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Your Blog Stimulus Package - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

Let's face it, 'Time is Money!' Like any meaningful and effective marketing effort, blogging takes time, resources, and consistency.

But if you've been faithfully posting article-after-article to your blog for a while now, with little or no results to show for it, chances are whatever it is you're publishing isn't working.

Hey, don't take it personally, Bucko! We're Realtors,...we're used to rejection, right?

There's been a lot of debate and discussion here of late regarding Content vs. Self-Promotion. You can catch up on the conversations by going HERE and HERE.

Obviously, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Too much 'Self-Promotional Clutter' tends to send your visitors packing. But the lack of meaningful content can produce the same results. So there needs to be a balance of proven SEO tactics employed to achieve reasonable ranking, as well as good, quality content that attracts and engages your readers.

But additionally, you have to ask yourself, "Who am I writing to? Who is my intended audience?" That, in turn, will determine what constitutes 'meaningful' results.

People blog for different reasons. Some strive for social connection or recognition among their peers. The majority of their posts are geared towards engaging other members. The success of such endeavors are usually measured in the number of comments we receive or in the amount of subscribers we garner. This can be a reasonable strategy if you're building a referral network, or if your business caters to other real estate professionals.

But for those of us who blog primarily for business, the ultimate litmus test for the effectiveness of our blogging efforts should be 'closed' transactions, right? That's why we're here, spending all this time generating good, quality local content in the hopes that potential clients will find us through organic search results.

So maybe your blog needs a 'jump start?' Or perhaps it needs something more along the lines of an Extreme Makeover? Well, here's a collection of helpful articles and tutorials guaranteed to 'Pimp' Your Blog:

Blog Tips for Rain Drips The SEO of Blogging (Simple, Effective, and Overlooked) Stop Wasting Your Time on ActiveRain!

16 Tips for Better Blog Formatting and Structure "Are You Creating a False Front?" "Do You need a Stager to De-Clutter Your Blog?"

How to Engage Your Readers The ActiveRain Guide The ActiveRain 'Help/FAQ' Group Making Your Blog Relevant to Your Readers

How to Blog for Leads The ActiveRain Starter Kit

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

social-media-is-a-conversation

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

Posted by Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker on 03/02/2009 11:35 PM

Comments (81)

Blogging on Active Rain in the Online Marketing Channel

blog tips for rain drips, blog stimulus package, content versus contact

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Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Blog Tips for Rain Drips
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Post is included in group: HELP/FAQ (Read 'Purpose Statement' Carefully!)
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81 Comments on Your Blog Stimulus Package - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

MAR

2009

Rich: Nice post. I POST, mostly, stuff on my local area to help people who maybe thinking of moving here, to learn ALL they need too...and MORE. :) But, really, aren't most of us here to PROMOTE our self? Our business?

Rich, I always learn something when you blog. I've bookmarked this to read all the links. Thanks for putting them all together.

Ok I can't seem to get off the computer. Now your talking - LOL I think the content is always going to be number 1! If you don't have that the rest of the story is meaningless.

Okay -- I think this post clarified what I think makes sense -- three is a compromise between content and promotion. I think it is good to set a goal and work toward reaching that goal.

Hi Rich ! ...like Kay I have Bookmarked as I know you have done the diligent research to make sure that all those links are splendid ! ... so I know I must read them all

Cheers Rich ! ..and thanks for the pointers ~

Hi Rich - We could use you in Congress. Instead of giving AIG another $30 billion, maybe we could send them a proven, common-sense list of posts to help them find their way back to profitability.

There's a few posts in your list that I missed the first time around. That's a good reminder that no matter how long we've been blogging, it's always good to get back to the fundamentals once in awhile ... kind of like Spring Training.

Rich - a most stimulating post. LIke others, bookmarked to reread adn check out the links. They all work, don't they? :)

Jeff

Hi Rich! Thank you for the well thought out post. I had missed some of the articles and tutorials linked to your post. I am bookmarking for future reference.

Hi Rich,

I have been following this story and agree with many of the points made by Bill and now you. I think some of the self promotion can sometimes be overdone, however, I do think it's important to figure out your intended audience and address them with the appopriate amount of information on your blog posts. For example: my comments, and even my tag line that I typically put on my post has been coming up in Google. Go figure right? Sure I could add all my services, etc, but I choose to link it to my site - to keep it simple and people have found me all on their own - boy we have smart people on this network! My feeling - I am providing services to many of my loyal readers here just like many of my associates - I don't take advantage of that privilege and yes, I do want and intend to market me and my services - that is what I do, and what I offer. It's about balance and not stepping over the line whether it's the message in your blog, at the bottom of your blog, on the sidebar, etc. Thanks for sharing and allowing others to as well. ~Anne Marie

Rich--As a brand new rain drip I certaintly appreciate you taking time to pull these links together for us mere mortals. I truly want to make the most of the time I spend in the rain.

TYE

Rich: Again, you've come up with some really great ideas. I'm going to have to put aside some time tomorrow when I am awake... and read each of those posts you provided links for.

Ya know... when I saw you had another post... I thought to myself... awww... Jeez... what's he gonna change NOW ? Things are moving pretty fast around here for this older chick to keep up. Take care... thanks for sharing.

@ Anne Marie: Hey woman... I bet you could take that comment of yours and turn it into a pretty good post all by itself. I like your ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Rich like everyone I will have to bookmark for a more thorough read. Thanks for the info.

Rich: Another great one to bookmark so I can go back and read each link.

You have just added my homework for the week. I WILL read all of these.

Those look like some great resources for the novice bloggers, Rich, and maybe some good reminders for the old-timers. LOL. Imagine that, 2 years makes someone an old-timer in the blogging world. Pretty funny!

Rich - Thanks for all the great information, I have it bookmarked to use as a reference tool. Thanks!

Good tips! Although its possible to reach out to more then one audience....by sharing your authentic self ...informative posts......funny posts........they canall build your client base, network group, recruiting base....its multifaceted.......

Rich, Thank you for the line up of posts we may have missed. I read the interesting discussions on SEO and promotion and in the end, you're absolutely right....there is no substitute for Good Content. That's what makes people call YOU.

You are so right about the fine line. We certainly want to connect with the consumer, but by adding all the other "stuff" on the blog we really defie what blogging is meant to be.

I've even joined the club, mostly because our posts invite consumers in without them going through the front door. They hope on the post and never know how they got there.

We want to grab every opportunity possible right now, so we try it all. Me included.

BTW I really like the new layout/design. It gives both the poster and commenter a spotlight. It would be nice if it also featured the commenter's location/area of service so we could kill off the spammy bylines! (hint hint). Haveing so many words there defeats the purpose for the visitor. I personally dislike reading all that crap, therefore I don't.

Betcha I'm not the only one who feels that way!

Rich - I agree with you that a balance is the key. Nothing wrong with self-promotion, as long as you have some quality content to go along with it, right?

Thanks Rich for the great blog...and the links to many more that I simply must read.

Aw crap, Rich... I was hoping you would take off your gloves and you & Bill would go at it again! LOL Seriously, thanks for the tips and sensible balance.

Rich,

You might be right, and I tried to keep the balance between stuff for members and the public, but I get carried away, and at the same time I do not regret it.

It is also what yo really want to do. I do not say I am not happy getting a contact from AR, but I do n ot bet on it, and this is simply a nice thing and it may come, or may not.

I will bookmark the post and read it and check all the links tomorrow, and maybe tomorrow I will se it a bit different.

Thank you

I am saving this one. My blog really does need some pimping! Thanks for all the useful information.

MAR

2009

Great Post. I look forward to reading more of your stuff.

Couldn't agree more!

Rich: Question. I see the time of this post being posted is 10:35pm on the evening of March 2... yesterday. But... the first 16 of your comments... including my comment to you... were all posted BEFORE 10:35pm. So... how did you do that ? It appears that sixteen comments were made before you posted this post. It appears we are a bunch of mind-readers here. Hooray for us !

Rich, thanks for the links to some great posts. I need to check a few of them out.

If I may butt in and reply to Karen: In the past, when a post is featured, it resets the post's time stamp to the time that it got featured. So you and the rest must have commented before Rich's post got featured. I am thinking it still works that way. But I could be wrong. Been gone for a while =)

Rich: One thing for sure.. It is not easy to please everyone... Keep up the great work !

Very stimulating! :)

Rich thanks for posting this "all-in-one" with all of the posts I've been needing the most. Very helpful!

Absolutely loved the title, nice buddy!! :-)

I primarily blog for business. And I vary my content by addressing different people. Sometimes I'm addressing other agents, sometimes, sellers, sometimes buyers, sometimes buyers and sellers, etc. And I've gotten some great business!

I need to keep coming back and reading the other posts that you have suggested. I like most need to continue to improve in my blogging efforts.

Rich,

I love your balanced approach, apparently arrived at through much rejection. :)

It's a good thing you were able to hang in there. Next in the series could be something like "Love Tips for Rain Drips." I'd come comment again, having had a lot of rejection experience in that arena.

Mike in Tucson

thanks for the post with all the links - now I have even more stuff to read!! keep the info coming please

Rich - Holy moly ! Great post. That is going to be a lot of information to read in terms of the other links. I have read a handful of them but I am sure there is great info in all of them to help us pump up our blogs in order to garner additional business. Great recommendations. Thanks !

Rich - Excellen post. Thanks for taking the time to add all the links. A real benefit for us newbies!

Thanks Rich and I appreciate the comprehensive links on the subject. As much as I enjoy writing entertaining posts I've learned that I need to also post material specifically for my soi, my neighborhoods and my areas of expertise. What's cool about Active Rain is that I do not have to reinvent the wheel. There are so many members who have excellent market reports, neighborhood descriptions and the like and the bonus is that they are willing to share what has worked for them! Have a good week my friend!

Hi Rich,

Great post. As an AR newbie I am always looking for ways to write better material. Thanks for all the great info.

-Lisa

Rich.... with every stimulus package comes some money. So how much are you giving up and how much can I expect to recieve for my business? lol

Seriously, this is a good reminder and some good tips. And I agree, people blog for different reasons. WHat I don't get is a few who blog for just the members, writing to them only, engaging them and getting tons of comments. Yet I never see them write to the public and educate. I bring this up because if I was looking to refer someone to them, I wouldn't at all, because how would I know if they know what they are even doing. Just an observation.

Overall,balance is key, but in my opinion, it comes down to what you truly want and what you are looking for. Tons of business or tons of subscribers. I would rather have the first. Good post.

Jeff Belonger

thanks, rich! now this post made total sense and I love all the links to useful posts at the bottom!

As I said int the comment on Bills post, moderation and balance. I for one had rarely added a footer, but I did last night. I am going to test it and see if my phone rings more.

Not that it doesn't ring, it does but I want to see if it is more. LOL

Thanks Rich. Now if I could find time to read all the links. I will but it will take a few days so I'm bookmarking for later.

Rich, you could have written this just for me. I've finally started posting a little more consistently but I'm not sure I've figured out the rest. I'm going to read all of these posts, especially the Here and Here. :) those were very mysterious...

So does this mean you are sending out checks also?:))

Rich, Thanks for putting these great articles in one place. I've read most but will check out the ones I haven't.

Applause

Actually, Rich, I am just here for the food.

Thanks for all you do.

I have been pretty much about content since I started, but I need to be even more local than I already am. Most of my blogs are short and to the point.

More great good tips to read. Thanks for the time today to post this information to the AR community

Portsmouth NH Real Estate

These are great tips.....Rick take a look a my post, if you don't mind. We're thinking some similar thoughts today. Sometimes I Feel Guilty on Active Rain.

Thanks for the reminder, Rich. It's hard to stick to it though. As things in the office pick up I find less time to write, and more things (promotional) to post about.

Good content will always win the day. Seth (since Bill brought him up) recently posted that his blog ranks for some really random terms. Good content will get good rankings which will get you qualified visitors who in turn will become clients. At least that is how it should work.

Albert Byrd, Broker, Investor, Partner for RE Investment Rich, how did you know I had come to AR this morning looking for just THIS information.

I appreciate it!

Rich - just took my first Blogging class yesterday. Reading your blog this morning was perfect timing. Thanks for sharing. Preston

Rich - bookmarked and ready to pimp my blog! Great post - thanks for the time you put into this. Well done and very derserving of the !

Rich I'm not sure using the word stimulus is a good thing these days. AR readers just need to know that if they follow some of this advice, their results will be better than the government stimulus package.

Rich - Like everything in life balance is key. I've bookmarked this post to come back and read your links later. Gotta go out and do some work now. Good post though. I'm still getting used to blogging in general now that I've started out on my own. Lisa says Hi!

Thank you as always for bringing some of these great posts together! Sorry I missed you at REBar:) I saw you, but I wasn't able to catch your eye and then needed to go to attend to a client.

Rich,

Really well said about knowing your audience.

It's not any different from writing a book, giving a speech, or selling a product. You need to know your market.

Rich - I didn't have time to check out the links, but have this bookmarked for when I have time... which seems to be the trend. I hope that means everyone is really busy and the market is turning. Thanks for the post. - Judy

Great stuff, as usual, Rich... I'm going for the "jump-start." But if that doesn't fly, I'll do the extreme makeover. Thanks for assimilating all those good tips in a single source.

Rich, thanks for the tips. I think it's pretty easy to become obsessed with blogging, but it's not for everyone! Thanks...

I absolutely love blogging! Until a year ago when I first joined AR I had never even heard the word, now if I don't do some everyday I get grouchy! And I feel like I have missed an opportunity.

Hey Bucko, Alright I'm gooing to dedicate the next hour (or more) pouring over your many handy posts. By the way, I'm in line for the extreme makeover!

Rich,

I will be reading the many posts you have here...

Thank you,

Ann Hayden in chilly Wildwood, Missouri

Thanks for the tips and easy to follow suggestions.

Thanks for the leads, Rich. I will be reading all of them.

Love that title, Rich! Good point about who are you writing for! I haven't quite made up my mind yet. So think I will just keep switching back and forth!

Rich,

Thanks for the reminder. It's in the better interest of all of us to use a little of a look-over and then a critical analysis, and then a carefully-crafted makeover. Everyone needs that from time to time.

MAR

2009

Some excellent links to posts to get the blog juices flowing. Thanks for taking the time to compile this list and I have a lot of reading to do! Take care and happy blogging to you!!

Hello Rich,

Thank you for all your information. I am new to Blogging and I just want to keep reading.

VERY valuable information! I've got you bookmarked!

Rich, it is always great when you offer links to many "how to" posts! I am training some new bloggers and I try to send them to you to learn as much as they can!

Well I spun off on a couple of topics(content vs self promo) that you linked out. A few people here have a shameless plug at the bottom of their blog and they are featured often. Some are even up to 3" long. They seem very successful both to the public and are chosen often by AR in the newsletter.

Thanks for the post, Rich. You are a wealth of information, as always.

Very useful information! Thanks a bunch!

Thank you for the info and the reminder that why we are blogging determines what kind of results we will see!

MAR

2009

Hello Rich, Thank you for posting the links, they will be very helpful for newbies like me. I have a lot to learn from all of you. I will save your Post to my favorites. Thanks

APR

2009

Great post. I really do need to learn to pimp my blog. LOL. I bookmarked it because there is a lot of great information in here.

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Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Silverdale, WA

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Keller Williams West Sound Realty

Address: Silverdale, WA, 98383

Office Phone: (360) 499-6367

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Providing Knowledgeable Empowerment and Relentless Representation of Real Estate Clients throughtout the Western Puget Sound, including all of Kitsap County WA, and portions of Mason, Pierce, and Jefferson Counties.

"Helping You to Successfully Achieve Your Next Adventure in Life!"

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