Home > Blogs > Carin Arrigo-Zimmer > Carin's Blog

Websites, Blogs, AR, Oh My!

By Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

Real Estate Agent with TopBroker Network Real Estate

July 06, 2008 04:53 PM

I love real estate. Though I'm still new and haven't made a dime as of yet, the possibilities for my business and enthusiasm continues to grow at a fairly rapid pace. I'm reading tons on various websites, prancing over to my office several days per week, with the intention of becoming the best and most confident real estate consultant I can be. I find the more open I am to learning, the happier I am. I'm the proverbial newbie sponge, soaking up blogs, yet far from saturated.

Dilemma, you ask? Au Contraire!

Being new, one needs a website, right? And after that website, well, you gotta have a blog. But wait, it would probably behoove one to have more than one blog because one's message should target more than one group. Got that? And while one's at it, best to think of joining a few other social networks, such as facebook, linkedin, etc. because one can never get enough juice pouring their way.

Here's the thing. I'm still working on a website but get distracted with my blog. I barely get started on my Active Rain blog, then read that most bloggers on AR have another blog outside AR. Great. So about 2 weeks ago, I started a blog on WordPress, where I figured I can write about things other that real estate which excited me because I love writing and it's good to keep the mind sharp. So far, so good. But wait! I then find out, Active Rain now has an Outside Blog, so maybe I should can the whole WordPress thing? OK, forget about that for a minute and concentrate on the website piece. If I can get that finished, then I'll be able to link my blog(s) and get this bit of technology under my technology-impaired belt. Hold it. I'm spending so much time setting up blogs, reading about blogs, even ocasionally writing blogs, my brain is on overload. And what about the tags? Did I put enough tags, or the right tags in my last blog? Forget it. I'll remember to do better with tags the next blog I write. Riiiight. What if I just fore-go the website altogether and use my blog as a pseudo-website? I mean, isn't that what a blog kinda is? Not sure. Back to scratching my head. Oh, and btw, in between all this stuff, lets keep up with weekly previews and consistently keep up the work with those wonderful sphere of influence homies. Uh oh. It's been at least a day or two since I've checked out Active Rain, now I'm late once again to the online party. Darn. Don't even get me started on the new Localism site beginning this week. Maybe I'll get that website done after all.

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Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Ruthmarie ~ Thank you for taking the time to comment.

I've definitely found a few bloggers here on AR I completely admire and respect. Not sure exactly what you mean by saying "relying on AR exclusively is risky? Strange things can happen and you need to protect yourself." By "relying" do you mean trying to "copy" other bloggers? I'd really appreciate more input on this. Thanks. :-)

Jul 14, 2008 07:27 AM

Kevin McGourty

Realty ONE Group - Phoenix, AZ

Funny, lots of choices. But sure beats the old fashion way of marketing.

Jul 17, 2008 12:13 PM

Linda Reynolds

Bradenton Real Estate - Linda Reynolds - Bradenton, FL

Bradenton Real Estate

It is very easy to get sucked in! The best thing for you to do is step back and look at the big picture. Design your strategy on paper before you start building it. Determine who and what areas you want to market and how you want to accomplish that and how all your systems will tie together. Then you will know where to go from there. Prioritize them and then stick to that one project until it is done. One of the things I do is when I come across something that has peaked my interest, I have a list which I will go back to when I get that project done I am working on. If you keep bouncing from project to project you won't have anything completed and it will accomplish nothing. It won't be done overnight, this is an ongoing thing. Just take it one step at a time and you will be ok. I have been working on my infrastructure for 6 years and still tweaking as new technologies come out or the rules change in the search engines. Rest assured, if you don't do it, you won't suceed in the business. Too many people come to the internet first and that is when you want to capture them.

Jul 17, 2008 01:57 PM

Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Kevin~ Thanks for your comment.

Linda~ Thanks for some sound advice. I get what you mean by bouncing from one project to project without accompishing much of anything. I still struggle with what areas I want to market. This seems to be my toughest decision as of yet.

Jul 21, 2008 11:26 AM

Kimberly Underwood Kostescu

Coldwell Banker Crampsie Realty - Windsor, ON

Carin,

Although I may be a little late to comment here, but I disagree with Aaron. His comments:

go knock on doors....
make some money
then make a website to capture leads...
see mine www.BarnesBrokerage.com
then blog

seem to be reversed. Atleast by my way of thinking. Get your website up and running, post a couple of blogs and then go knock on doors. I believe this will be more rewarding for you as you will have somewhere to direct potential buyers and sellers that you haven't met but have spoken to on the phone or are too busy to talk when you do knock on their door. Leave your card with your website and email address on it. You can always say something like: "if you have access to the internet and want to know more about me, visit my website at.............". I have found this particularily helpful when taking office duty calls and the caller only wants specific info about a property such as what is the listing price, what did it sell for etc. I always end those conversations with a little personal blurb like the one I mentioned above and if I get a call with the potential to meet someone about a CMA etc. then again I do the same thing. That way you have a chance to make an impression before the actual meeting. There are many opportunities to direct traffic to your site in order to encourage loyalty. But you need a website first ! The more they visit your site, the better for you.

Jul 26, 2008 02:24 PM

Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Hi Kimberly~ Never too late for comments! I really appreciate you taking the time.

It makes sense that one should have a decent website before working on other methods of prospecting. Prospecting isn't something I'm very comfortable with anyway, preferring to work with referrals from my SOI. Yet when one doesn't know me, at least a website is a great way for others to get to know who I am, my philosophies, etc. I think I've pretty much come to the same conclusion...I guess I haven't really wanted to admit it out loud because I'm using this particular website template and it's very tedious putting it together! So thanks for comfirming what I already knew and giving me a light, but friendly motivational kick. :-) Thanks so much.

P.S. I see you're from Ontario! Never been but would love to visit someday. Been to Alberta and B.C. My 13-year-old daughter has recently fallen in love with everything about Canada and can't wait to go!

Jul 26, 2008 03:41 PM

Kimberly Underwood Kostescu

Coldwell Banker Crampsie Realty - Windsor, ON

Carin,

I'm so glad you appreciated my comments ! I took a look at your website and love the graphics, very inviting. It does look a little more difficult to put together than the Point 2 site I did for myself though. However, yours looks more original.

On a different issue, I've always wanted to visit California ! Ever think about switching houses for a short term vacation !!! LOL

Your daughter has great taste ! Canada is a wonderful country and Ontario the most beautiful of all provinces, of course, I'm biased though !

Enjoy your evening !

Kimberly

Jul 26, 2008 04:07 PM

Neal Barnes

Starstate Realty - Killeen, TX

Broker, REALTOR, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, SRS.

Hi Carin -- Welcome to ActiveRain. I am sure you will enjoy networking here. Have a great day!!!

Aug 04, 2008 05:19 PM

Matthew Zgonc

Aksland Real Estate - Modesto, CA

Realtor, CFS, CVS

Hi Carin. I would suggest the following. Put your active rain blog on your website with an IDX window since this is the site that will get your page ranking up and people calling.

Aug 05, 2008 02:53 AM

Aaron Fox

Century 21 Looking Glass - Grand Ledge, MI

e-PRO

Carin- Dont Get overwhelmed. Start one aspect, get that done then Add another one. Before you know it it will all be Taken care of. I use AR as my outside Blog and have had success with that. Keep plugging away and it will come! Dont forget though Communication and Personel skills are and always will be the key to a great Real Estate Agent.

Aaron Fox Century 21 Looking Glass www.AaronSellsRealEstate.com Email- Aaron.Fox@Century21.com Phone- 517-404-0050

Aug 05, 2008 03:08 AM

Pat Whitehouse

RE/MAX 1st Olympic Lynchburg Va - Lynchburg, VA

Broker/Owner

Carin-Your brain can definitely get on overload with all the info that is out there. Just take it one step at a time, you'll do fine. Happy blogging

Aug 08, 2008 01:29 AM

Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Hi Neal~ Thanks for the warm welcome! Great to meet you.

Matthew~ The small company I work at has IDX on their website. Now I just need to get it on mine! And btw, Modesto gets a bad rap sometimes, but one of my dearest friends lives there and I think it's a great town. My favorite part of the city is downtown. Love the new performing arts center and any town that has its own symphony is pretty cool. :-)

Aaron~ Thank you for the words of encouragement. Totally agree with you regarding communitcation and personal skills. Nothing beats those important qualities, not even the best written blog. I'm happy to hear that the use of AR's blog as your outside blog has been successful for you!

Pat~ You're message made my day! One step at a time.... Thanks for putting a smile on my face. :-)

Aug 09, 2008 06:48 AM

Mauricio Navarro

AOVZ.COM - Miami, FL

Bloggin is great.. Not only do you get your word out but the search engines like Google and Yahoo like blogs.. Having multiple blogs link to your own personal website is great - it will help your website rank high in the search engines, which means more traffic to your site, which means more leads which results in more closings... Blog away!

- Toronto Mortgage

Aug 10, 2008 03:52 AM

Donna Yates

BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA

Blue Ridge Mountains

Carin: You do need a website! Bloggin' on AR is super but you need both. I hope you are able to keep your enthusiasm, that's the real key. My best to you.

Aug 10, 2008 06:23 AM

Karen Rice Keller Williams Real Est

Keller Williams Real Estate - Hawley, PA

Northeast PA & Lake Wallenpaupack Home Sales

I have an outside blog and it does get a lot of traffic (about 100+ views a day) BUT almost all of my contacts from customers comes through my ActiveRain blog.

Just sayin...

I too jumped on the outside blog bandwagon and in fact drove myself nuts. I was thinking about setting up a blog for every community / development I work in - and then I realized that I was going crazy. SO I now focus mainly on my AR blog and my outside blog - I do want to keep it even though I rarely get contacted through it. I know people are seeing it because they sometimes mention something that was only on that blog, not the AR one.

Don't worry you attack this just like eating an elephant - one bite at a time.

Aug 10, 2008 04:25 PM

Derenda Grubb

CENTURY 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.'s - Lake Charles, LA

GRI, ABR, CRS

Carin,

Welcome to the Cyber world. Is there ever enough - too much? I am always discovering another great idea, many on AR. I guess you just keep adding them on and remember they are to assist in the real estate world not interfere.

Aug 10, 2008 04:31 PM

Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Hello Toronto! Thanks for your comment. Keep up the bloggin'!

Donna~ Thank you for mentioning the all important word, enthusiasm. Though I don't blog on a reguar basis (yet!) I find that when I'm on a blogging roll my enthusiasm is contagious. A great feeling.

Karen~ Just looked at your profile. What a great writer you are! Oh, yes, who didn't want to be perky Julie from The Love Boat? Well, at least us from the 70's... And how was it that Issac the bartender was always the only one around serving drinks? Any hoo, thanks for the input. At this point, I still find it challenging trying to keep up with one blog, let alone an outside blog! Sheesh! Kuddos to ya for chewing on that elephant a bit more. :-)

Derenda~ I know what you mean by discovering another great idea! As Cyber world keeps growing, I keep learning all I can about the biz. I'm truly loving it! Thanks for the comment.

Aug 10, 2008 05:07 PM

Mark Richards

Cherry Creek Properties - Castle Rock, CO

Castle Rock/Denver Real Estate

AR first then the outside blog. One step at a time. :-)

Aug 10, 2008 05:10 PM

Carin Arrigo-Zimmer

TopBroker Network Real Estate - Orange, CA

TopBroker Network Real Estate

Mark & Wendy ~ Yes! One step at a time, especially now that business is picking up for me! This newbie is finally getting busy. :-) Thanks for the comment...

Aug 12, 2008 04:22 PM

Tracy Santrock

Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC

Raleigh - Cary Broker

It's certainly like a big water hose in the beginning. However, the vast amount of resources will help you get up to speed in notime. I know I've been around for 2 and 1/2 years and my action item list keeps getting longer and longer. There are only so many hours in a day!!

Best wishes and call me if you have any questions.