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Free Blog or Paid For Blog! So Many Choices! What do you think?

I am considering buying a blog. There seem to be so many choices out there. I can't wait to get started! It is getting really confusing...Is it better to buy one or to get a free one. I spoke to Real Estate Tomato (they seem to have good education and I like their blogs).RSS Pieces, SocialMediaSystems.com etc! I am looking to possibly replace my Number 1 Expert website which seems so stale now! Will I get more buyers and sellers with a blog or with a website? Should I keep both? Any and all comments will be appreciated.Thank you for your help!

Posted by AnnMarie Clements on 10/25/2007 09:25 AM

Comments (15)

maryland real estate, germantown maryland, gaithersburg, blog, realtor

15 Comments on Free Blog or Paid For Blog! So Many Choices! What do you think?

OCT

2007

Howdy AnnMarie

Free is always better.

A lot of the web hosts now give you a blog as part of your web site now. Have you looked in to that ?

Have you ever looked in a Point 2 Agent Site ? Theres even a Point 2 Agent Sites group here on AR.

It's a very good way to go. Affter I get done with my web site I'll be adding the blog to it.

Have a good one

Hey AnnMarie,

I would have to agree with Dale that free is always the best solution. You can look into Typepad and Wordpress.com for a couple free solutions. Except the only problem with those types of blogs is the lack of access to control your site.

Dale actually had the best advice which is to look into paying for your own hosting account (mediatemple.com, netfirms.com, etc.). Many hosts have a ton of free applications which are only one click away from being set up and Wordpress is almost always an option. This will allow you to have FTP access to your files, freely manage your theme, have complete control over your domain names, host multiple sites, control over all of your email accounts, access to create more databases, etc. This option isn't completely free, you still have to pay a minimal fee for the hosting, but by far in my opinion, this is the best solution for any real estate agent/broker.

So where does the Tomato fit in?

Well we believe that time is money and we save agents from having to learn photoshop, php, mysql, nameservers, css, etc. We set you up on your own hosting account, we set up a customized ready to go wordpress blog for you, we design the site, and then best of all, we teach you how to FTP, how to blog, how to change your site around, how to add widgets to the sidebar, etc.

We do still charge $39 a month for hosting, as compared to netfirms for instance who charges somewhere around $10 a month for hosting, but that is because we constantly upgrade your site to the newer versions of wordpress. And if after your classes, you no longer want to host with us... Then you can take all of your files and database and go somewhere else...

Ask the other guys if they let you take their files...

But of course I could be way off, I am biased after all...

See you around the vine,

Jason

Hi Dale,

I have had a number 1 expert website for about 7 years. They don't have any options for blogs. I was actually thinking of cancelling it. I was hoping my blog would be better for my business.

Thanks for your input Jason. I think you are so right about time. It is money especially in this tight real estate market...the Tomato blog sounds good to me!! :)

OCT

2007

AnnMarie,

When you make your decision, let me know.... I am having this same dilemna. I'm glad you asked this question

AnnMarie:

As the Queen of FREE. You know what I am thinking! There are a lot of free blogs out there now and as mentioned by others. Since your host does not offer it kick them to the curb and have look at WordPress. WordPress is a combination of a blog and web site. Check it out it might work for you. By the way when you get ready for a new host just move the files you have now and add a blog page.

They have free blog, and they also provide a list of hosting services. If you want a combo blog a site, get it hosted. They have a lot of great templates.

You can have a look at mine (in process) it is a combo blog and site. You can move the blog around in the site too. You don't need to leave it at the main page. But why not!

I am building this with a modified template just so I can see how it all works.

http://www.CDWebbDesign.com/wordpress

Caryn

OCT

2007

Caryn, I spoke to my rep at number 1 expert and he sent me two links for agents that have blogs on their websites, I think they were just links and that is not what I think I am looking for. I am going to check out your site. Thank you!

Judy, I will definitely let you know. I am going to speak with a few more people to get some more prices next week.

OCT

2007

AnnMarie, I'm going to watch what develops here. One of the bloggers, Marc Blasi (sorry I didn't get the link, but you can use the Search to find him), just finished his website with RSS Pieces, I believe he has a combo web and blog. But anyway, he said they're very easy to work with.

The Tomato I'm not as familiar with, but I've heard good things about them, too. Of course since I'm a starving agent, I'd rather have free. LOL

OCT

2007

thought provoking post.I will check out the comments and hope to learn from them.

NOV

2007

Hi AnnMarie~ If I were you I would start with a free blog, and keep your #1 Expert site until you are up and running with the blog. In addition to that, if your site feels stale, I would recommend a Point 2 Agent Site as well. Free to start, and if you upgrade just a little you get a great blog to go with it:)

P.S. Thanks for visiting my blog too:)

NOV

2007

Hi Ann Marie, When you find out the answer, I'd like to know. I love FREE. I believe we have to keep a personal website and AR...beyond that I don't know where to put my time and effort.

thanks for the info..we ahve a number one expert site too

Anne

How are agents doing with blogging through active rain? Is anyone getting some leads?

NOV

2007

Active Rain is leading inquiries on the average of two a week right now. Last summer I was gathering about 3-4 a week. Active Rain works for myself and another agent that is posting on AR. So free so far is working quite well. Good Luck.

The most effective strtegy is a properly optimized blog that creates a popular feed that originates from your domain: when people subscribe, it designates you as the authority source.

Example: we invented socialmediasystems.com in February, rank on Google for:

social media website design

real estate social media

even social media website

We routinely sell a couple of deals per week from our website, to people we have not met, in other states, over the phone.

this kind of placment is not free, and you willnot achieve it without professional help.

See:

http://socialmediasystems.com/09/24/why-your-business-blog-should-absolutely-not-be-on-blogger/

AR, like blogger, is seup only to get traffic for AR, and we outrank them on their own searches, because we understand syndication of RSS feeds.

NOV

2007

HI Isreal...Thank you for your comments. I read your info on Rismedia...its great!

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