I read a few blog posts on AR - from my subscriber list. I read a few of the group blogs in the outside world. I read even more individual blogs of former AR members who graduated to their own blog.
So many of the AR and group blogs are mini instruction manuals on what we should or should not do for blogging. Some of those people are considered the "experts" or "gurus". On AR, people have strong opinions on whether listings or market reports should appear on a blog. Localism wants the focus to be on Chamber of Commerce type articles or restaurant reviews.
Well, I sell real estate! That is the primary focus of my WP blog. I put listings on it and I have a static page on it for market reports. I know how much traffic those pages get. I also know that even though the "experts" and "gurus" would find all sorts of things wrong with my WP blog, I really don't care. It's delivering repeat readership from ordinary people (not just Realtors®) and it's generated phone calls and bu$ine$$. That's the only thing that matters. Yes, I write some off-topic articles for fun and interest, but most is real estate or community related. I believe that's the type of info that the general public wants, but that's just my opinion.
When you read a post by someone telling you what to do, have you ever looked at their blog to see whether they have any listings? Does anything on their blog or web site indicate that they have ANY business or enough business to make a living?
Before I decide whether I'm going to implement the blogger's suggestions, I check to see if what they're recommending is working for them. I look to see if they have any listings or seem to have any experiences working with buyers. If there is no indication that they're making a decent living from this industry, then I certainly don't give much credibility to their suggestions.
If someone is going to tell me that I need to be on such & such social media, I want proof that THEY'RE getting business from their time spent there. If someone tells me I should post only on certain topics, then I want proof that those topics are providing income for THEM. If all the time spent on all the various social media spots isn't generating income in proportion to the time spent, then I really question whether the ROI makes sense.
If I check out your blog for examples of business you have, will I see evidence that you have a viable business? If not, I may not consider your advice to be credible.
SHOW ME THE MONEY and I'll believe whatever you have to say!
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Preach it sista! LOL!! I mix things up with my blog. I do think that the biggest complaints about posting listings are merely those folks who ONLY post listings, ala cut and paste from postlets...
I post listings but I try to write them like a magazine article. Operative word is try. I have spent many years reading hubby's Fine Homebuilding mags and my parents old Country magazines...I try to make it interesting rather than jsut another "ad."
You do what you do best - I listen to the "gurus" much like I listen to theology experts. I keep the meat and spit out the bones. LOL What works for me is the meat, what doesn't work is the bones. That's pretty simple! :)