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To Blog or not to blog? Two Years Later

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with The Real Estate Investment Institute 1retiredsage

(This is an edited version of my article from 10-2006)

 To Blog or not to blog?

 To respond to blogs or not respond?

That is the question.

Whether it is better to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous... Exposure (?)

Over the last two years I have become an active participant it this site. Some strange and unexcepted things have been happening.

For health reasons I pretty much work from home, writing, consulting, working on my publishing business with occasional trips out to teach or speak. Two years ago I said: "To promote my books I syndicate articles, and it's done quite well." I don't syndicate much any more. Each article/blog carries the same key words that lead people to my web sites. Every article/blog carries my name, William J Archambault Jr, The Real Estate Investment Institute, and REII in the key words to lead people to me and the web sites. This has worked well for me, my articles are normally republished in seven countries on three continents, in three languishes (Why is beyond me, I have yet to sell a book outside of the USA.). My "A Consumers Guide To Mortgage Brokers and The Evil Yield Spread Premium" has to be one of the most republished internet real estate articles ever. (It has now, also been republished twice on Active Rain.) Every republishing carries my key words.

Now a long came bloging. I blog, but it's hard for me because I have to have something to say. I'm to set in my ways and too conservative to talk in sound bytes. Incomplete sentences drive me crazy. I'm a story teller for God's sake! But, blogs can be just a few words long, that's a lot easier than an essay or article, most importantly each blog carries my three key words along with the blog reverent ones!

I was very fortunate to spend more than a decade as an active member of Chapter # 1, of the Farm and Land Institute,wonderful people that helped each other. I believe a person finds what they're looking for. I've always look for good people and I found them in FLI, and now here. Good people help each other! I know, now Active Rain and the participants are good people!

Bloging isn't quite as up close and personal as FLI was, but it's helping others knowing that good things come around. Besides long nights, shrimp cocktails, and vodka gimlets are no longer part of my diet! Beer can't even be considered! Damn!

I respond to interesting blogs, sharing information and sharpening both our arguments. It's easy to participate the Blogger has already picked the subject, and hopefully develop the idea enough that all you need are a few words to enlarge it, redirect it, or pat the blogger on the back.

It's fun, I've bantered back and forth with some great people that I now would call friend' I hope someday to make that Friend with a capital "F"! .

Now the payoff, remember "what goes around comes around," My search engine hits have at least tripled because I come up not only on my key words, but also all those of the blogers, I comment on.

(Two years later, AR has gone from 10,000 members to nearly 100,000 and I still feel the same!)

As always,

Bill

William J Archambault Jr 

The Real Estate Investment Institute

 

We have also, evolved!

Visit our Pod-cast.

Refer clients to my Outside blog.

http://www.realestatesage.info

http://www.billarchambault.com

 

Posted by

Bill

William J Archambault Jr

The Real Estate Investment Institute

wja@reii.org      Cell 832-259-7078,      Houston 832-582-8415,       Las vegas 702-516-1569

     http://www.reii.org  Back Cover One House At A Time http:www//reii.orghttp://www.flippingforfunandprofit.info/ http://www.billarchambault.com   

From my past: GRI 1975, FLI 1974, Catalyst from a client 1974 an agent that makes things happen, REII, The Real Estate Investment Institute 1995.

http://www.reii.org

©William J Archambault Jr   ©The Real Estate Investment Institute   ©REII

Comments (10)

Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

I enjoyed your post. I respond to blog because I think if people take the time to write them they should know others are reading them. Also I respond and read more blogs that I write. This is because I know what I am thinking and it isn't new to me (usually). Liked your post thanks

Jul 13, 2008 07:48 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Great info.  Yep you have figured a big part out.  Much of the hits you get on the search engines come from your comments on other people's blogs, not just your own blog.

Jul 13, 2008 07:56 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Charlie,

Thank you!

"Also I respond and read more blogs that I write." Me too.

Bill

Jul 13, 2008 08:02 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Rob,

Thank you!

"Much of the hits you get on the search engines come from your comments on other people's blogs, not just your own blog."  Absolutly. It pays to be polite, people are watching. Thank god, it's good for all of us.

Bill

Jul 13, 2008 08:04 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

William one of the search terms I follow in my Google Alerts is real estate lead, you will be happy to note I just got this in my google alerts. I recognized your name so I came here.

Jul 13, 2008 11:54 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Missy,

Glad you found it.

I always like to hear from you, I have such fine memories of Ann Arbor. CCIM marking group  & FLI meet there regularly. Michigan / Michigan State Games. My friends Neial & John Bedford. All a long time ago.

Thanks for taking the time to say hello!

Bill

Jul 13, 2008 12:28 PM
Rich Kruse
Gryphon USA, Ltd. - Columbus, OH

Hi Bill.  I have actually stopped blogging and don't know if I am going to come back.  About a month ago I was on the witness stand involved in the business end of a cross examination concerning my qualifications as a business manager and liquidator.  While I do a lot of real estate, I also operate troubled businesses on an interim basis.  That fact was 100% looked over and my blog was the evidence against me.  Unfortunately there is no AR for distressed business guys. 

R

Jul 16, 2008 12:00 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Rich,

This doesn't surprise me. I predict that we're going to see more and more informational abuse!

I'll stand by my serious stories, but what about the sarcasm, and the tongue in cheek stories and remarks?

I can see it now you're being sued for an injured kid in one of your roach infested projects. I've been subpoenaed and have to fly in from NV.

Plaintiffs attorney. "Mr. Archambault, you know Mr Kruse?"

Me. "Yes"

Plaintiff's attorney. "You consult, Mr Kruse on property management?"

Me. "No"

Plaintiff's attorney. "You didn't advise Mr Kruse and his wife/partner, on natural pest control"

Me. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Plaintiff's attorney. "This isn't your comment or Mr Kruse's blog advising him to use snakes to cure his bug problem?"

Me. "I remember, that wasn't serious advice, it was a joke."

Plaintiff's attorney. "Then you did advice Mr. Kruse to use snakes! Your Honor, it's obvious that Mr Kruse acting on the witness's advice had snakes planted at the apartment project to cheaply control roaches! My client being viciously bitten, just one week later!"

Now as I understand the facts. The 13 year old boy, with one foot in childhood and one in puberty, had the garter snake in his pants pocket. Planning on scarring the girls at the pool, as he approached the pool a girl dove in and lost her top. Nature took over the boy and when presented with a hot throbbing target, Nature took over the snake, too!

Rich lots of experts are going to have to stop blogging! They're also going to have to drive old cars and stop carrying cell phones! And as if all the cameras weren't bad enough, the satellite photos available on line can identifies sunbathers in their own fenced in back yards! Think about that when Milsa wants to get rid of her tan lines!

Stay in touch.

Bill

Jul 16, 2008 03:07 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Bill - a great blog and interesting commentary. I have seen my web rankings increase since being on active rain. Maybe blogging does come hard for you but you certainly seem to have a continuous supply of interesting topics. I also respond to more than I write.

Note to self: Self - do not use snakes for roach control! Rodents, maybe, but not roaches!

Jul 16, 2008 04:08 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Thanks, Mike

Bill

Jul 16, 2008 06:27 AM