[HomeGain Blog] The Case Against Blogging

I guess the best way to sum it up is…blogg...

Overland Park Real Estate — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:56:45 -0500

I guess the best way to sum it up is…blogging isnt for everyone and it certainly is not a “golden ticket” to success.

The Beatles sang “All you Need is LoveR...

Louis Cammarosano — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:59:24 -0500

The Beatles sang “All you Need is Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLxTpsIVzzo Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones retorted “Try living off it”

That’s a great point Paul. I don’t t...

Ben Davis — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:19:20 -0500

That’s a great point Paul. I don’t think the money should be the sole reason to do anything! Well said.

Interesting post that I wanted to add to… ...

Paul Francis, CRS — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:27:23 -0500

Interesting post that I wanted to add to… Blogging is a lot like being a real estate agent.. don’t do it just for the money.

Hi susan and welcome to the HomeGain blog. We...

Louis Cammarosano — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:13:07 -0500

Hi susan and welcome to the HomeGain blog. We’ve learned a lot since I wrote this post! If you dig around our blog you’ll find some good practical advice from our real estate agents and our guest bloggers. You’ll also learn about our mascot, Max. Everything is categorized for your convenience into topics on the right column. Please come back and provide your thoughts!

This is interesting. I haven’t been blogg...

Susan Zanzonico — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:05:20 -0500

This is interesting. I haven’t been blogging for long, but it gets more natural over time. I think its a great way to communicate information and allow people to get to know you. I can say that I’ve definitely gotten business from some of my blogs because the clients referenced them.

On the other hand, sometimes blogging gets the best of me and I have lost sleep and at times thought I might need an intervention. Need to keep the balance. ;)

Michael Maher -

For someone who claims...

Jay Thompson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:45:43 -0500

Michael Maher -

For someone who claims they are an Allen Hainge CyberStar, you sure have a closed minded attitude toward what can be a very powerful Internet based marketing tool. (Curiously, despite your website claim that you are a CyberStar, you are not listed in the CyberStar directory. Why is that? You might want to contact Allen and get yourself added to the directory, after all, you are paying handsomely for it.)

“Do you really think writing on a blog is more powerful or faster than picking up the phone?”

Let’s see… I get roughly 900 unique visits to my blog every day. You would need to make 37.5 phone calls every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to reach that many people.

You can call 37.5 people every hour of every day? That’s a remarkable feat.

I get visits, and clients, from posts I wrote almost three years ago. When was the last time you got a listing or a buyer from a single call you made three years ago?

“Perhaps I’ll hire you some day to blog on my blog. In fact, I’m hiring. How much do you think a lot of time for no clients is worth?”

Thanks, but to be completely honest (and no offense intended) you are not the type of person I’d work for. I much prefer running my own brokerage.

As for your “Yeah right” response to my receiving offers for advertisement on my blog you are welcome to think whatever you want, but I don’t appreciate your questioning my integrity. You don’t know me from Adam, but I don’t lie about things like this. What would be the point in that? I get offers all the time from people wanting to place ads on my blog and web site. I don’t take ads, but the offers are there. Again to be completely honest, I could really care less if you believe that or not. I know what the truth is, you do not.

You are absolutely correct when you say time is money. And yes, blogging takes time. So do “genuine assertive prospecting methods” like handwritten notes, phone calls and one-on-one meetings. By the way, nowhere have I ever said that I don’t do those things as well.

“Businesses make money”—yep, and I’ve done quite well making money via clients and referrals I’ve secured through blogging. You can chose to believe that or not. Again, I could care less.

There’s nothing wrong with not blogging. It certainly isn’t for everyone. Clearly with your attitude towards it, it won’t work for you and that is fine. You can deny it works, and that’s fine too (grossly mistaken, but fine).

I am curious as to why you are so convinced that blogging can’t work. If you’d like to expand on that, sans the personal attacks, I’m all ears.

Good luck in all your business pursuits, and thanks for contributing.

Jay looked up gerund but didn’t share :-( ...

Carole Cohen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:09:56 -0500

Jay looked up gerund but didn’t share :-( True, you don’t have to be the best writer in the world, and there is usually spell check on blogging platforms, but you make a good point Louis, about terrible blogs. Every now and then I find a blog with posts that seem more stream of consciousness than understandable. I’m thinking a listing blog might be the best route for some people because presumably you do know how to talk about listings if you are an agent or broker, even if writing is not your forte.

I love Trulia Voices and you remind me I have not been there in too long. I also like Active Rain and feel it is (as another commenter mentioned) a way to communicate/network with fellow professionals while in my jammies and drinking coffee instead of having to spend $700 every week to attend a conference to accomplish a similar goal. (I can’t wait to attend Inman though).

Why do I blog? To connect to my community. I don’t join the Chamber of Commerce or the KIWANIS (even if I was Prez of a Maryland KIWANIS club for a while). Instead I am meeting wonderful NE Ohioans on line, through their websites and blogs. I’ve met enough people to start attending some local meet ups and seminars to keep abreast of local issues…and meet more good people.

And I have gotten more leads from Active Rain either through referrals or consumer contact, than I have my own blog.

Louis you write so well I have to ferret out your blog…you have to have one:-)

Wow, this topic has legs.

Michael J. M...

Michael Maher — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:42:18 -0500

Wow, this topic has legs.

Michael J. Maher wrote:

“Isn’t the point of a blog to rise the site up through the SE rankings”

Jay Thompson wrote: “No. The point is to get clients.”

Michael Maher writes: “Um, thanks Jay. Profound yet perfunctory. Do you really think writing on a blog is more powerful or faster than picking up the phone? Blogging is the new-age avoidance mechanism e.g. ‘I could call a potential prospect or I could feel busy and write this blog because the ‘experts’ say this will get me clients.’ As a top producer set to double my business this year, I say keep on blogging. Perhaps I’ll hire you some day to blog on my blog. In fact, I’m hiring. How much do you think a lot of time for no clients is worth?”

Michael Maher wrote: “The sole benefit business-wise of a blog is to put it into your sub-directory…”

Jay Thompson wrote: “No. See above.”

Michael Maher writes: “Exactly, but I appreciate your brevity.”

Michael Maher wrote: “Anybody getting so many visitors that you are selling ads and banners on your blog?”

Jay Thompson wrote: “I’ve had plenty of offers.”

Michael Maher writes: “Yeah right. Google and Yahoo gave up on banners and ads and went straight to search-based results and PPC.”

Michael Maher wrote: “Now you are talking productive and profit.”

Jay Thompson wrote: “It’d take a lot of ad and banner clicks to exceed the commission checks….”

Michael Maher writes: “Exactly. Again.”

Posted on Mar 04, 2008 by Jay Thompson

Michael Maher writes: “It’s time to call blogging what it is – a fun hobby. Businesses make money and hobbies cost money. In this case, time is money and this hobby is costing time. It’s okay. Some people mow their lawn. Some people do scrapbooking. Some people build model cars. And some people blog. Great! Have fun with it, but don’t substitute it for genuine assertive prospecting methods like handwriting notes, phone calls, and one-on-one meetings with potential clients and referral partners.”

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA www.TheMaherTeam.com www.MaherProfile.com www.KCREU.com www.ProphetofProfits.com Profit is Sexy!

P.S. Anybody want to talk about buying leads from lead services?

Louis, it’s like anything, you get out of ...

Missy Caulk — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:02:09 -0500

Louis, it’s like anything, you get out of it what you put into it. Some get business, some don’t and many want too. Not many Realtors will ever start, but more and more are as they see the success of those who do blog. It is one form of marketing, not the end all be all. But, it helps as you said in your questions to yourself post. Tee hee, I was led here from G.Dewalds post. The cream will rise to the top in each area they post about. Consumers want information and when they find it, trust is established before the 1st phone call.

Well I finally got around to making my response ...

G. Dewald — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:03:50 -0500

Well I finally got around to making my response for to this post over at my company site. Great post and wonderful to see so much passion in this from everyone. The short form of my response is “Let’s measure it.” How-to etc is over at: Calculate ROI for blogging and if that all turned out like gobbledygook I bet you can click my name at below this post and get to the same place.

Great topic. Even a month later.

John I am sorry there is not heat here and I wil...

louis cammarosano — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:10:19 -0600

John I am sorry there is not heat here and I will remain in the kitchen.

I was merely responding to you in that you believed you had superior knowledge that led you to believe that you had no need to read my point of view. If one approaches me with the view that they do not need or wish to engage me but would rather just tell me what they think, I can easily unengage as well. The purpose of a blog, I believe, is to engage in a conversation. By telling me you need not read what I wrote is an univitation to engage – one that I accepted and will hold closed unless you wish to engage in a conversation based on mutual respect of differing points of view.

Louis – If you are that “skin sensit...

John Carr — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:44:49 -0600

Louis – If you are that “skin sensitive”, I suggest you rush out and get some “miracle cream” on the shopping network. Remember what a great leader said; “If you can not stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”.

You opened this topic yourself by saying…”I guess I do not know much about blogging”. Word to the wise – today you and I and practically anyone else on this planet – is under the watchful eyes of millions of readers.

I guess the moral of this story is that having a platform allowing you to reach thousands of readers, does not qualify you or anyone else to speak on matters unfamiliar to you. My final comment: “Thou shall do its utmost due diligence before opening thy’s mouth”. With all due respect.

Louis – If you are that “skin sensitive”, I suggest you rush out and get some “miracle cream” on the shopping network. Remember the expression, “If you can not stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”.

You open this topic yourself by saying…”I guess I do not know much about blogging”. Word to the wise – today you and I and practically anyone else on this planet – is under the watchful eyes of millions of readers. My final comment: “Thou shall do its utmost due diligence before opening thy’s mouth”. With all due respect.

Michael Maher wrote:

“Isn’t th...

Jay Thompson — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:13:55 -0600

Michael Maher wrote:

“Isn’t the point of a blog to rise the site up through the SE rankings”

No. The point is to get clients.

“The sole benefit business-wise of a blog is to put it into your sub-directory…”

No. See above.

“Anybody getting so many visitors that you are selling ads and banners on your blog?”

I’ve had plenty of offers.

“Now you are talking productive and profit.”

It’d take a lot of ad and banner clicks to exceed the commission checks….

John Thanks for commenting on the homegain blog...

Louis Cammarosano — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:38:03 -0600

John Thanks for commenting on the homegain blog. Too bad I did not read your entire comment. You see by telling me you did not and were not going to read my blog post, you turned me off from reading your comment. So we both missed out on the valuable opportunity to benefit from the exchange of ideas that blogging is supposed to provide. Better luck next time.

Louis – With all due respect, arguing agai...

John Carr — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:18:23 -0600

Louis – With all due respect, arguing against “blogging” is like arguing against the “printing press”. I did not read your entire post, I did not have to. You clearly do not understand the power of two-way communication.

Today, and for the first time in the history of mankind, “Joe and Mary public” have a voice. Good, bad or indifferent, they can make themselves heard. And so can REALTORS, dieticians, medical practitioners and so on. You are right; most Realtors are not writers, nor do they NEED to be.

What the Realtor gets out of blogging is to be able to stand out from a huge crowd of voiceless competitors. And believe me, the buying and selling public wants to hear those voices. I could go on about all the gains for both the “blogger and the bloggee” but I will only say this much; go read a few books by Seth Godin and others like him. Then you will be able to give a much more intelligent opinion.

No blogging for this guy. Isn’t the point ...

Michael J. Maher — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:55:10 -0600

No blogging for this guy. Isn’t the point of a blog to rise the site up through the SE rankings and to the guy who suggested PPC aimed at his blog, I have to say, What? Why wouldn’t you pay-per-click to a home search function or a Web site? The sole benefit business-wise of a blog is to put it into your sub-directory, have someone type up some words, preferably KEY words, and then put a link back to your site in the comment.

Like this—> www.TheMaherTeam.com or like this—> www.MaherProfile.com or maybe even like this—> www.KCREU.com. Add links on new pages = new pages linking to your site = yummy for the SE tummies = higher rankings = more hits and visitors = more business… OR, you could do PPC and drive traffic immediately and save yourself a lot of time, money, and headaches. Blogs are the new water cooler. Bitch, moan, cheer, speak positively, share thoughts… but no business. Like busy-work at the end, you feel something is accomplished, but really, nothing is accomplished.

It’s like keeping a public journal and really what good is that? Aren’t journals supposed to be private? And if it is public are you really expressing your thoughts or are you expressing what you think other people think your thoughts should be?

Anybody getting so many visitors that you are selling ads and banners on your blog? Now you are talking productive and profit.

I love blogging. It’s keeping my competitors busy while my business grows through referrals, advertising, Internet marketing, and networking. :)

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA, ABR, CRS The Prophet of Profits Certified Profit Coach. Profit is sexy.

www.TheProphetofProfits.com www.MaherProfile.com www.TheMaherTeam.com www.KCREU.com

1. It’s very important to be able to effec...

Natalie Langford — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:29:53 -0600

1. It’s very important to be able to effectively communicate! I’m a Realtor who loves to write. Some choose to spend this “quiet” market moaning at the water cooler. Others stay on the ball by joining the blog buzz, so to speak. Rather than have my head filled with negative thoughts, I’m constantly learning & being motivated by my peers across the nation. Brian Block is one of them! 2. Might I suggest the first thought any customer might think when told they are relocating to Town XYZ is “Well, what’s it like?” Guess who gets to share their enthusiasm for their town with that person? Yours truly! Also, if I write well and engage them, perhaps they’ll see me as a local expert and call me when it’s time to move. 3. Cost effective use of time? I can say yes and no at the same time! It’s priceless, yet it’ll take time before it pays off. In some ways, the reward is in my gut/heart! I know I’m staying busy and positive and growing my tail every day! 4. I’m blogging to share my enthusiasm for both real estate and my town. Of course, the goal is also to grow my tail and gain business. We all win when people or industries move to town. While I’d prefer to be their choice Realtor, I benefit either way. 6. Clearing the throat! Grrrr…If you hung around more, you’d know it works! Seriously, visit the Active Rain Block Party! Also, watch out for those Localism savvy bloggers! I’ll say no more! 7. Absolutely, my blog can lose me business. So can the fact that I don’t know much about Nascar and one of my kids may embarrass me at the pool. Transparency is a blessing in that I’d rather spend my time with people who respect me and accept me for who I am. 8. I don’t take it that seriously yet. However, I did once write a blog after being inspired by an empty glad box! 9. Am I up for it? I’m evolving! Brian’s blog is real pro, and mine is way back in 7th grade, but it’ll improve over time! By the time the other 1.2 mil agents start their own blogs, current active bloggers will be ahead of the curve and onto the next best thing! Hmmmm Podcasts? Holograms? I’m no technogeek, but I’m sure it’ll be exciting!

The Blog Debate can continue! Right now, while I wait for my little blog to grow into business, I’ll take comfort in a referral network of people across the country who I trust, respect and actually like!

It’s hard to believe that a negative
P. Madsen — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:10:44 -0600

It’s hard to believe that a negative PR Homegain bot could be this effective: go completely neg about blogging (putting it all on a blog), get plenty of comments, thereby building your blog, and wrap it up probably by selling automatic, generic blog content where the Broker need never think, or be original, or give his or her clients any personal service again ever.

Where do I sign up to get the bot to blog for me? Then I can be exactly like everybody else.

Absolutely Jerry And you will also get alot of o...

Louis Cammarosano — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:46:34 -0600

Absolutely Jerry And you will also get alot of other useful things done if you do them regularly. You have to ask yourself if time spent updating content is the best use of your time versus other things you could be doing to promote your business.

But, doesn’t blogging greatly assist in op...

Jerry Ryan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:34:51 -0600

But, doesn’t blogging greatly assist in optimizing our website? We understand we get more points in the optimization process of our website if we blog regularly.

AMEN Brother!
...

Bob Newman — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:32:52 -0600

AMEN Brother!

Louis, I disagree. I will not argue the merits o...

John MacArthur — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:16:06 -0600

Louis, I disagree. I will not argue the merits of blogging. I will tell you that it is a form of branding.

Blogging accomplishes several things which can b...

joseph ferrara — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:00:40 -0600

Blogging accomplishes several things which can be leveraged for business. They include citations/interviews by mainstream media (TV, newspaper), speaking invitations to industry conferences, teaching gigs, a practical education on new online tools, apps and technology (meebo), networking with other professionals and even a job that pays you to blog—right Rudy :) And you can also use IDX, various API & whitepapers to drive traffic for conversion.

Is is more efficient than say a massive ad blitz? Probably not… but it is cheaper & longer lasting. And for those who can write easily, I recommend it.

Laurie this blog is accomplishing exactly what w...

Louis Cammarosano — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:52:55 -0600

Laurie this blog is accomplishing exactly what we want it to – to expose our readers and me to alternative points of view. We may not get your business,but I love your web site and the Roy Orbison video-something I would never seen if I hadn’t made this blog post. Thanks for stoppping by and please continue to do so as the content, I promise, will not all be against blogging!