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I'M EXHAUSTED! How does one keep up with online blogs, posts, etc.

By Pacita Dimacali

Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

April 07, 2009 07:32 PM

Back in 2003 when I became a Realtor, I signed up for the free version of a website from Point2Agent.com. Since I didn't have any clients yet, I scoured the internet for useful information to populate my website. Thank goodness Point2Agent is so robust it reaches a lot of other websites.

Internet presence begins...

So I began by doing open houses for other agents with listings, and got their permission to post them on craigslist (some even asked me what Craigslist was). In 2003, I was the only one in my office posting open houses on craigslist. Now, nearly everyone does.

Fast forward. Tuned in to Zillow when it was just starting. Signed up for an account, Started posting my listings. Also answered some questions that I felt qualified tor answer.

Started using Postlets. Followed by VFlyer. I'm using both to create online flyers. Also creating my own Visual Tours.

Now Active Rain. Trulia. Facebook. Twitter. Thank goodness some of them allow inter-links.

Trying to be a good Active Rain member by commenting, giving feedback, sharing info, and yes, blogging.

Why I blog, why I post

I have to be on the internet. I have to keep going. Internet presence is a must. And based on my results last year where 30% of my sales were from leads generated from my internet presence, I know I have to keep going. Just need to know how to be more effective AND efficient.

It isn't just the social network like Active Rain, but also the general public outreach (and appeal) of Zillow and Trulia and Craigslist.

But I'm exhausted!

Am I the only one feeling like this? I know getting a web presence is extremely important. But how do you budget your time to do this and still be effective and provide good content?

10 Things to Do When Posting on Craigslist

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Allison Stewart

St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL

St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Blogging is a great cure for insominia- your point about time management is a good one. It can easily become overwhelming. But hey sleep is highly overrated! Keep up the good work.

Blog On superstar!

Apr 07, 2009 09:59 PM

Chip Jefferson

Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

Twit, tweet, drip, design, blog, show, sell, list, stage, follow up, paperwork, email,new stuff and MORE. I am exhausted too. By the end of the day I'm so confused sometimes. Oh did I forget kids and Husband?

Apr 07, 2009 10:44 PM

Richard Iarossi

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD

Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Pacita, Sleeping was so overrated anyway. Now, if they could only figure out how I can get a good tan sitting in front of my computer screen...Rich

Apr 07, 2009 11:04 PM

Carl Stars

Sutton Group About Town Realty - Burlington, ON

I was concerned about this, but I blog when Im in the mood. I try to post a blog once per week that offers information to consumers on my web site blog.. active rain I try to post a blog where I need feedback or have an idea.. I am now down to about two hours per week as prospecting and marketing takes priority.Now it 7.17 am and I spent an hour this morning. might not blog till weekend.

Apr 07, 2009 11:18 PM

Sally K. & David L. Hanson

EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI

WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

There are short cuts...and I am sooo not the expert here...but you can put them together and make one blog work for bunches of sites...and then too there is the ever popular Virtual Ass't that can put things on sites for you...ie listings, distribute blogs, etc....working out a per listing fee may be your answer.

Apr 07, 2009 11:51 PM

Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA

Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Pacita...

I know the feeling ... boy, do I!

Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"

Apr 08, 2009 12:55 AM

Mike Hendren

Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Pacita, I think you've asked the question that is on all of our minds - at least the ones who are trying to make money at something besides blogging. It is very time consuming to blog, read posts, comment, tweet, keep up on Facebook, etc. ad infinitum, and I don't have the answer, yet. At least AR makes it easy to get your posts on several blogs if you want without the need to write more.

You might find some other ideas or answers in the comments to my post:

"Don't Let The Rain BLUR Your Vision - A Confession."

Thanks for helping us to stay focused and think about what we REALLY need to be doing.

Apr 08, 2009 01:25 AM

Terry Chenier

Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Pacita,

It is time consuming; set aside a specific time frame and don't go past that.

Apr 08, 2009 02:49 AM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Pacita - I'm with you girlfriend. I have to really manage my time these days and until blogging becomes a notable source of income for me (so far it has not been), then I need to limit the time I spend blogging on AR & FB and spend the majority of my time on the things that are my primary source of business.

Who knows, maybe over time, blogging will increase my business to the point where I can devote more time to it but right now, I need to focus my time on serving the clients I have and working on closing their escrows and following up on the referrals that I'm getting from other sources than blogging. If you figure out a better system than the I am currently working with, then by all means, share it.

Apr 08, 2009 04:29 AM

Tim Bradley

Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY

Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

Focus on your listings and customers first. Set limits on your time for the social media.

Apr 08, 2009 05:01 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Hi, all....taking a much-needed break from all the other stuff I'm doing today (including writing a counter offer to a counter offer and preparing a short sale package to go to Short Sale Advantage, a short sale expediter)

Michael --- if I don't comment back, will I be anti-social? Ouch!

Laura --- I just know I have to be here. But I need to know how to do it better so that it's not too much of a drain on my time and energy.

Richard L --- maybe they'll come up with an all-purpose laptop that will tan without harmful rays

Carl --- Will 30 minutes a day to blog and comment suffice?

Apr 08, 2009 08:11 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Allison --- when I have something good to share or a question that's dying to be asked, I feel I should blog. Maybe the reason I'm up so late is because my brain won't stop working. Maybe I should set a rule: one blog, one glass of wine. One comment, one sip. How's that?

Richard W --- thanks for the feature. Maybe something good will come out of this, from people who can share how they do it.

Mike -- thanks, I will check this out.

Terry -- I generally do this right before I go to bed which results in my staying up late.

Donne -- I believe in the power of the internet. I have had folks who found me because of some of my blogs. I just hope I come up with stuff they'd like to read.

Tim --- thankfully, we can post our listings as blogs. So two birds....

This is the reward of online marketing for me: 30% of my business last year came from leads generated via the internet

Apr 08, 2009 08:20 AM

Lori Churchill Cofer

Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA

Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

Pacita,

It is truly overwhelming...that is for sure. Maybe we will learn some helpful tips for time management...maybe that would be a good group...

Apr 08, 2009 09:41 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Lori

Blogging and posting on line are all exciting tools to have, and we should maximize every opportunity to do it....and I'd like to continue having fun doing it. But at a certain point, I have to break away and do something different that doesn't have anything to do with computers.

Apr 08, 2009 06:49 PM

Antonio M. Cardenas Broker Associate

RE eBroker Group - San Leandro, CA. - San Leandro, CA

"The Realtors In Motion"

Pacita, I guess that we all have the problem, I have spent some time thinking about how to be more efficient and productive while on these sites. I have had people find me on line with ease, but my numbers from the Internet are not yet near what your are. 30% of your income coming from these site is a respectable number and a great reason to keep doing it.

I oftentimes feel guilty of spending so much time on line. I have learned so much by participating on AR and that is what keeps me going here, but I need to justify this by getting better botton lines $$$

Antonio

Apr 09, 2009 04:37 PM

Joanne O'Donnell

Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Pacita, I like the blogging, commenting, etc... but it is overwhelming - you can't help but get behind... I have thought about having someone younger do some of it for me, someone more tech savvy... but it is hard to give up your own voice... You are not alone...

Apr 09, 2009 05:01 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Antonio --- it isn't just from Active Rain where my internet leads originate. I've also answered questions on Trulia, especially about property tax reassessment which generated a potential listing in a few months. Point2 has been invaluable as I have had exposure from there.

But to tell you the truth, it's the constant posting on craigslist for my listings that generated a lot of attention. Each of my active listings are posted 2-3 times a week prior to open house. More than once, I've had someone contact me because they liked my posts (using Vflyer, Postlets intermittently). They said "you must be very good because I see your name all the time!"

See a related blog: 10 Things to Do When Posting on Craigslist

Joanne --- it can't be our blog if we aren't the ones writing it, right? I consider blogging like an online diary. It's one way to share an experience, post a question, seek help and advice, and promote a service.

Apr 09, 2009 05:14 PM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Pacita - while I most certainly agree that everyone in the industry (real estate & mortgages) must be doing some kind of internet marketing. As you pointed out, AR is not the only source for internet marketing. There are so many other ways of doing internet marketing. However, we must be working smarter these days as well and spending our time where it most effective.

Not too long ago (I believe early this year), you had a post where you analyzed where all your business came in 2008. While a large proportion of it came from the internet, this was your indication that you need to spend a certain percentage of your time on the internet. You had even distinguished where on the internet your leads came so that you knew what percentage of your time you needed to spend where.

I did the same exercise and my number were different than yours, which is why I don't spend nearly as much time as you on the social networking sites as some people seem to think I should. Among all the sources where my business came from in 2008, social networking was on the bottom of the list.

Now, since I only started participating in social networking in the last quarter of the year, I'm sure that had something to do with it landing on the bottom of my marketing sources. I'm well aware that there are thousands of people here on AR who will tell you that socal networking is their primary source of business - good for them. However, I'm also sure I'm not the only one who does not receive their most of their business from social networking.

I don't want to discount social networking sites of their ability to attract consumers to us, all I'm saying is that as business owners, we need to know where our business is coming and that we need to divide our time accordingly. If the bulk of your business is coming from social networking, then social networking is where you need to spend the bulk. However, if the bulk of your business is not coming from social networking, then you need to spend the bulk of your time doing those other things that are bringing in the bulk of your business.

One last thing Pacita, you should put that other post of yours in this post and let your commenter read that. I strongly suggest that everyone go through the exercise because in today's market and economy where we all are already working harder, we need to now start working smarter and that includes managing our time in such a way that we're spending sufficient amounts of time on the sources that are bringing us business and limiting our time on the things that are not increasing our business.

Sorry for the long comment Pacita, but after reading it, I'm now starting to think I should have just done a post of my own and linked back to yours. I still might do that. :)

Apr 10, 2009 02:41 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Donne

Thanks. I probably spend more time answering questions on Trulia, posting my open houses on craigslist, creating vflyer (that automatically make their way to Zillow) than being on Active Rain. I come to Active Rain for ideas; and thankfully, so many people are willing to share their ideas.

On your recommendation, I went ahead and added my post where I posted where sources of my business came from. In case people don't want to spend the time to go to that post, I also included the pie chart.

Take care, and good luck to us all.

Apr 10, 2009 04:50 AM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Pacita - I just mentioned that post because it was such a great post and a very good exercise for all of us to go through. In this market and economy, it is absolutely vital that we know where our business is coming from and we need to be doing more of tthe things that are bringing in the business and less of the stuff that isn't generating any business.

When I read your post and did the exercise, I wasn't too surprised by the results. I know where my business comes from but for me the challenge now is to divide my time accordingly. If I'm getting more than half my business from SOI referrals then I need to be spending more than half my time reaching out and communicating with my SOI. If I'm getting less than 10% of my business from social networking, then I need to divide my time accordingly. As much as I would like to spend more time on social networking sites (they fun and absolutely addicting), I need to be more disciplined and spend my time more efficiently.

That's all I'm saying and in the past few months that I have been really trying to practice that, it's proving successful. Unfortunately, I haven't been spending as much time blogging and playing in the rain but that's because I am busier with new business, which is all good.

Apr 10, 2009 05:35 AM

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