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Getting Over the Two Year Itch

Wow, it has now been two years that I have been on Active Rain, and a little over two years that I have been blogging in general. Things have changed over this time. I used to write everyday, sometimes staying up past midnight to get my post in. However, the last six months I haven't written more than three posts a month, sometimes less. I seem to be having a combination of things happening:

Writer's Block - for the love of God, content just doesn't flow from me like it used to. Many times I sit down to write a post, and I just don't like anything that comes out.
Boredom with Blogging - yes, it is possible. I read through many blogs when I get the time and it is the same old same old. I don't want my blog to be the same as everyone else's, so I write less. But if you write less, than readers tend to stop reading. A catch 22 so to speak.
No time - I have been busy with business, or should I say, trying to save my business deals from falling through. The last three months I have been consumed with a few short sales and foreclosures, trying to keep them alive...it takes ALOT of work, and blogging has suffered because of it.
Kids - the kids have been sick a lot the last four months because my oldest started pre-school. He brings everything home, and in the end, I end up with it....not my husband, he gets away clean every time! Sick and blogging don't work well together.
More Business - I have been growing my high-end niche and it takes more time to keep clients happy. By the end of the day, I am just too tired to sit down and make my brain think. Many of my current clients found me through my blog, so the question is, will my lack of blogging equate to less business as well?

I am sure I am not alone. Even here on Active Rain, I see many once prominent bloggers are no longer so. I see alot of junk posts. with so many members, it is even more difficult to get noticed. Sometimes I wonder what the point of all this is....and then I realize that I have a really bad itch. The two year itch is seems.

How does one get over it?

I guess I can make a New Years Resolution, but most of the time, I never follow through with them. Do you? I am up for suggestions, or stories of how you got over your itch. I love to blog, and hate to give it up. I doubt I will, but I do want to get over this...become inspired again. What is your inspiration?

Posted by Jennifer Kirby, the Luxury Agent on 12/21/2008 10:15 AM

Comments (15)

active rain, blogging, confessions, food for thought

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Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies

15 Comments on Getting Over the Two Year Itch

DEC

We need to focus on our blessings each day. We are better off than most. I live in seacoast NH and we have had a killer ice storm a week ago that has left hundreds of thousands residents without power......and still out with little change of getting the power back before the first of the year!! Now if that isn't enough.....we are today experiencing blizzard warnings with heavy snow. YIKES! It's plain to see that "we are not in control of anything.....Count your blessings...... Patricia Aulson/Hampton NH Real Estate

Get more local, and be more statistical reporting market trends. There is a purpose to blogging to assist your business.

"Writer's Block" is the number one reason I have been paid to write thousands of SEO maximized articles for all different types of blogs over the years. I think this is the first time I have ever commented on your blog bu I have read it a few times. This one made me subscribe. Follow me @thekencook on Twitter and I will help you as much as I can. I still believe in blogging for success.

Patricia - we just got over five inches yesterday and don't plan on leaving the house because the windchill is well below zero. Thank you for your thoughts, I count my blessings everyday, but that doesn't help me with my lack of blogging enthusiasm.

No name - all of my blogging is local. I rarely write about anything national. Market stats are part of the blogging boredom I run into on every blog I read. Market stats rarely excite anyone. Like I said, I have been blogging for two years and know what I am doing. What I am looking for is a way to make it all fresh...find some inspiration. I honestly don't think there is an answer out there. Can anyone prove me wrong?

Is blogging dead?

Hi Jennifer! Many points here to answer--YES, when business is at hand, we MUST address that FIRST! When dealing with luxury clients, they do require more of your time--not to mention the massive marketing that consumes alot of your time. However, the payoff in the end is certainly more than worth the time investment.

With the Short Sales & Foreclosures--they too, are more time consuming because you have to stay on top of the banks and it always seems to be a hurry up and wait mentality through the entire process!

As for writer's block--I didn't sail through the first year, knowing what I was going to write and having it seem 'easy' for me. You're VERY lucky that you had two years of great writing and flowing dialogue here in the Rain. Congratulations on your success here as well. My secret blogging weapon is that when I can't come up with anything to write about (which is pretty often!), I search online for local upcoming events and just write a post about that. Or, perhaps we went to dinner that week, I write a restaurant review.

Those topics are not only easy to write about but, put you in front of the consumer even better than our AR posts or our personal posts--this information is what they're looking for online and we're giving it to them! These are quick and easy writes and they serve two purposes--you can do them quickly and you're still putting yourself in front of your potential clients, thus not loosing business when you're swamped!

Congrats again on two years in the Rain and here's to many, many more!

Merry Christmas

Ken - thanks for subscribing and at least knowing who I am. Makes me not feel as lost in the crowd. Many people are on Twitter...does it really do anything for an agent's business? To me, it just seems like a waste of time...time that is filled up with other things to do. If I cannot find time to blog, how can I Twitter? Please convince me otherwise! :)

Jennifer, I think it is very cool that you have the business and it is keeping you from writing. it is hard sometimes to make time for this, and it sounds like you are putting what is important to you first. Best wishes for a wonderful 2009!

Thanks Debe - I have done the posts about something locally going on, and they do help to fill in the gaps. I wish I could go out to dinner sometime! The kids make it tough. :) Thanks for some pep talk too.

Ann - I am thankful for what business I have, don't get me wrong. I am just wondering if my lack of blogging is going to result in a lack of business in the future. Merry Christmas!

Jennifer--Did you write this or did I? Maybe you were just reading my thoughts. :) Just got that new BB Curve. Want to show me how to use it? :)

Teri - I would love to finally get together with you for lunch...how long have we been putting this off? I can show you a thing or two about the Curve. I have time Friday or Saturday next week? what sounds good to you? Thanks for letting me know I am not alone...you have been around longer than I!

I am too busy to blog but am afraid if I stop blogging I won't have business.....(since it is now a large source of my converted sales)......so it is a vicious cycle. Someone long ago wrote a series of posts on Localism ideas from A - Z - find them....they really helped me when I started......

The most important part of your blog to me was when you asked that because you dont blog as much will that hurt your future business. I'd have to say yes, because somebody else in your area of expertise might be right on your heels blogging away taking away customers from you.

You said your kids are sick. This year is so different for us as well. My family usually do not get sick but this year after Sept, the whole family have been taking turns to catch flu. Not sure if it is this year or because of the city.

DEC

Jennifer - CONGRATS to being here two years! You are correct, many people have come and gone and membership has grown! It's pretty hard to come up with new and interesting material for people. How many times can we talk about the reasons why we need REALTORS when buying or selling a home? When you can come up with a new angle, it's something to cheer! I'm glad you're still here and I'm glad your working to keep your post fresh and unique! Happy Holidays!

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