A couple of years ago blogging was almost an unknown, certainly not common knowledge. Some agents and other real estate professional were involved but not to the extent we see today. Similarly, use of the Internet by buyers and sellers continues to grow dramatically – it is hard to find a consumer who isn’t searching for homes, and learning about real estate and agents, on-line.

Consumers these days have many advantages by working with a REALTOR (and other real estate professionals – stagers, mortgage officers, title and escrow folks, inspectors and so on) who blogs.

Real estate professionals, as well, derive many advantages in their blogging for consumers. Those of you who blog regularly know this; those who don’t (but you are reading this, right?), listen up!

Blogging Advantage #1

You get to know the agent, or other professional, and establish rapport even before you meet them. And YOU can decide who you want to work with WHEN you are ready. You learn about their values, their style, their humor, their interests, and can decide if they are someone you trust to help you achieve your real estate goals. There will be a certain comfort level achieved before you even begin.

Blogging Advantage #2

You gain insight into what the writer actually knows about their particular role in the real estate business. No one knows everything about their particular field, but what they DO know becomes patently obvious. Not just WHAT they write about (e.g., short sales – if short sales are of interest would YOU want to work with someone who can’t explain them?) but HOW they write about such matters.

Blogging Advantage #3

You learn who the expert is your area of interest, whether it be Carlsbad or elsewhere. Lots of agents, and others, brag on their signage or on postcards and other marketing that they are the specialists. The blogging agent or professional DEMONSTRATES this clearly. You will know that they really do know the area, or not.

Blogging Advantage #4

Are they credible? Well, their blogging will tell you, or not. Do they cite facts and figures to support their points? Are other posts and websites they refer to helpful as well? What has been their experience with different types of situations? What kinds of listings and buyers do they handle?

Blogging Advantage #5

You will understand what they know about buying and selling (or mortgages, or staging, or…) and how this will benefit you. And you will know they have done some research to learn more about what they are writing about.

Blogging Advantage #6

The blogger’s on-line marketing will become clear. This is especially important for those of you seeking an agent to help you sell your home. Do they play well in the Internet space? If you Google them will they show up all over the place or are they hidden on the Web?

Blogging Advantage #7

You learn how they communicate, and how well (no one is a perfect speller or grammarian, but let’s face it, if they don’t take some care to write reasonably well, one has to wonder what other issues may be lurking). After all, if they can write about some issue in clear terms anyone can understand, chances are they will be clear in their on-going communication on other issues that impact you during your transaction. You will see how they think, and present solutions to problems you might encounter.

Blogging Advantage #8

How the blogger interacts with others will become obvious from their response to comments, and how they in turn comment on other blogs. Do they treat others on-line as you would like to be treated? Or does their conduct annoy, irritate, insult or embarrass? You will have some pretty good clues as to how you will be treated should you decide to contact them for help.

Blogging Advantage #9

Another advantage is what you will learn about the bloggers character…the soul of the blogger. Are they ethical? Professional? Do they seem to have integrity? Are they responsible? Likeable? If they are plagiarizing others’ content, treating other professionals poorly or engaging in other negative behaviors, well, you get what you pay for, so to speak.

Buyer and sellers – consider what you can learn by reading blogs and the many advantages FOR YOU of working with a blogging real estate professional.

And real estate professionals – just think of all the advantages YOU can bring to the transaction, and your clients. But how will they know if you aren’t blogging?