Real Estate Blog - Your source for a POST...

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Your source for a POST...

I read a lot in the morning, local news, web-blogs email and outside blogs and posts. I am amazed at how many times I read about the same subject.

Why is this?

This is my illusion... many bloggers are reading their local news or other blogs and just reposting the articles. I have even seen cases where the posts have a small header like this:

Did you know?

Here is the article cut and pasted......

source: Local paper

Is this a benefit to your readers or are they just going to overlook you as a duplication of news.

Most local papers are adding or have added newsfeeds to their publications. So just coping this to your blog does what?

If there is a real value I certainly would like to know about it, maybe I should be doing this too?

Charles McDonald

Associate BROKER at RE/MAX Assured Properties, Licensed to sell Real Estate in Virginia

(main) 434-515-1585 (cell) 434-981-1585 (fax) 866-527-9526

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Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald on 01/19/2008 08:08 AM

Comments (38)

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Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: Your source for a POST...

Post is included in group: RE/MAX Active Rain Bloggers
Post is included in group: Blast from the past !

38 Comments on Your source for a POST...

JAN

2008

It may be one thing to take an idea or an article and add to it with your comments, thoughts or ideas. Maybe how it could apply to your particular market. But to just cut/paste and say "Here is the News" is a bit silly.

However - on the other hand - many folks dont read the newspaper or watch a lot of TV news - they read it on the net.

I agree with James. It's one thing if you take pieces of an article or refer to an article and give your views and comments on it, however, if you just cut and paste.... I see no point.

You are too smart to just cut and paste. It takes time to creatively do blogs yet focus on what matters. You do a good job.

Charles, I agree (and I think everyone else will too) that we have to put our own spin on the information. Our readers want to hear what WE have to say, not just see a cut/paste of something they can get somewhere else. I would think that readers are smart enough to figure out when that happens repeatedly and unsubscribe or stop visiting.

Charles,

How do you know we are like the public media? When we start quoting them! Nothing worse in my eyes than when one newsperson interviews another newsperson and that is on the sames lines as what you are saying.

Somtimes, I will quote some obscure fact I pick up in the news somewhere if it affects the real estate industry where I live.

Charles, I agree. I see this quite a bit too. I really strive to come up with original material. As long as people own properties and do some of the things that they do, I will NEVER run out of blog fodder. 8-} I guess that it is a little tougher in your industry.

Charles-I leave the news report out of most of my blogs. I'm focused primarily on Localism and occassionally throw out some thoughts that I hope are relevant to other agents. It seems to be working for me and I'm not going to change directions now. See my last post on Wacky WallWalker Realtors to understand that philosophy.

I don't agree with copying pasting articles from newspapers. I copy and paste the press release from my board on market conditions and give the proper credit. As for news papers, if you are going to write about there articles it should be an opposing or confirming position not copy and paste.

I thought the purpose of this is to give us information tat we might not get with out the post and I also can read the paper and agree come up with original information or information that might be difficult to find with out the post. Thanks

Copying another source is not what I consider "posting" original content....

It's one thing to use the article for a resource and post your own point of view. It's another thing to just copy. That just shows the laziness of that person. Who would want an agent like that working for you?

and so it goes....

Not sure we can change it much. Occasionally it might be worht posting...but then perhaps a link with your comments is better. But hey there are points too...lol

Occasionally I cut and paste an article for the public to view, its something they do not have access to or quoting an expert in a field, such as bonds or stocks and their impact on real estate. As far as posting a similar thought or idea and another person posting similar thoughts and ideas at the same time..., its been widely told how inventors are often just a wee bit of time apart on patenting a new idea... so often people are thinking the same thing and a few decide to write about that same event/happening at the same time. Just a different outlook here.

Charles - No, there is no benefit to the reader in duplicating local newspaper articles unless you are writing a personal opinion in reaction to the article. Although, the practice of duplication is clearly an easy way to gain more points via AR.

PLEASE READ

EVERYONE - WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT COMMENTS HERE AND THANK YOU ALL!!!

Most agree that there is no real benefit to just reposting to add "stuff" to your blog.... I totally agree!

If you are commenting about a news article and you post it or part of it and give credit it makes sense. There is one person I read that does this in our area and he posts a link to the source, I think this iseven better as you are not just giving them credit you are also giving this a linkback.

I made this a "members only" post to get feedback from AR members, I can tell you that I do not see a lot of this within Active Rain but mostly on other blogs....

Charles - I know what you mean. There are several agents in my area that do this on their outside blogs. It is really irritating. One side of me wants to tell them off, but I am firm believer in focusing on my own efforts and leaving other people alone.

RYAN - I know what you mean. I find that Acive Rain is a good source to get feedback on how to handle issues and what works best. This subject is a perfect example...

Charles - This is one of my pet peeves in reading some blogs. All I think when I read them is that the blogger doesn't have a clue about what to write about so he just sites from other sources. There is a guy in MASS on this site that just sites from news sources such as the Boston Globe, Wall St Journal ect. It seems so foolish.

BILL - if a person were to add valuable comments it would be different!

Charles- Sometimes the news just needs to get out there. I don't read the paper anymore. But I am against cut and paste. I always put my perspective inside.

MARK - That makes sense. I too have stopped the newpaper because I can get it online. Plus I figure I may have saved a few trees by now....

Charles, I definitely agree with the idea that referencing these articles and other sources that you might read is a useful thing to do in a post, since many of us are inspired by many different sources. However, cutting and pasting and just posting it up there, does not a good blog post make. Unless the blogger adds some value, commentary, context, etc. to the article, what's the purpose of just having another forum to get the news out there?

Charles, I will often blog about local events and happenings or about articles I have read about the area or even real estate. I am aware that not everyone has the time to keep on top of everything so in one sense we are bringing information that we think is important to our readers. While I do not cut and paste articles, I do make references sometimes to some of the information in the article. Of cource this is all done with my own spin. I think as a local blogger, that becomes some of the content (not all) and will naturally be in both places. Also, it gives the impression that you are an area expert.

BRIAN - Exactly!

STEPHEN - That is exacly the RIGHT way to do it.... IMHO

I think if you want to be a "reporter" in your blog than you need to follow the rules of reporting. Reference and then give your spin. There is no dialog with cut and paste - usually the person reading has already read the article. When I write about local events that may have been covered in publications already I give my "take" and I then might give a link to another's view. If you are boring your readers with the same "blah blah blah" why even write.

JO - Excellent approach and point!

I rank that up there with the agents who e-mail all their listings to me. Like I don't have MLS access.

RANDY - LOL I got it!!!

I don't see the point or the value in just a cut/paste job and state where the information came from. At least have some original content in the post to make it valuable. You only really need to use excerpts from the article and can give a link to the full article in your post...stating "to read the full article, click on..."

The comments and opinions added make it a worthwhile post--NOT simply copying or linking the original article. I'm wondering if some of these people have permission to cut and paste some of the articles that they're blogging?! Great post, as usual, Charles!

Finding a good report and highlighting relevant points that effect your market is fine. So long as you are providing some person comment I think you are within blogging bounds.

It's plagerism. That is not how to get a head.

JAN

2008

CRIS - That seems like a good way too. Maybe people think that posting the entire article will give them a better chance at google juice...

DEBE - I doubt it.

SCOTT - exactly!!!!

JIM - Simple and to the point!

Those who copy and paste only succeed in hurting themselves. Informed readers can see through this, and deduce they are lazy. Would you hire a lazy agent? Suffice it to say, copy and pasting is only acceptable if you are adding valid commentary. Interesting post as always.

Charles you mean you want everyone to have Original Content??? Now what would Blogging be if we weren't allow to plagiarize, cut and paste, and whatever the heck else we wanted to do.......LOL and as Louis Armstrong sang....."What a wonderful World"

ANN - that is well said!

KATHY - LOL and as Louis Armstrong sang....."What a wonderful World"

note: cut and pasted from Kathy's comment above!!! LOL

JAN

2008

It is amazing how many we see like this you are right. I usually notice this from people who have just joined Activerain and are still trying to find their groove. This isn't something you see usually from someone who has been around awhile and has found their footing.

Some catch on to blogging quickly, find their footing and start running. Others stay in the slow lane and try things like that that just to increase their points until they find a topic they actually can contribute. My guess is they think if a person stumbles across their blog and doesn't watch the news, they will be considered the source and they will have a new client. In reality it weakens their position in the public.

TODD - I actually see this more on non AR blogs. Sure when people start here they may do it, however I thing that we in AR are a little more educated/experieced than the randon blogger... Just my opinion.

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