At Point2 we're very interested in how blogging can benefit real estate professionals.  This discussion is definitely going on my watch list!  

Ron,

I actually had a blog on p2agent before p2agent introduced the blog to the site but I took it down because I couldn't find the time to post, and I thought at the time it may a little too much.

I have recently started posting on the one p2agent created and dropped the other one.

What I find effective is pretending a buyer or seller is asking questions, such as:

Ron, can I save money going directly to the listing agent?

Ron, I like older homes and mature neighborhoods but I am worried about repairs and upkeep, and the newer homes have a lot to offer. What are the pros and cons?

Ron, I have heard the market is in a downturn, what is it like in your area?

Ron, should I go a 100% percent loan or pay 20% down -- I plan to live in the house for about 4 yrs?

Ron, are all real estate agents sleazebags?

Then, I take the question and create a blog with the answer. My problem is still finding the time, because if it is on my site, I want it to be comprehensive and effective, and that takes time and thought to create.

Good one Ron,

I can only speak for myself but as I go about my daily activities which include the same things we all do, I find it easy to talk to someone in front of me about a topic that I know about such as that perfect Home or whatever.

It would seem that as we focus on making a living in this business the only thing to talk about is real estate, So in doing so the best subject matter is of course the thoughts and comments from our piers who can relate.

For me it is hard to grasp at straws that I feel the world would like to hear about so my blog is unfortunately about 2 bedroom 2 bath blah,blah,blah.

It will be interesting to see what others have to say about this subject .

Ron,

My personal blog is about as exciting as watching paint dry!  I have ideas but they never seem to make it to the blog.  I have a passion for the environment and I want to blog about "Green Building" but I have yet to get it done.  

I like you find this forum of talking to my peers much easier...

I thank you for bringing up this topic. Our blog is just sitting there with two posts that bore me. I like Mike's idea. I'm going to work on it now.

Do real estate agent blogs always have to be about real estate? Why not write about community news: inspiring people in your community, events worth noting, local school news, the local non-profits, etc.?

I've just launched a site for a REALTOR(R) in Lawton, OK, Linda Jefferson, who has started a non-profit organization, Operation C.A.R.E., to raise money for a Lawton military family. The husband came home from Iraq paraplegic, then an auto accident left his 9 year old son in a wheelchair too while one of their two daughters a lost a kidney. Linda stays so insanely busy with her efforts on behalf of this family that she barely finds time to sleep, but one of our next tasks will be for her to learn how to post updates to her  blog, which is titled "Operation C.A.R.E. News". Linda's site, a work-in-process, is at:

http://www.GoArmyHomes.com

It seems to me that news of this nature -- where people can read about themselves and their neighbors -- would be more interesting to people in your community than the latest news on interest rates... or whatever.

Suzanne

Suzanne Hathcock Stephens

Point2 Agent Design Partner

http://www.SuzStephens.com

    If you try to keep up with all of the Blogs and socializing sites for realtors, and there are more every day, you will be occupied 24/7/365 writing, publishing, blogging, and socializing.  You won't have time to make a living doing real estate.

    All of these sites and activities are great for people who want the social aspect of real estate, interacting with other people, or like to read and write, but don't want to do the actual work involved in earning money as a realtor.

   So, once in a while I participate in a blog, or read something that looks interesting.  But 99.9 % of it I completely ignore and use my time to concentrate on satisfying my regular clients and servicing new customers who want to buy and sell all types of real estate in the real world.

By the way, another use for blogs is to support your niche marketing efforts. I have a client who uses his blog as an RSS feed to his home page at http://www.JoeJanus.com to highlight architecturally significant homes that might otherwise be hard to find through a Phoenix/Scottsdale MLS search. The same idea could work for other niche markets such as historical homes, first time buyer homes, luxury homes or equestrian homes.

The advantage of targeting a niche such as equestrian property buyers or military families is that you're talking to a group of people who share common interests and passions that you can write about. So, for example, an article about the 11 year old girl in your community who just won a state show-jumping competition or the 19-yr-old who has been nominated to the Olympic equestrian team would be much more compelling to your audience than a blog entry on home finance.

Suzanne

Suzanne Hathcock Stephens

Point2 Agent Design Partner

http://www.SuzStephens.com

There are alot of blogs out there and you could end up not making money because of all the drafting, posting and reading.  

Has anybody had any success with posting their day to day thoughts, activities and discussing the solutions, remedies?  

Has anybody done niche blogging for their area and gone local instead of broad?  

Certain blogs I find informative for my business development but I believe that the blog will eventually replace the website.  Any takes on that one?

Ron,

I consider blogging a riot! I simply talk about everything and anything which I can point towards both the public and as well as other agents that may read my blog.  Actually, I find it very therapeutic! lol The blogs seem to show up in search engine results as well, and since my site is relatively new, I would like to generate as much traffic as possible...thus, people must continue to get tortured by my blogs!

Donna

Once you decide to move away from purely technical real estate related blog topics, the whole process becomes much easier.  At the same time, having a blog without any focus whatsoever is not a great idea either.  

Rather than focus on generic real estate issues, one approach would be to focus on the markets you service.  Once you make the markets your focus, a whole new world of topics becomes open to you.  While you can slant your blog entries in favour of real estate related topics, you can also touch on the events, points of interest, politics etc in the area.

Carl

http://www.humbervalleyrealty.ca

Ron said:

"One of the most difficult things ... [about blogging] is coming up with a topic that is both interesting and relevant!...But since the introduction of ReLiberation, I have found no problem coming up with topics that both inform and inspire two way feedback. "

The reason for this is quite simple. With ReLiberation, you know your audience! It is much harder to write when you do not know if anyone will ever read or care about what you are writing.

That is why Mike's technique works so well. By posing a question, he has created a projected audience for whom he is providing valuable real estate information.

I work mostly with buyers who are relocating to or investing in the Northeast Georgia Mountains. They seem to respond most to blogs about current housing market trends and prices, musings about our area, and suggestions for home purchases.

Even though they do not often post a comment on the blog, many have called me when they were ready to buy. For example, several Floridains have let me know that my "weather blog" helped them to realize that it was not going to be too cold for them here.

Great post!

Sharron

http:SharronAndSteve.com

I have a blog, that I set up before Point 2 added that feature.  I also was not comfortable picking topics on which to opine, so I simply made it a site to highlight coming events, in Westport.  There is almost always something to spotlight but I usually don't find (make) the time to write it in a timely manner.  As a result, I don't post nearly as often as I should.  The only real estate related features that I add, are quarterly market statistics.  I also have a link from my blog to my website and vice versa.  Feel free to visit my blog at:

http://mkatz.realtownblogs.com/

I think the most logical thing to blog about would be what consumers are most interested in and that would be homes in the area.

I'm thinking a way to do this would be to preview fellow agents listings in the same office and highlight the one that you personally like best. It would be a great way to provide a longer narrative for selected homes that just personally appeal to you.

I would personally do it with other broker listings... but only with written permission since it could go over the line regarding advertising/editorial.

Ultimately, consumers look for property information online, if your with a powerhouse brokerage this could be a great way to expand on just listed homes in the neighborhoods you want to focus on.

Ron,

One thing I do is in my off print newsletter is, I advertise my blog with a note below that says "If you come up with next months consumer blog article topic, you win $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant." I get 3 or 4 ideas a month. Some months, I will write 2 blogs, because 2 great ideas come in.

Todd Clark - broker

Kastings & Associates

Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com

www.IFoundYourNewHome.com

Ron thank you for this great post. I find myself in the same blogless spot time and again. Today I posted about rain, we haven't had any here in months. I tied in a little real estate and who knows if anyone will read the 2 paragraphs or not but I am just getting started with blogging.

There have been some very helpful and mind stiring ideas thus far thank you.

James you and I have alot in common. I too care deeply for our environment and all creatures on earth. I will be blogging about issues that mean alot to me personally. This is who I am.

My favorite page on my website (my website which I love messing about with but am no where near having a fab. site so if you do check it out be kind :) ) is my Humanitarian Links page. I will soon be adding a new link about using canvas/cotton or hemp shopping bags instead of conventional plastic or paper bags. I have also given it some thought about being my first environmental blog post. We can make a change in the world -each one of us, that I truely believe.