Special offer

Dear Readers, I Do All My Own Content.

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX REAL ESTATE MOUNTAIN VIEW

I just read that a new service is being offered for realtors.  You can pay a company to do your blogging for you. They will do a years worth of blogging for $399/year. I have heard of assitants blogging for realtors, so it only makes sense that someone would find a way to capture a new opportunity to appeal to realtors who feel they are too busy to do their own. 

If a blog is a way for people to get to know you, then the question is who are you?  Sometimes it isn't the arrival at the destination but what you learned on the trip.  Garbage in, garbage out.  If they are writing for many realtors, (and they would have to for $399/year.)  How original can the content be?  How specific to your real estate practice, or to your target market can it be.  Just like a canned website is not as effective, how can a blog by a service replace your comments that refect your personality.  I think you are cheating yourself.  It is not something I would do even though it would make me score better.  Do you not think that Active Rain will evolve so that they will be able to tell what is canned and what is original.  I think they will, if they won't the readers will.  There are a lot of very talented and I am sure very successful bloggers on this site.  You can learn a lot if you take the time to read other blogs, and you can share what you have learned with others that are not in direct competition to you.  You will get out of it what you put into it.

Just as all of the content on our website is original, all of the content on our blog will be original and hopefully relevant to our real estate practice. 

View more Chestermere homes for sale and learn about living in Chestermere Lake at (http://www.chestermererealestate.com/)

Comments (105)

inactive AR account
Dayton, OH

Interesting discussion.

If you are able to purchase well written, highly insightful posts that provide excellent content and information for your readers, isn't that a service to them?

How often do we link to another blog or website to further inform our readers- what you are doing is, in fact, adding content to our post that is not written by us- we use it because it will educate our readers.

We work to find the best mortgage officer, the best home inspector, the best title company because it is what is best for our clients. We work to find the best links for our readers, it's just as wise to find the best writer for our blogs.

Jan 06, 2008 11:09 AM
Tom Burris
NMLS# 335055 - Baton Rouge, LA
Texas/Louisiana Mortgage Pro - 13 YRS Experience

I will NOT shelve a great article because I didn't write it....

I don't like the cut & paste plaigarism I see here..... but some people have shared some really great info that they DiDN'T write.

I don't care WHO writes it..... if it is good info, I will share it. (with proper citing of source)

Jan 06, 2008 12:57 PM
Darleen McCullen
Raleigh, NC
Broker - Raleigh, NC Real Estate

We live in a capitalistic society so I'm not at all surprised that someone has found a way to "capitalize" on a need that real estate agents may have.

I would never hire a company to write blogs for me because I enjoy writing my own.

Jan 06, 2008 01:07 PM
Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
It could also be bad, if a client likes what you wrote but you didn't write it. Or if they get to know your style from your writing, but realize you aren't what they are expecting. 
Jan 06, 2008 02:17 PM
Debra Gould
Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc. - Toronto, ON
The Staging Diva
I'm curious, do you think this is different than subscribing to a service that writes your monthly newsletters for you?
Jan 06, 2008 03:06 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Siting other matrials on the web is why we put in LINKS.  I also still say that you can not possibly provide quality material for $400 a year. Sorry, but that's nonsense. The question is why would anyone read YOUR canned material when the guy down the street also has the same canned material on his blog? Once you've got the same stuff posted on 10,000 blogs around the country its going to be pretty obvious that its all the same old, same old. 

Also, if I am not mistaken, google penalizes canned content on web sites - stock phrases used again and again are screened and penalized. The same will hold for blogs. 

Ghost writing will work when done on an individual basis. Let's say I want someone to write about a specific town or village. I would pretty much stipulate what I wanted the content to be and hire the writer to put it into words, maybe even come up with photos etc. In the end, it I would be outsourcing the bulk of the work without making it a mindless exercise. Garbage in - garbage out.

Jan 06, 2008 03:25 PM
Alex Zokan
Advisor's Realty Group - Orlando, FL

Good topic, I never even thought of anyone doing this. I would have to imagine the post have to be very repetitive and bland, I guess though if you can make money off of it, more power to you!

Jan 06, 2008 03:42 PM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

Debra brings up a good point.  Many send out newsletters with articles written by other people without noting who wrote the article.  I never used them because the person receiving them would assume I agreed with the article, and I rarely did.

But those who send them out don't seem to have this problem.  So it really is a "to each his own" kind of issue.

Jan 06, 2008 04:29 PM
Pamela STETSON
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Abbott Realtors - Mahwah, NJ
I would love to help you buy or sell your home!
Perhaps we could find someone to read for us, take our tests, attend biz functions, etc... it does seem that everyone is trying to divide themselves up into a million pieces... let the reader decide what works for them....
Jan 07, 2008 12:46 AM
Jackie - computer-training-atlanta.com
770.498.7333 - Atlanta, GA
Learn to leverage technology to get more done.

We provide ghost-writing services for our clients (blogs, articles, ezines, etc.). Unlike my own blog posts, which are often "off the cuff," the ones provided for clients are checked and proofread by another writer as well as an editor.

I get to know each client's style, niche, target market, USP, etc., before we begin providing the services. Clients tend to fall in to three groups: (1) those who want us to handle it all, (2) those who call or email ideas which we flesh out, and (3) those who want us to fill in when they don't have the time to blog.

I do not see how this service can provide fresh, original, quality content at $399 per year, but kudos to them if they are able to pull it off. 

Jan 07, 2008 01:15 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Again, I actually like the concept since I subscribe to Realty Times. They have great articles and, I doubt, if those other than us, even know it isn't written by the agent. I just think I have to keep my mind open on this subject.

Jan 07, 2008 08:28 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

For $399 a year you will probably get blogs that are recycled from one site to the next and the same blog is likely to surface at your site, say, every six months. True professionals write their own posts and offer informative content for their readers.

 

Jan 07, 2008 08:55 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Hmm...interesting but not surprising.  While there are many within the real estate industry who are embracing or delving into blogging, there are more that have not yet begun.  Hopefully that will change.  Blogging is such a great way to voice your opinions, knowledge, personality and your general character.  What other opportunity would you have to do this with potential clients if not by a face to face meeting. 

 In speaking with some of our real estate agents, I think the most daunting task is the perception that it will take more time then they have to begin and maintain a blog.  Any words of wisdom on time management when entering the blogosphere? 

Jan 08, 2008 02:00 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous
I truly enjoyed reading this blog, and the comments on both sides.  I have mixed thoughts, and both sides have excellent points.  Good blog!
Jan 08, 2008 02:47 AM
#101
Marlene Calderon
Luimar Investments and Loans - Torrance, CA
I agree a 100%. We can not pay someone to say what we want. Excellent post!!
Jan 08, 2008 04:24 AM
Kelly St. Germain
Build a Pipeline - Walnut Creek, CA

Since I have worked as a real estate assistant, as a real estate business development manager, and even as a ghost poster, I have my own personal take on this subject.  

Some realtors have outstanding administrative skills and can post a listing to their MLS, website, blog and craigslist in 2 minutes or less without error. Some realtors are blessed with a charismatic personality and can, in person, network their way to success. Some realtors publicly speak with an expertise that commands respect and thus gain clients through seminars. But all have a varied degree of different skillsets.  To succeed, they must know themselves and how best to utilize their time and talents to achieve their goals.

IMO, there is no real right or wrong on this issue. What works for one agent may never work for another.

But what my experience has taught me is this: there will be a particular point in the sales process when the agent needs to communicate DIRECTLY with their prospect. An assistant, biz dev manager, or ghost poster can not substitute for the agent and agent, strengths and/or weaknesses will be revealed.

Kelly

Jan 08, 2008 05:12 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results
I think Kelly said it at all "IMO, there is no real right or wrong on this issue. What works for one agent may never work for another." Nothing else is important not my feelings or take on the subject or yours its up to the individual and what works for them and what they are comfortable with.
Jan 08, 2008 08:08 AM
Anthony Licciardello
RealEstateSINY.com - Staten Island, NY
 I agree with your ideology and write all my own content. However the realty consumers like fast food, no one knows whats in it, they just eat it. Its just the way those with the financial ability advance their take on the "fast food consumer", which unfortunately is a large part of the population.
Jan 08, 2008 02:15 PM
Anonymous
Shawn Kosloff

I'm continually amazed at the agents that say they want a blog and then never post on it. All it takes is 15 minutes a week to make a few posts about topics that would be interesting to their buyer and seller clients.

I have one client that has an office of over 40 agents. You would be think that their blog would be rocking. But in the 4 months the blog has been active I have made more posts on it than all of their agents combined. 

 

Jan 11, 2008 07:04 AM
#106
Keith Vincent
Maxwell South Star Realty - Calgary, AB

I agree with you wholeheartedly, with one exception. Where articles of high value and interest to your client base are reprinted or re-posted clearly marked as such and with the permission of the writer. For instance I will publish articles from the Calgary Real Estate News, they are clearly marked and I have permission.

The last thing I want is to have a room full of monkeys with typewriters churning out content for me and have it represented as my product.

Jan 26, 2008 03:50 AM