I'm Going to Post RE Blogging Heresey...

Lane: I enjoyed reading your thought process. I am trying to add more market reports to our blog and believe there is a balance that needs to be reached. Thanks - Carrie

Hi Lane. This too is what I am finding. An example, a couple years back I did a blog post on Morel Mushroom hunting locally. I still get random calls from out of state people just looking to come and hunt for mushrooms!

Can you give us a link with one of your preferred local market report formats?? I'd love to see how you are presenting that information, thanks!

Excellent information, but I want to point something out.  All those non-realestate related posts about local events and the like make your site MORE VISIBLE to the search engines.  You mention that you have seen your traffic drop.  Unfortunately, your organic ranking will be affected if you stop blogging about other local stuff.  Yes, you are getting lots of random traffic.  In the end, that it GOOD, as those people just remember your name when their friends want to buy a house.  If your blog is abouit your community, and also happens to have the meaty stuff buyers/sellers are looking for, it is a win-win-win for everyone.  You have craeted a relationship with people who aren't currnently ready for the market, but might be a year from now, or two years, or five years, but might know someone else who is ready NOW.  

Thanks Lane.  It's nice to know what generated business for other realtors.  There are so many differing points of view out there.

Thanks for your post Lane.  I'm a Home Stager so I come from a slightly different place when blogging.  After a year of blogging, I feel like I am still trying to find my voice.  Tips are always appreciated.

Suggested, and bookmarked for sure.  I agree with you-- I have gotten a deal from a "community-neighborhood" post-- people want info on specific neighborhoods, the homes, the market, the prices, and culture there.  Also-- referrals on AR are a source of income-- and those relationships come from sharing about not only our area, but ourselves.  Kathy

Lane, I have been rethinking my blogging strategy of late... Thank you for spelling it out so succinctly.  This is a great guidline for any blogger.  Luckily for me, I'm a Realtor-Blogger.  Super!

Lane I tend to agree with you, but do you think that the recognition those other post are getting you might provide some synergy in the community?

That's good info and something to keep in mind.  I know I should be doing more market reports and this is good reason to do that.

Lane:  One of the things you said in your post really rings true, yet so few bloggers here do it.  Lots of "market reports" and market stats, but so FEW go into decent detail and interpret what those reports and stats mean... in language that the typical reader, or even the typical Realtor, can understand.

Great post.

Another wonderful post that helps crystallize direction for me.  Thank you for taking the time to offer your experience.  I've bookmarked for future reference. 

There are still some people that 'dis' the market report but I'll have to agree. Nothing gets people to start talking or looking on the internet then their own area/subdivision.  I think agents just don't like to write them & they can be boring if you make them boring!

I think it was last week that 'someone' (will remain nameless) was put in the newsletter & personally I think they absolutely suck at market reports. There are sooooooo many others that are much better at it than that person was.

I just finished one today, tell me what you think. 

I missed the "scathing" part ;) so I'll be over next week to shoot some hyper-local video about hyper-local information in your hyper-local area so you can get some hyper-local listings/sales and I can do so hyper-local (to you) mortgages :))

I know market reports are supposed to be the best thing to write about to get more business but I can't figure out just what to write. It seems that things just don't change all that much from one month to to the next.

I was trying to determine which posts are getting the most traffic, it surprises me when I go back that market reports are still popular. I do like what you did with your market report, I have been keeping to the same market report for a long time. Perhaps I should mix it up just a bit, I can think of how I would like to do it a bit better.

Great post, wonderful food for thought.

Like everyone else, I have to say that your post has made me STOP and re-think my focus of blogging for my site.

My issue is that I have been blogging everyday for over a year now and I am just SO bored with the Market Updates and showing market graphs and charts, that it is nice to look at local events and get ideas.  They also help me personally find things to do sometimes. 

My issue is, how much can you really write about Real Estaste and not have it be repetative to the readers? I specialize in Metro Detroit Short Sales, so this does give me some variety, but where can I find some great places for NEW information and statistics to share?

Couldn't agree more...not really interested in the family dog or whats playing at the local theatre...I f I go to a real estate blog I want to read about real estate.