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My ActiveRain Statistics are Speaking to Me, and They're Saying...

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

ActiveRain StatisticsWhen I had a few minutes to spare yesterday, I took advantage of the opportunity to check my ActiveRain statistics.  To check yours, just click on "Statistics" in the bottom section of the left navigation bar on your Home page, as shown on the right.

Of my 435 posts to date, about 300 have been written since last September, and I thought it would be interesting to take a quick informal survey to determine which posts were most popular with readers over the past year.  If nothing else, this information might suggest a focus for my next year on ActiveRain.

Without a doubt, How to Blog for Leads on ActiveRain had the most comments (140), views (5083) and clicks (3626).  Another ActiveRain-themed post fared very well, too - The Second Commandment of Blogging (Learned the Hard Way), with lots of comments (116), views (4171) and clicks (3129).  Both of these posts were quite popular and generated many comments even before they were featured, but that gold star certainly contributed to the high numbers.

Beyond those, however, most of the posts which generated a lot of views and clicks were LOCALISM posts:

Do you find that as surprising as I do?   All of these LOCALISM posts combine for a total of only 75 comments, yet they each had at least 1500 clicks - more than most of my other ActiveRain posts.  Food for thought, isn't it?

If that doesn't validate the concept of posts on local content, I don't know what does!   Several buyers have said they read my blogs, and now my statistics are saying that, too.  I'm gonna have to check those statistics more often!

Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (50)

Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

It is good to know that people are out there looking at the local content.  I expect it will grow even more as Localism is opened up to the general public for adding content.

Sep 23, 2008 06:22 PM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

Margaret - I have very similar results, and I get phone calls off Localism articles.  However, according to Statcounter they are being found by keyword searches, not by someone looking in Localism.  I hope to continue to see Localism grow, but I think the highest results will always be from keyword searches!

Sep 23, 2008 11:07 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Penny, you're absolutely right (and that sounds like another blog post!)  I think, for example, that's why so many people read about the "Homestead Tax Credit" or "Waterfront Homes for Sale in Anne Arundel County".  But it's the local-content blogs that contain those searched-for keywords.

Christine - True, but I think Penny makes an excellent point in her comment.  We have to use the "right" keywords to attract readers to OUR posts.

Keith - Me too, and I love learning from them.  (but read Cindy Jones' featured post today because she's right - not all free advice on AR is GOOD advice!)

Mike - I was pretty surprised to see how many clicks there were on some of these local posts.

Gena - I used to wonder the same thing, but now I just realize that some people are not going to comment.  In fact, I find myself doing more and more of that.

Sep 23, 2008 11:27 PM
Norma J. Elkins
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team

Great info and thanks for sharing the stats with us - I have not posted to Localism yet but hope to soon.

Sep 23, 2008 11:58 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Norma - This is the kind of info that consumers go looking for but - as Penny said - the keywords you use are REALLY important.  No one out there in consumer-land knows to search Localism.com; what they do is search keywords and longtail keyword phrases.  Learn everything you can about that. and put it to work in your posts on your local area.

Sep 24, 2008 12:01 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Hi Margaret I am not surprised your localism posts in AR get the most looks. I have noticed the same thing. Part of the reason for that is the fact that the post will go to another URL that gets views as well.... i.e localism.

Sep 24, 2008 12:04 AM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

Very interesting! Maybe I need to take a few minutes to check out my stats. Thanks for the reminder. You are a GREAT BLOGGER! GBU!

Sep 24, 2008 01:02 AM
Harrison K. Long
HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
REALTOR , GRI, Broker associate, Attorney

Margaret ... thanks for this article on concept of posts for local content and use of AR statistics to see what folks are interested in.  Please keep up the good writing.  Harrison

Sep 24, 2008 02:39 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Margaret - I like to look at the stats from time to time as well, and some of the numbers are getting very large now with regard to clicks/views.  You are dead-on accurate with your assessment.

Sep 24, 2008 02:44 AM
Anne Marie Malf
Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals - Yardley, PA
Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA

Margaret, your post inspires me to both check my statistics to determine what's working and to consider how I can make Localism work for me in increasing readership of my blog. Thank you for your insight. ~ Anne Marie

Sep 24, 2008 02:57 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

At the risk of appearing obtuse, I was not aware of the statistics feature and now that Iknow I appreciate the opportunity to learn more! Thanks! Russell

Sep 24, 2008 03:02 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Margaret - I also look at the statistics, and you make an excellent point. Perhaps readers are not commenting, but they are looking/reading the posts. Excellent reminder!

Sep 24, 2008 04:37 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Sharon - I'd rather have the quality leads than comments, but the comments are reassurance that someone is reading.  lol.

Russell - Glad to help!

Anne Marie - Again, as mentioned elsewhere in the comments, it's probably really the keywords that generate traffice, and not Localism.com per se.

Jason - I'm sure your local posts generate LOTS of traffic!

Harrison - Thank you.   I will.

Elizabeth - 'So nice of you to say that.  They take more work, I think, but it does pay (in the form of live leads).

Bill - Thank you.  I read one of your local posts just this morning.

Sep 24, 2008 04:55 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

Great info Margaret.  You always seem to provide great local info!  Good job!  :-)

Sep 24, 2008 03:49 PM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I check mine regularly and notice that the longer I blog the better my stats become! I blog for Localism mostly and I check the figures often to see how I am doing especially with content.  I've even done a recent post where most of my results came from AR.  Thanks for the reminders!

Sep 25, 2008 02:45 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am also seeing a lot of clicks on the localism posts.  I think it is well worth the effort to continue to create good content for localism.  I will be looking forward to the time when the public can make comments.

Sep 25, 2008 05:27 AM
Yvette Smith
LONG & FOSTER - Williamsburg, VA
Realtor In Williamsburg VA, Homes for Sale

HI MARGARET!

That is very interesting.  Have you received many comments from consumers?  Also, did you get the email that I sent you?  I too, will be checking out my statistics. 

Sep 25, 2008 08:08 AM
Nick Good
The Good Home Team with eXp Realty - McKinney, TX
www.TheGoodHomeTeam.com

I always make time to blog even if I am working 12 hour days!  Always keep generating!

Sep 25, 2008 08:41 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Nick - That's so true! Important to be consistent.

Yvette - I saw the email from you, but haven't had a chance to open it.

Joan - Yes, it is.

Lyn - Congratulations!

James - Thank you!

Sep 25, 2008 12:14 PM
Jessica Bigger
Bigger Communications - Reston, VA
Freelance Real Estate Business Writer

Margaret - What a great reminder to keep track of what viewers find interesting.  It's a good way to focus our efforts.

Oct 13, 2008 07:46 AM