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"HI KEN, I FOUND YOU ON THE INTERNET..."

It was music to my ears.

Probably the goal of anyone using blogging to enhance their online presence.

And I have heard it 3 times in the last week. Pretty incredible for me.

I have always had my website. Static. A necessity for a Realtor, for sure. But not interactive at all.

It never really answered the question, "Who is Ken Tracy?"

That's where my blog came in.

I committed myself to active participation on the real estate network Active Rain back in February of this year. I have always enjoyed the experience, exchanging ideas and challenges with Realtors across the country. But I never truly believed it would help me generate business...

Until now.

It started last week. A seller who has had his home on the market called me and utterred those beautiful words...

"Hi Ken, I found you on the internet."

Huh?

And then again yesterday, a reporter for the Naperville Sun called and asked me for my thoughts on the economic issues facing the country. The article turned out to be the cover story. (It was also worth a 1000 bonus points here on Active Rain. Who knew?).

Pretty cool.

This afternoon, my phone rang again. This time, a buyer in nearby Downers Grove wanted to talk about some opportunities in her community.

Three calls generated in less than a week? From blogging? Who would have thought?

And I am just getting started.

In the last two weeks, I have joined Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and MyBlogLog. All trying to enhance my online presence.

How much business will this generate? How many leads?

Who knows. But like I said...

I am just getting started.

Ken

To buy or sell a home, call me anytime at 630-697-0536.

Follow me on Facebook

www.KensFeaturedHomes.com

Posted by Ken Tracy Realtor Naperville Illinois Real Estate on 09/30/2008 03:02 PM

Comments (71)

Generating Leads in the Online Marketing Channel

blogging, ken, tracy, real, estate, prospecting online, activerain success stories

Originally posted at: "Singing in the Rain!": "HI KEN, I FOUND YOU ON THE INTERNET..."

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71 Comments on "HI KEN, I FOUND YOU ON THE INTERNET..."

SEP

2008

Congrats on your blogging success. Whatever you are doing, you are doing right!

Hey. Works for me.

Very Cool. Keep going and congrats.

Congratulations, Ken! Keep up the good work.

Wowee! Congratulations to you! I just started blogging about 2 months ago, so it looks like I have another 6 months before I start to see the results from my efforts. Thanks for sharing your time and success:)

That is AWESEOME! Congrats! I am following you now on Twitter, I am JakePlanton!

Wow 1000 extra points for being in the paper??? Blogging is keeping my phone ringing and my wheels turning. Congratulations on your success!

Ken, that's great, and congrats on the feature! Blogging works, plain and simple.

Good for you, Ken. Blogging and SEO do work, you are doing all the right things.

Nice Job Ken!!! I received my first "I found you on the internet" a few months ago...was beautiful!!!

Ken,

Congratulations. That's great. You are doing the right thing. Web presence is the way to go.

Way cool! Congratulations! Keep us posted on what follows. Found you on Twitter! ;-)

Ken...

Funny, I just had a conversation with some folks here at the office that were laughing at me for spending so much time blogging! They asked me if that was my idea for a new business model and when I said YES they laughed again!

OK, we'll see! Congratulations on the Gold Star, well done!

Ken

Congratulations. Obviously your hard work is beginning to pay off.

Best Regards,

Wayne

Hey Ken, just reading your success with blogging and I'm off to take a look at some of your blogs - I too believe it can be a way to generate business but I'm torn about how much time it takes to get there. I am still just dabbling -

Congratulations! Isn't it great? I've been doing real estate for 4 decades and never had such a prolific source of leads. Welcome to the club!

Ken - awesome and thanks for sharing!

Hi Marcia, Wayne, Richard, Sharon, Rosalinda, David, Christine, Kelly, Cindy, Jake, Sherry, Dianne, Brian, Lenn, and Winter. Thanks for reading.

This post became popular real quick!

It sure feels good to have something I enjoy doing actually pay off.

Anyway, thanks again everyone for reading.

Ken

Congratulations on the succesful results you are getiing from your blogging. It definitely is a great way for people to get to know the real you out there. Keep the blogging going

That is awesome Ken! That is certainly a reminder to keep blogging!

Hey Ken, I am glad to hear it is working for you and all the other Realtors in Blogosphere. It reminds me of the movie Pretty Woman, the one that made it:)))The rest we are still waiting and dreaming with Hope now. Congrats again.

I have found that more and more people are finding me on AR and the internet. I just had clients from 5 years ago re discover me through my posts on AR! Congrats Ken!

Hi Margaret (my Mom's name), James, Cherimie, Endre, and Cat. Thanks for reading.

I must say I am feeling pretty good. Just went and picked up the newspaper. Cover story. Half the article is my quotes.

Mentions my blog address. How cool is that?

It has taken some time, so keep the faith.

Thanks again,

Ken

Congrats on your success and glad people found you so easily considering you just moved. Not that long & you've had results, see it works!

Very cool, Ken ! Those words are music to my ears too.

Congratulations on your success.Good luck.

Congrats - that is great news!

Way to go Ken! I'm getting noticed too thanks to the AR network. Thank you for the blogroll link. I'm there and didn't even know it so better get busy. Are you LinkedIn too?

Hi Ken -

The same has been happening for me. I have had my site up for years, just to say I have one, and never actually generated any income from my investment, until I joined Activerain. Now I am getting the same calls! Thanks Activerain.

Take Care,

Shannon Gaskamp / Regional Realty / Northern Kentucky

Congrats Ken. I have been blogging for almost three years now and it is much fun! I do admit, however, my real estate blogging will one day end. Regardless, it is what many of us do and love. Great success to you.

I'm just getting into the blogging thing...and I have had a couple of comments already.

We need all the tools we can get!

Julie O'Toole-Remax Sun Properties-Fountain Hills AZ

Ken,

You've probably heard the saying, "It works if you work it and that holds true". There is no such thing as instant gratification.

I know I like you already because your last name it Tracy w/out an "e".

For some reason I have started getting a lot of calls myself off the internet, I sold a home 3 weeks ago from someone who found me on here---bart

Hi Bart, Tracy, Julie, Aaron, Shannon, Debbie, David, Gita, Missy, and Lyn. Wow. Thanks for reading. It is flattering all the attention this got!

My story was the cover story for the paper. It was the managing editor who called me.

Very cool.

Aaron, that sounded so grim!

Tracy, if I wasn't married I could make you Tracy Tracy. How cool would that be? :)

Thanks everyone,

Ken

Ken, that is so cool! I hope it keeps up for you.

Ken,

You have worked hard to put yourself on top. Now others are paying it forward to you. I wish you continued success with all your business endeavors and hope you will continue to help Active Rain become a more viable option for consumers. Thanks for contributing to this network as you have, we all appreciate it.

I love those three words. I just wish I knew where they found me.

Congrats Ken,,, great news! Its a wonderful feeling to connect to someone just from the internet.

Ken,

Those magic words sure can make one's day. Or a week. Solid all-around Internet marketing campaign, of course anchored by the Rain, will bring rewards sooner or later.

You did good, congratulations!

You go boy! if it works be sure to tell the rest of. Blaze the trail and we'll follow.

Congrats on the leads, Ken, and welcome to Facebook and Twitter (my ID is LVRealEstate). I'm currently working with two buyers -- one from Las Vegas, and one from Canada -- who both found me through the Rain. It definitely works, and it's a great call to answer!

Ken... Congrations on getting noticed on the web... This is always a grea thing. Let the leads flow

Gotta love the "will you be my agent?" when you pick up the phone.

Ken, You've inspired me to commit to blogging too. Thanks

Ken .. good going for you at Napervile and real estate. Keep it up and write about it. Thanks. Harrison

OCT

2008

Congratulations Ken... this is great news. Keep up the great work and those calls will keep coming in!

Ken,

Congratulations. It sounds like the time you've been putting in on your blogging is really starting to come back to you. May you hear the same words many times in the future.

Ken - Keep up the good work, buddy. It only gets better over time. You are on the right track.

Great news and let's hear if you get leads from the article as well.

Hi Ken,

Way to go, great results. Persistence really does pay off! Keep it going!

Hi again Ken,

I just read the article. Great content and exposure. Be sure to have it framed and post it in your office.

Ken,

Congrats on the feature sir. I have had two phone call in the last month off of my AR blog so I would say that folks are on the web looking.

I was astounded, too, when I had my first leads come in from AR. It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it?

Hi Ed, Don, Hal, Jackie, Jason, Christine, Jesse, Harrison, Alleyn, Matt, Roland, John, Charles, Caren, Esko, Judy, Russ, Castellum and Christine. Holy smokes!!

Jason, how do you keep up with all your comments?:)

Thanks again everyone.

I have emailed the link to the article to my database. 700 names or so. Lot's of great feedback.

Thanks again everyone for reading.

Ken

Congrats on your blogging and your leads! That is a great inspiration for me to get my next post out there...and my next post, and my next post and so on!

Ken - congratulations on your soccess and thank you for such a great post, it gives hope to many of us trying to make it work.

Ken- Good to see that your hard work and commitment has lead you to experience success. I'm sure if you keep at it you will continue to experience good fortune.

Best,

Scott

Hi Scott, Venancio, and Sonja.

Thanks so much and good luck to each of you.

I have been getting calls of congrats this morning.

Thanks again,

Ken

I wished I knew why this works so well on the internet....or maybe I don't care...but I do care that it works astonishingly well. This is the greatest branding mechanism I have experienced in years....and it is free, save my time. Great blog..

And then again yesterday, a reporter for the Naperville Sun called and asked me for my thoughts on the economic issues facing the country.

Hey Ken,

Keep up the great work! Did the Sun reporter realize that he found you on Active Rain? :)

OCT

2008

Hi Bruce and Tim. Thanks for stopping by.

Tim, it has been great. I am still doing traditional marketing as well. I want as many oars in the water as possible.

Hey Bruce. Long time no see. He said he found my blog. I did not as about AR.

Thanks guys,

Ken

Ken-Congratulations!, Keep up the good work and keep blogging.

Joe

OCT

2008

I'd say that the chances of getting rich blogging are the same as getting rich selling a commodity that's lost 30% of its value.

Hi Joe. I will. Very fun and productive. Always a good combo.

Hi Bob. Certainly a long shot. If it was easy, everyone could do it.

Thanks for reading,

Ken

Hey Ken follow me on Twitter @brokersaunders I'd love to follow you back! This is awesome! I am so glad to hear your dedication is paying off!

OCT

2008

Thanks Nannette. I will. I don't understand Twitter yet, but it puts my blog on facebook, so that's cool. We can follow each other (I will have to figure it out).

Ken

OCT

2008

Ken you can always call me if you have questions! I'd be happy to help.

Thanks Nannette.

Ken

OCT

2008

Great info, sounds like the internet is helping your business out...which is always good right.

I am a vewbie on Active Rain - just started blogging this week... it is Friday night Haloween to be exact... and I am reading your material.... and overwhelmed, excited and thankful !!! Trick or Treat .... whoops gotta go answer the door.....

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