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Project Blogger: Let's Get This Party Started

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RealSatisfied

"Never give a party if you'll be the most interesting person there." - Mickey Friedman

project bloggerEven if I'm not giving a party, I still don't want to go if I'm going to be the most interesting person there. That's why I accepted the Project Blogger invitation. Look around at the other invited guests. I may just be the wall flower of the group! Yeah, that's my kind of party. That's why I'm here.

I'm here because I like a challenge. I'm here because I have some ideas that I'd like to try. I'm here because having a guinea pig to try these ideas on is always better than trying them on yourself. It hurts less when they fail and you still get to take credit when they succeed. Talk about win-win!

I'm here to prove that good blogging will work to bring you business, even if your are a brand new real estate agent. Not just someone who hasn't gotten a lead from their blog yet, I mean a brand new real estate agent.

I was told by everyone I asked that this was a bad idea. Literally, every person said, "Jeff, you are going to be putting yourself at a huge disadvantage if you pick someone who is new to blogging and new to the business." But if blogging is all we think it's cracked up to be, then it has to be able to work for the inexperienced as well as the experienced real estate agent. If it can't work for a brand new agent, then it has no staying power.

julie ferenziThat's why I chose Julie Ferenzi as my "apprentice."

Julie is a mother of four and just recently, February,  received her real estate license in Illinois. She was recommended to me by my wife. They had connected on CafeMom.com. My wife talked about this "Julie" from Chicago all the time. I had no idea she was in real estate and I had never spoken to Juli, via email or otherwise, until I got her on the phone to ask her if she was up for a challenge. 

Julie had never heard of ActiveRain. In fact, She didn't even know blogging was something you would do relative to real estate. She thought is was just for personal journals.  

Athough Julie is a new real estate agent, she is NOT new to real estate. "My first real experience in real estate was when I was 17-years old," Julie told me. "I ordered the Carlton Sheets program for $100 and charged it on my very first credit card! I bought it after watching an informercial. LOL" 

Life got in the way of her initial real estate interests.  

"I became interested in real estate again when my husband and I bought our first home. We could barely afford it at the time," she said. "But five years later we made $100,000 profit on it"

I'll let Julie tell you the rest of her story. It's an interesting one. She's passionate, motivated, articulate, and willing to learn!

She has written a few posts on ActiveRain already.  I wish I could tell you I told her to do so, but I didn't. They day after I asked her to sign up, she posted. She said, "I just couldn't wait!"  Her second post, It's All In The State Of Mind, was featured and the AR community did it's job of helping her work through a tough listing decision. Her third post, Can You Help A Newbie Out? FSBO..., was featured as well. Again, you were all there for her, just like I knew you would be. I may be her "coach," but it takes a village. I don't think she could have imagined how helpful this ActiveRain village was going to be. Thank you!

I'm excited to be working with her and believe that this party is going to be worth the effort! I have a profound level of respect for the other coaches. We're all bringing various skills and backgrounds to this "competition" Julie represents the newbie. In many ways, so do I.

Hey! There's a party going on. I hear music in the background. Anyone care to dance? 

Comments (23)

Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA

Sarah, my wife is a great judge of people, so I'm glad I listened to her advice to give Julie a call! I'm thrilled!

Anna, :)

Heather, yes, this is going to be great! 

Mar 15, 2007 06:38 AM
Julie Ferenzi
john greene Realtor - Plainfield, IL
Julie Ferenzi

Hi everyone! I just wanted to add that I am SOOOO excited to have been chosen to take part in this opportunity!  I'm honored that Jeff invited me to be in this event.   

How lucky am I? Seriously.

Mar 15, 2007 06:52 AM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Yaye Julie!

Good partnership here I'd say.  I just talked to Julie this morning through her Blog about landing her first listing and she sounds like she's already a hit here on the network.  Good luck to you both.  I'll be interested to see how this whole thing turns out. 

 

Lisa Hammerstein

Mar 15, 2007 07:13 AM
Theresa Cavanaugh
Global Realty Marketing - Appleton, WI
Wow!  Great idea!
Mar 15, 2007 07:27 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

{SVW Hubba}...

I haven't commented on Julies's newest post, but I will. I'm still trying to think of different things that may help her with a FSBO. FSBO's are sales waiting to happen. Hey, maybe that should be my comment on her post :)

Now, about that dance. I'll take you up on that. SVW. And by the way, I don't like being the most interesting one at the parties either. Makes for a boring party, unless of course, the person throwing the party let's me bring all my party pranks with me :)

TLW...ROAR!

Mar 15, 2007 07:36 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Jeff, I'll be cheering for you. This should be a really interesting contest. Julie is very fortunate to have you as her blogging coach. Good luck!!!!
Mar 15, 2007 08:25 AM
Rich Schiffer
Swarthmore, PA
Referral Agent, e-PRO

Great start to Julie's blogging "career!"

but I must admit, part of me is saying, "Darn, there's one more coach that didn't pick me!"

Oh well...guess I need to come up with some more "star material" to get noticed...

Mar 15, 2007 08:37 AM
Duayne Weir
Investment Realities LLC/MarketLink Realty - Ham Lake, MN
Minnesota Real Estate Agent

Jeff,

Great post!! and I had just commented on Julie's "FSBO" before this one. And boy she certainly has a bright future ahead of her. I'll have to read more about this project blogger you are talking about.

Good Day!! have a cup of java and a smile on me :)

Mar 15, 2007 08:48 AM
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate
Excellent job Jeff, and welcome Julie!!!  The benefits are beyond just the AR closings though.  I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge from this forum!!!
Mar 15, 2007 09:37 AM
Kelly Kilpatrick
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Broker-Associate
Great job with promoting your up-and-coming star.  I read some of Julie's work yesterday and think she's going to do well.  She's definitely got the heart and drive to succeed.
Mar 15, 2007 11:05 AM
Dena Stevens
Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO
Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004

I found Julie last night as well, totally awesome!

Mar 15, 2007 11:09 AM
Sue Argue
Staged First Impressions - Hampton, NH
NH Home Stager
Jeff, don't know how you get it all done with 6 kids. You're sharp, always on your toes and with a big smile. We're lucky to have you here at AR and Julie is fortunate to call you coach. Good luck, I know we'll see great things!!
Mar 15, 2007 12:22 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Looking forward to great things from Julie and you.

Jeff

Mar 15, 2007 01:45 PM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate
Hi Julie!  Lucky girl... what a great mentor to have!  LOL
Mar 15, 2007 03:03 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
They're off and running. We have a great pair here, and are learning from them as well. Go, Julie - the fact that you couldn't wait to get started is good.
Mar 15, 2007 03:04 PM
John Evarts
Classic Property Management of Santa Clarita - Santa Clarita, CA
This is awesome. Can't wait to see the results. It is exciting to see where this is going to lead...
Mar 15, 2007 04:01 PM
Martin Rodriguez
Pacific Funding - Valencia, CA
Senior Loan Consultant

Hey Julie:

You have an outstanding mentor.  I can personally vouch for the added value that Jeff will undoubtedly provide you.  He has helped me get my business on the map, and he continues to impress me every time we talk. 

Suck every brain cell out of Jeff that you can..

Good luck.  The stakes are high... It's your business...

Martin

Mar 15, 2007 07:22 PM
Maggie Dokic /Indialantic | 321-252-8696
Magdalena Dokic - Indialantic, FL
Selling the beach in Florida's space coast
Hey, I know Julie too!  OK, just her blogs, and I've commented.  I can tell she's going to be great.  She's got some fabulous ideas.  Best of luck to you both in this great project.
Mar 16, 2007 12:09 AM
Teresa Boardman
Boardman Realty - Saint Paul, MN
Gee I am getting cold feet.  I am not sure I can compete!
Mar 21, 2007 09:33 AM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Julie's new blog is now located here: http://www.livinginplainfield.com/
Apr 12, 2007 04:45 AM