If you've been an agent longer than 15 minutes you've probably had a bad client come along. You've probably had some bad houses, even a listing come and go and when bad happens it's natural to want to vent. Well let me tell you, from experience, don't do it in your blog posts.
Once upon a time, back in the stone age of blogging I typed a post (no longer there) when I was just a little bit angry because the client did almost the opposite of every single suggestion I offered. I don't think THAT client read that post that was only up for a matter of days. However, I was given some good advice in the comments. Some suggested removing it and others suggested making it members only. I took the best advice and removed it.
Now I did take the "idea" of why you should listen to the advice of your listing agent and write a new, softer, gentler and less snarky way for me to give my message and make my point. As it turned out I felt so good about the second post I wrote that I actually emailed a link to the client who I felt wasn't listening. And when I explained that if you do the things your listing agent suggests then you will likely sell your home faster. (it was 2009 and in that era houses had a LOT of competition and few buyers).
It worked, so my advice is to take the advice I was given. Take those things that make your mad or frustrated and turn them in into a soft touch advice post to clients. Sometimes that means you need to take a day or two to let the frustration settle before your fingers hit the keyboard. ALWAYS, always ask yourself... Will this blog post help or hurt my business before you hit the submit key? If it's not a clear cut HELP, put it in draft and rework it until it is a "this will HELP my business post.
And when it comes to venting... call a close friend who is a agent and I'm sure they will listen and sympathize. Sometimes I feel like venting to other friends who are not agents, but I don't think they understand. I have a good friend who is also a local broker that we tend to do that and I have several close friends who are agents out of my market that will always lend an ear when I really just need to get something out of my system. Sometimes talking it out with a friend will also give me a solution I might not come up with on my own.
And if you are having a really crappy day and need to vent... you can always call me and I'll be happy to listen and talk it out with you and see if we can think of a helpful solution together.
Secondly:
Don't blog about on going transactions! Clients read your posts and they are more likely to be reading while their transaction is on going. I clearly remember when I posted about not attending a closing because my daughter was in a car accident on the way to school and I was at the hospital with my children when a closing took place. Although it was years later I wrote about the importance of attending the ONE I missed that client read it and said, "hey that was me." While it wasn't a big deal in that instance, it was still a lesson of YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS READING. Are the sellers reading about how much your clients love a home, are the sellers reading about how messy the house you showed today? It's the same as discussing an offer in a house that might have cameras. You don't give away your position. Save the post for after the fact and alter the details to protect the innocent and maybe the guilty too.
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