Comments on: How to Get on the Ball with Your Blog http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:05:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Real Central VA - Tracking the Charlottesville and Central VA real estate market and more » How to differentiate one’s blog? http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37696 Real Central VA - Tracking the Charlottesville and Central VA real estate market and more » How to differentiate one’s blog? Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:10:18 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37696 [...] Greg has some thoughts about the purity of blogging. Dustin speaks to how to market and build one’s blog. This was my comment: To be clear on my intentions - I started my blog as a vehicle to fill what I perceived to be a void in the local real estate market commentary, not as a reason to draw in business. [...] [...] Greg has some thoughts about the purity of blogging. Dustin speaks to how to market and build one’s blog. This was my comment: To be clear on my intentions – I started my blog as a vehicle to fill what I perceived to be a void in the local real estate market commentary, not as a reason to draw in business. [...]

]]> By: Dustin http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37348 Dustin Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:21:07 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37348 Awesome Jim! I definitely look forward to checking out your new site some more in the near future! I'm <a href="http://blogs.move.com/" rel="nofollow">deeply embedded in the NAR conference at the moment</a>, but I'll come back up for air in a few days! :) Awesome Jim!

I definitely look forward to checking out your new site some more in the near future! I’m deeply embedded in the NAR conference at the moment, but I’ll come back up for air in a few days! :)

]]> By: Jim Kimmons http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37286 Jim Kimmons Sat, 11 Nov 2006 15:22:23 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-37286 Dustin: Timely post for me. My new job as Real Estate Business Guide at About.com has me building the site and posting to the site blog. Just this morning I built a very short blog roll and posted about it. There are currently only four blogs in the roll and I chose them based on their contributions to the business via lively discussions. Of course Rain City Guide is at the top. By far the most interesting thing that I do each morning is to check out the discussions on this blog short-list. Dustin:

Timely post for me. My new job as Real Estate Business Guide at About.com has me building the site and posting to the site blog. Just this morning I built a very short blog roll and posted about it.

There are currently only four blogs in the roll and I chose them based on their contributions to the business via lively discussions. Of course Rain City Guide is at the top. By far the most interesting thing that I do each morning is to check out the discussions on this blog short-list.

]]> By: geno petro http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36979 geno petro Sat, 11 Nov 2006 00:23:38 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36979 Dustin, very helpful and timely for me. The whole weblogging culture almost seems to be inventing and reinventing itself as it grows (megamultiplies !) by the month. Its good that a few frontrunners--yourself and Rainy City to be sure, lay down the do's and don'ts for those who have logged less time "in the air" (at least from a RE point of view.) I mean seriously, who was doing this in 1997 and who would have thought. any 'non-regulatory' body had a say in what you can and can't do on your own domain, especially when a Google ranking is so 'life and death' in internet related businesses. I agree, just like doing a deal, if you start from a place of sincerity the outcome is almost always win-win for everyone. I guess its like everything else, have something to say and say it well. Dustin, very helpful and timely for me. The whole weblogging culture almost seems to be inventing and reinventing itself as it grows (megamultiplies !) by the month. Its good that a few frontrunners–yourself and Rainy City to be sure, lay down the do’s and don’ts for those who have logged less time “in the air” (at least from a RE point of view.) I mean seriously, who was doing this in 1997 and who would have thought. any ‘non-regulatory’ body had a say in what you can and can’t do on your own domain, especially when a Google ranking is so ‘life and death’ in internet related businesses. I agree, just like doing a deal, if you start from a place of sincerity the outcome is almost always win-win for everyone. I guess its like everything else, have something to say and say it well.

]]> By: Jim Duncan http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36853 Jim Duncan Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:04:02 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36853 Robin - good luck and welcome. Robin – good luck and welcome.

]]> By: Robin Forman http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36131 Robin Forman Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:39:54 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36131 Great comments all. Jim, what you are saying really does resonate with me. I do admit that I initially thought of blogging just as a way to build my business. But as I began my research, it was clear that those bloggers who had a strong point of view and built a vibrant interactive community were the best blogs. And it wouldn't come as a surprise to me that the best blogs eventually attract more business. I'm looking forward to dipping my toe in. Great comments all. Jim, what you are saying really does resonate with me. I do admit that I initially thought of blogging just as a way to build my business. But as I began my research, it was clear that those bloggers who had a strong point of view and built a vibrant interactive community were the best blogs. And it wouldn’t come as a surprise to me that the best blogs eventually attract more business. I’m looking forward to dipping my toe in.

]]> By: Drew Meyers http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36071 Drew Meyers Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:38:56 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-36071 Dustin- Great post! I use wordpress on my personal blog and absolutely love it- I would recommend it to anyone. I think the fact that blogs like Rain City and TechCrunch are built with wordpress says a lot about its quality as a blogging platform. Dustin-
Great post! I use wordpress on my personal blog and absolutely love it- I would recommend it to anyone. I think the fact that blogs like Rain City and TechCrunch are built with wordpress says a lot about its quality as a blogging platform.

]]> By: Speedlinking the real estate community | Pittsburgh Homes Daily http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35579 Speedlinking the real estate community | Pittsburgh Homes Daily Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:58:07 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35579 [...] Dustin from Rain City Guide will be blogging from NARdi Gras.  He also has some great advice for new real estate bloggers.  I especially like the advice that links will come with time and when you least expect it. [...] [...] Dustin from Rain City Guide will be blogging from NARdi Gras.  He also has some great advice for new real estate bloggers.  I especially like the advice that links will come with time and when you least expect it. [...]

]]> By: Jim Duncan http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35526 Jim Duncan Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:05:48 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35526 First, thank you for noticing my little blog. To be clear on my intentions - I started my blog with not as a reason to draw in business, but as a vehicle to fill what I perceived to be a void in the local real estate market commentary. I wanted to be <em>the</em> real estate expert that people turn to for information. So far, I have had some success with that. Basically, I love real estate. I read, analyze, and most importantly, work it every single day. (for better or worse) Hopefully, that shows in my writing. Those who read blogs are able to discern whether the author(s) is writing purely to suck them in to become a "lead." Those who read blogs appreciate candor; they know it when they see it and will keep coming back if they find it. I have two real estate search sites - but they do not get nearly the traffic my blog ( http://www.realcentralva.com ) gets, nor do they serve to establish anything other than "hey, another Realtor with a website." Putting myself out there - my personality, my skills, my opinions does differentiate me from the others - sometimes that differentiation is good, sometimes probably not so good. Either way, readers know who I am and what I do. Now, with your permission, I'm going to use some of this comment on my blog. :) First, thank you for noticing my little blog.

To be clear on my intentions – I started my blog with not as a reason to draw in business, but as a vehicle to fill what I perceived to be a void in the local real estate market commentary.

I wanted to be the real estate expert that people turn to for information. So far, I have had some success with that.

Basically, I love real estate. I read, analyze, and most importantly, work it every single day. (for better or worse) Hopefully, that shows in my writing.

Those who read blogs are able to discern whether the author(s) is writing purely to suck them in to become a “lead.” Those who read blogs appreciate candor; they know it when they see it and will keep coming back if they find it.

I have two real estate search sites – but they do not get nearly the traffic my blog ( http://www.realcentralva.com ) gets, nor do they serve to establish anything other than “hey, another Realtor with a website.” Putting myself out there – my personality, my skills, my opinions does differentiate me from the others – sometimes that differentiation is good, sometimes probably not so good. Either way, readers know who I am and what I do.

Now, with your permission, I’m going to use some of this comment on my blog. :)

]]> By: Jason Leister http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35429 Jason Leister Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:17:26 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/11/07/how-to-get-on-the-ball-with-your-blog/#comment-35429 Dustin, I would also add that how you view your blog can really make a difference in how it takes off (or doesn't). If you view blogging as a task to be checked off the list (i.e. Gotta post today, what the heck can I talk about?) then it will show. And it won't be fun either. If, on the other hand, you view your blog as a way to talk with your market and your community, to learn about them, to invest in the future of your business AND develop your skill at communicating your ideas quickly and clearly, then that will make the journey a whole lot more enjoyable. I am not sure who benefits more from a great blog. I would say it's pretty balanced between the reader and the writer. Or at least it should be. Dustin,

I would also add that how you view your blog can really make a difference in how it takes off (or doesn’t). If you view blogging as a task to be checked off the list (i.e. Gotta post today, what the heck can I talk about?) then it will show. And it won’t be fun either.

If, on the other hand, you view your blog as a way to talk with your market and your community, to learn about them, to invest in the future of your business AND develop your skill at communicating your ideas quickly and clearly, then that will make the journey a whole lot more enjoyable.

I am not sure who benefits more from a great blog. I would say it’s pretty balanced between the reader and the writer. Or at least it should be.

]]>