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Ask An Ambassador: "Blogging Doesn't Work"

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

"Blogging doesn't work." says the blogger who doesn't get results.

 

"Blogging is dead." says the guru who has a new bright and shiny to interest you (and sell you).

 

Heard both statements more times than I can count over our years in the Rain, and while there might be SOME truth to each statement, there's no reason to turn in our keyboards and call it a blogging career.

 

To be blunt, for those that state "blogging doesn't work", more often than not it's a seat to keyboard interface error.  If you make the "wrong" choices about how to blog, it's true, blogging won't work for you.

  • Do you provide unique content your area home buying and selling consumers are looking for?

 

  • Have you defined a target audience?
  • Is your target audience a written word audience, or are they more likely to be YouTube/Instagram types, or the type that prefers their written word in 144 characters or less?

 

  • Are you competing directly with Z and the other big firms for key high level search terms, or have you ventured a level deeper than they do and laid claim to some important long tail search terms for your market?

 

  • Are you reliant on canned type content?  Look, there's a place for Keeping Current Matters type posts, but as a small part of your overall  blogging and not as the sole provider of your blog's content.  Make those posts a side dish to your blog, but not your main course.

 

  • Do you understand the basics of SEO?  Scroll through the main blog roll and you'll see all kinds of missed opportunities in the post titles.  "3 Bedroom Home For Sale".  Generic and no geographic location terms means you have about zero chance of anyone other than someone who ALREADY reads your blog finding that post.

 

  • Have you been at it long enough to build an inventory of posts that work for you, especially posts of an evergreen variety?

 

Basically the list could go on for quite a bit.  There are fundamentals to blogging as a successful business generator.  Ignore too many of the basics and you may decide blogging isn't worth your time because "blogging doesn't work." 

 

But my observation?  Blogging DOES work, but it's all about your choices.

 

Blogging coupled with our IDX search pages still continues to be a primary source of business for us, and we're not doing anything proprietary. 

 

Block and tackle blogging works, no matter what the "gurus" tell us.

 

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Posted by

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(17)

Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I think that those that feel blogging doesn't work are focused on the wrong things.  There are so many things that come from blogging that are highly beneficial even if they seem indirect to what our perceived goal is.

Apr 27, 2021 05:43 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

There can still be benefits from blogging even if it's not shown by direct consumer calls.  Perhaps building a referral network is more important, or it's a secondary way of showing "who you are" to people that already know you as a go to real estate agent.  More blogging can lead to a bigger overall digital footprint, and there's not too much bad about being more easily found in general.

Apr 27, 2021 05:57 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bill(and Liz too) - Although I can't recall the exact situation or circumstances I remember when I first heard the term blogging but shortly thereafter a mention of ActiveRain was made in a free training seminar I attended.  Some of the room seemed interested and then there were others with contradictory thoughts. 

I imagine that's the genesis for many people who joined this or some other forum(maybe multiple forums).  Some stuck with it - others not so much.  Whether it's blogging or something else - it's a divided world.  

Apr 27, 2021 06:10 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I think we first heard about blogging at a RE/MAX convention many moons ago, and promptly didn't do anything about it.  We did sign up for an account on ActiveRain, then disappeared for 3 years before returning to participate.  Initially, I was doing it "wrong", blogging with nothing to cause business to come our way.  Eventually, I actually listened to Anita Clark and others and shifted to what would make our phone ring.  That's meant a sacrifice of some of the social aspects of this community, but in my case a necessary trade-off if I want to pay the bills.

Apr 27, 2021 07:13 AM
Michael Jacobs

Blogging is not a one-and-done, get-rich-quick kind of approach.  That's for sure.  

Apr 28, 2021 06:41 AM
Rocky Dickerson
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Superior Service!

Good morning! Blogging does work and has increased me SEO even when I post about trivial topics. What I really don't know is what is an ambassador and what are they used for? I can't seem to find that information anywhere. I know they must have some purpose, I am just ignorant to their role.

Apr 27, 2021 07:02 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I know we get found more often for general searches (e.g. RE/MAX agents in Lebanon Ohio) than we did pre-AR activity.


 


As far as Ambassador meaning, here's something from deep out of the archives (and within that post is a link to another from Nikesh (AR head at the time)) that explain what we're supposed to be about.  The drawback is many of the Ambassadors are no longer active (some aren't even ALIVE), so the list could use some adjustments.
https://activerain.com/blogsview/3365651/the-orange-badge

Apr 27, 2021 07:12 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

For the most part, I agree, but if you are give useful info...they will read.

Apr 27, 2021 08:35 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

True, but for me the difference was getting calls that had nothing to do with real estate and instead about the BBQ restaurant, the county fair, etc.  So I shifted to more pure real estate related topics and the net was calls actually asking about homes.

Apr 27, 2021 08:44 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Blogging enables us to be found by people who wouldn't have known about us prior to the blogging. But it all depends on our topic, material, relevancy, findability, etc... 

Have a great day!

Apr 27, 2021 09:24 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

And frequency is one I've often seen an issue with for people claiming blogging doesn't work.  10 to 20 posts (or less) and nothing in any of them to give a consumer reason to call them.  That's not blogging for business.

Apr 27, 2021 02:09 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

So-called experts continue to tout their products while disparaging other products to get in front of the receiving line. Blogging does work, I am a believer Bill!

Apr 27, 2021 12:21 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

They have something to push, and rarely am I going to be interested.

Apr 27, 2021 02:09 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Hey Bill 

We know it works but only if you're consistent and persevere. So until next Tuesday my friend. 

Apr 27, 2021 01:15 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

A steady supply of the right stuff gets you found.

Apr 27, 2021 02:10 PM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

I find that when I blog it takes me a lot of time and I am way to wordy...and that it is just with my opening statement. Haha...or Uuugghhh... your choice!

Apr 27, 2021 01:59 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Mike, I tend to use more words than some like, but I've got to write true to myself.

Apr 27, 2021 02:10 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Bill I've heard this countless times over the years.  I used to add in a segment on blogging how to's when teaching CE classes and typically only one of two agents (out of 40 or 50) took blogging on.  I don't have time, blah blahh blah.  I've heard it all.  But they were impressed by finding me all over the place back then.  Not so much right now as I'm off to other lands per se.

Apr 27, 2021 03:57 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

It's a constant reevaluation, where is our time best spent?  Different things work better for different people.  Facebook would never be my prime spot, but I know my blogging brings me the type of clients I seek.

Apr 27, 2021 05:54 PM
Elyse Berman, PA

Anna, I was in a  CE class with Lou Ludwig one year.  He asked the same thing, how many people in here blog.  I was the only one in the class who raised my hand!

May 01, 2021 01:22 PM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

A buyer or seller that has called you because of an article you have written is GOLD.  Often the sales job is done you have built credibility with the consumer already.  Blogging can make your phone ring instead of always chasing the next client.

Apr 28, 2021 05:15 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Kevin, That's often my experience with blog based calls.  They've already assessed us and decided to hire us before they ever picked up the phone.


 

Apr 28, 2021 06:42 AM
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

Hi Bill,
Blogging doesn't work... for those who don't work their blog! 

Apr 28, 2021 06:05 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It works, if you know how to make it work for your market and personality.

Apr 28, 2021 06:42 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Just like anything we do for prospecting, we must not try it once or twice and decide.  Consistency.  And your notes about targe audience is so important.  

Apr 28, 2021 02:40 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Consistency is a vital part of blogging success.  It takes more than one post to get long term results.

Apr 29, 2021 06:46 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

My favorite line:

''To be blunt, for those that state "blogging doesn't work", more often than not it's a seat to keyboard interface error..''

Apr 28, 2021 09:34 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

The human element is everything in this business.

Apr 29, 2021 06:49 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

like many things in life, blogging worls if you put the tuime and effort into it...those that do it occasionally will not likely see any results

May 01, 2021 12:16 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

And I've invested a lot of time and effort into it (not so much lately, but old posts keep on working!).

May 01, 2021 03:53 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Hi Bill,  I'm with you but it is a commitment or more like a labor of love.  We were very lucky to  have started years ago with great instructors.  With me, when I get busy, I just can't do it but, thankfully, there are many older blogs still out there being found.  

 

May 01, 2021 01:20 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

The evergreen posts keep on keepin' on.  I've not written much new in over 6 months, but the calls and contacts continue to come in.

May 01, 2021 03:54 PM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

I remeber after my 3rd or 4th closing more than a decade ago, I reached out to Bob Stewart and asked him what had changed?  LIke did the Algorythms make a mistake or something so that I was benefitting?

Nope, it just takes consistancy.  Consistant Keywords, Consistant messaging.  You just have to be consistant.  More than 12 years later, we are still reaping the benefits of Blogging. 

Great message Liz and Bill Spear 

May 03, 2021 10:19 AM