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Is Your Blog Reaching It's Intended Audience? Read the brick that fell on my head...

When I am finished writing a blog post (about industry related topics), I am always faced with the decision of where to post it. It would normally automatically go in Stage if Forward because I believe that this group has a large readership and my message will be heard, and I like to post in the RESA group because I am a member. I also like to post in the Michigan Realtors group to try to get to know more members in my area.

But then I ask myself "Okay, where else?"

When I go into other groups for home staging, I see the same posts there that I saw in Stage it Forward. I think to myself "Well, that would be overkill" and I don't always post to the other groups.

Then I realized something that I wanted to share with you... Not everybody I want to reach out to is subscribed to Stage it Forward, RESA, or Michigan Realtors!

I was reading a post written by a Michigan Realtor and when I looked at his profile page and I could see the list of groups that he was a member of. Stage it Forward wasn't there - but the group Home Staging was! So by not ever posting to this group, this guy will never read my blog. I looked at another Michigan Realtor and not only wasn't he a member of Stage it Forward (shock!) he wasn't even a member of the Michigan Realtors group!

So my point is... (yes I have one lol)

We blog for our businesses, we need to post our posts where our target audience is reading. I now know that there are guidelines for every group and will post accordingly, but I need to branch out away from my usual three...

I always post to Localism too, but that seems to get lost into oblivion!

So what about you? Where else do you post about your staging work besides the usual staging groups?

Posted by Cari Pilon, RE:STYLE Home Staging on 06/13/2008 04:53 PM

Comments (48)

smart stagers, blogging, stage it forward, homes staging groups, michigan realtors

Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Real Estate Staging Association

48 Comments on Is Your Blog Reaching It's Intended Audience? Read the brick that fell on my head...

JUN

2008

Cari ~ I agree, there are at least five groups for each post I do that I post to, and they cover a wide group of people (i.e. Active Rain Addicts is one). As for the localism posts, they turn up in Google. I was doing really well there after the New Year, making sure to post to localism and doing public posts and I really need to get back on track with that. I had a consultation client find me from one of my localism posts.

Cari, As a stager I would actually post to Realtors, they are often the ones that will hire you. I still do Localism posts but I've seen they haven't updated Localism for many months and I am not getting business from there now. I also post to the groups I love such as "Inspiration" and "Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul" --you can always find a pick me up in those groups :)

Hi Cari,

Do you have dogs?? I joined several Dog Lover groups and possibly - if you scroll down the WHOLE list - you might find other Michigan groups.. I also belong to several Christian groups. Since I am a newbie - I haven't posted across all the groups yet.. God bless,

I wouldn't mind joining other groups for fun like the dog lover's group or a positive attitude group for a pick me up. But I meant more along the lines of other groups to connect with Realtors. I have posted in the "Realtors" group, but I think the post gets eaten up and swallowed quickly due to the vast amount of posts that get posted there.

For example, I ran across a RE/Max group and noticed that Karen Dembsky had a couple of posts in there. So I wonder, maybe I should be posting more in groups like those than my limited few. I'm only speaking of posts that would be geared toward educating our "target audience".

The personality of the group if you are comfortable there fits you. Is the group you joined to get that Realtors notice one that fits you and your business? Target marketing is the name of the game. I would find the realtors (at least they blog, many don't) and invite them to AR or wherever you feel the most complete and reliable staging infomation is. They don't know and don't know how to judge it. Invite them and they will come. They'll probably find you a stager above the rest in savvy for doing so. And, good luck. (My point is instead of waiting for them to come to you, go to them. As a saleperson myself, that approach earns my respect. I never get mad at anyone for asking and am honest about my liklihood of using them but they have to practice on someone and so do you. Who knows it may open up another whole set of realtor types for your business.) Good luck.

I agree... there are 3 groups that are fairly specific to SC or Charleston, so I post there when my target audience is realtors. I then decide which groups (based on content) that my blog belongs in. Sometimes I actually don't post in SIF.....

I think it is a great idea to check out which groups a few of your target market belong to and consider posting and at least reading and commenting on posts in those groups some of the time. I wish there was more time in the day - I LOVE my main Staging groups as I learn and share so much with them, but I also love to stay up with goings on in the real estate industry in general which means reading more agent focused blogs and groups. I am a member of TONS of groups and usually pick which ones to post to based on the subject or goal of my blog.

Cari, good points and well put. I think there are many great groups that should get more posts but when you are limited to a certain number it is difficult to decide.

JUN

2008

The whole blogging thing is new to me even though I've been on AR a while now. I also think sometimes, I am a creature of habit and just click those same 3 or 5 boxes. So I'm starting to figure this out. I thought I would share my "brick" in case there were others like me who do this.

Thanks Terrylynn, what you said made sense - I should invite those Realtors who I know that aren't currently on here! That is an excellent idea.

Thanks Melissa, I think the content is important as well. That's why I have a hard time posting the same post in similar groups. Like you said Charleston has 3 groups - so you post the same post in all three right? See I normally wouldn't... but the brick on my head says yes because not every member of my audience is signed up to the one I chose.

Hey Tori, I need to comment more too. This past week's "converstation" about posts and features etc just got me thinking about where I post certain things. You make a great point too about keeping up with the industry.

Hi Pam, you are right - there are a ton of groups! I don't have the time to read stage it forward all the way through, much less visit other groups.

BUT - I need to remember that this blogging business is like face to face networking (you know what I mean) You can't just sit there and wait for other people to introduce themselves to you, you have to stand up and reach out your hand to those you want to meet.

I know this, but sometimes you forget to continue on with the basics.

You made a lot of really good points Cari. SIF is one that I always post to. I also like to post to RESA as I'm a member as well. I'm also a member of the Home Staging group. Occasionally I'll put a post in there, but I never thought that some realtors may not belong to SIF but belong to the Home Staging group instead. There are a few groups specific to Canada that I also post to. You're right about the Realtors group. Posts get lost really fast there because of the number of members.

Cari, Thanks for the blog. I went in search of my target audience. I appreciate the reminder.

Hi Cari, what I've come to realize is as AR membership increases so do the # of groups therefore it's good to check them out every once and awhile...maybe leave a group you're not so active in and join another that better suits your needs or objectives. I don't post in any of the big realtor groups but more of the local ones for my targeted area. Sometimes I get comments from them but most of the time I don't. Doesn't mean they aren't being read, though. =)

Cari, this is great advice to a question I myself had been having. I am new to ActiveRain and I haven't posted too many blogs - possibly because I wasn't sure what to do with them!

THANKS!

Anita

www.A1AHomeStaging.com

Post your work every where you can, I do because different people use different sites so if you do them all better coverage.

if you ever need a fifth place to post you can join our little group, we are just getting started but so far so good, send me an e-mail if you can't 'find us' be good and hope to see more of you in the rain. cheryl

Never quite thought about who I was posting to. I am always so worried about posting somewhere without following the guidelines so I "go with what I know." With so many groups it is hard to keep them straight.

As for a REALTOR perspective, if I was looking for a stager I would go through the search of stagers in my area and then read each of their profiles and blogs to determine who I would want to call first.

As anyone ever procured a listing or more important, made sale because of their blogs?

Thank you for the advise. I'm new to AR and reading as quickly as I can....lol

Great idea. Sometimes I am not sure where to post or afraid I might be off topic. But what is the worst thing a group can do? delete it, but you can always re post somewhere else.

Thank you so much for the reminder.

Have a great weekend. Terrie

Larry and Sheila, many, many people have gained business because of their blogs. I get about 5 leads a month on my little blog, in the past year I closed 4 transactions from it.

Cari - this might startle you but I don't use the groups very much. Maybe I need to more. It's probably how other people seem to foster so many good relationships here and I seem to only have a few. I post to the groups but for some reason don't go to check them out very often. Unless there's a contest. I'm a sucker for contest. :) 90% of my posts are for Localism, which google finds luckily.

Congrats on a featured post!

I usually try to write more localism, and I don't care what groups I put it in... then the reality is that I write a fair number I member focused posts, and you are right... everyone isn't subscribed everywhere.

This is cute, but I found you because AR had you at the top of the list when I hit the HOME button! I do know what you mean, but thought you might find it interesting to know!

Posting to Localism is not a waste of time. I have recieved a few calls from the public on articles I have written.

I don't think localism gets picked up by joe blow consumer, just from my experience. I get inquiries all the time from posts I've done that have been on localism.

I like mixing it up on posting to groups, I try not to keep posting to the same groups because there are so many out there to explore. Localism is usually a must in all my business posts because it gets the business from the outside blogosphere.

From the comments, it sounds like Localism is still providing prospects.

JUN

2008

I'm new to blogging and still working on realizing it's full potential. It didn't even occur to me that I need to be posting to different groups. Thanks for the heads up.

Yes Cari, I read your "brick" and you are so right. There are so many ways to use our posts here in the Rain that it can actually be a bit overwhelming at times. Very nice post!

I need to search my target audience. I appreciate the reminder. go0d post

Great topic and comments. Ive been wondering this myself about which groups to post in. I created a few of my own, not sure if that is beneficial in the google searches or not, but my clients think Im a real pro since founding my own groups just for them.

Thanks Cari. I am new to AR slowly beginning to understand the nuances. I am a Michigan Realtor but now part of that group. So now I am going to look for groups to be part of. I have to admit I didn't realize where my posts all went.

Cari, I get stuck posting to the same groups too. When I try to veer out and try to post to a new one I joined, I haven't read the guideline, or read it and forgot so I get a "your post has been deleted".

So I just stick with the few I know well.

This is an interesting post and a good reminder to me to work on my groups. I can see by the Google Analytics on my Main Line Pa Today site that people find me by some unusual key words and my blog is new.

I like to post to localism as well, but I too noticed they got lost and sent an e-mail asking why mine did not go to the top as most recent. Answer- you get filed in localisn based on your points. So there are so many others with so many more points then me. So I too, was looking for other places to post.

Good post!

Good point...guess I am not as careful as I should be...I know sometimes my pals...Tom, Katrina, etc. will read and comment as a "favor"....but what kind of favor I do to other groups and the AR community deserves some thought. There have been many times when I have posted to Newbies thinking that they could benefit from an experience I have had and wish I had it earlier in my career and absolutely every time it gets booted....no more Newbie Posts...SO Mr. of Ms. monitor who will not identify yourself...who are you cheating or do you just need to feel important ?

Sounds like you had an epiphany.

Stagers posting to staging groups is like talking into a mirror.

If I were a stager, I'd want to be well synergized in Google.

Success on the Internet is, IMO, all in the numbers.

Cari.. Depending on the post I do, depends on the group I sent it to. Just like everyone, you want your blog read by as many people as possible, but you also want the *right* ones to read it. The REALTOR group is one that a lot of people read, so I always (when related) post to that one.

Right on Cari! This is the heart of Active Rain for me - although I so love my relationships - we are blogging for our clients and finding where best to post is key. Localism is great as is starting a group specific to your area or joining one already in place. That is where you want to work!

We can post to other groups not in Active Rain? That is news to me!

I'm new too. How many is too many places to post it?

Someone brought up a good point. When your post is booted off of a group, how do you go back and repost it to another group? Do you click on edit, uncheck that group, then check a new one? I don't want to try this in case that's not the way to do it.

The rate at wich AR is growing it is important to choose the groups with diligence before posting. This is a great post. Because there is a limit of 5, I have a challenge as well on deciding which groups to post to for Naperville Real Estate blog on AR.

It is definitely challenging, but I've found that it is so important to make personal connections on AR and if you post in the groups that you are most comfortable with, you keep that relationship going. It is always helpful to branch out into new areas though, as new groups seemed to be formed weekly!

Most of us have learned this lesson through the school of hard knocks, as you did. Hopefully your post will help short-cut the process for some ActiveRainers.

Well, it is good to see that I am not alone... Thank you all for your comments. I've actually learned more today by reading them. I am glad that this post helped some others out there as well.

I think one of the important lessons I learned is that content is key. Post the right post in the appropriate groups and follow their guidelines. Branch out my writing so that it is more local to be "Localism - friendly".

Cari, it gets confusing sometimes. I find myself a homebody. I find a few groups and stick to them. I know I should reach out and I think I will aspire to that!

Later in the rain~Deb

JUN

2008

I am new to this and am still trying to figure it out too.

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