She's seven years old. Maybe eight. Grandkids keep changing on you when you're not looking. Her attention span rivals that of a six week old puppy.
When I blog, I keep Hanna's world view in mind. For a very short period of time, she's very focused. And in that way, Hanna is exactly like you--my Active Rain reader. And you, in turn, are exactly like the real estate buyer who's clicking away on their keyboard in West Jebip, looking for just the right agent to help them buy just the right house.
So stick with me; the moral of the story just might just make you some money.
When I started my Active Rain ride four short months ago, I wasn't at all sure I could capture your interest and keep it long enough to make you click on my blog. There's a whole lot of white space on that screen under WYSIWYG!
Hanna lives in NJ, and Saturday morning conversations happen like this: I'm on one end of the phone. I want Hanna to carry on a conversation with me. Hanna, on the other end, is multi-tasking. One hand holds the phone against her ear. The other holds something good to eat. Her eyes are glued to the TV, where Hannah Montana is competing for MY time!
You're me. Your real estate buyer is Hanna. She'll hang up in a heartbeat. In the middle of my sentence, I've heard "Okay, Grandpa. Bye! I love you." And she's gone. I'm talking to dead air.
By the time she was four, I knew that I had to have something interesting to say--on Hanna's level--if we were going to have a conversation. "Hanna?" "Guess what!" "Coyotes were singing on the ramada last night, right under Grandma's window." "Three of them." "You're right! One was the daddy, one was the mommy, and one was the daughter. Just like you."
It didn't take me long to learn that Active Rain facilitates the story telling, and that interactive blogging keeps the party on the other end from hanging up.
What I didn't know, and have learned to my great satisfaction, is the extent to which you and I become visible to Google and the searching world by effective blogging. I've learned that if I make you laugh, you'll stay and comment, and that you'll come back. (Go ahead. Click the hippo. You know your want to.)
I've learned about Search Engine Optimization and Organic Blogging, meta tags and pay per click. I've learned that if I comment on your blog, you'll come look at mine.
It bears repeating (I've said it before on other posts) that the genius of Active Rain is that it rewards reciprocation and interactivity. Virtual relationships mirror personal and business relationships in this way: They are either improving or they're deteriorating. They are never static.
I appreciate you more than I can say. Your participation in the Active Rain Real Estate Community has grown my business, expanded my mind, and added immeasurably to my resources as a business person. And all for free. Thank you so much! I'm 10% of the way to the Silver Star. and it's all your fault!
Mike in Tucson
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Congrats Mike... Like you I have learned so much on the Rain and I have gained good business with local and national blogging. Keep up the good work.