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"Blogging is Virtually Free" - or Is It?

By Sharon Simms

Real Estate Agent with Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International

February 28, 2008 07:51 AM

In proofreading an article today for publication in a real estate magazine directed to agents, the discussion was on blogging and the writer made the comment that "blogging is virtually free".

Certainly, it CAN be free (except for the time factor, of course), whether it's posting on Active Rain or posting on a Blogger.com site. But many times blogs are not free. Education as well may not be free. Some sites are very expensive to purchase and continue.

Do you feel calling blogging "virtually free" is valid or misleading in describing it to real estate agents?

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Jennifer Kirby

Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN

The Luxury Agent

While it doesn't cost me money to blog because I use Blogger, my time is valuable. So I would say that blogging is not free, because it takes time to do, not to mention dedication and discipline.

Feb 29, 2008 01:01 AM

Vickie Arcuri

Coldwell Banker Realty - Fort Lauderdale, FL

South Florida Luxury Real Estate

Hi Sharon, I agree. When not paying for a blogging platform, we pay for blogging through the use of our time, which is very valuable.

Feb 29, 2008 03:43 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Jason - does that mean you can/should blog twice as much as Neal?

Trevor - are you trying to say that you should divide your time cost into business and pleasure?

Gary - Ah, yes! People so often forget the opportunity cost (and that cost can be a business cost or a personal/family cost)

Frank - well put!

Kimberly - it's certainly addictive. Perhaps it also expands to fill any available time.

Brian - as so much in life, for us or for our clients - we can give/pay time or give/pay money.

Bill - so perhaps the key is exactly what you'd be doing instead of blogging.

Jennifer - let's make that 3 Ds: dedication, disclipline and dedication.

Vickie - Indeed we do.

Feb 29, 2008 05:00 AM

Renae Bolton

Marketing 4 Realtors - Garfield Heights, OH

I'm your Professional Real Estate Marketing VA!

I understand what you are saying, Sharon. I think that saying that blogging is virtually free gives the impression that it costs nothing. Many agents do not realize that there are free blogging sites like AR but there are also many others that you need to pay for like TypePad. That, coupled with the time factor, make blogging not so free - virtually or otherwise, I would say.

~Renae

Feb 29, 2008 05:41 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Renae - right.

Feb 29, 2008 05:53 AM

Anonymous

Chris Frerecks

I'm certainly a biased observer here because I help to run a provider of business blog solutions & services. In the last two weeks we have invested a great deal to configure complicated updates and the most useful plugins so that our clients benefit from an ever- evolving 'WordPress Open Source' platform. In fact, we work with two of the original team that built the platform.

Past, current & future updating of the platform doesn't cost our clients' anything; however, without this investment/ this effort their blog solution may not ever evolve. With so much at stake, we have to be committed to adding all the value we can for our clients. And its' not just technology, as we spent the day yesterday doing educational seminars with clients. The week before it was a detailed newsletter and that is an ongoing commitment we make. Education is underated, but truly a needed service so clients are truly informed on how to leverage the most common to confusing features. How about understanding how to create content that is attractive to search engines and how to attract links, etc., etc., etc.

Here are some things to possibly consider:

do I control my long term destiny with a free blog?
will my free blog host ever sell?
will my free blog host ever have to monetize my blog with advertising?
do I own my own content, do they own it or do we both own it?
can I use a domain that serves my brand OR even one of my choosing?
is my domain a sub domain of the host network?
do I have the flexibility to present content in different ways?
do I have any design flexibility?
do I get all the features I want or need?
Google alwyas evolves... does my Blog?
is there any blog feature, blogging technique coaching, search engine or direct marketing education?
am i winging it and can I succeed as a successful business blogger?
is there any service?
who is truly accountable to my business needs?

Unless you're very skilled, it's likely one would need independent programming help with hosting, design & the proper features to build a truly unique local brand.... and that still leaves you without ongoing service. As a business with the never -ending need to reduce cost, its' easy to forget [ maybe ] that paying for service & accountability may be a good thing.

Chris

Feb 29, 2008 07:11 AM

#21

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Thanks for "the other perspective". Chris. I started with a free blog, and it looked pretty good - good content, good photos - then I added feedburner, then I added ... Most were small fees, $4.95/month, but then they started adding up. Some people have been very successful with free blogs - and I used to do my annual tax returns myself, too - until I realized I was spending an entire weekend frustrated when for $300 I could have a professional do it and stand behind it! Decided I really didn't have to continue proving to myself that I could do it.

Feb 29, 2008 11:44 AM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Sharon- Well, it looks like the consensus is already in.....our time wasn't taken into consideration, and as you said all the little things you bought to help your Blog. People that write more consistently, and with total original content might even have a higher investment as your tax analogy portrays.

Feb 29, 2008 11:53 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Kathy - thanks for adding your 2 cents.

Feb 29, 2008 12:16 PM

Kay Van Kampen

RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO

Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

I think (so far) it's free except for the time. I'd love to have someone write my posts for me and increase my points. Instead, what you get is the time I have left after a busy day.....trying to remember to write about anything that was different about my day. Lately, not blogging at all with business picking up.

Feb 29, 2008 12:28 PM

Maureen Francis

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

If you put any value on your time, blogging is a costly endeavor.

Feb 29, 2008 02:06 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Sharon, I think that, excluding the time factor, blogging is virtually free when you compare it to other types of internet marketing, like Realtor.com or most any web site.

Feb 29, 2008 02:07 PM

Linda Davis

RE/MAX Home Team - Gales Ferry, CT

Sharon,
Like you, I chose to pay for a blogging platform. I know some of the bloggers that have their own "free" blogs, think we are wasting our money but I disagree. I made a concious effort to invest the money in a platform that enabled me to hit the ground running. In my case, the money invested was well worth it because of the time I saved.

Everyone is at a different point in their career and the balance of time vs money will reflect that.

Mar 01, 2008 05:59 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Kay - it's better to write yourself and be authentic than to just increase your points.

Maureen - oh, yes!

Patricia - yes, realtor.com is expensive for featured listings, and pay per click can be very expensive, too.

Linda - thanks for commenting. Glad to hear from someone on the "pay for platform" side. I've noticed when I read some free blogs that I'd like to add to my google reader that there is no button for an RSS feed - guess it depends on what you're expecting from a blog, too. Hope to see you here in Las Vegas - I head back tomorrow morning, Wednesday.

Mar 03, 2008 10:14 PM

Randy L. Prothero

eXp Realty - Hollister, MO

Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Even Active rain is only free if you do not value your time. I find this a large investment. Not an expense, but an investment.

Mar 05, 2008 03:59 PM

Cristal Drake

Prudential California Realty - Fullerton, CA

Realtor - Fullerton Real Estate

I didn't have to open my wallet, that counts as free. I am unwinding anyway so it isn't really taking my time either. I am a happy camper :o)

Mar 05, 2008 04:22 PM

Ross Quintana

Real E Smarter - Spokane, WA

Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966

Free, It takes a considerable amount of time so no it's not free. But we look forward to the results.

Mar 05, 2008 05:11 PM

Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

AHWD

Sharon - It does cost A LOT of time - so it depends on the price you put on your time!

Mar 06, 2008 10:35 AM

Wayne & Hilary Shantz

ROYAL LEPAGE REAL ESTATE SERVICES LTD. - Oakville, ON

I have an outside blog as well as AR. The way that blogging costs is that it is easy to spend more time on it than we can afford, and so it can have the effect of eating into your real estate selling time if you get obessesive about it!

Mar 06, 2008 09:46 PM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Randy - so true. I haven't blogged here in about a week - too exhausted while in Las Vegas (in bed by 9 every night) and the last 2 nights at home have seemed like an enormous time with my family since I haven't been locked at my computer.

Cristal - glad you're happy. Keep it up.

Ross - many things in life are a choice of either time or money.

Hilary - yes, we need to set boundaries for blogging, as for other aspects of our days.

Mar 07, 2008 10:16 AM