The statistics on blogging are not favorable for many of us.  That's a bit scarey.  I would like to be in that 4% just because I do enjoy it and the commerodity on AR is great!  It does seem tough at times to come up with new and interesting content for readers and I try to scribble down ideas when they come, just so I don't forget and lose them.  For you and others that write so well consistantly - How do you do it?  I am working towards that goal.  Thanks for the post.

OK! I'm ready and I bet that at least 50% of us at AR are, too...I read what's needed:

Learning From Others' Successes
Fraternity
Altruism
Originality
Focus
Commitment
Passion
Consistency
Understanding The Audience
Marketing
Community
Effective Headlines 

I'm IN... anyone else?

PS..it is working for me in a constant stream of phone calls and referrals and a great community I really enjoy.

That is a telling statistic.  Similiar to many other stats of real estate agents.  Failure is common.

I like blogging but it is very time consuming and can see why others may not wish to do this. I find information from the Ar community to be somewhat inspiring and often helpful with new ideas or a starting point to expand ones thinking on a particular subject. I like to see my standings in the AR community for my service area and it makes me want to try harder to position myself higher in the rankings.

I doubt 10% of agents will blog, and out of that 10%, I doubt 70% of those will continue to blog after the first couple of months... So, in my market, we have about 20,000 agents.  10% of that is 200.  Even on AR, there are only about 20 agents in the area blogging.... where are the additional 180, muchless the additional amount to equal 68% coming from??

All you have to consider are the number of AR members, and how few of them actually do anything more than just join, and even fewer do any serious amount of posting. 68% seems way too high.

I, too, am suspicious of that number of agents getting into blogging. The overall use of technology by agents in general is somewhat drab from what I've seen and heard, so why all of a sudden would a significant % of the agent population start blogging, and on a regular basis. That doesn't even happen here on AR, as Elaine points out. There are a good number of folks I have met and talked to who know nothing about blogging not what it is. They can't take digital pics for their listings so how will they blog? LOL

Good information and things to be aware of/focused on. Thanks

Jeff

The primary, absolute KEY to ensuring that You're one of the remaining 4% is to write KILLER content - good, quality, relevant, thought-provoking, attention-grabbing, informative, personable, consumer-oriented content. Blog well, Blog often!

I think that blogging has a place.  You can reach your clients with more up-to-date information.  However, as the spring season begins, then efforts necessarily will have to shift to giving a high level of service to the client.  It is another important tool -- however, it is time consuming.

Well, that stat is better than the RE stats - Most RE agents fail in their first year. ... Off to read your post ... will return ...

OK. Im back. Very Motivating - I love a good challenge. I want to be a member of the 4% club.

Blogging is very time consuming, I admit, but I have also learned LOTS of tips, tricks, and systems that I would not otherwise have learned, sitting in my small part of the world.....

Thanks, Something inside of me says that (contrary to the internet phenomenon), blogging will replaces by some new technology.   I wouldn't bet against Bill Gates to come with with something revolutionary.

Of the 475 Realtors in Wheaton, I have yet to find one that blogs (i'm sure they are out there, I just can't find them).  In our competitive market, I'm sure it will start soon. Sherry

I can't imagine that many Realtors will start blogs.  I have a hard time getting the agents in my office to even sign up!!!  And there are two of us in the office that push blogging as a tremendously useful tool.

This finding only says that agents will "focus". If it is anything like they "focus" on websites my guess is that now through next year is a good time to be selling canned blogs with RSS feeds.

What constitutes a "failed" blog? I consider a "failed blog" one that is not ever updated or added to.  However, I don't believe getting a bunch of comments makes a blog successful.    I'm just curious what others think the definition of a "failed" blog means since I am also trying to get one going but am still in the learning process.

Great article and a must read over at the Tomato then back over here :)

I think that most of the bloggers will ultimately fail for the same reason that most people who do anything will fail.  It falls into the old 80/20 rule.  This simply states that 80% or the results in almost anything are accomplished by the dedicated 20%.  I asked a real estate broker how many agents worked for him.  He sain "About half."  Indicating the other half of his agents did not.

Susan,

I'm sure other's may have some barometer for success depending on their goals, but I personally measure the success of a blog by quality of client generation.

Blogs have helped me develop my voice, exposure, confidence, knowledge and network... all of which has helped me generate more business opportunities with an audience whose trust I have earned through my commitment to their education.   

If I were just blogging for Ego and Comments I would have to see that I was wasting time and time=money... there for it would be a failure and I should shut it down if I wanted to stay profitable.

Thanks for the response.  Do you do anything in particular to generate client feedback/respons or do you find that your topics tend to spark the initial interest and draw in the business?    In my opinion, a Realtor blog should probably contain local market information and possibly some education opportunities for buyers and sellers but I wouldn't expect anyone not interested in my local real estate market to even bother reading my blog. 

I have a ton of stories I could share but then I also have to be careful of what I say and with whom I share those kinds of experiences since I need to maintain a professional flair, or do I?  I have to agree that if your personality can shine through in what you blog about (and your personality is one that is appealing to clients) then the blog will be successful. 

Read that thing again.  It, the study doesn't say that 68% of agents plan to blog.  It says that 68% of agents THAT WERE POLLED plan to blog. 

Big difference.

I would venture to predict that 80% of agents POLLED would say that they plan to have a web site that produces lots of Internet leads too.  But, how many WILL?

Yes... can't imagine that many agents will even attempt to blog.  It's a huge commitment and quite intimidating in the begining.  Just like anything, it gets easier with practice and persistence.

Great post!

Irina,

Pasadena, CA

Thanks Lenn, I read it that way too!

Blogging has become the newest thing for print and Internet industry journals to write about.  People love to talk about jumping the wave for the newest thing, but talk is cheap and commitment must be deep.

Blogging requires a real commitment of time and continuity, and is not for the faint or trendy hearted! 

68% seems to be a bit steep - after all - it's tough getting the rest of our team to blog - despite our focus on it!  Ken Spencer is coming along....

I suppose I'm with the others-starting and continuing to grow one's blog are two separate items altogether.  Off I go to read the full article-thanks for the info!

No kidding Lenn; 68% of the number polled, whatever that number is, is a far cry from 68% of NAR's current membership of 1,357,732.

"A recent survey by Global Reasearch Center stated that 68% of the real estate agents they polled planned to include the blogosphere in their 2007 marketing efforts."

As of Dec. 31, 2006, NAR's membership totals 1,357,732.

Before getting into the real estate business I wrote a monthly column about the music industry (and still do once in a  awhile, every two months or so) for ten years. When I began, it wasn't called blogging. The column however, was and is called The Drama. It is read in many portals including MySpace, RapTalk.net, Siccness.net, CrazyPinoy.com, Plaxo, Bebo and more.

 I did not have a successful music marketing company because I wrote an online column. I was not the largest urban entertainment promotions entity in the Northwest because I blogged. The column was one more creative outlet, nothing more. It did not generate new accounts or projects, nor does it even matter in the overall scheme of things. So when it comes to the real estate industry, I will reserve judgement about regional blogging until I hear the success stories that come out of it.

Meantime, I am seeking the keywords that will organicly improve my site's stats via dynamic descriptions, carefully placed information that may generate awareness, and technical writing that hopefully will raise a profile.

The internet is a fact of life, but at the end of the day, it's just one more tool in the effective agent's box, not the entire business.

Hum,

It would be nice if the entire post was here wouldn't it?

"Il faut rendre à César ce qui appartient à César"

Mario

Blogging can be a helpful tool, but when the "barrier for entry is so low, anyone can "don on their Sunday hat and call themselves a blogger".  This saturates cyber-space and detracts from the value of blogging as a tool i.m.h.o.  Blogging that creates great content can be useful on one's web-site, but as a buyer or seller, it's not necessarily a realtor's thoughts and perspectives that "seals the deal"  Personally, with the exception of the few dedicated bloggers who do experience a return on their "time commitment", one has to wonder whether statis content of interest to buyers, sellers and peers would suffice for the other 96% who are predicted to fail as bloggers?

PLEASE READ THE ABOVE POSTS.  With all the hubub about Theresa Boardman's feature in INMAN I think the Frenzy is underway.  BEFORE YOU COMMIT UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT AND HOW IT FITS INTO YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

hmmm-i have had several ideas about things to wirte about and they are still in my head so I can see wh ythe stats say wha tthey say.  Bottom line is to come up with a plan to utilize the technology to work within your biz.  

Speaking of Realtors and technology, a recent report from the California Association of Realtors echoes the need for Realtors to invest time and marketing dollars into online efforts. According to the report:

·       92% of Internet buyers found their agent on a website

·       63% found them through an Internet search engine

·       0% of Internet buyers found their agent through brochures, flyers, yard signs or mailer to their home

. . . . gulp!

Next thing you 'guys' will tell me is that people will be text messaging all the time on cell phones.

hhhmmm.... (see youth).

Given that many agents can't put forth the effort to take more than 1 picture of a listing I find it hard to believe they will put forth the effort to write any kind of a blog on a regular basis.

Also, when I see how many agents use canned template websites it makes me believe that if they do blog it will be a canned blog that spits out the same articles for Kalamazoo, MI as for Miami, FL!  No one except me has written any articles for my local area (I have only written a couple at that) and only 1 other agent in the area is even an AR member.

 Rita

Most people can't stick to the goal of losing weight, and most people won't meet their goal of blogging - you have to really, really want to be successful in either, and develop a plan where exercise or blogging fits into your day - when you can, and when you're good at it. Take advantage of when you're most motivated and most creative, and plan your day around that.

Wow!  I am a little suprised by that statistic, but I suppose I shouldn't be.  Afterall, in the real estate world this is a common theme :-)  I am determined to prove it wrong....partly because I am stubborn, and largly because I am driven!

With current market conditions, that could (almost) be a correct percentage. After all, most blogs are FREE. I agree with the rest, they may sign on the get a blog, but most will not follow through

Interesting article...

dear Tomato - i read whole linked article, and i gotta say mr. tomato is acting like ketchup already.....haaaaaaaaa...... good reading/have a great week ;) ron

I think that several will try and blog, but many will drop out that try. And that there will be many who won't even try. There is a huge time commitment to do blogging and to keep website content updated. Agents who can afford to have full time Internet assistants may turn over the entire blogging task to them to write under a "pen name". In general if an Agent is out selling and listing and doing all that has to be done to be doing transactions, there is no time to blog .............................. unless one does not sleep!

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin
The Benjamin Team
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Gold Canyon Arizona

Good article with all the links and links form the links - Theresa sure has a lot of good information as does your website. Thanks for helping us to understand blogging a bit better and to focus on what a blog is.

Totally disagree with this.  I think that blogging will become the standard for communication.  Web 2.0 is here and it's only going to increase in its visibility.  The newest version of the web has made us no longer consumers, we're now active participants in what the web is and will be.  Look at the success of USAToday and their feature to allow postings and forums by their readers, their new look and features have increased their web traffic by over 120% since its launch.  You can't tell me that people are becoming less likely to be involved in the web as we go along.

I look at it this way, there are 14-20 year old adults that will be buying their first home over the next ten years.  THIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNICATION THEY KNOW!!!  If I embrace that and use it as a tool, how can I fail?  If I don't embrace what tomorrow's buyers and sellers are viewing as 'normal', I have made a commitment to retire. 

I think you are correct.... but I see a sloooooooooooooooow ramp (non- linear).  10 years from now, many will be blogging.... the key then will be to MARKET YOURSELF so you do not get lost in the CLUTTER.

Not an easy task.

Those embracing technology today will be in great shape in ten years.  Those that wait will be screwed.

We just started a blog and have even started experimenting with loading VFlyer posts INTO the blog, which you can find here.   I can see why so many will fail-- it's hard to find the time, and hard to design well.

The only failure is in not trying. Just like any form of marketing with any business you have to stick with it, and know there won't be a response right away. Plus, if you are blogging to get clients you have it wrong. You are blogging because it provides information to those that are reading it. if someone doesn't keep up with their blog, then they don't; doesn't mean they failed.

So, I say keep blogging, or for the newbies, start a blog. Someone can always find the negative in something.

I can see why so many will start, and why so many will fail.  It is hard work to get started blogging.  Just figuring out what to write takes time!  It gets easier, but I think that initial learning curve will prevent a lot of agents from being successful.

I believe that many have good intentions...and that's where it stops. Those that start blogging now, or who have already been blogging for any length of time, will be the millionaires in 10 years. Like anything, you get out of it what you put in it. Thanks for the great post!

I really enjoyed reading this post. However I have a question. What do you mean by successful blog? what defines successful?

Malika,

Given that real estate bloggers are mostly blogging to enhance their business and for the marketing exposure, I would have to say that a successful blog is one that is generating business, and enough business making the effort  well worth it.

I am sure that others will define success in other ways, but this is what I try to help agents accomplish: Learn to leverage the real estate blog as an effective marketing tool, in turn generating more business. 

Thought I would revisit this after posting earlier this year.

Yes, lots of new resources in blogging are available, and yes it's still just another tool. No, I am still unconvinced "conversion to sale" will be made via blogging channels.

I'm on many sites. I do it for fun and a profile. It's not a business model.