Home : Blogs : Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant : Blogging In The Rain Real Estate Marketing Blog

Your blog is your garden

I've been on blog break (is that possible?) absorbing Blogworld sessions over the past couple days. What an awesome environment to learn and grow. I am so excited and have several wheels churning that I will be sharing over this upcoming week.

While I let my mind sift and process my newfound knowlege, I couldn't wait to share one simple thought that's been brewing in my mind. This one thought was jolted to my frontal lobe during the Blogworld conference-Your blog is your garden and you need to tend it with care.

When you plant a garden it's up to you whether that garden thrives or dies. You choose your seeds. You plant your seeds. You pull out the weeds to protect your buds.

The fruits of your labor makes your garden thrive.

Simple fertilizer to grow your garden:

Keep your content fresh.
Cultivate meaningful dialogue by encouraging intelligent discussion.
Keep ranting to a minimum.
Make your posts purposeful.
Eshew posturing and strive for transparency.
Remain true to you and you will attract your best readers.

Do you want to add to the grapevine of information and help other bloggers grow their garden? Your fertilizer is welcome. Please share it in the comments below.

Posted by Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant on 09/21/2008 09:13 PM

Comments (28)

Improving Your Blog in the ActiveRain Channel

Post is included in group: ABC's of Real Estate Marketing
Post is included in group: Content, Copywriting & Related SEO Strategies
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: Social Media Marketing
Post is included in group: Web 2.0

28 Comments on Your blog is your garden

SEP

2008

My blog has been suffering from Hurricane Ike followed by a trip to New York City but hopefully I will be back on track soon.

Last night I posted two blogs and today I posted another one. Just trying to keep things moving about my county. I usually get concerned about what to write, but I think I should just start writing and appeal to the buyers and sellers.

Rebecca, you forgot a key ingredient... a lttle (or maybe a lot) of ActiveRain! :)

Rebecca - glad you got to go to BlogWorld and look forward to your sharing. I agree with your thoughts - I think the one thing no one's prepared for is the unexpected things that can wreak havoc on your garden - Hurricane Ike is a perfect example (metaphoricaly and really) - it's amazing the weird things that will happen - keeping the garden going is hardest at those moments. Sometimes doing the basics will keep it going through the hard times. (Lots of long stories - but the optomist in my is focused on the "harvest" and not the "storms" - the pragmatist shares ....if it happens, you're not alone - just keep it going anyway you can till you get through the rough patches)

I am still fairly new to blogging, so I appreciate you sharing this information.

Rebecca. Good post. I like the fertilizer analogy. Royal..

Cute analogy Rebecca! Our words are like fertilizer - I like that..:-)

SEP

2008

You know I think that a BLOG break is a good idea once in awhile. Seems we get carried away with posting "demands" (maybe that is the wrong word)

your friend in Charlottesville!

Marchel- I hope all is o.k with you. That is certainly an extenuating circumstance and your readers will understand.

Melisa- If you think about the goal the potss probablly won't be as hard.

Garren- A/R can be good fertilizer for your blog:-)

Cyndee- You have wise words- they are always welcome on this blog.

Victor- Anytime and Welcome:-)

Liz- Thanks, this is a pretty simple post, that will hopefully provide a good segway into the next topics I am itching to blog.

Charles- I know your right- offline relationships and food for our soul and help keep our blogs going.

Rebecca, I needed to take a break recently. I am always so impressed by all of you that come up with so many ideas and keep things fresh. This is great advice for the novice blogger like me.

Rebecca,

I can't begin to express how much I appreciate your insight. As a new blogger I'm still feeling my way around, but I genuinely am grateful for those who are willing to share. Thanks!!!

Warmly,

Travis Egan, Delavan, Wisconsin

great post -- just like traditional marketing in your FARM area --

SEP

2008

Rebecca- I think I would add that not all gardens are created equal. In Pasadena California where they have the Rose Parade every year, you will see many many varieties of flowers, and gardens. Each flower/garden has it's own purpose. Each float that is made for the annual parade needs a variety of flowers, seeds, pods, etc. and sometimes that one obscure ingredient is all that is needed for a beautiful finished product.

So my advice to bloggers would be that even if you think your garden isn't as beautiful or fragrant as your neighbors......then the right person hasn't seen it yet. There is a purpose for everything :)

Rebecca - Thanks for the summary. I will keep these tips in mind as I blog.

SEP

2008

Rebecca,

That is a great analogy - I like it. It is almost like our blog is a living organsim per se or something we have a relationship with. Treat it well and it will be well. and vice versa ! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It is great to learn from all the great resources in the Rain !

Audrey- I think you can graduate from novice my friend:-)

Travis- Glad to be of help neighbor.

Scott- Funny how the old can apply to the new.

Kathy- Exactly...just like a post stated earlier this week- You attract the type of clients you want to work with when you blog.

Loreena- Glad you found it useful.

Christopher and Stephanie- And the fruit of our labor can blow our mind when we take care to tend our blog.

OCT

2008

Congrats on the well deserved feature. Blogging right is like work - and as you say, you will reap as you sow.

DEC

I'm a gardener, so I can relate to the comparison! We all have to remember, whatever we post in our blogs, we have to stop and think, "Am I creating the right impression of myself and my business? Are people going to want to meet me? Staying true to your 'professional' image, with a bit of humour and humanity mixed in, can't hurt. Thank you for reminding me of that...

FEB

Rebecca, I am just starting to find my blog voice. It has taken me a while to cultivate it, but I feel things are starting to grow now.

FEB

I use to have to pull weeds in our family garden for what seemed like hours after school..it was horrible...thanks for reminding me of that tramatic childhood memory! Just teasing...beautiful blog and keep 'em coming.

FEB

I cant agree with you more!! I have developed a blog. www.paulmacapagalnyc.blogspot.com please feel free to critique

FEB

Georgina- Thank you and I feel this way about blogging down to my very soul.

Vivian- It's how people get to know us.

Troy- Keeping at it takes dedication, but if you feel your voice now it is just the beginning...as long as you work it it will continue to grow stronger and stronger.

Melissa- Thank you and sorry for that memory:-) I actually don't mind weeding so much as an adult.

Paul- You may want to chek out my program, http://blogtuneup.blinkweb.com.

FEB

I agree 100% you have to stay relevant and ahead of the curb.It's time for calculated moves that will catapult your business into huge net profits.

AUG

Touche' Rebecca; the seeds of thought you plant are what you'll sew!

OCT

Rebecca -

Good Stuff! Heres wishing you a very succesful blog :)

OCT

I have just started to plant this garden. I am turning the soil now. I wonder what I should plant. Great advise.

Terrance- Exactly right.

Linda- Awesome, well said. I like your metaphor.

CaryRealEstate-I almost always would rather be blogging.....the lens I look through now and the journey I take is incredible.

Joe-Consider your goals and your objectives in the process and then carry out your reseearch. This will make for the best seeds.

OCT

Hi Rebecca; Thanks for the comparison. Guess my "garden" has been going thru a drought for awhile. :0

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?