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30 Days to Create a Habit and 30 Days to Break a Habit...

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas

Is what they say! Who are they? I don't know but I have to believe them I guess. I do know one thing. Our Active Rain 30 Day Localism Challenge has been phenomenal for me. If you have been participating in this challenge then you understand what I am talking about when I say "creating a habit". This wonderful challenge was hosted by Deborah Byron Leffler  and has truly opened my eyes to the benefits of Localism.

In the past I have not been totally focused on Localism posts. I would do a few each month for the Search Engines and to keep my placement in google but it was just to place the keywords. Many of you are probably doing this. After having to discover new and interesting things about my area, day in and day out, I have learned more than I imagined I could! This challenge has actually taught me much about my own area that I didn't know! I have caught up on just about everything LOCAL. And, isn't that what it's all about? Becoming the Local Expert is what we all want.

We only have two days to go and I want to thank Deborah for nudging us to do this challenge. It isn't just for the points...believe me. This was work but it was great work. It was educational, enlightening, heart warming at times and has given me a new outlook on not only Active Rain and its power but on my on community as well. So, thank you Deborah for setting this in motion. It is a habit I am going to try and follow through with from here on out!

If you have not joined in on the CONTEST group I recommend you do right away. Various contests with many benefits including POINTS, POINTS, POINTS are coming our way. 
I say Blog it Baby!

 

Gayle Beyer
Welcome Center Realty 772-336-8583, FLA777 - Port St Lucie, FL
Port St Lucie FL Real Estate Broker

Deb - Very positive.. Like anything we want to start doing, perhaps I should set 10 min aside in the beginning or end of my day for localism or another challenge. Thanks for the inspiration.

Sep 28, 2011 08:54 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Deb,

This has actually been one of the more difficult, but rewarding contests.

Rich

Sep 28, 2011 09:24 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Deb- good for you.  I'm used to writing a post a day now but doing 20 in 30 days... I have to admit it was a big challenge.  And you're right... it trained/encouraged/forced me to get out and seek out places and events in my area.  That's not such a bad thing. 

Featured in Bananatude

bananatude 

Sep 28, 2011 09:25 AM
Kym Wright
Prudential California Realty - Olivenhain, CA
Deb, I am an active rain newbie but I decidednto jump in early and get my blogging feet wet. Yikes! What a contest to start with, but you are right. At first I struggled with ideas, but glorious Mimi came to my rescue! Now I have so ,any ideas, it is just silly. What I did not realize, is how much my family is in the community!
Sep 28, 2011 10:33 AM
Rebekah Radice
Imagine WOW! Digital Marketing Agency - Burbank, CA
Social Media Marketing, Coaching & Training

That's great Deb!  Hyper-local community posts are often over looked but a huge opportunity for you as an agent to pull in leads as your "local expert."  It sounds like you had a lot of fun with this challenge so congrats!

Sep 28, 2011 10:50 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Gayle! Just have to make ourselves do it! The more we do the easier it gets. It becomes fun too.

Richard, it was difficult for me at first too! Trying to figure out what to write about. And, where to find any information. So, I found myself taking photos at the local grocery store and things like that.

Thank you Kathy!! Thank you. You are my favorite group...after ... well, you know.

 

Sep 28, 2011 11:27 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Kym, I am totally impressed that you jumped in to this commitment! I'm so proud of you. I looked at your posts and they are looking great. It's so nice to make a new friend.

Rebekah, Thank you! I have had a ball with it. I have gotten to the point that I wake up in the mornings and go straight to my AR site to see what's there. I enjoy reading your posts so very much and I'm honored to meet you and call you my friend! So wonderful to see you here.

Deb

Sep 28, 2011 11:48 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Deb - while I didn't enter the 30 day challenge, I've be doing more localism posts (just did one today) because of all the talk of how they can bring you leads. I now enjoy doing them and after I did a 9/11 post on our town's memorial site and submitted my photos to the town, they asked if I would be willing to do more photography, covering town events.

I love being involved in my community and found a way to use a skill-set to help out. It only happened because I was focused on Localism posts. Best part, they asked for a bunch of my business cards to hand out to people who live in my community! Great post and a big SUGGEST!

Sep 28, 2011 01:04 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Isn't this the truth, my friend?  It has been SUCH an eye opener!  I hadn't really done more than a few in the previous six months, and today I started to panic because I have so many more that I want to write, and had a fun AHA moment when I realized that I STILL GET TO WRITE LOCALISM when this is over!  WHO KNEW?  Great post!  And THANKS TO DEBORAH!

Sep 28, 2011 01:54 PM
Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

THanks Deb....this was a great one for me.....I needed the push and the accountability to keep me doing more localism posts!    I am with Mimi....i have to so many more I want to post and not nearly enough time!   LOL    Can't wait to continue it into October!!!

Sep 28, 2011 03:16 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Great post Deb. Deborah has put together a great localism challenge. Just like anything, getting in the habit of looking local takes a little time. Once you get in the habit of looking, there is a lot to blog about.

Sep 28, 2011 04:46 PM
Christine Gerbehy
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Making waves, one home at a time...

I only saw the post after joining a couple days ago, but I'm doing at least one or two posts a day, ESPECIALLY to Localism, all about events and listings...  Didn't realize it was in Beta...

Sep 28, 2011 07:50 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Debra: You have a gift for writing. I do not. LOL! So... I do a lot of localism posts and photo blogging. Personally, I think a mix is the way to go. If I had your gift, I would make my blog like a tossed salad with a little bit of everything in it!! :))

 

Sep 29, 2011 03:59 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

It seems these contests are held often and I have yet to participate. Perhaps I should just so I can be more consistent with my blogging. As it stands today, I only blog about 5-8 times a month. :-(  Keep it up Deb!

Sep 29, 2011 09:48 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Deb you're so right - getting into a good daily pattern is a good thing! Writing about local events and local information (home sales and market) is such a great thing to do.  This month instead of 8 home sales reports we upped to to 20 and did a lot more research as to all the different towns.  I feel like I really have a plus on the area - it's been awesome!

Sep 29, 2011 01:38 PM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Hi Deb!  You said it so well.  

I'm very appreciative to Deborah for coming up with idea for this contest.  Localism posts have typically been my favorite so that was the easy part.   Getting into the habit of posting every single day has been the challenging part.   This is the second time I've tried a 30 day challenge.  The first time, I only made it a week.   So far, I've made it 29 days...if I get my post submitted tonight.  I might actually make it this time. lol

By the way, your post about the grocery store was fun..... I had the hardest time trying to figure out the answer to that mystery. 

Sep 29, 2011 02:29 PM
Cal Yoder
Keller Williams Elite - Lititz, PA
Homes For Sale in Lancaster PA - 717.413.0744

Deb, I, too, have been participating. I have loved it. It does take a good amount of attention that is for sure. The localism posts are great.

Cal

Sep 30, 2011 12:18 AM