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How do you begin blogging again after being MIA?

By
Real Estate Agent with Roy Wheeler Realty Co.

Blogging can be a full-time job; some people attempt to make a living blogging.  Most of us, however, blog as an adjunct to our businesses.  Blogging adds a special layer to our business; blogging allows us to define ourselves to our prospective customers and clients.  When our business is service related, as is the real estate business, the public has to take a leap of faith when they hire a Realtor.  Blogging allows we Realtors the opportunity to express our individual personalities, to describe our understanding of local neighborhoods and housing stock, and to illustrate our feelings about our communities and all they have to offer.  Blogging provides a platform for us to report the state of the current real estate market, to tell all the world why our listed properties are special, and to distinguish ourselves from our competitors.  Blogging also allows us to exemplify our professionalism, our caring, and our willingness to share our expertise with the public, with no guarantee that any business will result.

So, what happens when business or life gets busier than usual (or you get sick or your kids get sick or you actually take a vacation or or or) and something has to "go" and the something that "goes" is our daily blogging?  Suddenly you look up one day and realize you haven't shared a blog post for days, maybe a week.  How did that happen? 

We all know how it happened, but how do we pick up where we left off two, maybe three, weeks ago?  Did anyone even notice we were missing?  The answer to the latter question is, probably yes.  The more important question, though... Did anyone care? Probably, no.  There's a good side to that answer, and it helps answer the original question.  Since we were blogging along there for a while, we developed a certain rhythm.  A few people did notice, and our content was interesting and diverse enough... relevant enough... that even Google noticed now and then.

We took a brief hiatus from blogging.  Did we miss some prospective business?  Maybe.  But, seriously, how many people do you believe actually think about the real estate market when they aren't in the market for real estate?  Few.  But the minute someone sees a house they find interesting or gets a new job or decides to start visiting Sunday open houses to "see what's out there", they will start Googling real estate related topics.  And, maybe, just maybe, they will find a blog post of ours which is relevant to them.  And maybe, just maybe, they will see that we are knowledgeable and interesting in the ways of real estate. Maybe they'll see that the listing we have is more interesting than they thought.

But they won't find us if we aren't there, and the way to be there is to pick up our pen (or tablet or laptop) and begin again.  It doesn't matter that we didn't blog for three weeks.  It matters that we pick up where we left off.

We've been missing for the past few weeks, and it's good to be back.

Comments (8)

Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Good post...yes...you just need to jump back in.  No one really cares that people are gone...or at least they're much more excited about the fact that they've returned!

Sep 12, 2011 03:46 AM
Dawn Crawley
Dawn Crawley Realty - Pinehurst, NC
Find Pinehurst Homes

When you have to take some time off, just jump right back in when you are able. As you said, we don't blog for a living!!

Sep 12, 2011 03:48 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Good post, Virginia.  I've a couple of those crazy busy weeks the past few, and blogging was difficult.  I managed to keep up, but it was tough.  Welcome back!

Sep 12, 2011 03:52 AM
JoAnn Moore
The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE
Home Loans in Delaware

Welcome back Virginia. I took a few months off from blogging after doing one of those 30 in 30 challenges. And, it was summertime. I'm back and doing another 30 in 30 and it isn't half as stressful as before. Glad you're back too. We need a break every now and then to recharge our energy. Looking forward to seeing your posts.

Sep 12, 2011 04:29 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals - Alexandria, LA
Your Real Estate Resource!

The best way to jump back in? Jump back in. Welcome back!

Sep 12, 2011 05:26 AM
Joe Kenny
Realty Executive Midwest - Darien, IL
Better Than Your Average Joe

Virginia- I know you follow my blog but because I haven't doesn't mean you should.  Thanks for getting back in the rain.

Sep 12, 2011 06:21 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Virginia * GREAT to have you back! Blogging is like riding a bike - just get back on and write!

Sep 12, 2011 02:51 PM
Virginia Gardner
Roy Wheeler Realty Co. - Charlottesville, VA
Realtor, Charlottesville, Serving Central Virginia

Hello Larry, thanks, I hope you're right!

Hi Dawn, thanks for the advice...

Hello, Mike... you're better man than I, but I'm back... :-)

Good morning, JoAnn, nice to see you as well.  This means I also need to begin reading great posts again!

Hi Doug, THANKS!

Hello, Joe, nice to see you, too

Hi Wallace, I think I actually missed it :-)

Sep 13, 2011 01:51 AM