Real Estate Blog - Should you always Search Before You Blog

Home : Blogs : Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager : Active Brads Blog

Should you always Search Before You Blog

Did I learn the hard way? YES! I think...I always do a search now, before I post a new blog. There have been
many times I had a great thought or an original idea, only to find that 15 other people had blogged about the
very same idea or concept already.

Search Cat

For example, I spent 15 minutes preparing a piece on DST (Day Light Savings Time) and the affects it would
have on your computer, the calendar, you know...all the techy stuff. Right before I clicked on Post Blog, I
decided to do a search in the "Search Blogs field, there must have been 10 - 15 blogs already posted regarding
the very same topic.

Some of the Blogs were way better than mine (not surprised), but I wasted almost 20 minutes of my time.
There is a wealth of information out on the internet and there is even more information here in the AR network.
I think mainly, because it is a more focused network which is specifically directed at Real Estate content.
(well, most of the time)

Save yourself the embarrassment of re-creating someone elses post with your own wording. At some point,
does the network become conjested with an overkill of multiple posts on the exact same topics? In fact, this
very blog has probably already been posted! If that is the case, I apologize. You get points for commenting
too! (Big Smile) Just wanted to throw this out there for all the new AR members like me, who forgot or neglected
going to the newbies group to learn this stuff.

Finally, the internet is a wealth of great information, but in my opinion, Activerain is even better. I guess I
should always Search First, Join Groups, then Create, Post my Blog, and make sure to post to, or distribute to,
the proper groups and individuals both on Activerain and on Localism.

(THE VALUE IN THIS POST ARE THE COMMENTS BELOW, BE SURE TO READ THEM BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO COMMENT)

"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount
RainCamp™ - "Because The Way We Do Business Online Has Changed!"

Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 03/08/2007 03:09 AM

Comments (22)

activerain community support, activerain, blogging, advice, free, marketing, target marketing, tips, support

22 Comments on Should you always Search Before You Blog

MAR

2007

Hi Brad - good post, but I have to say I don't completely agree with you about not writing about something that's already been written about. There are some here who think it's terrible to write about something that's already been covered. But this is YOUR blog, and if your audience is consumers, then write it anyway. Consumers likely have not read the other posts you pulled up in your search, and your voice is going to be entirely different than someone else's. Of course, if your audience is the members here, then perhaps what you write about should take that into consideration.

You may have an entirely different spin on whatever it is that's been written about - I say write away after considering WHO your audience is.

Ann

Ann is right - even though our blogs are part of a large network of other blogs, they are still ours. Funny thing is - I was planning on writing about daylight savings time today. And I probably will - for those consumers who read my blog and not the entire network.

As long as we don't plagiarize, writing our own posts about similar topics is OK - we're all in the same industry so topics are bound to be covered by multiple people.

Got to throw in my two cents, too. Go ahead and blog about it even if someone else already did. You want it in YOUR blog for your clients to see. Plus you'll say it in a different way, as each person has something to contribute. Go on and post it. It WAS your idea, even if other people had it, too! :o)

Awesome! No more more writers block. Thanks Ann, Don, and Sarah, this is exactly what I love about being on AR, just when I start to 2nd guess a blogging protocol, my AR family steps in and rescues me. Thanks for your insights and guidence. I hadn't looked at it that way, and it's nice to get your perspectives. No I am even more inspired to really get my information out there. My clients and and readers, are counting on me. You guys are great! Thanks again.

GO FOR IT, Brad!!! Blog away, and we'll be watching for your posts! ;-)

Don - I, too, was going to do a Daylight Savings Time post as well - might still do it for my localism readers.

Ann

Brad.. Interesting article. Feels to me that each article is unique (unless it is copied and pasted or hype) because it has YOUR voice...just looking at your BLOG I see personality...so I say, go ahead and bring your personality into your articles, add some interesting links, keep the graphic/ photos going...

and Go 4 IT!

Thanks JaneAnne, your words are very inspirational and motivating. I appreciate all the love and support I have connected to here on AR. You're right, I feel like I know so much more about people on AR based on their writing, comments and posts, and I have never or may never meet some of them in person ever. That is mind boggling when you think about it. A whole new technology and way of building relationships at the same time. Never realized how much text over time shows one's true colors. Wow, think I'm on a roll here, (this could be a post) guess I better go post another. Wait till you read the story I'm posting next. It's an incredible success story about AR and has nothing to do with Real Estate, but I'm going to post it anyway because of you and your kind words. Thanks !!

Ann - I'll be watching for your (DST) post, I am curious to see your take on it. I thinks I'll post mine too and we can compare notes. I have a dual issue with (DST) the laptop and the TREO, and only have till Sunday....and thanks for reminding me about the Localism.com readers. Muchas Gracias

MAR

2007

I think we each need to write what we want to and stop worrying about what others have written. Think of Active Rain as your personal blog. Yeah there's a network, respect the network but don't let your blogging be crippled by it.

Blogs are conversations. You don't not say something because someone has said it before <--- double negative so that probably doesn't make sense. Don't let the fact that you can search stifle you.

8 comment posts ago, I thought differently, thank God for the power of persuation! Thanks Maureen. :-)

MAR

2007

Hey Brad, go for it like they all said above. When people google your name they are going to find you and your Active Rain Blog so write what you want. This way you are reaching your onlne audience. Plus there might be a lot of people who have not seen the other posts and may see yours. With almost 20,000 members your bound to be found. I gound ya. LOL

Thanks Jay, I predict that the 20,000 members on Activerain will double in the next 6 months. Thanks for finding me and posting your comment. happy posting!

SEP

2007

Looks like your prediction was right, Brad! There are over 47,000 members now! I am one of the new ones that helped your prediction come true!

SEP

2007

David - glad you made this prediction come to fruition! I forgot about this post, making that prediction back then really was a guess, it's incredible to see how far AR has come and grown. Now I predict 100,000 members by MayDay! Let's see how I do this time. Guess I better start inviting some more folks huh? :-)

SEP

2007

Brad thanks for asking this question. And Ann thanks for answering it for us! She is right that we all have our own markets and audience so even though we might write about the same subject it is ok to write it in our own point of view!

SEP

2007

There are no more "original" posts. They are all, each and every one unless they are about a current event that happened moments ago, a rehashing of the same thing.

However, having said that, each person adds their own perspective and that's what makes it worth reading. Posts allow us to see through someone else's eyes. That's a good thing...for everyone.

SEP

2007

Naomi - I couldn't agree more now, but back then (when I posted this) you have to admit, this was a pretty good question that I think we all ask ourselves at some point in our blogging experience. :-)

Patsy - You have said it better than I could. I agree 100% ...well at least 95%. I don't think that everything has been written about. I still have a couple under my hat that when I search AR for blogs or posts, it comes back nothing found. That makes it fun to be the first to write on a subject or topic that is new. I still search before I post, but I don't let it stop me from writing either way. Thanks for your comment, your perspective is very valued here!!

OCT

2007

I had to come look to see if the blog update was this being added to "activerain community support" and it is.

The search capability has changed since March, a couple of times. While the search now is better than the last version, it still is impossible to search for a lot of topics. I still say write what you want to write, don't worry about what others are writing about.

There's no calling dibs on a subject in the blogosphere. ActiveRain is so large a number of people can cover the same subject and most of us won't run into the different blogs about the same subject. As long as it is original content it should not matter.

Now if you are sharing "ghost written" material maybe that is different.

Maureen - this is one of my older posts, but your comment here is what other members need to read. I almost didn't comment back because I wanted yours to be the last one here. Very important that members know this and I agree 100% with what you just said. I have lived by that rule since this post.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS POST AND WANT THE REAL ANSWER; SEE MAUREEN McCABE'S COMMENT ABOVE THIS ONE! Thanks Maureen, great sound advice coming from the pro!! :-)

SEP

2008

As an AR newbie, I also search before I blog and inevidently end up not blogging because what I wanted to say has already been said to death by so many others who say it so much better than me.

SEP

2008

Donne -even if it was written about 1000 times, it's still your readers who want to read and hear it from you.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments