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Blogging and Impatience Aren't A Good Team

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

 Impatient? Take a chill pillWe've been here in the Rain actively participating for over 6 years.  And periodically we see people post "How do I cancel my account?".

And in most cases the reason seems to be "Blogging doesn't work". And that's a true statement (at least for them).  Blogging DOESN'T work if:

  • You aren't patient.  Think marathon, not 100 meter dash. 
  • You're not dedicated to blogging.  You've got to develop content that means something to your audience.  Blogging once every week or three just isn't going to get it done if it's your initial foray into blogging.  You can get away with that AFTER you've built up your body of work.
  • You skimp on the quality and purpose of your posts.  You throw a few paragraphs together, don't proof your work, your subject matter is generic and you offer no value proposition to your audience.
  • You don't identify your target audience(s).  The spaghetti on the wall approach is usually not going to be very effective.  A focused blog is likely quicker to getting your phone to ring.
  • You don't bother to learn the basics of blogging so you can increase the odds you'll get found.  You don't have to be an SEO guru, but learn enough to help yourself.
  • You equate comments and features with being a successful blogger.  My most business productive posts have almost no comments and they'll never see ActiveRain's front page, but they're the ones that make my phone ring.

Bottom line, before you hang up your membership in this community, STOP.  Downgrade from Rainmaker if you must, but stick around for a bit.  Learn from those that have figured out how to make blogging a good return on their time.  And the side perk? Given time you'll meet some amazing people and make some great friends.  So stick around for a bit!

Bill of Liz and Bill aka BLiz

 

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Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

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Comments (52)

Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

I could not have said any better!!!

You're not dedicated to blogging.  You've got to develop content that means something to your audience.  

Jan 19, 2017 11:53 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Sheila, And stick to it we will :)

Nick & Trudy, It happens to all of us!  Sometimes I expect it (subdivision/market reports), but other times when I write to the community I expect one thing and get another :)  There's always tomorrow!

Richie, It's certainly part of the appeal for this community.

Pamela, Unless the hare can run ultramarathons :)

Mike, I think of it the same way.  Plant the seeds and keep planting.  Some sprout and flourish, some never break ground.

Elizabeth, And that is the thing, with practice it does get MUCH easier.  The ideas are out there.

Hella, No doubt we have to be careful not to blog about anything that will damage our clients' best interests.  But those day to day activities provide plenty of blogging fodder.

Sham, Know them and write to them.  It works.

 

Jan 19, 2017 01:27 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Bill, it's been a while since I blogged regularly and my business shows it. I'm totally focused on it now if I can just figure out the changes here. Thankfully my old content still generates leads.

Jan 19, 2017 01:39 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Bill, It takes me on average at least on hour to write a post. I do post "jokes" from time to time but for the most part I am writing with a purpose. That purpose is business ... to make my phone ring and to foster connections and referrals in the AR community.  It does take time.  Garbage in ... Garbage out. 

Congratulations on the Feature!

Jan 19, 2017 03:38 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Connie, That's the great thing about writing evergreen content, it'll work for years and years.

Kathleen, I'm usually faster than that, but it depends on the topic too.  But I choose to write with the idea that THIS post may be the first one someone reads, so I better make it count or it could be the last one too!

Jan 19, 2017 04:06 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I've discovered Impatience is rarely a good companion with anything!  

Jan 20, 2017 10:45 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Liz and Bill --- spaghetti should never be thrown at a wall.   It's a recipe that will surely be a disaster.  A thoughtful, carefully measured post with the right ingredients will deliver the most satisfying of feasts. 

Jan 21, 2017 03:00 AM
Regina Minton
Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Assistant

Hi guys, I think you make a good point. If you're going to take the time to add or post something online then why not make it original and valuable for your target audience to read? The better the content provided, the more people will like it and remember it anyhow. Writing for your audience and what is important to them is what resonates.

Jan 21, 2017 01:46 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Liz and Bill

As with anything worthwhile blogging takes commitment . . . . time . . . . and persistent focused effort.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jan 21, 2017 05:29 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Liz and Bill 

Your post is right on point . . . . Congratulations on the feature.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jan 21, 2017 05:31 PM
Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

I started blogging 3 years ago. My main site is a WordPress blog and website. I have over 200 evergreen educational posts in different categories that attract readers and organic backlinks and keep my search rank at the top of Google for my main keywords and long-tail keywords.

As an instructor, my articles demonstrate my subject matter expertise and attract students to my classes. I do research and fact checking to write quality articles and I always learn during research, which expands my knowledge base.

My blogging knowledge and writing skills have improved over time. The Yoast SEO plugin is a useful SEO checking tool before publishing.

There is a learning period with blogging, but I think it is a useful skill and channel for internet marketing.

A blog collection of good articles becomes an orchard, producing fruit for many years.

Jan 21, 2017 06:52 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Carol, I suppose it has it's place, (e.g. it might motivate me to do something sooner rather than wait), but for the most part it's not a positive partner.

Michael, I wrote two posts yesterday.  One that I didn't like that went back into draft and another one that made it to daylight :)

Regina, I want each post to have a purpose, either bring business or build relationships.  If it doesn't fit those needs I have to ask why I'm writing it.

Lou, It certainly does!  Blogging took a long time for us to have impact, but it's working for us well now.

Jerry, A good base of evergreen posts are like gold.  We look at things the same, plant the seeds and enjoy the benefits later.

Jan 22, 2017 05:42 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Don't know why you let it bother you. More for us & patience is not a virtue in most agents.

Jan 22, 2017 12:43 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Lyn, We don't see a lot of people in our local market blogging, or if they do it doesn't show up on our search results.

Jan 22, 2017 05:14 PM
Alicia O'Herron
Mile High Realty - Arvada, CO

After being in the industry for nearly 10 years, I am just now getting to it on a full time basis after getting the kids in school and it is slow, but I am determined.  I too can get impatient, but after reading all of the points you made and the others comments, I am encouraged to keep writing, practicing, and doing it regardless if it is perfect.  I can only get better each time right?  Thanks!

Jan 23, 2017 10:36 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Alicia, Do your best to find a niche you can work and you can really shorten the time it takes to get results.  And definitely, blogging gets easier with practice!

Jan 23, 2017 01:15 PM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Knowing your purpose is good too.  I have been on a (somewhat unintentional) hiatus from AR but prior to that I noticed that most of the calls I got from my AR posts were on local events type blogs and they were people who had no interest in real estate at the moment, they wanted more info on the events.  With that said, at one point I was very active in the community and I have received a fair number of referrals from other AR members AND had clients who were "checking up on me" online and found my AR bio & blogged and then approved of me as their agent based on their online research of me, so even though AR wasn't the original source it was the final step to them trusting and using me.  So.....there are many different ways it can be valubale and I think figuring that out sets more of a purpose.  I actually came back after a year or so of not being on here to decide if I should stick with it or not.....at this point I'm remembering it's value. -Kasey

Jan 23, 2017 05:06 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Kasey, I used to post heavily about local events, and like you, I got a lot of those type calls that weren't real estate related.  And that was especially true back when I posted 10+ times a week.  I scaled back to once daily and that meant I shifted my focus to more pure real estate posts that I want to be evergreen and keep working for us.  I get more business calls and far fewer general calls.  And focusing on some niches has helped our blogging be more productive.   Good to see you back!

Jan 23, 2017 05:24 PM
Mick Michaud
Distinctly Texas Lifestyle Properties, LLC Office:682/498-3107 - Granbury, TX
Your Texas Lifestyle is Here!

Love playing in the 'Rain.  It's more than just blogging for dollars.  So much knowlege and great people to network with. 

Feb 17, 2017 06:23 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Mick, It's all that and then some.  It's why I'm here every day.

Feb 17, 2017 09:35 AM