You make a lot of great points about blogging.  Thanks for taking the time to share your insight into the blogging community.  Do you think Realty Blogging is worth purchasing?  Do you have any other websites or books you might recommend newbies taking a look at?

Thanks again!

Hi Henry - thanks so much for reading my post and for your feedback - I really appreciate that!

I would highly recommend buying Realty Blogging!  It is really full of well-written and easy to understand information.  I'm thrilled I bought it, and I now have it as a reference to keep going back to when I need it.  I bought mine through Amazon.com, and paid $16.88 including shipping and handling, and I think I had it in about 3 days or so.  This is the only book on blogging I've read so far, so it's the only one I can recommend first-hand.

The next book we'll be reading is "The Weblog Handbook", and I bought that on Amazon.com for $5.59.  I don't remember what the shipping/handling cost, but it wasn't much.  I haven't started that one yet.

Henry, click on the links at the bottom of my post above and read the previous reviews on this book we did.  I think you'll see from those reviews that it's a really good book to read if you want to make blogging work for you.

Thanks again for reading and commenting, and I hope to see you around Active Rain - commenting and writing posts!

Happy New Year,

Ann

Henry,

One thing I forgot to mention is the Active Rain Newbies Group you might want to join.  Karen Hurst has done a great job with that group, providing some great posts for new menbers to AR to take a look at.  If you look at the top of the page when you're on the Home page of Active Rain, you'll see a link for "Groups".  Click on that, and then scroll through the various groups listed until you see "Active Rain Newbies".  And you might also want to see what other groups there might have some interest for you as well.  There definitely are alot of them to look through, so don't feel overwhelmed by all the choices.  Pick a few and check them out and see what you think.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Ann

Ann - like always....AWESOME!!  I liked this Chapter a lot because it's what I'm lacking in my own website.  I get lots of hits, but I don't convert those into actual leads.  You always hear about "LEAD GENERATION" but no one is ever specific on how to get there.  Page 144 has "expert tips" that I consider key:

1.  Include your toll-free number on every page of your blog.

2.  Provide a contact form so that your readers can contact you as the site sponsor, in addition to leaving comments on your blog.

3.  Have an e-mail newsletter subscriber option.

4. Offer a free competitive market analysis

Henry - the book is a MUST READ - check out the rest of the reviews for great pointers on the book.  And look forward to our next book review

Ann,

Wonderful review, and the fact that you have read the book has shown up in your blogging style!

These reviews have been so thorough, people almost don't have to read the book:)

Ines - Thanks for adding those points! 

I have to confess - I had this post all done, and was proof-reading it when our server went down at work.  It was down for awhile, and I lost my original post.  I had to wait for it to come back up, and then recreate it.  I apparently left those points out on the 2nd writing....I was pretty frustrated that I had to do it again, and my frustration must have made me forget that part.  I thought those were really good points as well, and I'm glad you added them in your comments!!

Thanks for your comments!!
Ann

Karen - thank you so much for your comments!!  I appreciate the feedback on my posts - I have been working to incorporate what I've learned into my posts since we began reading that book.  There's still so much to learn & do........

I think I can speak for the other Lovely Ladies and say that we've really enjoyed taking part in these reviews, and it's been fun as well as very educational!  I'm looking forward to our next book, too.

Thanks again, Karen!
Ann

Ann - there is so much to learn.  I'm getting the book tomorrow and the weblog handbook.  Keep up the good blogging.

Hi Kay - thanks for reading my post and for your comments!  You're right, there really is so much to learn.  This book will help you get a really good grasp on blogging and what to do and not do.  I'm really happy I bought this book!

Thanks again!

Ann

Hi Ann,

Love the review! You brought out all the key points and made me think about them all over again! I think that book has helped us all!!! Thanks so much for the great review.

This post and the whole series is a real keeper!   I enjoyed the book and this ties it all together. Kind of like the Cliff Notes.

Monika - I would agree with you about this book being so helpful!  It certainly has helped me immensely.

Linda - thanks for reading and for your comments.  Glad you enjoyed all of our posts on the reviews - we enjoyed doing them!

Ann

Ann- What a great post. Thank you. You made some very good points. That chapter is a must-read for anyone wondering how blogging can impact their business.

Ann - I'm glad I was able to add my 2 cents in - I'm sorry you lost your first draft - I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!! 

Ann,

Thanks for the post. Also, thanks for the invaluable tips on blogging and lead generation.

An excellent post.  I've got the book and have begun it - the holidays wreaked havoc on my reading.  Thanks for the reminder I need to get back on track with that book!

Great review, this is helping me to focus more and I hope in a short time I can have a blog that does generate leads.

Hi Ann... Boy how timely AND GOOD a message for me. If you noticed I fell way done on the dashboard (off in fact) because for the month of December I CHOSE not to blog on staging and marketing. I blogged MORE about blogging and ACTIVE RAIN. I did this because I wanted to save my "good stuff" for when staging would be more sought. My content went south and so did I. I see this morning there are now 25 postions on the dash... so I show up again (a nice gift) but the better gift was the lesson learned and what you write of here. SPEAK ON THAT WHICH YOU KNOW!

Me

Your post is right on time for me. I just started blogging and love it. Your info will really help me.

Mariana - thank YOU for those comments, and I thought that chapter was a good one as well!!

Ines - ALWAYS feel free to add 2 cents or more - those were great points you added that I had forgotten to include!

Thanks to both of you for your feedback!
Ann

William - Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your feedback!

Kelly - I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have.  I've gotten so much great information from it & I know I'll continue to refer back to it over and over because there is SO MUCH in it!  Thanks for your comments!

Jennifer - Thanks so much for reading and commenting.  I know you'll learn alot as you continue to work on your blog.  The reviews that we've been doing are full of info & tips, and the book has so much more than we wrote about.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback!
Ann

Craig - Thanks for reading!  I have to say I don't usually check out the dashboard until someone brings it up in a comment or I see a post on it.  I just write my posts on things that I think will be useful and helpful to people.  Your staging posts are always full of great info & tips - keep writing about that because you know it so well!!

Kathy - thanks so much for reading and for your feedback!  I'm glad you found the review helpful and the other links I included in my post are also so FULL of great tips - make sure to check those out as well!  Happy blogging!

Thanks for reading and for the comments!
Ann

Great post - for me this new year is about trying new things, such as blogging.  It took me awhile to find out just what blogging was now I know where to find out more and actually make it productive.  Thanks.

"The Lovely Ann"

I think we owe you money for this one? SVW.

I love how you added the other "The Good Ladies Of The Rain" Reviews. :)

That tells me a lot about YOU. :) 

I was busy last night but I did go into "The Realty Blogging Book Club" and feature this post.

Now you have two stars for one post. :) Excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Keep The Readers Coming Back. Good Idea. SVW. Again. ROAR!

Ann - just stopped by to Congratulate you on the DOUBLE FEATURE!!  Woo Hoo!

Ines

Great post, Ann. Terrific information - I really need to get that book! It's on the list but for some reason...

I really like 'local expert' combined with 'trust and familiarity'. It's going to be fun tracking numbers from a whole new lead source this year. Now I need to go out and generate some more content. Happy New Year!

I just purchased the book, thanks for doing the reviews.  I can't wait to learn a whole new way of looking at blogging and marketing

Tina - I, too, had NO IDEA what the heck blogging really was until recently.  It's fun, educational, and hopefully business-building as well!!  Good luck with your blogging and have fun with it!!

Ann

TLW - Hmmm.....money, huh???   ;-)
Thank YOU for the extra gold star - love it!!!

Ines - Thanks!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Ann

Jeff - Thanks for reading and for your feedback - appreciate that!!

So, take it OFF the list by BUYING it!!!  You really will enjoy it and learn so much from it if you do!!!  I promise!!

Ann

John - Glad you stopped by to read my post and I appreciate your comments.  I liked the 'local expert' part, too.  That's what we all are, or aim to be, so put that knowledge and experience to use on your blog - that's what I'm working at. 

Steve - Congrats on your book purchase!!  It's easy to read and yet so full of all that great info.  I guarantee you'll learn MANY new ways to work with your blog......and you'll reap the rewards, too.

Thanks to both of you for your comments, and happy blogging!!

Ann

 W O W

First I never heard of the boodk before and I have not yeat read the earlier posts reviewing the book - I know I have some late night reading ahead of me.

This is apparantly a great resourse - one that we should all become familiare with, as we - those who are PARTICIPATING on Active Rain, will no doubt be among the industry leaders on the web tomorrow, if not sooner.

 Thanks for the great information

John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR
www.JohnOcchi.Com

Hi John,

Thanks for stopping by and for commenting.  This book is loaded, and I mean LOADED, with so much info on blogging, you'll be doing yourself a DISservice if you don't buy it.  I have no connection to this book, other than the reviews we've done here on AR, so my recommendation of it is purely from reading it myself and knowing firsthand that it was a real eye-opener for me on the amazing potential blogging holds for those who embrace it and want to use it to boost their business.

You're very welcome for this info - go buy the book!  ;-)

Ann

Oh you guys!  This sounds like an awesome book.  It'll take me forever to catch up on the blogs not to mention starting the book.  But I will do it!

Thanks for the eye-opening posts.

I like the flow from blog to client meeting.  No surprises.  They seem to feel they already know and trust me.  So I try to make my blog a true reflection of who I am.  I can't always look like my photo, but I can always sound like my blog voice :)

Hi Ardell - thanks for reading and commenting.  I've had that experience repeatedly from my websites - they find me online, and by the time we actually meet, they treat me as if they've known me for ages.  I love that feeling, and I envision blogging to have the same effect as well.

Thanks,
Ann

Ann, I have always told my fellow associates why are you blogging and working your sebsite ? If it is not to generate leads then you are wasting your time. I came across your post and now I am going to get the book. It definately sounds interesting.....

Hi Doug - thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy that book as much as I did.  I learned SO MUCH from that book - hope you do, too!!

Wow. I just finished this book last night and found your post this afternoon. The book is a great read.  I didn't know there was a book club about it.  Now I am off to read all the chapter reviews. :)

Debi - thanks for stopping by!  I really enjoyed this book, and hope you'll enjoy the reviews we did on that one. 

If you haven't found it yet, we're now reviewing "The Weblog Handbook", which is another great book on blogging.  Here's a link to the review I just posted last night.  We've done the first three chapters, with the 4th review to be posted soon.

Thanks again for your comments!
Ann

Hi Ann,

I just finished Realty Blogging (bought it at NAR and read it like a novel, then picked up the highlighter and started going back through).

So much information, implementation will take awhile. Thanks for your review and to the other contributors as well. I have not read them all, will definitely be making time for this. The reviews really do help us to digest all this great material! I will try to get a copy of the Weblog Handbook...yikes, I'm falling behind!

Hi Beth - thanks so much for reading and for your comments.  That book really is loaded with all kinds of info, and it's so well-written and practical.  My book is just full of yellow highlighting!  I think you'll find the Weblog Handbook a great book to read, too.  We're just up to Chapter 3, waiting for the Chapter 4 review.  The reviews on that book should also prove to be helpful, too.

Thanks again for your comments, and have fun blogging!
Ann

Ann,

Thank you for the insight.  Those are very good points to keep in mind to keep my blog alive.

Hi Ray - thanks so much for your comments!  This book is just full of really useful information.  Mine is full of yellow highlighter so I can easily go back and reference whatever section I need at any given moment.  Glad you enjoyed my post!

Ann

Some pretty awful advice here, if the goal is building relationships.

It's good advice if you want to position yourself as just another annoying Realtor.

The following tips are from a previous commentor:

1.  Include your toll-free number on every page of your blog.

- Don't even consider this.

2.  Provide a contact form so that your readers can contact you as the site sponsor, in addition to leaving comments on your blog.

- Provide an e-mail link and phone numbers on our (subtle) About page.

3.  Have an e-mail newsletter subscriber option.

- No again. Your blog is your newsletter, and people can subscribe to your RSS feed.

4. Offer a free competitive market analysis

- Can you be more annoying? This is screaming "I am just another Realtor. Avoid me."

This is tired, old-school advice that has no place in the process of building relationships and establishing trust. Doo that and all the rest follows easily.

These tips were simply cut and pasted out of someone's Web site tips playbook by someone who doesn't really have a grip on what holding a conversation in the blogging universe is all about.

Hi Joe - first, let me say thanks for stopping by and reading this post.  As you saw, a group of us did a review of each chapter of the book, "Realty Blogging", and what we wrote about was what each chapter reflected.  And the 4 tips you commented on came straight out of the book, which was just released this past November or so.

While I agree to some extent with what you're saying, I also believe each of those could be incorporated into a person's blog very easily and have it be presented in a manner such that the person doesn't come across as "just another annoying REALTOR".  If a writer is creative and personable, I do believe that each of these in various forms could easily be part of a person's blog.  Personally, I do think offering a free CMA would be a turn-off, but someone else might be adept enough to incorporate that in such a way that it doesn't scream "FREE CMA!!".

Again, thank you for your thought-provoking comments - very much appreciated.

Ann

:)

Ann,

Thank you for sharing your reading. I don't  get to keep up with what's being published and so would have missed it completely if not for your post. Seems I need to have that book close at hand on my own shelf.

Eloise Gift

Hi Eloise - thank you for reading and for your comments.  It is, indeed, one of those books to keep close at hand. My copy is full of highlighted sections so I can easily go back and reference different sections.  I hope you find the reviews we did on this book to be helpful. 

We did another book review after we finished this one, "The Weblog Handbook" by Rebecca Blood.  This book is really good as well, and I would consider this one another "must read" book for those interested in learning more about blogging.  I found it to be really helpful as well.  The link above takes you to the last review of this book, and it has all the previous reviews listed so you can catch up on those.

Thanks again for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your book reading!
Ann

I ordered the book.  Thanks for the advice.  Can't wait to get it.  I've been looking for a single source to help me make sense of this and it looks like this book will be a good head start.  lea

Lea Deo, Realtor

Hi Lea - I can assure you the purchase of this book will be well worth it!  Of all the things I've read on blogging, etc., this one is one that I keep referring back to.  And we're so fortunate to have the author of this book as part of the Active Rain community now.  He wasn't here back when we did these reviews of his book, but he's here now, so check out his posts as well.

Thanks for your comments!
Ann

Thanks for the great tips Ann.  Much appreciated and helpful.

Hi Greg - you're most welcome!  This is a REALLY good book for those looking to learn more about blogging, and one I'm really glad I read.

Thanks for reading and for your comments!
Ann

Excellent post,  I think I will pick up the book.  I always like a good read, especially if it helps generate leeds.  Thanks.

Great post! Can't wait to get the book!

Ann,

What a great artical.  Thank you for all the information and I plan on ready the book.

Have a GREAT Day...........Pat

Steven - you will really be doing yourself a great favor by buying this book - it's the best book I've read so far on blogging.  And I continue to use it as a reference tool.

Chris - Go get it!!!  It's easy to read, and just full of great and very helpful info.

Pat - thank you SO much for this great feedback.  We enjoyed not only reading this book but doing the reviews on each chapter for everyone.  It's a great book!

Thanks for reading and commenting - very much appreciated!

Ann, In my last post I said I was going to get the book, Well I have it and have read it. I think I will read it again as well as reading your posts about the book.

Thanks for stearing me to the book in the first place. Now if only all agents and Realtors helped each other as we do here on Active Rain our business would be AWESOME !

Thanks Again Ann.....

Ann, Thanks so much for sharing this information. I will be going to Barnes & Noble to pick up a copy. (love that place!)

Suzanne

Hi Ann - Thank you for the tip! 

Doug - sorry I missed the notice that you had visited this post!  I'm really glad you got the book, and enjoyed it.  I've gone back to mine numerous times to review certain things here and there.  I think of all the books I've bought in the last couple of years, this is the one that I've gotten the most out of and the one that I'll probably go back to time after time. 

And wouldn't that be nice - if in the real world everyone was treated as we treat each other here in the Rain with regards to sharing and learning from each other!!!?!?!?  We can hope....

Ann

Suzanne - I hope you've gotten your book by now and are well into reading it.  This is, by far, the best book for really useful and helpful information that I'd bought in a long time.  Hope you find it just the same!

Rob - I'm sure you'll really enjoy this book if you did go buy it.  It's a great resource to keep on hand as it's full of really useful info for blogging.

Margaret - you are VERY welcome!  I'm glad you found it helpful and I appreciate your comment.

Ann 

Hi Ann, Thanks for the review.  I just ordered a copy online and expect early this week.  Thanks.

Ann - Thanks for this great info....everyday I learn something new and it makes me want to get it all done NOW!  I know it's not possible, one step at a time.  I've been blogging by the seat of my pants but I know I need to get a good foundation under me to make it more effective.  Thanks again.

Thanks for sharing this is great info for the newbies as for anyone looking to include blogs as part of their business plan. 

Thanks for the post and for the link to the book.  Plan to read it.

All great comments and info for this blogging neophyte.  So many things to learn and consider!

Steven - thank you for finding this post and reading it!  Glad you ordered this book - I've read and re-read mine a number of times.

Joddie - this is a terrific book full of tons of great info.  I'm like you - want to know it all now!  This book will go a long way toward helping you do just that.

Kelly - you're very welcome!  We had a great time reading and posting these reviews.

Judi - you're welcome, and I hope you enjoy the book as much as we did.

Rebecca - thanks for reading, and glad you enjoyed this post!

Ann

Great post Ann and very informative. I'll have to go out and grab a copy of that book myself.

Hi Ricardo - thank you, and I do hope you buy that book.  It is so full of great info for blogging - I continue to reference mine, and it's full of yellow highlighter!

Ann