What is at the soul of a real estate blogger?

I have often wondered over the months since I became one. At least I envision myself as a blogger. Maybe I’m fooling myself. But unless someone tells me otherwise…

• What is it that causes us to put fingers to keyboard to try and create literary masterpieces?

• What motivates folks to spend countless hours composing, editing, taking photos, and creating videos, and forgoing personal and family time to sit hunched over a keyboard?

Is it points here on AR?  If so, what is the impetus for writing when no points are earned?  What rewards do we accrue?

Is it the potential for new business? What about when no business is forthcoming or is elusive?

The mechanics of blogging are relatively simple. You need your brain (although some may dispute this, given what we sometimes read), your fingers (well, you can record short blogs on your phone via JOTT), a keyboard and computer, Internet access, a blogging platform and you’re good to go. Heck, you can create a vlog with your voice and your digital camera (yep, still need the computer), a simple undertaking save for those who are digitally challenged or overly cautious.

Apart from what we have learned about SEO and other intricacies of acquiring traffic, improving rank, and gaining trust from the search engines, it seems it is the soul of the blogger…our values, our emotional maturity, and, yes, our egos…that converts the simple mechanics of blogging to something more eloquent and emotive. It is the soul whereby words become the person, convey a reputation, reveal a personality, and create a bond with those who peruse our writings.

I would argue there is a bit of ego involved, like it or not. Consider this – the possibility of hundreds, perhaps thousands of potential readers of any given post. A bit scary, true, when starting out, but who does not feel a tab bit proud of having lots of eyes tracing our humble words on a screen? Of having accolades heaped upon us for a job well done, a perspective no one has considered, a revelation. But can this not lead to an arrogance of attitude, a belief that one knows better than others, or is right while others are not? Or is that the motive for the blogger, not the result of blogging?

The blogger’s soul emerges in ways that, perhaps, are unintended or outside our awareness. The anonymity of the Internet allows, even encourages, an outpouring of emotions and attitudes, both negative and positive, which may enthrall or irritate. One can revel in sharing one’s feelings, beliefs and values without the fear of direct confrontation and retribution. It is this anonymity that allows the deeper reaches of the blogger’s soul to seek recognition, to express itself where the normal parameters of society might otherwise intervene. It gives the soul a freedom to express, as well as permission to misbehave.

I contend that much of what the blogger’s soul reveals is less intentional than we might like to think. While we might consciously insert keywords, and tags to play the elusive SEO game and convince the search engines of our worthiness, or actively strive to write what we believe or are told we should, much more is revealed unintentionally, and as a by-product of our inner motivations, values, beliefs and emotions.

Perhaps it is a need to control, to demonstrate superiority, to put down those who we somehow see as threatening. It may be feelings of inadequacy or insecurity that cause the soul to lash out in harmful, bitter ways – with name calling, flaming, chastising, complaining, and ridicule. But, more importantly, it is the need to provide comfort and reassurance, to assist, to share and to educate, to empathize and sympathize, to seek out the companionship and bond among humans that emerges, and unleashes, a voice capable of changing the way in which we look at the world and inspiring us to a greater good.

Like it or not, it is that soul that IS the foundation of blogging and what ultimately emerges on the computer screen. While one might try to persuade others we are something we are not in our writing, the very nature of blogging itself unveils the true blogger’s soul, baring ourselves to the scrutiny of our readers, and exposing our innermost feelings, motivations and attitudes…our true self.

What does YOUR soul reveal in YOUR blogging?