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Inman's Bloggers Connect Yesterday - Speaking on Panel About Closing Sales from Blogging

By
Real Estate Agent with Christie's International Real Estate Sereno 01153805

Yesterday was a lot of fun - I had the pleasure of being a panelist at Inman's Bloggers Connect in San Francisco and was honored to be surrounded on stage by bloggers I truly respect: Laurie Manny (Long Beach Real Estate Home), Teresa Boardman (St Paul Real Estate Blog) and Linda Davis (Eastern Connecticut Real Estate), and we were lucky to have a great moderator, Jay Thompson (PhoenixRealEstateGuy).

The point of the panel was to get input and tips from bloggers who are closing sales from their blogs. When Inman asked me to be on a panel for blogging, I said "sure", but also reminded them that I am on the continuum of success - but am not at the top of it!  They wanted me despite my disclaimer :)

Here are a few things I hope I conveyed to the good people in attendance at Bloggers Connect yesterday:

  • Be patient, persevere and be passionate about your blogging - for most of us, there's a lag time between writing and getting leads. It's hard to keep doing it if you aren't passionate about your subject, so make sure you have a sustainable topic - it will help a lot with your motivation to blog consistently! I blogged a long time before it really started paying off, and this year it has become the backbone of my business.
  • There are many ways to be successful in blogging. When I started my Live in Los Gatos blog, people told me I was making a big mistake to write about more than just real estate in Los Gatos. I didn't buy into that idea and wrote about the town's events, history, neighborhoods, and even a few haunted spots...and took a lot of photos (but not as many as Teresa Boardman! She is the best in that department.)
  • Several of us tried to indicate that the way you write will determine the kind of contacts and leads you get. Because I write about my town's many wonderful features, with real estate updates a regular part of the blog, I have gotten a lot of buyer contacts and especially folks relocating to the area, from that venue. I have seller clients and leads too, but 2-to-1, the content is about why Los Gatos is a great place to live - so the blog is attracting people looking for a good place to live.

A lot of other great comments were made by Linda, Laurie, and Teresa regarding their style, frequency, content, and the way they handle contacts from the blog. Many times, what worked for one was the exact opposite of what was working for someone else.

Linda made a great comment about the need for "being yourself" with the blog, and I think that resonated with everyone in the panel and in the audience. Laurie Manny's style works for her, but it's very different from others who are also experiencing a lot of success. So don't feel like you have to be like, or blog like, anyone else. I would say this: figure out what you want from your blog, find a way to write to attract that, make sure you are passionate and enthusiastic about it, and get to work!

Many thanks to my fellow panelists and to Jay, and of course especially to Inman News for inviting me. I had a great time, learned a lot, and met a ton of wonderful people afterwards.

Blog on!

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Mary Pope-Handy
Realtor, CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES
 
CalBRE # 01153805
 
(408) 204-7673   | ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com      
SanJoseRealEstateLosGatosHomes.com   | Move2SiliconValley.com      
LiveInLosGatos.com      
 
mary@popehandy.com   popehandy.com  
 
     

Comments (26)

Aloysius Donohue
Keller Williams Realty - Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood Real Estate

Mary - The panel was great.  It was my favorite session thus far.  It was great to hear how all of you achieved success by taking different paths.  It was also interesting to see that you were all as good at public speaking as you are at writing.  You had me laughing when you were talking about how you blog about Haunted houses and a propsect told you she almost didn't work with you because she thought you might be a bit odd b/c of your fascination with haunted real estate.  Glad to hear she got past that and went on to become a client.

-Al

Jul 24, 2008 05:13 PM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley

Al - Thank you so much!  It was a lot of fun to do, especially because I deeply admire the other three gals on the panel and the moderator. It tickles me that you liked it so much!  Thanks!  I will check out your blog this weekend or sooner :)

Jul 24, 2008 05:29 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Mary, I thought it was a great panel and once again it stood out how each of you approached your blog from different attitudes and perspectives, all very successful and each doing it different. One of my favorites too.

Jul 25, 2008 02:55 AM
Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

Mary, I wish I could have attended, but thank you for this informative post. Hard work does pay off. :0)

Jul 25, 2008 03:38 AM
Elizabeth Cooper-Golden
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS

Mary, I'm so thankful I read your post. Being "fairly" new to AR, 5 months, I'm still trying to decide which direction to head. I really like being able to write about more than just Real Estate. I'm glad to hear that works also!  Congratulations on being on one of the panels.

Jul 25, 2008 03:46 AM
JB Brookman
JB Brookman Photography - Franklin, TN
High School Senior Portrait Photographer

Hey, Mary!

Thank you for the encouragement and information!  I am starting my blog today and truly needed this!

JB Brookman

Castle Homes and Estates

Jul 25, 2008 05:29 AM
Joyce Windschitl Hercules
Prime Mortgage - Chanhassen, MN
MN, FL, WI & CO Mortgage Consultant

Interesting.  Wish it was in Minnesota.  Glad Teresa was a part of it and represented MN well!  Congrats - thanks for sharing!

Jul 25, 2008 06:00 AM
Karl Burger
ERA Beach Ball Realty - Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Real Estate News

Thank you for that report. What a great panel discussion that must have been. I hope they recorded it and will make it available through some medium.

Jul 25, 2008 06:55 AM
Alan 'AJ' Nisen California Contra Costa Mortgage Officer
A Large Bank in America - Lafayette, CA

Mary, that was a great panel discussion. I took to heart a number of key statements about how to approach blogging.  Wish I had met you there.  I could believe how many AR people I met.  AJ

Jul 25, 2008 10:52 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Mary...It certainly sounds like we would have benefited by being there.  Wish I had been.  Maybe another time.

Meanwhile, we have you and others here on the Rain to help us.

Thanks,

Kate

Jul 25, 2008 11:30 AM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

It is always good to hear from those who are doing blogging a lot more and for a longer time to see what they are finding is working.

Jul 25, 2008 11:54 AM
Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

did enjoy that panel. yours, the one about the digital footprint, and what's next were only second in important to us as meeting all of you. was a good show.

thanks again

Jul 25, 2008 02:56 PM
Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

oops, I forgot. liked the haunted blog tales too. what a hoot.

Jul 25, 2008 02:57 PM
Pam Winterbauer
Pam Winterbauer Real Estate - San Ramon, CA
"Providing Blue Ribbon Service"

Mary......great job and and it sounds as if your panel was a great success.

Jul 25, 2008 04:53 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Great panel, and you guys did a great job talking about blogging.  And there were some great one-liners, too. 

Jul 25, 2008 04:55 PM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes

Mary - wish I could have heard it since I enjoy all of you and love your thoughts on blogging in a way that works for you - it's be fun to get to know other bloggers and those that share successes to me seem to be people who are themselves - I think it helps that readers get "who they're expecting" when they finally meet. Congrats on your continued success and willingness to share ;)    

Jul 25, 2008 05:52 PM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley

Missy - You could have been on that panel...I have a lot to learn from you!  But I do strongly believe it's true that just as there are many ways to be successful in real estate. there are a lot of ways to be successful in blogging for real estate too.

Mana - Thanks! It was fun, but I bet you know enough to teach a course or two yourself...

Elizabeth - it does work, but I think mostly attracts relocation buyers (which is just fine by me!)

JB - I wish you every success and joy with the blogging endeavor!

Joyce - Teresa Boardman is a blogging icon, so YES, she absolutely represents your great state quite nicely!

Karl - I think so but am not sure. I'd love to hear it myself (so I can do better with any future talks like this one :)

Alan - I think one of the highlights for me is meeting neat people. It's dizzying! Today I met Dru Bloomfield - very cool!  So many nice people in the blogosphere. And a lot of them are characters, too!

Kate - Inman does this twice a year, once on each coast... Maybe next time :)

Bob - true - I am still learning too. One of my big takeaways is the need for video. I'm a convert now!

Gary - double thanks!  I have a lot of fun with the Haunted Real Estate stuff, as I'm afraid you could see!

Pam - I think it was a good success. I've spoken to smaller groups before (50 or 75?) so this was a new level for me, and it was a lot of fun. I heard a lot of people tell me that they enjoyed it and felt like they learned some good stuff, so I was thrilled.

Lane - thanks :)  I could not help myself that one time about the haunted blog and doing it when the spirit moves me (and believe it or not, that was not canned). Usually I am guilty of saying that haunted real estate is not a niche market because ghosts don't buy and sell...they just.... stay in possession....

Cyndee - it was my pleasure and I do hope to meet you one of these days too!


 

Jul 25, 2008 06:08 PM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Mary,

Great honor for you to be on that panel with so much AR firepower. Blogging normally requires a good lag time before it starts paying off, something that many people don't realize. Or won't accept.

Jul 26, 2008 04:26 PM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley

Esko - you are right, I was and am honored. And yes, it takes time for most of us!

Jul 26, 2008 04:34 PM
Linda Davis
RE/MAX Home Team - Gales Ferry, CT

It was great meeting you Mary!  I really enjoyed our short time together on the panel.

Jul 31, 2008 09:43 AM