Mouth 2 Mouth

"A lot of the times you'll see an article online or a press release that catches your eye.  The temptation is to post it as is into your own blog.  However doing so adds little to a readers understanding of you and what you do, in as much it does little to help you, or your readers."

Not only that Caleb, but that is plagerism, and, as one of my old college roommates can tell you, it can get you into some pretty hot water. 

 

Very adroit Caleb!  You have expanded and enlarged upon the article.  From Darren's list, point:

"# 5 How does it apply to you? - take a news story and tell your readers how it applies to you personally. Hearing news as it impacts people can help others interpret what it might mean for them. Tell your story, share your experiences and bring it home on a personal level."

This is exactly the spirit you have conversationally enlarged upon, shared your perspective, and shared with us.  Thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Terrific articles, yours and Darrens'

I think the "your view" is where most bloggers struggle.  In my case, I want to have my own opinion without making you feel like yours is not valid or welcome.  I want to connect with those who share my beliefs, while respecting those who don't.  I know a lot of bloggers, including myself many times, fear "putting themselves out there" and showing our vulnerabilities.

Just this morning, I was reading a comment to a "recently popular post" made by a fellow Rainer, who was only seeking to make this a better place in some small way, and someone just had to attack him for it.  Personal attacks are hard to take, and blogging definitely opens us up to them.

This has been my greatest new learning from my time here on Active Rain.  In my former blogging on my one sites I did far too much "reprinting" and really didn't add much to the conversation.  Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks for the great post-in particular:

"As Localism grows and becomes a better source for client outreach, you may begin receiving inquiry's from prospects.  If you're blogging in the manner I describe here, then one thing you'll notice at this time is that these people will already know a lot about you.  If they can get a sense of who you are through reading our blog, they'll already be sold on you by the time they call."

Most of my blogs have been for RE practitioners training, education, and opinion pieces. I need to add more content geared toward the consumer

Thanks for enlightening us!

I completely see what you are saying.  A recent blog that was posted last week touched upon being open with your readers, so that they have a perspective on where you are coming from and how to communicate to the AR Community.  It was a father-daughter team.  The daughter was younger and understood computers, but the father was more old school.  The made it as if blogging was like an online diary.  Showing that your thoughts, perspective or opinion could be put out there and shed some light on where she was coming from.  that is how I have tried to do my blogs.  I know that some of them are meaningless to some, but to others it might be helping them out with a current transaction.  Not everyone is going to agree with you at all times, but at least they can see the other side if that is not what they believe.  I think that your article was great, and I hope that people take it for the positive thing that it is.  It's not making you jump out of your box, but it is letting more people fit inside :P

Creating little boats floating in the abyss of cyber space will place your profile or blog in areas where you can never imagine.  Paramount is consistent messages, consisent delivery and effective LEAD CAPTURE STRATEGIES.

 Go Sell Something

CH

Thank you for the post.  I'm still grappling with what blogging "is".  Your article is helpful.

 

Caleb,

Thanks for this post.  I think it makes things much clearer for many of us first time Bloggers who may be frozen by their fear of trying to do something in a much bigger way.  Rather than just speaking in conversation format.  As Realtors, we may also feel the pressure to produce much more important content than just our views and opinions.  When in fact, that's evidentally the whole beauty of Blogging!

 

Lisa

Thanks for the advice.  When making a post it is best to be yourself, write about what you know and keep it short, I refuse to read a two page post.

AR and Localism - what a great way to pre-arrange and match client to agent!  As you say, reveal yourself.  Don't just give facts, but give our take on those 'facts'.  All potential clients are NOT going to like me, but better to find that out before everyone invests time and effort into a transaction.  The potential buyer or seller will know much more about me than had they called me cold from a MLS listing.

 

Thanks.

 

Ozarks Joan 

I have been trying to connect with my inner Hemingway/Trump.  Like some, my blogging skills are a work in progress.  I think most bloggers are understanding.  Others just want to read bloggers ideas on how to  make them more money NOW and get frustrated when they don't hit pay dirt.   But, look how many real estate agents are blogging....it is sort of like sifting through sand and gravel for gold.

LOST  -  "The pneumatic tubes"  - This is probably where most blogs go.  Yep, I see one of mine next to the polar bear. 

 

 

 

 

 

Seemed to me early on that writing here was a personal expression... and that if anyone happened along to read it, so much the better.  But just reprinting the numbers and the facts-- boring!

I do think it can be a challenge to find your voice in blogging.  It can be difficult to figure out what is relevant and what isn't.  The personal, 'get to know you' posts are the most fun to write though.  

Caleb

Thank you Caleb!  I love reading what other real estate professionals have to say.  I can go to inman news and cnn and realtor.org to get news articles.  I want real people's OPINIONS and PERSPECTIVE and I don't want to wade through copy and pasted articles to find it!

Wow!  Am I demanding!

Caleb, I agree completely. I'm learning more every day about what my own blog posts lack and where I need improvement. The personal expression is sometimes the tough part because, as you mentioned, it goes against many of the "old ways" we've had hammered into our heads for years. Thanks for the post!

Caleb,

Great post for me to stumble upon as I struggle to wage a blogging comeback.  I know all the facts and figures and am happy to post about that.  However, I think its more important that my clients get an idea of how I tick... so yes, there is much truth in what you write.  Now I just need someone to sit me down and help me blog.  It still feels so overwhelming.

Nice to see you...

Lipnitz (actually #3 now)

Very, VERY interesting.  I'd like to think I often travel down this road as I do cite newspaper articles in my blogs.  But I don't cut and paste.  I do put a link and address some of the highlights - but then I move on to how this article highlights something I've been trying to say.  Or I will try and go to the next step beyond the article as well.

You're always so helpful in connecting us with blogs and ideas outside of Active Rain - please continue, as it's valuable. Great ideas in this one on how to improve our blogs.

Localism is a wonderful way for us to stand out, and for potential clients to connect with us - especially if we let our personalities show through (think of Kristal and Bryant and so many others).  

Just giving stats, or just saying, This is a Museum, is like showing a house and saying, This is the Living Room. Let's share something they may not already know. 

Great post. I loved his blog and his ideas. I never really thought of blogging as a conversation.