"The only thing worse than a woman scorned is a woman ignored." - Lenn Harley

project blogger logoI had "Call Lenn Harley" on my to do list for almost four weeks. It seemed like something was always getting in the way. An emergency here... a crisis there. A few days ago, while stuck in LA traffic, I finally made time to dial Lenn Harley and introduce myself. I had no reason for calling. But so many people had her on their short list of most respected real estate agents that I just had to speak to her. Wow.

It was a truly delightful conversation and Lenn is smart, engaging, open and has an amazing sense of humor. At one point in the conversation she said, "Google is fickled." I laughed out loud, because I had said the exact same thing in a comment on my It's Not About SEO. It's About YEO post. One person responded that it wasn't that fickle, but I really believe it is. And so does Lenn. I related the response to her.

"Well, of course it's fickle," Lenn said. "Google is a woman. It has to be a woman. The only thing worse than a woman scorned is a woman ignored. If you ignore Google, Google will turn on you. But if you treat Google right, give it strokes every day, Google will be a faithful lover."

You have to love the analogy. Thank you, Lenn.

This, of course got me thinking. Not about lovers, but bout Jeff Belonger. (Yes, I need to get out more often.) Jeff asked me a question via comment on Flickr-ing Local Photos: You Engaging Others (YEO). I told him I would answer it in a post. This is that post.

Jeff lives in a very small town of 12,000 people. He has limited local entities to blog about, and he has a rational fear. Jeff's question was this: "do I get very detailed?  Pick out say... a few restaurants?  All 10?  Do I just do 1 each day?  My 2nd post was on churches... there are like 11 in town, but I took pictures of like 4 or 5 of them and wrote little inserts.  Just looking for advice." My advice? Pace yourself.

You Must Pace YourselfPace Yourself

I've been telling Julie Ferenzi that her blog, Living In Plainfield is not a sprint. Jim Cronin said the same thing about blogging, "Blogging is a marathon.  It's 100 marathons.  It is not a sprint." So, this means you have to pace yourself. This is particularly true if you live in a smaller community. If you're not careful, you'll simply run out of things to talk about.

The Towsley Canyon Example

I do local content posts to serve as examples only. So my post, Towsley Canyon: The Perfect Family Hike, was written with a post like this in mind. Towsley Canyon is indeed a great place to go hiking with the family. But it's also a great place to go mountain biking, or cross country running, or to challenge yourself in a workout, or to take a church or school group. But if I put ALL of that into one post, I miss out on the opportunity to write 5 or 6 posts on Towsley Canyon, all with a different focus. Each post will attract a different part of the long tail. Each post will engage a different group of readers.

Google needs to be stroked.

There is nothing magical about a blog that makes it better than a standard web page for search engine optimization. Except that it encourages you to write new content and that's what strokes Google. That's what Google is looking for. You want Google to love you? Write. You have to write regularly about your target. You have to engage the readers. And you have to do it over and over again. Blogging is not as complicated as some people make it out to be, but successful blogging is harder than you think (read this).  Don't make it even harder by trying to cram everything into one post! 

"Google is a woman."

Lenn, I know you didn't think twice about spitting that out, but it's a brilliant observation. And I, for one, will never ignore her again. Because I'm not looking for a Google one night stand. I want a relationship.

 
Post is included in group: Blogging & SEO
Post is included in group: The Hubba Clubba...ROAR!

67 Comments on Google Is A Woman

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
03
2007
770,227 Points 91 Featured Posts
Jeff... the profile is not all that important. The blog content is what will drive the eyeballs. 
9:57am • #48
128,614 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Jeff.... I have been thinking about Jeff B 's problem as well - I live in South Florida so I have a lot more to blog about... but the two cities where I center my marketing are sometimes a little slow...

but I think that real estate agents typically have more food for thought than Mortgage people because they can always push a listing!  How many articles on the MMA do we really need?  We all have the program! 

So given that our "listings" aren't Exclusive Rights to Sell - we have to get out of our box and get creative.  Jeff did it with his vacation to the Big Apple... And I applaud him for that

I just think that people in general have to remain creative in order to feed the beast... I did feel some personal pangs when I read Lenn's comment... but truthfully, I know it is real and I know that my goal on here isn't to rack up points - it is to be seen - here and everywhere else.  To get myself some name recognition and start bringing in the business that I want and need. 

That is causing me to be more creative than ever... which as a downside is definitely taking time from my schedule...

so I guess I need to figure out what's a happy medium??

1:56pm • #50
738,191 Points 231 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David.... have your wife blog for you... hire 2 assistants, and ask Donald Trump to support your marketing campaign for 6 months.   ;o)   Gee, this would work for me and I would have no more pressure nor stress in my life.

And David... thanks for that compliment. I'll be honest, I enjoyed doing that, but it took a lot more time than I had expected. And it was slightly out of my area by 2 hours, hence why I did it as a blog perspective from the tourist side. But as you stated, this can take time. And just a fyi, Ines gave me the insight to actually mention the word tourist in my heading, even though I had already written the first two as a tourist. I just wanted to give her that mention.

                                                                                                              jeff b

2:27pm • #51
4 Featured Posts

Jeff

This was an excellent post.  As always you are right.  But learning content for google is a class....no several classes in and of itself.  Some of us are still learning.

5:07pm • #52
MAY
04
2007
147,500 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hmm, I like the analogy.  especially in the sense that, like women, there is no set way of getting it's attention.  You can have one thing that works for you for a while, then "Poof" it starts ignoring you.  Also like a woman, it doesn't hurt to have a bunch of money to throw at the problem!

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList 

12:55pm • #53
770,227 Points 91 Featured Posts

David... you're right. You have to remain creative to feed the beast, but you don't have to be a creative genius. You do have to pay attention, always be on the lookout for things of interest and trust your gut. If it interests you, it will probably interest others. Good blogging takes time, there is no question. 

Roberta... we're all still learning.

Bob... :) I'm not touching that one. 

6:01pm • #54
259,241 Points
Yes, I agree GOOGLE is a woman, with the idea of - 'What have you done for me today'.
6:40pm • #55
770,227 Points 91 Featured Posts
Robert... I sense some hostility. :)
6:54pm • #56
FEB
19
2008

Interesting, so you think that google is a woman, uh? Well, then Yahoo and MSN are males and both are fighting for her (google)... lol., Excellent post.

Jay

 

9:13pm • #57
770,227 Points 91 Featured Posts
Joseph... this is an oldy. :) So old, I had to read it again just to make sure I knew exactly what I said! Love your continuation on the analogy.
10:13pm • #58
Attended Rain Camp
Jeff -Once again . . .I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog.  Thank you very much for sharing.  To keep any relationship . . .you have to stick with it, enjoy it and nurture it.
11:34pm • #59
200,421 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

All of a sudden blogging is so clear. Absolutely the best analogy.

Not only is Google a woman, but she's a high school english teacher who makes you write, write, write. If you at least do your homework, you'll get a C. If you make a little effort and make it fresh, you'll get an A. If you're teacher's pet you'll ace it with an A+ 100%.

I love it. I can see clearly now the rain has gone.

11:41pm • #60
JUN
15
2008

123

wed
3:22am • #61
JUN
27
2010
Google is neither man nor woman you pompous idiots. Its. a search engine, it will tell you what you wan 85% of the time. Don't be sexist, its a search engine. You know computer program,web based, binary codes, prolly written by some male geek in silicon valley oops I said it. Google is a male and if not, its a female made by males. Just like eve was made from adam hahahaha women always get shafted in the bed and out
blackwater
4:37am • #62
770,227 Points 91 Featured Posts

Blackwater... thank you. I've been called an idiot before and pompous many times, but never pompous idiot. I kinda dig it.

10:43pm • #63
875,865 Points 154 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ok this is too funny...a post from 07.

So funny I am going to share on Posterous.

11:08pm • #64
JUN
28
2010
550,593 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hubba...

How's this: You Pompous Ass. Kinda rolls right off the tongue :)

Lol. Fig is my human test. According to the legend, fig leaves were used to cover our ass :)

TLW...ROAR!

7:18am • #65
550,593 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lol...

I haven't decided whether that was a paradox or a misnomer :)

Oh Man. Pitahaha. Who the hell comes up with those and are they 'serving' them to me? :)

TLW...ROAR!

10:47am • #67

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