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3000 Blog Posts, a lot of Fun and a few other Perks too.

By
Real Estate Agent with Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified #1 in Forest Land Mgmt

3000 Blog Posts, a lot of Fun and a few other Perks too.

2.7 years ago I finally got serious about blogging, I had decided a few months earlier that doing the blogging thing was a smart way to drive some business my way, but I just could not think of anything worth saying, so I didn't.

Then in April of 2012 I remembered something that my high school English teacher and then later my college professors mentioned about writers block.

When you cant think of anything to write, just start by writing ANYTHING, and then something worthwhile will start to flow once the pump is primed.

So I started writing about just about anything and a few good things came forward, and I ended the month of April with 89 posts to my new blog, about half mine and half reposts to promote my new blogging buddies.

It was easy once I got started, and once the habit was started I knew that it could be a good thing, so I fiercely defended the habit, never skipping my 10+ post per week since I knew that a missed week would likely lead to a missed month and then a missed year, and of course the end of blogging and all of it's benefits.

For all the effort that it was to think of a topic and compose something a few years ago it has gotten easier, now I can't seem to end my long days without knowing that I have contributed a few digits to the world of Active Rain and and my friends at Google.

These days practice has made a difference in efficiency as well, with most blog posts taking only a few minutes as opposed to the early blog posts that took over an hour to write.

The benefits have been great, I now have plenty of great copy to send to clients and prospects, Google posts me in their front page every day, and I now have a network of friends to visit in nearly every state in the union, and even a few up north.

So if anyone is still on the fence over whether to do a bit of blogging, I highly recommend getting started today.  It does not have to be perfect, unless your clients are hiring a copywriter, it just has to entertain or educate and attract the interest of Google and a few future clients.

 

 

Picture credits

  • Nick Crane
  • Laptop With Silhouette People by jannoon028 http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/agree-terms.php?id=10058783

Comments(59)

Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thank you so much for all of the responses everyone, let me know if there is anything that I  can do to help you either in the real world or in the blogging world.

Dawn Brenengen and Mike McCann - Nebraska Land Broker  posed an important question that I think may be something to address in a few posts in the near future.

Interesting what Andrew Mooers had to say about "the industry being better served", since I find that it is more important to promote the profession through my posts than it is to promote my company, since the stronger public opinion is of the profession, the more clients for both us and our competitors.

 

Dec 21, 2014 11:13 AM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

With my son a recent 2013 graduate of forestry management from SIU in Carbondale Il, I read your blogs with interest. Thanks and keep it up. I'll keep reading.

Dec 21, 2014 12:07 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

That's quite the bar setting, but that simply reminds us all it can be done.

Congrats on meeting your challenge, repeatedly.

Dec 21, 2014 12:59 PM
Dawn Brenengen
Dawn Brenengen - Trailwood Realty - Raleigh, NC
Sales and Management

Bob Crane I absolutely agree that I want to elevate the profession as a whole, not just my RE company.  But, I do want to do more business too, of course.  I actually post MANY more blogs directed to other AR members, not really for the consumer, but I was thinking I should post more consumer directed blogs to get better visibility.  

Dec 21, 2014 02:26 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I agree with you, it was scary for me to start blogging, now it is easier and I'm hooked:)

Thanks Bob Crane for sharing your experience! Congrats on another gold star:)

Dec 21, 2014 04:33 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Bob Crane ... this may just be the best post I've ever read on the value of blogging on Active Rain! And if you're ever in the Charlotte, NC area, you know you have a friend here to visit!

Dec 21, 2014 07:45 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Congratulations! You are so right that a missed day = missed week = missed month. Great perseverance on your end!

Dec 21, 2014 08:28 PM
Lisa Perry - NMLS # 276329
FHA, VA, Jumbo, Downpayment Assistance, Conv. - Fairfax, VA
Northern VA - VHDA, 100% Loans - Jumbo Loans

Thanks Bob in those insightful words.  Always need to encouragement to blog.  I am at that hour stage right now, but with persistance I will lower that time frame to minutes.  Thanks again

Dec 21, 2014 08:45 PM
Terry Bishop
Terry Bishop Realty LLC - Tucson, AZ
Earning Your Trust and Confidence...

Kudos to you Bob for more than 3000 posts!  It's now a habit and one I'm sure you enjoy as do others.  Thank you Bob!

 

Dec 21, 2014 09:17 PM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Bob Crane I'm with you, the more I blog, the easier it becomes.  And, like you, the side benefits of learning from others and meeting some wonderful people are priceless.  

Dec 21, 2014 09:44 PM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Now, there you have commitment. Never missing my 10 posts a week is something I could never say.

Dec 21, 2014 10:27 PM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

What a great testimony.  Blogging definitely works and creates a following as well as lots of SEO.  Congrats on all those posts. 

Dec 21, 2014 11:29 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Bob -- your consistency in posting is amazing and as Andrew Mooers commented you are exposing an industry unknown to this city guy.

Dec 22, 2014 01:49 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

That's an amazing amount of blog posts in less than 3 years.  Over 1,000 per year.  WOW!

Dec 22, 2014 04:47 AM
Jeri Herl
Keller Williams Realty Centre - Eldersburg, MD
CDPE, CLHMS, GRI

I saw this the other day when it was featured and it is soooo impresive what you have accomplished. It has challanged me to see that you and others have a goal of 10+ per week. It spoke to me that I can write about anything so I'm going to write about you and reference this post! There is a purpose to it since the very day I was happy too see I have posted 100 blogs, when I saw this post you rained on my active rain parade haha!

Dec 22, 2014 07:11 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for stopping by friends, great to see so many committing to that daily commitment to blogging and all of the associated benefits. Best of luck, let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

Jeri Herl that first 100 is the most celebrated for it is by far the most difficult 100 that you will encounter, every post after this will get easier. I am looking forward to reading your blog posts.

Dec 22, 2014 07:32 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Bob. I stand in Awe of your 3000 posts. Talking about a Blogging Machine. You're the Man! You have certainly come a log way in those short 3 years. Keep up the Good Work! We appreciate all that you do in our AR Community!

Dec 22, 2014 07:38 AM
MaryKay Shumway
The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948) - Sister Bay, WI
Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert

Congrats on your milestone, Bob, and thank you for putting Wisconsin on the map!  You are an inspiration to us all.  Best wishes for a great holiday.--mk

Dec 22, 2014 09:05 AM
Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS
Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON
Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

Bob Crane ... it's really good advice you are giving. Honestly I have so many topics written down that I want to get to that if I really wanted to could blog every single day... instead I am spacing it out on my site to about once a week (not including my community site where I blog twice a week).

Dec 22, 2014 10:03 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Congrats! Bob Crane  This is a huge accomplishment especially considering how many agents write one post and then never write again. You are also fortunate it only takes you a few minutes to write a post now. It still, even 7 years later of being a blogger, takes me at least an hour to write a post especially when the editor wants to get fussy about importing pictures for the posts.:) Just making a meme for the post takes me about 10 to 12 minutes and that does not include uploading it to AR editor:). Keep up the great work!!! And Merry Christmas! Katerina

Dec 22, 2014 11:08 PM