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Blogging is Easy; Getting Results is Hard

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Properties Seattle

Oh those Geeky Boys!

One of the biggest mistakes of bloggers is that they blog their heart out for months and months and THEN ask, why haven't I gotten any clients as a result of all of my efforts.

It is EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to construct a blog in a manner that will attract clients.  Note I did not say "leads".  I said "clients".

A blog is not a magazine.  You do not simply want readers.  All the attention to Search Engines and stats is for naught if no one ever hires you as a result of reading your blog.

Having fully researched Kevin Tomlinson and what makes him tick, It is apparent that at least 2/3rds of his blogging is going to be about the properties themselves.  That means photos, and lots of them.

Now we have to tweak his "Pretty Blog" set up to accommodate that which will bring Kevin business from his Blogging efforts.

Unlike other Coaches and apprentices, Kevin has a full staff of Technology and PR people.  Unlike Drew who was able to setup the whole blog for Tisza, I have been trying to work with Kevin's "people", and while it took me less than 24 hours to get www.ConsumerCentricRealEstateBlog.com up and running, Getting Kevin's Blog into the Blogosphere is taking an inordinate amount of time.

All Blogs and Bloggers are not created equal.  Your blog platform, your blog theme and your blog approach must match your strengths.  Every blog entry has to focus on your strengths and drive that point home.

It is not enough for a blog to say READ ME...a blog must say HIRE ME in a very subtle way.  Now that I know what Kevin's Blog has to do and say to translate into Hire Kevin Tomlinson as your Real Estate Consultant, I have to get the blog to say it for him.  And the style chosen by his Geeky Guys is NOT going to do that.

Better to spend the time getting it right up front, as later it becomes almost impossible to convert and you end up scrapping your initial efforts, wasting a lot of time and re-working your efforts.

Get it right the first time, that's the main thing...as Bill Joel would say.

Comments (6)

Kaye Thomas
Real Estate West - Manhattan Beach, CA
e-PRO, Manhattan Beach CA
Ardell- If anyone knows how to take a blog to the public and walk away with clients it's you..You have done an amazing job of promoting your blog into a major resource for business since moving to WA.
Apr 29, 2007 07:06 AM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley
Hi Ardell,

I always pay attention to what you have to say!  I wondered if in a future post you would talk more about what you said above, "It is EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to construct a blog in a manner that will attract clients." Being an apprentice here, I don't know what I'm doing. I have had a ton of success with leads from my websites, and my main approach there has been to provide unique content and enough info on myself that folks feel like they know me (or can if they want to read up on me). I'm viewing the blog similarly.  Am I on the wrong track?

Thanks so much...
Apr 29, 2007 07:19 AM
Keith Pate
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC

Thanks Ardell - I needed this! 

I've been in real estate for about 14 years. I'm in one of the hottest markets in the country, have just had a website created for me, and only began the world of blogging 3 weeks ago. I've learned a lot through A/R. From this post alone, I've learned that pictures are intriguing and important (Kevin does have some nice work) but........what is the BEST way to promote your strengths? Anyone have the answer?

 

Apr 29, 2007 07:44 AM
Judy Cicalese
William Raveis Real Estate - New Canaan, CT
Market Knowledge-Social Media Savvy 203-638-7812
Well, this is definitely something I need to learn about.  Blogging is new to me and I find it very addicting (especially reading some of these great blogs) but I need to go to the next level.  Do you have some specific ways to guide us?  I want to post, but I want it to be an interesting subject so I find myself "lurking" more than posting   -   I'm all ears.  Thank you
Apr 29, 2007 08:49 AM
Kevin Tomlinson
One Sotheby's International Realty- Miami Beach Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach Real Estate

My response to Judy is...

 

Girl just write!   Write anything and everything.  You will catch your groove!  That is what ARDELL told me to do at the beginning.  It will all come together.  Watch for ARDELL's posts and keep lurking, because if you are lurking you are learning.  Good Luck!

 

Apr 29, 2007 11:42 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Don't wait for perfection - just do it. Kevin's right - the more you write, the more comfortable you'll get, and soon you'll find your groove.
Apr 29, 2007 01:27 PM