For my friends of the Catholic persuasion, please know that I mean no disrespect...

They say that one of the primary tenets of effective blogging is consistency (Although I'm not quite sure who "They" is) These days, it seems as though anyone who has been blogging for more than a year is considered an expert. However, there is a very definite sense of validity to this particular point.

It's rather obvious that in order to keep the Search Engine Spiders happy, one needs to regularly feed them good relevant content.

The big question is "How often should you throw the Spiders a blog bone?" Well, it really depends on the purpose or goals for your blogging. One of my favorite writers, Jim Cronin (The Real Estate Tomato), suggests a minimum of once a week. One of the many vital points that Jim makes is that consistency not only helps to improve your ranking, but it builds your readership as well. Conversely, a lack of regular contributions can have an adverse affect, and dramatically reduce your audience.

Case in point: I just received a comment the other day to one of my previous posts that read - "Hey Rich!  Where did you go?  I am going through withdrawals here.  I haven't seen any new material for a while!"

Another AR member recently e-mailed me with a very kind note:

"Dear Rich, are you alright? Hope you're just busy and nothing else is keeping you from the rain."

(A very heartfelt thanks to Jonathan and Missy for their thoughtful nudging!)

Blogging consistency is not necessarily as crucial here in the Rain as it is if you are maintaining your own 'outside' blog platform, such as SOUNDBITEBLOG. With nearly 60,000 members, we're all fortunate to be riding the ActiveRain Google Juice Tidal Wave. However, when you strike off on your own, it becomes absolutely imperative to post even more consistently, if you hope to have any measure of sustainable success.

How fortunate we are to be part of this amazing network, to have our fellow Rainers here to encourage us when we grow silent, and to prod us onward towards achieving the goal of effective blogging. But I have to believe, that for every 1 person who would take the time to encourage us, how many more readers are moving on to someone else's post, in search of something new and fresh?

As the Ketchup King wisely suggests, "Keep in mind, everyday, someone new is embracing the business blog as a marketing tool, and if you aren't feeding your audience, then someone else is!"

As my mantra goes, Blog Often - Blog Well!~

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com