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Don't Do That!

I am so tired of being told what not to do.

First of all, let me start off by saying that this is not directed at any one person in particular, just a trend that I’ve seen a lot of lately. I apologize now if this post offends anyone… okay now that that's out of the way, let me get right to the point!

It seems like the trend lately in blog posts is:

How to blog
How not to blog
What to write
What not to write
How to comment
How not to comment
How to promote
How not to promote
How to use Twitter
How not to use Twitter

Wow, where did all of these "experts" and "gurus" come from so fast?

Why should anyone's way be "the way" for everyone? What works for some may not work for others – the workings on the web are not black and white. Your preferred method may not be someone else’s preferred method. What it boils down to is this: you should do what works for you. If you are blogging for business, then do what brings in the most leads. Once you figure that out, then all the advice people give about what to do and what not to do will matter very little because you will know what works for you.

One of the great thing about blogging and web 2.0 is that if someone doesn’t like what you are doing; how you are blogging, what you are tweeting, what message you’re sending, then they can simply ignore you.

I would much rather see posts about "tips" on what you are doing that is actually working for you and specific examples of methods that have brought you leads, rather than the constant "don’t do that" scolding posts with no meat behind them.

If you can show "why" along with "how not to" or the "don't do" then I will be more open to taking the advice. This post is also in no way meant to attack all the wonderful "how to" tips that AR members bring to the table.

Posted by Real Estate Advertising - Misty Lackie on 03/03/2009 06:15 PM

Comments (26)

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26 Comments on Don't Do That!

MAR

I don't think of these posts as scolding. I look at them as an example to use or a springboard for ideas.

Good for you for speaking your mind! I have noticed the blog police out in full force. It's funny how quickly people forget that they had to crawl first before they were able to run and now that they are up and running they don't want to pass the baton, instead, putting fear a newbie's heart before they even get a chance to crawl.

You really shouldn't blog like this Misty. Let me tell you what I do. :-) Just kidding. I think the best thing you do when blogging is be yourself. There are lots of "experts" out there on every topic. But I think if you can express your personality somehow, someway through blogging I think you will be successful. Here I go directing you on how to blog. But I truly think that if you blog about a topic you are truly passionate about that passion will show through. Some of the blogs that I've written about short sales have generated the most responses from both fellow Active Rain bloggers as well as consumers who have later become clients. Not that I am a short sale "expert" it's just a topic that I am very passionate about. My partner and I also write a couple of fun blogs about sports and music. Two other areas of interest we are passionate about as well. Best of luck and keep blogging.

Hi Heather - a bad idea in one person's eyes may be something that work's for another. If it's not inflicting harm, not unethical, not causing them to loose business but instead is bringing in leads, then in their eyes it is probably not a bad idea.

Emmaniece you hit it right on the target.

Jerry - you make some great points. Blogging about what you are passionate about will bring people to you that are passionate about those same things.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! There is such thing as too much of a good thing... We are all different and have different styles. I agree with you, what works for some might not work for every one, and sometimes that well intentioned advice might not come across as such. I also agree with Emmaniece, the blog police seems to be out in full force! Maybe it is time for a stop at Dunkin Donuts. :)

I always thought finding your voice meant expressing your view in your own way and with your own words.....

That's the beautiful thing about Active Rain. We don't have to read all the blog posts, and we don't have to comment on all the blog posts. Just read the ones you like and skip the rest. There just may be people who need the info on how or not how to do things. :0)

Misty, I look at the how to blogs as suggestions or ideas, the how not to blogs, I tend to agree with you. Everyone is different, and they should write what they wish to, (within the rules of the blog site). I think that as a commenter, I should be able to respond the way that I wish, if I don't like what someone has written, I just move on. I don't mean to offend you, I do really agree with you on the how not to and what not to write in blogs.

BTW, I seek, accept and appreciate good advice, and there is quite a lot of that here also!

Hi Tony & Darcy - no offense taken. I too like the "how to" tutorials or tips, especially if they show examples of how it can benefit you.

Hi Doug- I agree there are many people who need the "what to do" and "what not to do" set of rules. There just seems to be sooo many conflicting messages out there. I think that's what really bothers me. All the conflicting messages/opinions and many with no examples of "why".

Norma - "I always thought finding your voice meant expressing your view in your own way and with your own words". Me too!

Lourdes - ha, ha. Good to know I am not the only one that has noticed it.

Lourdes - "BTW, I seek, accept and appreciate good advice, and there is quite a lot of that here also!" Absolutely! Lot's of good stuff here. It's not only here that I am referring too. Seems to be the trend among many of the Twitter sphere too. I have unsubscribed from 3 blogs (not AR ones) this month because I was tired of reading about "how not to use Twitter".

OMG YOU hit the NAIL on the HEAD!!!!

Nice call Misty:)

MAR

Don't want to read them, move along and read something else. There's always plenty to read on ActiveRain. There must be a demand for them.

Point taken, we should all remember the W5 of writting:

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW & WHY.

We all learned this is highschool and at this later point in life this little reminder can serve us all well.

Don't feel bad...I've been busted and I am just getting started...but I have learned in blogging as in real estate...I am just gonna have to be thick skinned! "They LOVE me...They REALLY love me!!!" :o)

Well said Misty. But let me tell you how you should of really posted this blog......j/k, lol. A little critique is always welcome.

Misty, I agree with you 100% on this one! A real estate agent, a service provider, a mortgage broker, and a home stager will each have a totally different goal when they blog here on AR. Why should we tell others that it's not okay to blog a certain way, especially if they enjoy doing it that way or if they have seen real results doing it that way? Likewise, some on Twitter will tell you not to tweet about your business or product, while others will tell you not to clutter up the conversation stream with social dialogue. Who's right? No one! These are opinions that are being passed off as advice -- those two are not the same thing. Advice is great if it is backed by facts, data, or real experience. If not, then it is simply an opinion and shouldn't be passed off as anything else. If you want to share your opinion, awesome! That's one of the greatest things about the social web. Just don't try and pass it off as a "tip" or "advice".

Great post!

Misty, some people are so deer in the headlights when they first join, I think they find it helpful for someone to write something to tell them what to do. That is different than the motive of the blogger...but it does benefit some newbies around here.

Thanks everyone for commenting and providing your viewpoints.

I like Scott's comment on "WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW & WHY."

I do understand that newbie's are looking for guidance but so much of the guidance being given is either conflicting or has no "why" behind it. I have seen so many "don't do that" type of posts that are mis-leading and pure opinion with no solid facts or examples of "why".

I love tips! I even write tips and cover tools on my blog here. What I don't like are the scolding type posts that come off as tips or advice but have no reasoning or examples behind them.

Maureen your comment "Don't want to read them, move along and read something else." is exactly what I do but some of the newbie's probably don't and are most likely being mis-lead with no solid reasoning, facts or proof of concept.

Like many posts that I have seen about...

Don't put your sig at the footer of your posts.
Don't put your listings on your blog
Don't put widgets in your side panel
Don't blog about this or that
etc.

I would hope newbie's would ask questions like...

What if that sig in the footer of your post actually brings you leads and helps you in serps?
What if the listings you post to your blog get picked up by google and bring you a buyer?
What if those widgets display useful information that will help a consumer or again display something that will actually bring you a lead?

But most newbie's won't even think of these questions because this is all new to them.

MAR

Thanks for telling us all how you really feel about the do's and don'ts Misty!

Misty - Rock on ! I totally agree with you... focusing on the positives and what is working for someone is what I am more interested in as well. I am not as interested in terms of what not to do... Blogging is beautiful and there are many styles and no just one or two right ways !

MAR

Amen! I agree 100% Everyone should do what works for them. I peruse a lot of comments and typically ignore those that are judgemental. Thanks for the post. You said what a lot of people were thinking.

MAR

Misty,

Cool post :). Unfortunately I do like some of the "not to do" posts as I think sometimes seeing what we should avoid is even more helpful than what we should be doing. :)

I will say though that providing the "why" should be a part of any post (both the tips and the "not to do's").

MAR

I'm with you on this one. I've seen so many how to use Twitter and what to do and not do there that I'm sick of it. Like the 'you need to follow everybody that follows you' crowd. I think that depends ENTIRELY ON WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH TWITTER. I check the Twitter stream of every person I follow and if it's just a stream of their blog post or links to their listings I'm not going to click 'follow'.

APR

Amen sista! I am bothered by all the wannabe experts on AR. It's annoying for sure!

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Don't Do That!

I am so tired of being told what not to do.

If you can show "why" along with "how not to" or the "don't do" then I will be more open to taking the advice. This post is also in no way meant to attack all the wonderful "how to" tips that AR members bring to the table.

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