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I'm BAAAACK! & 10 Things About Blogging

By
Industry Observer

Wow... I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted.  Let me just say that rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!

10 Things Every REALTOR Needs to Know About Blogging

As many ActiveRainers know, I was in Seattle back in June to present along with Debe Maxwell at RainCamp.  It was a great experience and I was so excited to present at the last two RainCamps.  Sharing a stage with people like Bob Stewart, Ben Kinney, Todd Clark, Brad Andersohn and Rich Jacobsen (and of course Debe) is humbling.  All of these people are real-life rock stars and tough presenters to follow.  It was also a rare treat to be in Seattle to help ActiveRain celebrate their 5th anniversary.

I have been exceptionally busy since I returned from that trip and that is partly the topic of this post.  One thing that I have been busy with is that on September 20th I have been asked to be a speaker at a half-day Real Estate technology even being sponsored by the MetroTex Association of REALTORS.  They chose the topic of my presentation for me, it is "10 Things Every REALTOR Needs to Know About Blogging".  Pretty good topic, huh?  I love David Letterman and his "Top 10" lists, so this could be a lot of fun, and I like this style of presentation.

Anyhow, I thought it would be a lot of fun to throw this topic open to the members of ActiveRain and get suggestions of items you think should be on the Top 10 list..  What I will do is review the results and present the Top 10 list as a result of actual Real Estate bloggers from around the country (and Canada) and then tell the attendees if they want a cope of the list they can logon to Active Rain to see it in a post I will make on the day of the presentation.  Maybe it will even help bring new blood into AR from the North Texas area.

So here's your chance... leave me a comment below and include 1 (or as many as you'd like) items you think should be on the list of the "10 Things Every REALTOR Needs to Know About Blogging".  If I use your suggestion(s) in the final presentation list, I will even attribute it to you and mention what city you are in as a way for people who view the presentation or subsequent blog post to find you for networking and referrals!

I can't wait to see what suggestions, tips and pearls of blogging wisdom we come up with!

Comments (91)

Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Steve, all wonderful suggestions for sure. I have just one thing that I think should be on the top 10 list. So many are afraid of blogging, they don't know what to talk about, who cares what I think.... on and on.

To break that ice, get out there and blog about local upcoming events. Great Google MILK, and it really does help to kick start blogging.

And oh yeah.. use pictures!

Aug 15, 2011 04:55 PM
Gwynn Carpenter
Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin) - Austin, TX
: Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191

Steve:  Welcome back fellow Texan!  Your life has been busy and you are becoming a rock star based on what you've been doing and who you hang with....blogging is just conversation in written form.  We all have conversations - some great, some good, some we wish we'd never had but if you can talk, you can blog.

Whether this makes the top ten or not, it's just one of the many reasons a person can blog (notice I didn't say should blog).  Just as life those that don't blog are probably the introverts of the real estate world.

I wish for you great success at the 1/2 day expo.

Aug 16, 2011 02:36 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Steve.  It sounds like you have been busy...

Congrats on all the bonus exposure!

Ken

Aug 16, 2011 02:43 AM
Wayne Thompson
Walden Mortgage Group - Lexington, KY
CMB

Steve...

Two suggestions:

1) Bring in guest bloggers. They can add a new tone that will give you some variety that keeps people coming back. Maybe you could swap off writing for each others blogs

2) Have a list of blog ideas and websites that you can refer to when you are struggling with a topic. There was a post on AR last year that listed about 125 different ideas which has been a great resource.

Good luck.

Wayne

 

 

Aug 16, 2011 03:38 AM
Laura Coffey
Laura Coffey & Associates - Valencia, CA
Broker Associate

I hear Facebook is taking over and the way we blog in regards to SEO search engines through Google is going to be a thing of the past and we need to focus on Facebook in terms of search engines.... I'm not very savvyon the whole subject but if you know anythingabout that I would love to read a post about it.

Aug 16, 2011 04:03 AM
Cheryl Gritzer
RE/MAX Town Centre - Orlando, FL

Very cool read......there's definitely lots of ideas to complete the top 10 list.

I'm one of those reluctant bloggers...not sure how to start.  I will be looking for the final "polished" list....and perhaps practive my writing in the meantime

Cheryl

Aug 16, 2011 04:36 AM
Jim McCormack
Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Jim McCormack - Edge Advantage Realty, LLC - 615-796-6898 - Murfreesboro, TN
Nashville Short Sale REALTOR - Stop Foreclosure

Good information.

Aug 16, 2011 04:46 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Reply to your commenters - and post thoughtful comments on other people's blogs.

Aug 16, 2011 05:04 AM
Mitch Claymore
RealtyPLR.com - Wolfeboro, NH

LOCALIZE and then localize some more! Your next keyword-savvy blog entry will have you competing with the rest of the nation for searchers hunting for information on those keywords -- but when you ties them into your own territory by creating keyword-local keyphrases, you stand to surface where it counts!

 

Aug 16, 2011 06:10 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

As Bob Stewart would say:  Write about your niche, and often. 

My niche is green real estate, and other things that affect housing that are green.  Since I have a few heavy titles in our town I can attest to being unique.  I think blogging about something unique and providing something of value to keep people reading is key!

Aug 16, 2011 06:16 AM
Judi Monday
RE/MAX Valley Properties - Green Valley, AZ
CRS-Green Valley AZ Expert, Green Valley Arizona R

A great reason to blog on AR:  write your post at  9 a.m. , have it go live at 10 and be #1 in the search engines for your area on the topic you've written about by 12:00!

Aug 16, 2011 06:28 AM
Steve Barker
Movement Mortgage - Bel Air, MD
Steve Barker

PRE-Blog or practice blog...do not blog until you can keep a journel for 30 days as a practice blog, if you can do it for 30 days with only you reading it, when you do start you will already be in the habit

Aug 16, 2011 06:31 AM
Thom Abbott
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale

You were gone? I didn't miss you? Oh, probably because of my very own absence of playing in the rain.

Launching a second new website.....this IS the stuff gray hairs and ulcers are made of.....and I've sworn off the wine for a week....so stay clear!

GREAT post and everyone's comments are worthy. So many great ideas from video and pictures to being yourself, but not making it about you..it's for THEM!

ROCK on!

Aug 16, 2011 06:55 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Thanks for the post today.  I enjoyed the read.

 

Patricia Aulson/ Seacoast NH * ME REALTOR

Aug 16, 2011 07:05 AM
Ben Blonder
Broker/Owner, Keller Williams - Fort Collins, CO
Buyers, Sellers, Investors!

Presentation is key. So is content. Make your posts read easily, flow nicely and have quality info. This will make for a great blog!

Aug 16, 2011 02:55 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

The number One Rule of Blogging - Don't wait until you understand everything before you get started - or you will never get started.  Just get going, learn as you go and improve along the way.

Aug 17, 2011 06:07 AM
S W
Centerville, KS

You have to make it jump out and easy for the reader to scan through. No one wants to read small, black text in paragraph form in a blog. Its suppose to be quick and easy!

Aug 17, 2011 10:19 AM
Gerard Gilbers
Higher Authority Markeing - Asheboro, NC
Your Marketing Master

Ask questions/Do a survey to engage your readers AND find out what they want. Sneaky trick to have others do your work for you!!! Great job......and engaging too!

Aug 17, 2011 06:28 PM
Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Steve - it is great to see you back!  I have missed you!  I am signing up for the day and can't wait to hear you again.  My thoughts...after almost a year now are:

1.  Be consistent - set a goal and stick to it.  Blogging a couple of times a month won't be worth much.

2.  Get "small" - find a niche and go for that rather than to trying to dominate the entire market.

3.  Be "you" - let your personality shine through, but don't make it about "you" - it is about "them" - your target audience.

4.  Use great photos.

5,  SEO, SEO, SEO - still working on this.

6.  Use back linking & keep them in your site.

7.  Never rant, talk politics or religion & be positivee.

8. Use spell check - then check it again and again!  You don't want to be hangning out there forever looking like a third grader.

9.  Take classes, strive to learn something every week.

10.  Follow great leaders...such as you, Sreve!

Can't wait to see you in September.  Enjoy the day!

Aug 18, 2011 01:10 AM
DeeDee Riley
Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA
Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

Welcome back Steve!   I would say:

*Don't give up.  Stick with it and it will pay off.

Aug 18, 2011 08:25 PM