Special offer

The Media Comes Calling

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792

Sacramento Real Estate Voice in Business JournalSacramento Real Estate Voice, my outside blog was recently interviewed by a leading magazine called Sacramento Business Journal.

When called by the Sacramento Business Journal for an interview I thought that was all there was to it but within a few days I was contacted to provide a photo op.

Just to reiterate what our own Active Rain member, Jeff Dowler wrote in a recent article entitled "Engaging the Media..." you need to respond quickly. The media has a dead-line for their article.

So, on this day when I would have preferred wearing a solid color, I quickly ran over to the office in-between showing Sacramento houses for sale for the photo shoot.

The same was true when the TV station, channel 13 CW31 Kris Pickle interviewed me last year about Sacramento home foreclosures. They too had a dead-line of providing the evening news and there was little time to get to the foreclosed home that I picked and gather my thoughts for the interview.

While being interviewed for radio it was an interesting take as well. I thought we would handle the radio interview strictly on the phone but instead the interviewer met me at a Sacramento home for sale where the interview was conducted.

Media does not give much notice and your skills need to be ready and able when the call comes in for an interview. 

Just yesterday, I received a call to speak at a convention that will be held in Reno for employees of a company that wish to provide their personnel with information on buying homes in today's market, along with information about Short Sales and Bank-owned properties. I recommended my Lender be included as well as a Real Estate attorney.

For those that think that no one is reading your blog articles, this is a testament to the fact that they really are and once called from clients and the media it becomes more of a reality. Know your stuff and be the expert in the area. Not only will you be on page one of Google but the media will be calling.

Sacramento Real Estate Voice has been on page one of Google for 2 1/2 years  for several search terms; such as Sacramento Real Estate and Sacramento Home Buyer plus a lot more.  My blog site gets 406 average real visits per day, 733 average page views per day and featured as one of CNBC's favorite blogsite.  

I got my start right her on Active Rain back in 2006. I credit getting started with blogging to Active Rain where I first learned about it and found some exceptional professionals to call my friends.

I have had a wonderful experience with each of the interviews, the interviewer knows that we are not use to the limelight of media and they do an excellent job at making you feel comfortable, so that the information flows freely and the nerves are at rest.

You never know when the phone rings, if the media might be calling. So, those who are new to blogging this is a testament of what blogging does bring along with added business, a little notoriety.

Enjoy your interviews and get ready for some...they are just around the corner for bloggers.

This is your opportunity to share below how blogging has increased your business and visibility.

Comments(23)

Mike Klijanowicz
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD
Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors

GOOD FOR YOU!  Congratulations on this one.  Not only are consumers starting to find you on the web, so are the news reporters!!!

Sep 23, 2008 06:56 AM
Ross Quintana
Real E Smarter - Spokane, WA
Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966

I look forward to integrating the media more in this next year.

Sep 23, 2008 06:57 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Wow, congratulations.  That's amazing.  I think I could handle it if I had a media call, but no one so far has contacted me.

Sep 23, 2008 07:30 AM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional

Congratulations Gena - The buyers and sellers will be knocking at your door so they can "rub elbows" with you.

Sep 23, 2008 07:42 AM
Cat Zwicker, CRS
Desert Sky Real Estate, LLC - Redmond, OR
Down to Earth Service; Out of this World Results!

Gena,

    This is a great post. I've had a media opportunity before and you are right it is quick and on their schedule.  Unfortunately our local association has adopted a policy of all comments being routed through their office and then handed out to the Association executive with the most perceived expertise.  This really limits your ability to shine if you try not to step on association toes at the same time. Congratulations!

Sep 23, 2008 11:22 AM
Jason & Amber Gardner
Hasson Company, Realtors - Sherwood, OR
We're Committed to Your Success!

Congratulations!  I'd love to find my way into more press.  Is there a link to your story here in the paper? I'd love to read it!

Take care and great work!

Sep 23, 2008 02:03 PM
Liz Carter
Liz Carter & Team Realty-Your Real Estate Resource For Life! - Katy, TX
Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)

Gena...

Congratulations!  That looks like an awesome write up they did on you, and should bring you even more business.  It's nice to hear about good things happening to good people!  Talk to you tomorrow, L

Sep 23, 2008 02:13 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Bill, thank you. I think it's important to remain professional even more so in this economy (actually in any economy for that matter). When someone is entrusted us with the largest asset they have, they need to know that the person is seen in a positive light and knows what they are doing.

 

Sep 23, 2008 03:05 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Sheri, thank you. The Real Estate Tomato designed it. It is actually the second design that I have had and I think he did a great job on both of them.

Ed, a flowered shirt...then I guess mine was ok. I wasn't given much notice but that was my pick for the day. I know what you mean, you don't become nervous until after it's all over and then WOW. Congrats on your interview in the TV world.

Michael, yes they have been finding me thank heavens. Having had back surgery this year and being out of commission for 6 months, my blog brought me business that I was able to refer to other agents. It's great to be back in the saddle, now.

Sep 23, 2008 03:11 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Ross, that's a good idea. I really never planned it, it just came to me so I hope that you will grab some eyes in your area and they will contact you, too.

Margaret, I bet you could handle it just fine. Give it time. You just never know when they will be calling.

Judy, I'll take em. One at a time. I love what I do so the more the merrier.l

Sep 23, 2008 03:14 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Cat, are you serious. The association mandates that they are the only ones to be contacted? Is the media aware of that mandate? Doesn't sound like America to me...what do you think?

Jason, yes the link is above where you can read the entire article.  Thank you.

Liz, well thank you. It's been fun and I feel very blessed to have been one of the chosen that both the TV, radio and paper have chosen to interview. Not quite ready to be a TV star, though. I'll leave that up to the TV anchors. Talk to you tomorrow.

Sep 23, 2008 03:19 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Gena,

Congratulations on your media prescense, very well done. Jeff's post makes a lot of sense, I sat in on the same session at Blogworld that he reported on. Excellent information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 23, 2008 03:48 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Lynda, how in the world did you manage to get this huge space in-between your comment and your name. I bet you couldn't reproduce that if you tired. Thank you. Sounds like it was a good session of bloggers. Hope you came away with some valuable info. to hopefully share.

Sep 23, 2008 04:03 PM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional

Gena - when I clicked on your blog your point were at 188888. Now that is a great number being that 8 is the number of new beginnings and considered by many to be lucky. With your new found celebrity who knows that possibilities.

Sep 24, 2008 12:15 AM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Judy, you are so funny! I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. After blogging since 2006 it is amazing how long it has taken to get to this number while I've seen others get there much faster. Perhaps, someday I'll make it to that big 200,000.

New beginnings we could all use...so here's to new beginnings for both of us.

Sep 24, 2008 02:16 AM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Gena, Congratulations on your success with Sacremento Real Estate Voice. Since I started blogging on activerain, I've received contacts, clients and referrals. A a local mortgage broker called to tell me whenever he searched for homes for sale in Lynchburg, MY name kept coming up. He asked what I was doing and he's joined AR.

Sep 24, 2008 01:17 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Wow Gena, you're famous, and much in demand!  I did have a Wall St. Journal reporter contact me last year, about vacation condos on Maui.  It was as a result of AR, I was quite surprised!  It was fun to see the article quoting me.

Sep 25, 2008 01:33 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Congratulations, Gena. Thanks for the mention of my recent post which was really a summary of the great tidbits I picked up from Jim Duncan about the media in his session at REBlogWorld08. I think he had some great stuff to share and his experiences allow him to talk with some authority. My own media hisotyr is limited, with a contribution to the LA TImes last year. The article was well written and represented what I said accurately.

Best wishes for more media attention for you - you are WORTH IT!!

Jeff

Sep 28, 2008 03:34 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Gena - Congratulations! having a great presence by providing good content will certainly get you noticed.

Sep 28, 2008 04:21 PM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Good for YOU and it calls attention to all of us too by being in the same industry.  Thanks for the GOOD press.  There isn't always alot of that.  And tell that Lori Kim Polk hey for me.  She's a keeper.

Sep 28, 2008 07:26 PM