[HomeGain Blog] Why do I blog?

You are correct in giving you more presence. Th...

Eric Bouler — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:52:03 -0500

You are correct in giving you more presence. Those agents with successful sites that generate business are bigger believers. They want to try new things and add to the valuable content that a blog can add.

Jay – you so correct about expanding your ...

Glenn — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:00:09 -0600

Jay – you so correct about expanding your knowledge by reading blogs of other individuals. It pays to read blogs outside of the real estate arena as well.

Great post as always Jay. There is no question t...

Ken Smith — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:36:31 -0600

Great post as always Jay. There is no question that when someone reads your posts they get a feel for who you are. Still am not 100% convinced that it translates into more business (at least not enough to justify the time commitment), but it always a pleasure reading your posts.

Jay, and all-

Customers are sold. Clie...

Steven Stearns — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:47:34 -0600

Jay, and all-

Customers are sold. Clients are valued.

There is success to be found at any entry point into social media marketing.

The only failure is not getting into it at all!

Steve

Lance – “wow, it’s an amazing trai...

Jay Thompson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:55:56 -0600

Lance – “wow, it’s an amazing trail you end up following as you work your way through blogs & comments & so on!”

Be careful Lance or you’ll get sucked into the Internet void and may not come out for days! Thanks for reading and following!

Mitch – great commentary. The “human factor” in blogging is huge. Despite what some think, Realtors are people too. People can (and do) connect with your personal side by reading your blog. Assuming you’re not some psychotic whack job, that personal connection goes a long way toward both gaining and retaining clients.

I tend to blog a fair amount of personal stuff and opinion. Some say that results in my blog “lacking focus” and not being “professional”. Perhaps that is technically true, but what you read on my blog is what I am. Like it or leave it. Some seem to like it, and I have no doubt some have left it. For those that chose not to use me because of something I wrote, that is fine. It’s likely our agent/client relationship wouldn’t have been so good anyway.

Great stuff! Thanks for contributing. I do want...

Mitch Ribak — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:59:51 -0600

Great stuff! Thanks for contributing. I do want to make something very clear. At my company, we don’t treat anyone like a “lead”. I’m smart enough to know that there is much more to building a relationship, especially a long term relationship, than capturing a name and email address. We didn’t become the #1 office in our county last year by treating people as if they were just a lead. We treat our customers like gold! A real estate company is all about building those long term relationships. That’s the base of Real Estate.

With that said, to be successful in any business, you still have to know how to generate leads. I find that for the time and money I spend, it is better spent on generating leads as long as you have the abiility to take care of each and every one of them.

I agree with all of you if you are looking at blogging as a building block to your marketing campaign. I believe Louis mentioned in one of his posts, that I use my Blog to help retain customers. I like that they see the human side of who I am. I have had many customers that have come through our doors telling me that they enjoy reading my blog. It makes me human, even if I am short and bald and might look like an alien.

Blogging along with all other marketing programs, ok, definitely not all marketing programs, has a purpose. After all, the more people that come to your site, the more people that will read your blog and learn that we are not only Realtors, but we are regular people just like them!

Ok, sorry for the ranting. I think you guys have done a great job of opening up discussion on blogging. The posts are excellent. Keep up the great work and thanks to all that are contributing.

Followed you over here from “The Phoenix R...

Lance — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:41:30 -0600

Followed you over here from “The Phoenix Real Estate Guy”... wow, it’s an amazing trail you end up following as you work your way through blogs & comments & so on!

KK - I know that you k...

Jay Thompson — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:07:25 -0600

KK - I know that you know!

Brian (Block) – thanks. It is about more than just raw leads.

Brian (Brady) and Louis – good points all around, and interesting analogies.

I don’t “blog for leads”. Oh I have an MLS/IDX saerch on my blog (that’s very well used by the way) and I have contact forms. Generally speaking, people are pretty smart. It’s readily apparent to anyone that stops by the blog that I’m a real estate agent. And they pretty much know I’d love their business. But I don’t need to shove it down their throats.

As Brian said, it’s pull marketing. The blog sucks them in and THEY reach out to ME. Way more effective than any other marketing I’ve found.

But, again, it is not the only solution. And it is hard work.

Brian in your analogy you indicated that the end...

Louis Cammarosano — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:59:14 -0600

Brian in your analogy you indicated that the end result is a gig in the local bar, presumably where your pals and their friends might pay to see you. I’ll accept your analogy and point out that self marketing may make you a good draw at the local bar, but you won’t fill stadiums.

“Blogging for leads could be viewed as dec...

Brian Brady — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:51:28 -0600

“Blogging for leads could be viewed as deceptive. Its like inviting people to a party and then trying to charge them for drinks.”

Wrong analogy. Blogging is gathering your band to play in the garage every Friday night. When enough neighbors gather around to listen, you tell them about your gigs at the local bar.

It’s pull marketing, not push

I agree, no one likes to be thought of as a lead...

Louis Cammarosano — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:07:37 -0600

I agree, no one likes to be thought of as a lead!

Consumers, however, who visit a Realtor’s site (through HomeGain or otherwise) looking to hire a professional to help buy or sell their homes understand and expect to be treated as a potential customer and not as a pal. Blogging for leads could be viewed as deceptive. Its like inviting people to a party and then trying to charge them for drinks.

“My feeling is that if you treat someone l...

Brian Brady — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:34:14 -0600

“My feeling is that if you treat someone like a lead, you are doing them a disservice. They are people, not leads.”

THE major difference between the blogger and other internet marketing models.

The importance of blogging will be felt in the public’s perception of us. Do we treat them like “names” or real people? Blogging gives us an advantage over most others inasmuch as we are personal.

Jay, this may be the single best explanation tha...

Brian Block — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:30:09 -0600

Jay, this may be the single best explanation that I’ve found out there for “Why do I blog?” I’m asked that question constantly and this about sums it up. Terrific post!

Jay, you are certainly right about writing. You...

Kristal Kraft — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:31:59 -0600

Jay, you are certainly right about writing. You must have a passion for it, otherwise its worse than work!