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Inman News features Rainers Maureen Francis and Teresa Boardman

The benefits of real estate blogging is being discussed in a 4 part article by Matt Carter of Inman News. Entitled "Real Estate Blog Revolution" part I explores the components of a good web log.

Both Teresa and Maureen were interviewed and featured in the article. Chosen for their deep experience and unique style both of these Rainers support more than one blog and have been bloggers long before Active Rain came along.

Taresa Boardman Rainers may recognize Teresa by her alter ego, Dear Abby here on Active Rain. Teresa writes the St Paul Real Estate Blog, a very cool and fun mobile blog dubbed "All T all the time." Teresa is a guest writer for The Real Estate Tomato when she feels like "talking to the real estate industry."

Teresa feels strongly about maintaining a professional real estate consumer stance on her blog. More than once she has expressed concerns about agents missing the mark on AR because they are chatting about everything but real estate.

Maureen Francis of the Detroit Metro area, specifically Birmingham, Michigan embraced blogging with her MiOakland County blog. Quoted in the article as saying her initial attempt at blogging was "crappy" she has since developed a following and is achieving success in attracting consumers via her blog. Maureen Francis

Funny as it is to read about Maureen talking about her initial attempts at being less than wonderful. A little research on MF's AR blog and one will find she is a master at writing and always elicits many comments from readers!

The interview also discussed how many Realtors are being taken advantage by vendors who sell junk. Blogging platforms are plentiful, with several "dumbed down" versions for real estate professionals. Teresa and Maureen use two different platforms, but both took the time to learn how to operate their blogs, rather than let someone else control their destiny.

There is agreement in the ranks, finding our blogging "voice" is a challenge, but nothing compared to the challenge of being true to your blog and composing unique, interesting content directed to a target audience.

As local bloggers both Maureen Francis and Teresa Boardman work hard to keep the content coming. Taking the time to learn the platform and hone their writing skills has brought industry recognition and business to them, they would not have had otherwise.

Matt's article offers insights from Todd Carpenter of Lenderama, Jonathan Miller of Matrix, Greg Swan of Bloodhound, Sellsius, Lenny Gurvich of Tampa Florida Real Estate Finder, The Future of Real Estate Marketing and Transparentre.

If you are interested in learning more about these bloggers and the techniques they use to achieve success check out the article at Inman News and visit the links to the blogs. Go quick because they only stay up for a day, unless you are a subscriber!

Speaking for myself, but I'm sure many others agree, Maureen and Teresa are leaders in the real estate blogging world. Thanks for helping us along the way!

Posted by Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022 on 02/26/2007 06:00 PM

Comments (27)

maureen francis, teresa boardman, bloggers, inman news

Originally posted at: Denver Real Estate & Relocation: Inman News features Rainers Maureen Francis and Teresa Boardman

27 Comments on Inman News features Rainers Maureen Francis and Teresa Boardman

FEB

2007

Hi Kristal,

Thanks for this post showing example of how blogging can help strengthen your Real Estate presence on the Internet and in your community. Success stories are always a good motivator because this blogging business is not easy.

Mario

What a wonderful reward to their hard work ! We are very proud. Thanks KK for making us aware, I may have missed it! Both girls are dedicated and have a wonderrful bog voice ( or two!)...Congrats and thanks again KK for posting! AR is on fire and over the last month there has been tremendous exposure! Blog On!

Mario ~ you are so right about blogging for business not being easy. It takes awhile to get in the groove and its really tough to stay there!

What a wonderful article it is too, they really shared well and interviewed well! Thanks for the post about it KK, and wtg you two!

I was delighted to read that both Teresa and Maureen were selected for this feature. They are role models for anyone serious about blogging.

KK - Thanks for sharing this with us. We have both Maureen and Teresa on our Assoiciations list so we can read them the moment they post something. They are both obviously leaders in their Blogging. This is a nice way to recognize them both. Like many here on the network, they really hold the bar up for the rest of us to reach for.

Lisa

I read it first thing this morning.. I think Dustin Luther had a clue on RCG this AM to read Inman. I loved Maureen's use of the technical term "crappy." The term is so MF to me.

Congrats to Teresa and MF for being identified as bloggers to watch along with Lenny G and the rest of those Inman featured.

Kristal,

Thank you for taking the time to post about this. Most everyone out there knows Maureen as the this blogging phenom. I have the pleasure of knowing her both online and down the hall at the office. I'm sp proud of her! She really is so deserving of this honnor.
Again, Kristal, thank you for taking the time to write this post. You're a class act!

Kristal, thank you! That article is stunning, informative and encouraging. Things have happened so fast here on AR that we are almost tired and feel like we've done it forever. I was REALLY stoked to think about the potential still out there and glad that I've been doing some of the things to sweep clients along whether they understand or not.

And to think that we can say "we knew them when".

Very interesting. Thanks for the lead Kristal.

KK - as usual, you beat me to the punch. If I hadn't been out of the office most of the day, I would have posted on this. Good job, though. Is this cool or what? It's a great reflection on both Maureen and Teresa. Maureen has been one of my shining, guiding light examples ever since I joined AR, and I am so glad to see her get the kind of recognition and kudos she so justly deserves!

Let's not forget that Rainers Greg Swann Dustin Luther, and Jeff Turner were mentioned also!

Rich,

You don't know the half of it Rich... our pal Kristal was right on this one. I call Maureen around 11am and asked her if I could post about it and she said Kristal had laid claim to it. I guess we can call Kristal the early bird. Good thing as I don't like worms!

Brian, you're absolutely right! Forgive my blunder. All of these individuals deserve their "Moment in the Rain!"

Congrats to all - Greg, Dustin, Jeff, Teresa, and Maureen! Way to go!!!

Thanks for the heads-up, and the reminder to go see the 'real' blogs outside of AR! I myself, along with many others I'm sure, need to do better along those lines.

Kristal,

Thanks for sharing this post, good insight into the do's and don'ts

Congratulations Teresa and Maureen! I admire both of your styles and see nothing but good things for each of you in the future.

Congrats to Teresa and Maureen. It is just one example of what blogging can do for you. When you aren't a professional or creative writer it is hard to blog for business. This forum helps even those like me realize that it can be done.

Kristal, thanks for pointing this out and congratulations to both ladies. They truly are good role models for us.

Kristal, You did a nice job of giving accolades to the ladies who deserve it so much! I want to know what happened to Dmitry in the picture. Maureen looks like she's ready to fall over! I'm with Maureen McCabe on loving Maureen's use of the word "crappy". Not to mention that Inman, the great professional publication that it is, printed it! Way to go, ladies!

Thanks, Kristal. I saw the article the other day and read it - very impressive. I thought about writing about it but figured someone would have beaten me to it so I didn't bother. But you did a better job than I would have anyhow! Knowing them both as I do from AR makes it even more interesting and exciting.

Jeff

The REAL question is can they or YOU turn blogging into more than a journal? In Real Estate terms $$$.

Just a Q to ponder.

Kristal,

First, I need to thank Colleen who wrote today with passion, humility, sensitivity, and generosity about her experience on Active Rain, and expressed great appreciation for your leadership and help. That lead me to your current post and the discovery of the source of Colleen's admiration and appreciation. It makes me wonder why you were not also mentioned on Inman.

It is special to be among professionals and people who daily seek to to the right thing. Even more special is that people reach out in support, caring and appreciation. Thank you, also for your generosity and for sharing.

Maintaining a blog that is more than a journal means maintaining the passion and the interest. An element for blog success is devotion to the project; to keep it up. We have to keep the $$$$ off our minds so much as using the blog as a tool to build relationships and communications. The $$$$ that come from that are a result of the devotion to the project === no devotioin, no $$$$. And, those that do follow are difficult to track for awhile. The faithful readers are the first line of value; keeping Teresa Boardman's name on the tip of St Paul tongues is a worthy performance of her blog. The $$$$ followed.

We've been invited to look and learn, to imitate. If we don't, we lose.

Kristal,

Thanks for the post and big congrats to Teresa and Maureen, you do us proud!

FEB

2007

It was great to see the recognition at Inman - you beat me to blogging about it, though, Kristal.

A passionate purpose may be the calling. A strategic plan is the necessity. Too many agents want to be in the TREND and choose to throw their money at marketing willy nilly. People must discern very carefully about their overall message and how it fits into their marketing plan. How many readers of the Inman article are running to the first company they find to set them up on a blog? How long will they last? I'd bet 3 months. When they see no return what will they say? "Blogging doesn't work." They may have more passion for the internet than anyone else but without a strategic plan results will never follow. In this industry success is determined by results. Results = $$$.

If you look at TB's message you see clearly that she is a Historic Home Enthusiast, Caring Volunteer and community activist in the first glance at her blog. This is the type of message that most other agents will miss when designing their blog/site. Choosing insted to focus on the NEED to be on the NET. Ultimately it would be better for the average agent not be on the net than to be exposed for what most agents are, unfocused. I encourage everyone to keep thier eye on the prize and in this industry it is $$$.

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