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Should You Have A Blog or a Website?

By Brad Andersohn

Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

October 17, 2007 03:48 AM

This is a common question that I get asked by many who are considering starting up a Blog or a Website. I really don't know what the right answer is, but I think that Blogs are starting to have a real impact in our Industry. I also don't think that the websites (especially corporate ones) will ever go away. The Blog is always changing with new and fresh content, topics, and ideas. Comments from others also adds new and fresh text for the search engines to find! Websites are great because many of us already have them, and consumers are used to them. Will Blogs be short lived based on the owners ability to keep coming up with good content? Are Websites more permanent? Listen to what Inman News predicts. Are there really some significant reasons as to why you'd want one or the other...or both?

What's on a Typical Real Estate Website or Blog?

Listing Information
Area Statistics
Demographic Data
Buyer and Seller Reports
Why they should choose you
Home Valuation Research
Website Traffic Reports
Email Lead Notification
Leads Management
Featured Listings
Mortgage Calculators
Custom Property Searches
Buyer's Hot-list
Relocation Tools
Lead Generating Tools
Local and National Free Reports
Local Events and Information
Weather Reports
School Information and Reviews etc.

Can't you do all these things on both a Website or a Blog? So why have Both? In fact, isn't it easier to do a Blog than it is to try and learn HTML so you can keep up a Website? A Blog gives the user more control over the activities, changes, ideas, upgrades and overall site management. With a well written and professional looking Blog, you can't tell it's not a website! Is it easier for clients to interact with you on a Blog or on your Website? Email or phone seems to be the only way to communicate with you from a Website. Hasn't the Website become just a one-way portal of advertising? Isn't that why Blogging is called Web 2.0? Website vs Blog!

One BIG advantage of a Blog is the cost! I know some REALTORS® that pay over $50.00+ per month for their Website, and they have no control of it. They have to contact a webmaster to make any changes, and they have to pay for any additional services and support. Even worse,sometimes their page doesn't show up on the search engines, even when you type in their domain names. What about leads and referrals? A Blog is FREE and easy, and the support you get from networks like Active Rain and others is priceless. People helping people just because. The downside of the Blog is the time you need to invest. So is it worth the money to just pay a webmaster and have a Website? Should you just hire a writer for your Blog? Wouldn't they be called a Blog-Master? What's the difference?

Google loves Active Rain Blogs, maybe even more than some Real Estate Websites out there. I am not saying that Websites are a waste of time, money and effort, just wondering what advice to give someone who asks this question? What advice would you give another industry professional who might really need your help with this? In a time where money is tight, the market has shifted, and technology in our industry is changing, where do you suggest that marketing dollars are best spent? What's your thought on having a Website or a Blog? I know some very successful REALTORS® that don't have either, and some that have both! I wish I had a plain and simple answer for this one!! Do You?

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Take 5 Team

Take 5 Team, Illustrated Properties - Jupiter, FL

Great post. As a consultant to agents, I have to answer the blog v. website question quite a bit. My answer is that agents should have both. Even if your website is the standard, boring realtor site, having a great (and constantly updated) blog will get your name out there and get your website more hits than the guy at the next desk with the same website, but no blog.

www.meghanmullee.com

Dec 11, 2007 01:18 AM

Matthew Zgonc

Aksland Real Estate - Modesto, CA

Realtor, CFS, CVS

Good input. I have a website and a blog. I like both since it establishes me as an individual while the blog gives good information to the consumer.

Dec 11, 2007 01:26 AM

Denise Shockey

RE/MAX Aerospace Realty - Cocoa Beach, FL

Cocoa Beach, Brevard County Florida Real Estate

Great post! Thank you so much for sharing very valuable information and stimulating such great comments!

Dec 11, 2007 01:28 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Meghan - as a consultant myself, I would agree, however, I have seen many more Blogs pass up websites in Google as oppossed to the other way around. Two different worlds, used for two entirely different purposes now a days! Thanks for the comment!. B-)

Dec 12, 2007 01:59 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Matthew - great information, and so true. One should drive to the other and visa-versa. Blogs are starting to dominate over websites in many cases depending on the business and the products, tools or services being offerred. :-)

Dec 12, 2007 02:01 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Denise - thanks! The stimulating comments are generated because of all YOU great folks here on AR, so again, thank you! :-)

Dec 12, 2007 02:04 PM

Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc

Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

I have a point2 professional site, that I like a lot. But in my short time of using active rain, i seem to get more exposure from blogging than my website. I can't think of anything I can do on my website that I cannot do with my blog. That being said, I don't know why I wouldn't use both. It's fairly cheap information to deliver to the public.

Dec 12, 2007 02:35 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Larry - you are the BOMB! You summed it up and I couldn't have said it better myself...and neither could you! LOL! Well said, and well taken. I agree with you totally! Thanks and Happy Holidays my friend!! :-)

Dec 12, 2007 03:11 PM

Frank Jewett

tech4REpros - San Jose, CA

When novices come to me looking for web design, I try to show them how they can use blogging platforms to achieve the same results with an editorial interface they can understand and operate. I've also seen some PHP "website in a box" packages that looked robust and easy, so if a blogging platform doesn't have enough power (message boards, for example), that may also be an inexpensive, easy to maintain option.

Frank Jewett

Dec 12, 2007 03:45 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Frank - well said, thanks!! :-)

Dec 14, 2007 12:05 AM

Mary Strang

Viroqua, WI

I would say, both for now, because many older sellers and buyer don't understand blogs and don't even know what they are.

Dec 14, 2007 12:15 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Mary - that's cute. My Mom is almost 80 and she reads my Blog quite often. It's just an educational process. We are never too Old to learn....or to teach! Great comment, thanks! :-)

Dec 14, 2007 12:27 AM

Erika Fultz

Century 21 - West Lafayette, IN

We have both. You have to remember that not everyone out there is as savvy and cool as all of us on active rain. There are alot of old schoolers out there that have no idea of what a blog even is.

I agree that blogs are the wave of the future, and I'm trying to get ahead of everyone in my marketplace before they catch on.

Blogging is a hard thing to get other agents in my office to do. I'm the tech coordinator for my office, and teach Technology classes. I have told them all about how to blog & how important it is, but they nover follow through with taking the time to actually work on their blog.

Dec 14, 2007 01:45 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Erika - look at these sites Site 1, Site 2, Site 3, and tell me if you can tell if they are websites or Blogs. You may want to rethink your theory. I agree, there are different audiences out there, but consumers don't need to be savvy and cool to find us on the web (Blog or Website) It's the content they are looking for, and I don't think most folks care if it's a Blog or a website, as long as they find what they are looking for.

Do you want to know why other agents won't Blog? There are many reasons, I have interviewed quite a few lately and can give you some alarming excuses, but you're right, it will catch on eventually. Maybe I'll do a post on my findings. Thanks for commenting. I love to hear what others are experiencing in their areas! :-)

Dec 14, 2007 11:09 AM

Mary Strang

Viroqua, WI

Hi Brad, oops, did not think my comment would be taken that way.. thanks for pointing this out... wow... You see... Here in small rural areas many are not as techie as in urban areas. Believe it or not I am the only Realtor here in a three county area with a blog. Sorry... hit delete if you wish.

Dec 14, 2007 11:55 PM

Karen Hubert

Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton - Ancaster, ON

Home Stager

Great post Brad, I am still working on the content for my website. I didn't expect it to be this difficult. Hopefully soon, in the meantime I guess I should be blogging more here.

Dec 15, 2007 01:57 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Mary - I agree with you. My comment was just to say someone has to teach someone else or none of us would ever learn. Some will, some won't, some just don't care. Sounds like you should take advantage in your area of those who won't or don't care. :-)

Being the only Realtor with a Blog in your 3 Counties is Awesome! You are the Leader of the pack! Blogging and websites (in my opinion) are just a couple of the tools we'll need in our boxes to get the job done in the future.

Blogs are great for what we are doing right now, and much more. Websites are great because everyone knows they exists. I try to help people make their Blog more valuable than the website, but every circumstance is different. Thank you for your comments, I would never delete them, as I appreciate the time you took to read my post, and the additional time it took to comment! That's what makes our Blogs so special and valuable.

(can't do that on a website) having this dialog that is... If I were a buyer right now, wouldn't this be great?

That's what I love about Blogs. If I have a buyer or investor that is looking in Wisconsin : Vernon County :or Viroqua for a home, guess who I'd refer them to? You don't have to guess. (LOL) That's how your Blog just beat out your website. I would never be able to make that kind of a commitment on your web page. :-)

Have a great Holiday, and I hope we'll have the opportunity to refer each other business someday soon. :-)

Dec 15, 2007 05:09 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Great post Brad, I am still working on the content for my website. I didn't expect it to be this difficult. Hopefully soon, in the meantime I guess I should be blogging more here.

Karen - you should definitely be blogging more! Whether it's here on AR or on your outside Blog. Much less difficult than a website. There is nothing you can do on your website that can't be replicated on your Blog. In fact, there is more control and more you can do on your Blog. And it's so much easier and FREE. I built a Blog just for this. I call it "Power of the Hour" for Bloggers. It's a Blog that was built in about an hour.

Let me know if you would need any assistance in that area. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Have a great Holiday!! :-)

Dec 15, 2007 05:15 AM

Shane Trotta

CT Appraisal Group, LLC - Guilford, CT

Just a website for me (appraiser), but i think a blog could help a bit...Realtors I would think should definitely have both, the more exposure to the public the better.

Dec 16, 2007 10:57 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Shane - that totally makes sense, I agree completely. I think as an appraiser, there can be great value to having a Blog as well. I can think of a few ways that having a Blog could increase your business and your exposure, if that's something you're wanting to do. It's nice to see you have a Blog here on AR, I hope you are reaping some benefits! :-)

Dec 17, 2007 02:37 AM