here.  I am planning a post to piggyback on this one and get more outside blogs listed so we can find more of them....hope that is ok with you all...
Oct 10, 2007 03:20 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

I would love to participate and thank you Joanne for bringing this to my attention.

Outside blog is www.centraloregonbuzz.com/blog

This is a wordpress blog that was actually placed on the back of my website - heading out to the two before me now.  thanks for the opportunity

Oct 10, 2007 05:38 PM
Bob Carney
Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales - Mc Henry, MD
Licensed MD/PA Real Estate Agent
Hey...Congrats on being one of the Top 12 Woman Bloggers.... 
Oct 11, 2007 03:11 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
I have floor duty tomorrow and will do my best to reorganize my blog roll and get them all read and commented on.
Oct 11, 2007 05:53 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Maureen -Congratulation on being recognised as a top blogger.  Your post will certainly help us to take a look at more outside blogs.  I am working on my outside blogs and will unveil it later this year.
Oct 14, 2007 01:57 PM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

Thanks Bob and Jennifer.

This blog tour is now officially closed to new entries.  If you haven't joined the blog tourist group, please consider doing so!  I promise not to wait so long for the next one. 

Oct 16, 2007 03:55 AM
Anonymous
amos williams
I need your reply to my mail account (amos2005_w@yahoo.com) , this is to enable me give you more details. thanks Amos
Oct 24, 2007 08:16 AM
#103
Keith Kenner
Hometown Properties - Hiawassee, GA
Hey Bob and Jenifer I had no idea that blogging goes so far in the way of createing a network. I know what you meant when you said that you could be eligeable for a second pension or something. To get as much data out as you have  ... you have spent plenty of tine on the keyboard. Great job! I wll be back to visit it thats' ok. Come see my site Mountain Real Estate For You!
Feb 05, 2008 02:12 PM