LET'S JUST CHAT.

 

I olennften have a conversation with Google and I usually open the conversation with,

"Hey Google, have you seen. . . .??

Or, "Hey Google, did you know . . . . ???

Of course, anyone in the room at Google's house can join our conversation, anytime.  Google and I chat often and others are always welcome to jump in. 

If anyone in the room at Google's house wants to chat privately, all they have to do is ask.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Via Alan May, Coldwell Banker Realtor® Evanston, Illinois & Northern Suburbs (847.425.3779 almay@aol.com):

There's been a lot of talk online, about who we should be blogging for.

The most successful use of blogging, according to consensus at least based on interaction and potential for transactions, appears to be blogging for local consumers.... in other words "Localism".  Writing about local events... new restaurants, fairs and celebrations, concerts, etc... along with local marketing reports.  Those seem to get the most eyes, and thereby the most calls.  And hopefully, at least for some, those turn into transactions.

I'm sure that's true... but I've never been much of a reporter of local events... I have written a few localism posts, and while they do seem to generate a whole lotta hits, they haven't, at least for me, turned into transactions.  When I wrote about Evanston's much-celebrated 4th of July Parade, it did make my phone ring, but the calls were almost a year later, and they were inquiries about who to contact in order to register an entry into the parade.  Or what time the parade starts.

I have written a few posts about local restaurants, and those are always enjoyed, but I'm more interested in generating comments on my blogs, and since those are local, they generate less interest in the comment stream than articles that resonate with readers from just about anywhere.

I know there are successful bloggers who are predictable as Old Faithful, and they do their marketing reports on Mondays, a local interest piece on Tuesday, something about food on Wednesday, Interest Rates and Mortgage on Thursday and Open House listings on Friday.  I'm just not interested in being that predictable.  I write what interests me, what tickles my funny bone that day, and often it's about a recent issue that came up in a personal transaction, or that of a colleague.

I guess, you could say, I write for me.  I write what I want, when I want and when the mood strikes.

That hasn't caused consumers to flock to my blog (although many have found it)... it hasn't caused buyers and sellers to call me in droves... but what it has done is make a strong connection with other members of Active Rain, and it has generated (after a slow start) referral after referral after referral from people who've liked what they've read, and have someone buying or selling in my area, and want them represented by the guy they've come to know online.

I can live with that.

-10

ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com
Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate • Licensed in Illinois

    

Do not copy the content of this blog, without first contacting the author for permission.  Reblogging is allowed. All other use is strictly prohibited without express permission from me. This blog is tag-resistant... Do not tag me, I don't participate in tagging, no MeMe's don't even think about it


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


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13 Comments on Who are you writing for? Let's Just Chat For A Few Minutes.

AUG
02
620,796 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I have to agree with Alan on the localism posts.  I am no good writing about events and happenins unless I am a part of them.  I have tried..but I find them cumbersome and way more work then I am willing to put in.  

However, that being said...I know that Neighborhood posts draw traffic and I need to get off my behind and do those :)!  Terrific reblog and I will have to stop by his post!
1:56pm • #1
480,757 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Lenn,

That's what I blog about....Me and what I like.

If there are customers who think I should blog bigger and better, or about different things. Too bad.

But then I do requests as well. :-)

Have a good day in Virginia.

Best, Clint McKie
2:00pm • #2
1,952,054 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Brenda.  The blog posts should have a good title relevant to the subject matter.  Google will do the rest.

Clint.  Thanks.  Blog about anything.  Just invite Google in.
2:03pm • #3
468,218 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I've been writing local "localism" posts for 7 years but I'm not a restaurant reviewer, movie critic, gossip columnist nor do I want to be.

I am a real estate broker and my blogs will always be real estate related. I may mention a local restaurant or event in a post about a neighborhood but without a real estate angle I see no purpose.

But then I've never been interested in traffic, clicks, or page views.  I'm only interested in attracting buyers and sellers, owners, landlords and renters of Manhattan real estate and agents that may refer them to me.

There are tons of local media that cover restaurants, movies, pop culture gossip etc and they do a good job but there are few real estate bloggers writing about local real estate.

I would never hire a broker to list my home because they wrote about Rays Pizza and I don't want calls from people who want pizza delivered.
2:11pm • #4
405,185 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Good afternoon Lenn. I tend to do a lot of localism posts but it usually only nets me calls about when a parade might start or when the fair will be in a neighboring town. lol Good to see Google is listening to someone. lol
2:47pm • #5
340,707 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

That's a real good point he's making. From time to time, if I feel like it, I'll write a localism post but, so far, the calls have always been non real estate related. I wrote about a discount supermarket once that opened on long island and, maybe, 6 months later, I received a call from a young man who was hoping for a job there.
6:28pm • #6
448,582 Points 72 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Lenn, I love the reblog and the discussion it brings.
6:40pm • #7
357,924 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great repost and thanks.... One of the major discussion points I have in my classes is getting my clients to realize 97% of people are not looking for real estate. They use it like the yellow pages. I'm no big authority on the subject, and I'm certainly not recognized as one, nor pretend to be one. I'm just an avid student and diligently do my homework and seek every opportunity to find it. There are so many different ways of doing things that can drive traffic to a 'real estate centric' site or any business if you understand certain principles (human behavior). What is a search engines job? To keep your eyes on it's search page for as long as they can and keep using the service. Why? Because that equates to more opportuniy for you to click the 'paid to be there' ads.

There are many ways to skin a cat, as the saying goes. And, most agent/brokers I work with are not as savvy as you (or Alan) or many here on AR. I agree, it equates to referrals here on AR and I got 2 this week! 
6:56pm • #8
1,329,756 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lenn

Great choice for a re-post and there interesting comments.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig
8:33pm • #9
AUG
03
497,220 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I am a newbie when it comes to blogging, 15 months now. What a would it has opened up for me. I have meet folks I could never have met and had discussions on what it important to me and others.

I was once told, the greatest gift you can ever give someone, is a problem. This was my greatest learning with my blogging.
2:33am • #10
1,952,054 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Joe.  What a wonderful and insightful comment.   One never knows what will be discovered on a new adventure.

Lou.  Thanks.

Rene.  Bottom line is, folks won't contact you if they don't know about you.

Debbie.  Thanks.  So do I.

Jill.  Think about your post as little more than an opportunity to link to your web site.

Randy.  When folks understand that it's all about Google, the benefits will be welcomed.

Mitchell.  Which is why I post about local communities, areas, housing, etc.

 

 
3:34am • #11
763,852 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Lenn, I love reading Alan's posts. They are always so witty. But I write a lot to be found in the Google searches. My favorite posts are those that Alan describes--something that occurred during a transaction that is worth sharing. Do those posts get the phone to ring? Not usually. Although, agent referrals come off those posts. My take--each person should write whatever floats their boat.
9:28am • #12
1,952,054 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tammy.  I agree.  I have made the selection for referral agents based on what they write about their transsaction here.

We get a lot of insight about agents here.
9:50am • #13

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