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Dear Readers, I Do All My Own Content.

I just read that a new service is being offered for realtors. You can pay a company to do your blogging for you. They will do a years worth of blogging for $399/year. I have heard of assitants blogging for realtors, so it only makes sense that someone would find a way to capture a new opportunity to appeal to realtors who feel they are too busy to do their own.

If a blog is a way for people to get to know you, then the question is who are you? Sometimes it isn't the arrival at the destination but what you learned on the trip. Garbage in, garbage out. If they are writing for many realtors, (and they would have to for $399/year.) How original can the content be? How specific to your real estate practice, or to your target market can it be. Just like a canned website is not as effective, how can a blog by a service replace your comments that refect your personality. I think you are cheating yourself. It is not something I would do even though it would make me score better. Do you not think that Active Rain will evolve so that they will be able to tell what is canned and what is original. I think they will, if they won't the readers will. There are a lot of very talented and I am sure very successful bloggers on this site. You can learn a lot if you take the time to read other blogs, and you can share what you have learned with others that are not in direct competition to you. You will get out of it what you put into it.

Just as all of the content on our website is original, all of the content on our blog will be original and hopefully relevant to our real estate practice.

View more Chestermere homes for sale and learn about living in Chestermere Lake at (http://www.chestermererealestate.com/)

Posted by Marjorie and Doug McKay Chestermere Alberta 403-207-1776 on 01/05/2008 01:00 AM

Comments (107)

real estate blogging, original content, hire a blogger

Originally posted at: Marjorie and Doug's Blog: Dear Readers, I Do All My Own Content.

Post is included in group: Canada, eh
Post is included in group: MaxWell Brokers & Owners

107 Comments on Dear Readers, I Do All My Own Content.

JAN

2008

As the famed Broker Bryant would say, "All Original, All the Time!".....great message, Marjorie and Doug. Your readers and potential clients will appreciate it!

Marjorie and Doug- All my content is original too! No one will resonate with robots and robotic blogging. The big companies are also planning on doing this to compete but that is not competition to me because real people want to do business with real agents. Also, they will take the chance of the Google slap with duplicate content issues! Katerina

Very true! Many companies seem to be popping up with 'content' but how good, local and personal can it be? Thoughtful post, thank you!

Dear (Blogger Name) in reply to your (post)... I just wanted to comment on (how much I enjoyed it).

Yours, Auto-responderBot.

p.s. I wrote the above with my own hands. I'm just assuming though that the blog-responder-5000 is the next product out of the box.

I actually use blogging not only as a way to connect with my clients and people, but also to teach myself how to communicate better. What I've learned over the past few months far outweighs any monetary benefit I may earn from a "professional" writing my material.

I might get a comment if I hired someone to write for me......but I don't need no stinkin' comments.....lol

Boy I just cannot agree with you more! Any business trying to blog for a large group of realtors should be immediately avoided at all costs..and fast!

Being an Executive VA, I am often approached about blogging for my clients. All I have to say about that is "If I blog for you you will sound like Crystal NOT sound anything like who you are! Now, I appreciate the thought that you like my style, after all that is why I am your VA, however, don't you think your clients deserve the courtesy of knowing who you are?"

That usually stops the insanity. Don't get me wrong - I will HELP a realtor with his blog (help grainstorm ideas to write about, check grammar, even post it), but the passion and thoughts must be his.

Great post!

There is a service for just about everything you want to get done... I personally enjoy writing blogs now that I found out about them and would just let it go before I hired someone to take my pleasure away! Avoid the cost.

There is always somwbody wanting a piece of your pie. Agree write your own.

Dick

In many ways Blogging is another form of advertising. I don't see anything wrong with hiring someone to blog for your company provided it stays business related.

Sean Allen

I would only do original content myself. My reputation is too important to me to trust someone to blog for me. At that rate, I can't imagine that the content is original or of good quality.

Great post. I've also passed on pre-written newsletters. I want my communication to not only be relevant, but also ORIGINAL and AUTHENTIC. As business owners, we have the freedom to choose what we put out there, but frankly I love the opportunity to be creative! This also encourages me to stay on top on trends, issues, and the dialogue that takes place on forums such as this.

Oh I so agree with you on this! I read more and more about services that offer to write for those with blogs. But I have to wonder, as you wrote, won't consumers soon realize that the person they've been reading isn't at all the person they're meeting?

What happened to using our own voice to tell our readers all about whatever it is we're writing about? Who can convey my own thoughts on real estate and my area better than me?

I like Broker Bryant's idea of 'all original, all the time' that he writes about. No paid for service for me, thanks!

Ann

In the old days.....when we did not email, and typed and faxed ( of course I was just a youngster then LOL) when Assistants wrote or signed anything for their boss they would initial at the bottom indicating that was the case. I may just start noting on the bottom of my blog that it was my content, written personally by me!

Keep it real. That's the only way to go. It's sad that you even have to write this about original content. Good for you.

Why be a blogger if you don't want to blog????? Great post!

As the company offering the "blog-for-you" service, I encourage you to visit the Bring the Blog Web site to see what our members are saying about WHY they use Bring the Blog.

The biggest "investment" that blogging requires is TIME and your time is worth something. If you're not getting a solid return on your investment of time, than a service like Bring the Blog is a good fit for your business model.

At $399/year, that's $1.10 per day to have your blog written for you. And the content's good. Check it out for yourself sometime.

Thanks for the coverage. For as many people that think blog-for-you services are wrong, there are an equal amount of people that think they're right. They're just not hanging out on ActiveRain to talk about it.

Obviously they aren't Dan, so don't dis those of us who are. You're not going to earn any business that way.

Mary's comment said it best.

My time is worth something - and spending it on what I create for my clients is time well spent.

Call me a purist, but I think a professionally written blog defeats the entire purpose of blogging - to provide a little window into who you are and how you do business. I paid my website company to write some content for me at their insistence that it was the only way to improve my page ranking, and it was embarrassing how bad the content and format were. They did not reflect my knowledge of the area or the real estate industry at all. After spending $900, I finally asked them to remove those pages from my website.

I never understood why someone would copy someone else's material. Other than being complimented that someone would steal mine but there also could be liability on who writes for you if you read it and say ...hey wait a minute...i don't want to appear that way.

100% original all the way. We write all of our own content and will continue to always do so.

@ Beth: No dissing. I wouldn't dis this group. Probably the most helpful group of professionals across every industry in the world. I like it here!

Thanks!

Seems like there should be a disclaimer. "Get to know me and my opinions, but I am too lazy to write my own stuff, so I pay someone else to do it."

Or maybe AR will ban them.

Let me defend paying for blog posts for a moment...

Just like a great copywriter can put out more compelling ad copy than the average real estate agent, someone that strictly writes blogs may be able to do the same thing. By tweaking and tuning the message, they might have a better conversion factor. Also, there is a compelling argument for the value of the time we invest in producing our own posts.

I don't have my content written for me. I sit here at 11:00, wondering if I am going to have something to write about for my blog and this blog for the day. I toss out my own opinions. I piss people off. I lose potential clients because they don't like what I have to say... And I won't change that.

I think that the posts I write help to find the type of client that wants to work with me. So, I generate my own content, but absolutely understand those that don't. It does annoy me that they don't disclose... and I wonder if their blogs will go into the Google sandbox for the cross-posted content (at $1.10/day, I don't expect total originality). I kind of hope they do.

Heres the problem - AR is a learning tool as well as an advertising tool. Sure - so you hire someone to blog for you - but I like Active Rain because I get to learn from the voice of experience - not some person in another country - and don't think for a second that job will not get shipped overseas.

I'm sure that it's tempting to many, BUT - no thanks. Good post.

That is AMAXING, but I guess an example of our American capitalistic society. Always a way to make a buck!

I'm not logged in, but wanted to comment......I remember reading a Post about it being OK to allow someone else to write your Blog.....I swear there has to be something unethical.....how can you have your name on something you don't even write....and people are communicating with you....but is it really you?????

I think it is a very Bad idea....but obviously someone doesn't or the service wouldn't be available!!!!

Marjorie and Doug, I can't even go there.....so lacking in knowing what blogging is and represents in my opinion. The thing I fear is that we have such a good thing here with power to voice opinion and raise the bar in our industry....you know that just like the internet it will be hard to protect it. Good post. Thank you!

There is another thing about a ghost-writen blog. It is incredibly easy to detect - usually you can google the title, and you can see all the Realtors and lenders around the country who share your writer.

Another thing, all of the ghost written blogs I've seen have been incredibly stiff. That's one more thing that makes them easy to detect, and when that happens, the rulers on Active Rain will delete any points you would have gotten for writing it.

And, I've seen a couple of people who started out with some rough edges who just blossomed into decent bloggers after a while. And I read this stuff both to learn and to get a feel for who the people behind the posts are.

And $399 a year? That is totally dirt cheap!

Marjorie and Doug McKay - Who in their right mind would pay to have someone put content on something that is free. Doing it yourself is one more Pennie you don't have to pinch.

Unless you pay for all on-line promotion you are missing a very good learning experience by not being involved, especially here on active|rain

Hi Marjorie & Doug,

Nice to meet another H&W Team! It was only a matter of time before someone found a way to capitalize on the Blogging epidemic. Suppose we do live in free country and to each his own. However, we're not big fans of having others do the work that the consumer assumes you are doing. But then on the other side of that is the argument that if you are paying that other person, you have created another job, etc., etc. and on and on. I guess we like to remain somewhat neutral on the argument but I don't think we would do it. Just like I don't think I wouuld pay alot of money for a car even if I had a huge amount of money to spend. But I will never say a negative thing about those that chose to spend their money that way. Guess I'm not helping this argument so I'll just say, thanks for the post and welcome to AR!

I write all of my own content too, Sardi's accusation notwithstanding.

That said, I see no difference between a person including purchased articles for the consumer and adding "off the shelf" articles to web sites.

I don't believe that the public is fooled. If posting helpful and informative advice articles for the public are the intent, no problem.

If, on the other hand, the owner of the blog pretends that they actually wrote the article, no, no.

As long as there is a disclosure that the article is "ghost written" or "provided by. . . "

Otherwise it would misleading.

I completely agree with you! Besides being a great place to meet and network so that you can get a good feel for agents whom you're referring your clients to in another city, LEARNING from others in the business is HUGE to blogging. I don't feel that someone who is great at writing but, has no RE experience can adequately serve the blogging community--and it's not fair to those of us who work diligently to share our valuable information with others!

Debe in Charlotte, NC

Not for me. I like the way they put it. For 399.00 we will do it for you. can you imagine reading 4 different posts and they sounded alike? Who would bother. I wouldn't.

I cannot imagine paying for a blog writing service. If I don't have time to blog-I don't. I like being free to express myself and my company in my own words and enjoy reading other blogs even if they aren't real estate related.

wow $399 a year cannot be good content at all. I don't understand.... maybe $399 a post? lol... it takes a lot to come up with a quality post.

I have heard of this service as well. They will capture a market of Realtors that don't understand blogging. It's not just about pushing as much content out there as possible, it's about quality content. It's about getting to know someone and reading the content they put out there. I can't imagine having a company write blogs for me. I think a lot of people feel they are missing the blogging boat and if they can throw $399 at it, it will diminish their fears.

The lead generation companies always have a revolving business plan to make the moolah! Blogging has to be one of the best ways to generate leads without paying for them currently. No thanks, I will continue to write my own and use the law of attraction to cherry pick the clients I want. :winkwinkwink:

I totally disagree with anyone else writing your blog. There are people having their assistants do their blog for them because they just don't have time. They have plenty of time to do other things. If they are going to do that then they should at least have written by my assistant on there. The whole point of blogging was to get out there and a way for people to get to know you, not your assistant. Good, Bad, or Ugly, I will be writing my own blogs.

There are so many article spinners and content creation tools out there it was only a matter of time before someone started a service for creation AND submission. The software is anywhere from $20-$100, but worth $0. I can't imagine a service would be much better...possibly WORSE since you aren't in control.

Great conversations, everyone. It's important for us to know where our market is, and where our market isn't. Hearing from a lot of you tells me that Bring the Blog is better suited for non-Active Rain members.

To quickly address three running themes from the comments:

Your "time" has a cost to it. Consider blogging to be an investment in your business, therefore. Time spent blogging is time NOT spent with family, in the presence of clients, and pursuing your other life ambitions. Blogging taxes our lives in many, many different ways.
Blogging in a "business" tone is probably the only way a large-scale copywriting service can operate and that will absolutely leave out the "personal" touch that helps endear us to our readers. I completely agree with those remarks.
Having somebody provide your blog content for you is akin to using off-the-shelf Web sites with pre-written content. Most of us do that without (a) crediting the "original" author, or (b) thinking there's anything wrong with it. As an industry, we seem to be okay pre-written Web sites. Blogging is more visceral, for whatever reason. I am cool with both sides of this one and know that the conversation will always be relevant.

Thank you again for the feedback. I am ducking out of the conversation. Hopefully, I can meet some of you in person at Inman next week in New York!

I agree with you, no one should hire someone else to blog for them. In school that was called cheating!!

Well, well, touchy subject. Paying to have someone blog for you is no worse than having a virtual assistant, a buyer's agent, a marketing person do you ads, a PR agency to do your releases.

How many have somebody do their website for them? How many agents do their own paperwork anymore?

I think it's find. But, I also think most saavy people will know cookie-cutter when they see it. Remove the logo and name from most websites and most agents look the same.

Seems like many of you think this is a dating service???? It's info. It's business. And if you're making your best friends online then I feel sorry for you. Real friends don't need keyboards.

Blogs are supposed to be personal, so someone else can't be that for you. I think it sets you apart from other people and brings out your personality.

In reference to the comment above me (no name), the comparisons used don't make any sense. Realtors are not web designers, so why wouldn't they hire someone to do that for them, as well as ads, etc. And as for a dating service...what? I don't know about the rest of you but I use AR to gain info and share views with other people who practice the same profession I do.

Like you say garbage in - garbage out, we have got to keep it original, all us. Potential clients want to know who we are.

My blogging benefits me as much as the consumer. The saying " the teacher learns as much as the student" works for me. As the agent/blogger I feel like the teacher... teaching people about my market and my expertise. I am forced (by choice of course) to stay current with market conditions and that's what I share.

Personally, I don't have a problem with people hiring writers. I do have a problem with them passing it on as their own original content. I don't really believe hired content is going to be the pure local content people are looking for. It's going to be generic and not particularly interesting.... IMHO.

I agree with those who mentioned that paying for a blog to be written defeats the very purpose of a blog. Isn't a blog about having a conversation with your clients and colleagues. . .it is a glimpse into who you are as a professional and as a person. In reading the many blogs here on AR, I have determined who I would feel comfortable referring business to and who would not be a good fit for my clients. I think blogging needs to be about authenticity. I am not a prolific blogger ( though this year I am going to try to be ) but all of what I write is original.

In any industry and especially this one, there are those who will try and use short cuts to get to the top. Buying blogging is an example of that. I see shortcuts here on AR. . .people who post short pointless blogs to rack up the points. . .is the content going to help the client know who they really are? No, it is just an attempt to work the system without having to work.

Marjorie and Doug, keep up the original content. . .your readers and clients appreciate it!

Marjorie and Doug- I was asked to write a blog for another agent. I know the person well, and we operate in the same market. I have lots of ideas for posts, so it probably would not deplete my blog. It wouldn't be very difficult to "imitate" to a degree his voice. I did not agree to do it because of the amount of time I spend doing each post. I would have to charge a lot more then the #399/year. How many posts is that, and how original can they be?

The information in the blogs is "time-sensitive", where the web sites are mostly static. It would be difficult for the non real estate practicing writer to provide up-to-date information. It would also have to be specific to the local market, which someone miles away wouldn't be able to know.

The only people paid content "fools" are bloggers. I could go on forever about the value proposition of prepared blog content but I'll be lambasted here; this is do-it-yourself land.

Here are three effective examples of where I know it works:

La Jolla Communities did $150 million- ghost written blog- #29 team in the country

San Diego Downtown is the home to the top Prudential agent in the country

Here's a successful mortgage company using the mentioned service.

Which is a more effective use of your time?

Spending 400 hours writing 400 blog posts?

Or spending 400 bucks and using those 400 hours (about 8 hours a week) to call past clients and referral sources?

To me, it really comes down to how the blogging in question is used: if the person/company intends to use it only for search engine purposes, and has very few, if any regular readers of the blog then I would recommend spending the $400 and using the time previously used to prospect for new clients.

However, in a situation where the agent has regular readers, or in places such as active rain, the benefits of creative, original content straight from the agent is definitely a better choice and I would not recommend this program.

You know your area better than anyone..you live there. You are there today when some topical comes up and it is way better to have home made than store bought right?

Such as it is, all my stuff is original. It's sad that blogging has become so popular that you can purchase content. That practice will dilute bloggings effectiveness.

That practice will dilute bloggings effectiveness.

How do you measure the efficacy of blogging, Wayne?

I blog so that people who read it will get an idea as to what type of person I am. It is a way to establish a rapport with someone before you meet them. Paying someone else to blog for you seems a tad dishonest.

Paying someone else to blog for you seems a tad dishonest.

Like sending a professionally done brochure? Come on, now....I'm a "liar" because I post an article written by someone else (with attribution) ? I'm sorry, I can't buy into that logic.

I received a feedback request from an agent the other day. I emailed back and forth with "the agent" and thought it was odd that she didn't acknowledge me as we know each other fairly well.

She later explained that it was her assistant who wrote the feedback request email.

I think if the assistant wrote the email, the assistant's name should be on the email and not the agent's. It didn't feel right and reflected poorly on the agent to not have said "hi Ardell" at the opening.

So remember that if you let someone else do the writing for you, there could be negative connotations.

Personally I think the agent should write ALL content BUT it is OK to have someone else proofread, edit, add inks and photos. As long as the content reflects the thoughts and opinions of the agent, that someone else cleans it up and improves presentation would be just fine with me. In fact I do that for people. But I won't "write" for them. Must be their own message. But no shame in asking for a little help with spelling, grammar, and general presentation.

SURE - You can do it yourself, and some agents should... BUT... a bad blog won't help you.

Remember: Blogging by an Agent - or any business, has two main purposes. One is to get personal - reveal your personality, engage readers, break through the cloud of also rans... The other is to help you get SEEN in the first place.

A GHOST WRITER who knows what they are doing can get you a lot more eyeballs with proper tags, good SEO AND better SERP than somebody who does not want to spend the time learning this stuff.

NOT EVERYBODY is a writer. Better to have a ghost writer than no blog at all, eh?

http://www.MyRealCoach.com

I think those that put their best foot forward will be recognized for it. There will always be those who look for the easy way out.

Still, there are worse crimes in blogging. Like having the word "I" in the title :)

That's no fair. You know what? In the end, they're the ones missing out on a wonderful resource. They miss the point all together.

Blogging takes time and to do it well takes lots of time. Market updates, new listings etc. could easily be posted by an assistant or outside service, but I want my blog to reflect my services, my values and meet the needs of the people I serve--my clients. Strategic delegation is essential in all areas, not just blogging.

I can't say I'm surprised but I don't know who would want to hire someone to write their blogs. You're right, it takes away the personal experience from the reader. I think if someone is too busy to blog, then maybe they don't need to?

Had to stop back and put in another .02 cents.

The difference (IMO) between a blog, website or brochure is large to me. Let me explain:

A Website is like a store front - it contains items (homes, services, etc.) for your prospects to "purchase" or sign up for. Yes, it needs to be geared towards your market and your area of expertise, but it is still more like a store with you in it - not personal to you - and used to gain interest in what it is you provide that is unique.
A Brochure (or postcard, or business card) is geared to a more specific arena than your website. Most of the time they are used to give specific information on a home or service (with the exception of business marketing postcards and brochures which are used to outline services or list accomplishments - i.e. homes sold over the last year etc.). Still does not showcase you.
A Blog is not only used as a tool to help get interest in listings, but also as a way for a prospect to learn more about who you are and decide if you are the right realtor to represent them. This can be extremely personal as each prospect has their own personality type they work best with. Yes, they can find out about your accomplishments on your website, but who you are can only be found out by either working with you directly, or offering a blog for them to read.

So to that extent - yes, an assistant or VA can help you with a website, brochure, listing presentation - whatever - and do it well to promote your business. However, a blog should give insight into just who the realtor is or most prospects will just click off the blog and go onto another realtor who shows them who they truly are.

Yes, I guess I can agree with one part; if a realtor is only putting his listings into his blog to adverstise them, then yes, someone else can write the content. But if you really want to capture new prospects, the best bet is to write your own blog.

The whole point of a blog is for people to get an idea of who you are and what you represent. I wouldn't want anyone thinking I was run of the mill average.

> The whole point of a blog is for people to get an idea of who you are and what you represent.

That maybe your purpose, but it is only one use out of many.

As my mother used to say, "Now don't that beat all??" You're right. Blogs are supposed to communicate who we are. I can't IMAGINE a service being able to capture what only YOU can convey.

I have heard of this and a person on AR called me to ask how I got so many subscribers. In the course of the conversation, I was told they have their assistant do the blogging. STOP I said, be yourself, comment and comment often.

>Blogs are supposed to communicate who we are.

Says who?

That seems to be pretty pathetic. I can imagine using help for almost anything except my opinions and my direct contact with my clients.

This is quite the polarizing topic. I think it comes down to a busines decision for each individual agent -- finding the optimal balance between the best use of their time and providing personalized content.

We do all our own content as well. The only way you can be an expert in your area or field is a hands on approach.

It seems like you will get what you put into something. $399 per year won't buy a lot of individualized content.

Ummmm.....I wonder if you opt for a service like this, if they can also put their content on other people's sites too? I would never do something so crazy.

Recently a vendor was in our office who recognized me from active rain. I just thing it would be humiliating if he started asking me questions about something that he read in my blog that I hadn't writen and may not really be able to elaborate on! Thanks for the post.

JAN

2008

I just thing it would be humiliating if he started asking me questions about something that he read in my blog that I hadn't writen and may not really be able to elaborate on!

You'd have to read your blog, of course. Clients don't care that you can write, they care about performance.

It seems like you will get what you put into something. $399 per year won't buy a lot of individualized content.

Here we go again. The common 90's agent bias; "It's all about me". The consumer doesn't care about you, your dog, or your family vacation; they care about relevant information to help them buy or sell a home.

First of all - $400 a year to blog for someone? In the grand scheme of things how many QUALITY blogs could someone write for that money unless they wrote the exact same content for a thousand other people? I mean if you have two blogs a week, that's under $4 a blog. What kind of quality could you possibly expect from that price - or has this too been outsourced to India? Garbage in, garbage out. In my book unless you are paying at least $20-30 PER BLOG, you are probably purchasing junk. I have considered blogging as a ghost writer, but I would do it the RIGHT way.

1. I wouldn't blog in my own market - sorry I don't want to help my competition, but that's the way it is.

2. I would discuss each blog briefly with the client and make sure it was personalized. The content would put into words what THEY wanted to say.

3. The content would be original and not cookie cutter

4. I would charge an appropriate amount of money for the effort.

This might work for people who don't write well (those people exist) and need someone else to put their thoughts into words. It might work if someone needed to supplement their own blogging efforts. For example - they need an extra blog/week.

But I think that if very similar or duplicate content started cropping up all over the place, it might well defeat its own purpose. Google doesn't like canned content in web sites, why would it like canned content on a blog? I also think if the public started seeing the same old stuff over and over again....there would be a problem - they would sense that it was canned.

Blogs show your personality as to who you are you can not have some one else reflect it fer you

What if someone didn't have time to write and instead they dictated their thoughts for someone else to transcribe? Or even more common, what if the agent just doesn't write very well and wants to make sure grammar and layout stays crisp and clean? So the agent writes an ugly rough draft and someone else turns it into a swan? I think these are good ideas!

But... If you're paying someone to recycle used copy, it's nothing more than a form of spam and if the paid blogger is reusing material, it could open up worm cans regarding copyright issues and search engine rankings.

One last item: If you do believe your customers are using your blog to "get to know you" then it makes perfect sense to pay someone to edit/proof what you write-- unless you're really really good. If you plan to use words, either in a blog or your website, to make a first impression, make sure you write well, or pay someone who does.

I recall one website with this headline "We Are Borkers Who Care" I'm pretty sure that was a first impression they didn't want to make.

New Term...IDENTITY THEFT BLOGGER: Those who blog under someone elses identity. lol

For $399 with tons of customers they could be Serial Identity Theft Bloggers!

Great article and good comments. I too, accomplish my OWN writing. I will ask if anyone would like to be a GUEST writer but I do not appreciate reading GHOST writers. It defeats the purpose of the blog.

We should be writing about our industry, our neighborhoods and who better to write about those items than the person in the trenches.

Yes, that's what the reader wants to read, not canned info that can be found anywhere on the net.

Too bad you can't put this to the public vote and see what the buyers and sellers would say about this. See if it would harm the reputation of AR if they found out that all these blogs of information is not coming from the person they might be thinking about hiring to either sell their home or find them a home or both? Where is the measure of worth of the agent?

And why should you get points for letting someone submit your blogs? If you don't care that much about it, resign from the network and let the rest of us that stay up late at night racking our brains on what can we write about to reach the public in a way to bring business to us. Why don't you create a network that can house "ghost" writers and leave AR the way it was created to be. For the people and by the people.

And how did this blog get featured? This is exactly what would happen if some professional writer wrote all your blogs... they'd all get featured and other blogs that are posted out of sweat... would be ignored. Not fair.

This is my Sunday Morning spill. Happy day to all.

Brian B. is correct. Few clients truly care about your dog.

Missing here is the obvious SEO value of prewritten blogs. But then, we've seen such offers made for optimizing website content also. Right.

I'd say that, as long as you keep your keywords in mind, blogging on your own is probably going to be better than the canned stuff.

One consideration I keep wondering about is this: with not quite a googolplex of blogs already out there, if a tree fell in the forest, would it make any noise? The world is full of followers of trends that may just be winding down, for all the crowd knows about it.

Blogging as anything other than an SEO tool may just be like spitting in the wind.

FWIW: Free Summit County, Colorado MLS search at http://www.rerockies.com/MLSsearch.html

P Madsen: Well said regarding the SEO angle. That angle was not missing. I brought it up some time ago in this thread. However most readers think the world wants to know who they are and how personal they are.

IMHO - Blogs USED TO BE a way to cut through the barrage of commercial messages with something fresh, and personal. But like printed mailings first, and web sites second, blogs have become commercialized. When compared to slick and well done commercial style real estate blogs, the average agent is now outclassed by professional blogs just like the average agent web site is outclassed by high end web sites.

Blogs now they function best as eyeball traps to get visitors to click through to your main web site.

Blogs help you get seen. Once you are seen, the "personal flavor" or "journalistic value" of one blog may lead to a higher capture rate than some other blog. Do you think your children's names are important to your visitors? How about the names of the clubs you belong to our the charities you support? OK blog it.

Do you think real journalistic value might trump personal "flavor"? For some buyers it will. So.... Blog it!

Choose a camp (personal or professional) and blog or buy your writing... both ways work!

BTW: The point I was trying to make was that a professionally written blog will do better with SEO, for most agents, and thus will drive more traffic to the agent's main site, if used this way.

I read about 3/4 of the comments here, and I'm kinda sorta thinking that I might consider 1/2-1/2. Writing some personal and using some of the ghost blogs that I would consider useful and informative for my potential clients. There were a lot of good points both pro and con. My only concern would be the duplicative nature of the content; however, I will have to think on it. Thanks for the post. Very insightful.

Interesting discussion.

If you are able to purchase well written, highly insightful posts that provide excellent content and information for your readers, isn't that a service to them?

How often do we link to another blog or website to further inform our readers- what you are doing is, in fact, adding content to our post that is not written by us- we use it because it will educate our readers.

We work to find the best mortgage officer, the best home inspector, the best title company because it is what is best for our clients. We work to find the best links for our readers, it's just as wise to find the best writer for our blogs.

I will NOT shelve a great article because I didn't write it....

I don't like the cut & paste plaigarism I see here..... but some people have shared some really great info that they DiDN'T write.

I don't care WHO writes it..... if it is good info, I will share it. (with proper citing of source)

We live in a capitalistic society so I'm not at all surprised that someone has found a way to "capitalize" on a need that real estate agents may have.

I would never hire a company to write blogs for me because I enjoy writing my own.

It could also be bad, if a client likes what you wrote but you didn't write it. Or if they get to know your style from your writing, but realize you aren't what they are expecting.

I'm curious, do you think this is different than subscribing to a service that writes your monthly newsletters for you?

Siting other matrials on the web is why we put in LINKS. I also still say that you can not possibly provide quality material for $400 a year. Sorry, but that's nonsense. The question is why would anyone read YOUR canned material when the guy down the street also has the same canned material on his blog? Once you've got the same stuff posted on 10,000 blogs around the country its going to be pretty obvious that its all the same old, same old.

Also, if I am not mistaken, google penalizes canned content on web sites - stock phrases used again and again are screened and penalized. The same will hold for blogs.

Ghost writing will work when done on an individual basis. Let's say I want someone to write about a specific town or village. I would pretty much stipulate what I wanted the content to be and hire the writer to put it into words, maybe even come up with photos etc. In the end, it I would be outsourcing the bulk of the work without making it a mindless exercise. Garbage in - garbage out.

Good topic, I never even thought of anyone doing this. I would have to imagine the post have to be very repetitive and bland, I guess though if you can make money off of it, more power to you!

JAN

2008

Debra brings up a good point. Many send out newsletters with articles written by other people without noting who wrote the article. I never used them because the person receiving them would assume I agreed with the article, and I rarely did.

But those who send them out don't seem to have this problem. So it really is a "to each his own" kind of issue.

Perhaps we could find someone to read for us, take our tests, attend biz functions, etc... it does seem that everyone is trying to divide themselves up into a million pieces... let the reader decide what works for them....

We provide ghost-writing services for our clients (blogs, articles, ezines, etc.). Unlike my own blog posts, which are often "off the cuff," the ones provided for clients are checked and proofread by another writer as well as an editor.

I get to know each client's style, niche, target market, USP, etc., before we begin providing the services. Clients tend to fall in to three groups: (1) those who want us to handle it all, (2) those who call or email ideas which we flesh out, and (3) those who want us to fill in when they don't have the time to blog.

I do not see how this service can provide fresh, original, quality content at $399 per year, but kudos to them if they are able to pull it off.

Again, I actually like the concept since I subscribe to Realty Times. They have great articles and, I doubt, if those other than us, even know it isn't written by the agent. I just think I have to keep my mind open on this subject.

For $399 a year you will probably get blogs that are recycled from one site to the next and the same blog is likely to surface at your site, say, every six months. True professionals write their own posts and offer informative content for their readers.

JAN

2008

Hmm...interesting but not surprising. While there are many within the real estate industry who are embracing or delving into blogging, there are more that have not yet begun. Hopefully that will change. Blogging is such a great way to voice your opinions, knowledge, personality and your general character. What other opportunity would you have to do this with potential clients if not by a face to face meeting.

In speaking with some of our real estate agents, I think the most daunting task is the perception that it will take more time then they have to begin and maintain a blog. Any words of wisdom on time management when entering the blogosphere?

I truly enjoyed reading this blog, and the comments on both sides. I have mixed thoughts, and both sides have excellent points. Good blog!

I agree a 100%. We can not pay someone to say what we want. Excellent post!!

Since I have worked as a real estate assistant, as a real estate business development manager, and even as a ghost poster, I have my own personal take on this subject.

Some realtors have outstanding administrative skills and can post a listing to their MLS, website, blog and craigslist in 2 minutes or less without error. Some realtors are blessed with a charismatic personality and can, in person, network their way to success. Some realtors publicly speak with an expertise that commands respect and thus gain clients through seminars. But all have a varied degree of different skillsets. To succeed, they must know themselves and how best to utilize their time and talents to achieve their goals.

IMO, there is no real right or wrong on this issue. What works for one agent may never work for another.

But what my experience has taught me is this: there will be a particular point in the sales process when the agent needs to communicate DIRECTLY with their prospect. An assistant, biz dev manager, or ghost poster can not substitute for the agent and agent, strengths and/or weaknesses will be revealed.

Kelly

I think Kelly said it at all "IMO, there is no real right or wrong on this issue. What works for one agent may never work for another." Nothing else is important not my feelings or take on the subject or yours its up to the individual and what works for them and what they are comfortable with.

I agree with your ideology and write all my own content. However the realty consumers like fast food, no one knows whats in it, they just eat it. Its just the way those with the financial ability advance their take on the "fast food consumer", which unfortunately is a large part of the population.

JAN

2008

I'm continually amazed at the agents that say they want a blog and then never post on it. All it takes is 15 minutes a week to make a few posts about topics that would be interesting to their buyer and seller clients.

I have one client that has an office of over 40 agents. You would be think that their blog would be rocking. But in the 4 months the blog has been active I have made more posts on it than all of their agents combined.

JAN

2008

I agree with you wholeheartedly, with one exception. Where articles of high value and interest to your client base are reprinted or re-posted clearly marked as such and with the permission of the writer. For instance I will publish articles from the Calgary Real Estate News, they are clearly marked and I have permission.

The last thing I want is to have a room full of monkeys with typewriters churning out content for me and have it represented as my product.

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