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I can't blog

By
Home Inspector

I haven't blogged in a week.  Today I set aside an hour or so before firing up the grill to come up with some enlightening, informative and/or entertaining blog.

I've been sitting here for about 30 min. and I've got nothin'. 

I started one blog (about efflorescence) - and got stuck after 2-3 sentences. 

I started another (about coaching youth sports) and got all of five sentences out before I got stuck.

I need some help!

How do you come up with good blog topics?

What do you do when you get stuck?

I really like the format here and do have plenty to share.  I am not one to be at a loss for words (usually), but when it comes to putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) I clam up like a... see, I don't even have a good simile for clamming up!

So, you blog pros, what can I do?

 

Julie Chapman
Julie Chapman Broker - Ormond Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

Rick,

I am no pro....I don't post much outside of localism....which is what I know....my area and my homes....write about what you know.....you just wrote a post about not being able to write a post....

Sep 01, 2008 05:07 AM
Jean Groesbeck
Compass - Anacortes, WA
Broker, CRS, e-PRO, ABR, ASP, CNE, IMS

When I get a good idea for work for anything, I write it down.  Then when I have time to do whatever it is I just pull out the list and go to it.

Sep 01, 2008 05:11 AM
Justin Ukaoma
Vizion KC - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate Investments

Rick once again I'm no pro but I agree with Julie you should just write about what you know and what your experiencing. If your having trouble writing a post write about that.  Some days I have a lot of stuff on my mind so I just open word and start going.  I also keep what I call a blog roll which is just a word document I use for writing one or two sentence blog topics.  I often get my full blog posts from these brain storms.

www.vizionkc.com

Sep 01, 2008 05:16 AM
Sheila Reeves
Allen Tate Realtors - Greenville, SC

Rick, it may have to do with the male/female thing as women have and use words a lot more than males. :)  There are many exceptions to that so I don't think it is gender.  You're probably over-thinking it.  Just open your MS Word and first write it there.  That may make you feel less intimidated about what you are saying.  You can save it, come back to it later and revise it, etc.  Being on AR when you write it may not be what you should do.  Good luck, I suspect there are many stories just sitting on the tip of your fingers.  Write down a list of subjects you know a lot about, that are funny, that you love, etc. It will come.

Sep 01, 2008 05:28 AM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841

Rick, maybe focusing on some Localism centered stuff might be good!  I would love to see some of your favorite inspection discoveries:)

Sep 01, 2008 05:35 AM
Tim and Pam Cash
Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN
Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

Rick, like mentioned prior, look for something to write on that pertains to the local area.

Sep 01, 2008 05:43 AM
Royal Goodman
Royalty Home Solutions - Madera, CA
"We Treat You Like a King"

Rick. I don't know if any of my blogs are very good. However, I love to write about people. I get some good comments back so I think I am doing something that helps people. Thanks, Royal..

Sep 01, 2008 06:37 AM
Steve Hall
RE/MAX United - San Marcos, CA
Make the Call to Hankins and Hall

Rick- According to your profile you take pictures during your inspection.  I am sure that you have hundreds of interesting inspection photos to share. 

Sep 01, 2008 06:52 AM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

Since you're a home inspector (yuk!), visit the blogs of your top home inspectors here at ActiveRain and see what they blog about: Smith, Thornton, Baker, and Buell. Notice that only about half of their total blogs are about home inspections. They are also showing that they are

People;

Personable People;

Personable, Positive, Polite, Pleasant, and Professional People.

It's not all about business; it's about life. The journey can be quite fun if you let it.

I've done a lot of travel in my life, especially before the Internet, to meet Clients at their offices, and I always took advantage of that to visit universities, aquariums, zoos, national parks, etc., so I'm going to be showing that side of my life in my blogs. And much more!

Read through your local newspaper and watch the news. What's your take on it? You might not think that people want to know, but you'll find that many do. We like meeting people and knowing something about them, even if it is just virtual at the moment. Who knows where it might lead? I've had many people look me up when they came to San Diego and we went out to eat or I played docent for the day.

Don't think you're not an interesting person because you are. Now show us what interests you.

Sep 01, 2008 08:01 PM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Rick this is something that I have been blogging about lately: Houses for sale this week,Houses that sold in a particular subdivision this week,Monthy market report in your city and state,Weekend Guide. I am also going to start writing my favorite blogs for the week.

Take a picture of either a restaurant,school,movie theater that I visit and take a picture of it and with me in front of it. If you go to church,take a picture of your church and write about the services. I am going to do that as well. Write about your last transaction and tell them why people should use you as their real estate professional because you guided them through the entire process. If you are reading or just read a book,talk about it and tell people why you recommend it. Hope this help. I am still learning more about blogging myself and I sometimes have my writers block so please dont feel bad. It happens to all of us. Great post. 

Sep 01, 2008 08:09 PM
Not Here
Active Rain Please Delete this account. Thank you - Kalamazoo, MI

Give us some run downs on home inspections, the process you know best.

Sep 01, 2008 11:36 PM
Rick Maday
Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Home Inspector -

Julie, Jean and Justin, Thanks for the tips, I have started a document to jot down ideas.

Sheila, I have never been one to be at a loss for words, so I don't think gender plays a role. :)  I will try using word first, maybe things will flow easier outside of the Rain.

Steve and Courtney, I do have lot of inspection photos.  The pictures are the easy part - it's puttting it down into words that don't read like the tax code that's hard!

Sep 02, 2008 01:48 AM
Rick Maday
Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Home Inspector -

Tim and Pam,I do like the idea of writing about local items, its on my list!

Thanks, Royal,perhaps I'll have some people stroies too.

Russel, as always, thanks for the support!

Lanre, I will add some inspection blogs, but I hesitate to use the complete details of an inspection, for many reasons.  A few snippets or singular interesting item should work.

Mr. (or Mrs.) Builder - Yes, I now have on my list some inspection topics.

Sep 02, 2008 01:55 AM
Rick Maday
Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Home Inspector -

Thanks for all the tips on topics.

Anyone have a cure for writers (bloggers) block?

Sep 02, 2008 01:56 AM