Last Friday an agent and fellow blogger wrote a post about hyper-local blogs. Spencer Barron decided the subject needed a Devil’s Advocate. His post was a fair one. I commented then called Spencer. His most salient comment was this — “I’m still looking in vain for the agent out their dominating with a hyper-local blog.” (paraphrased wildly) There are already those out there who claim to have one, and are do well with it, very well. I disagree however with their assertion the blog their maintaining is a bona fide hyper-local. I’m a purist on this subject, and not only drink the Kool-Aide but mix it. 🙂
Last October I wrote a piece on hyper-local blogs. I essentially claimed outside of owning a printing press with the original plate for $100 bills, that was one of the best ways to earn money as a real estate agent. I haven’t changed my mind. In fact, Brian Brady introduced me to another local San Diego real estate guy — Sean Purcell. Turns out Sean’s office is just down the street from my satellite office. (I allow them to bill themselves as Starbucks, but they know the real scoop.) 🙂
So we’ve met a few times now. Sean is technologically ahead of anywhere I ever hope to be. I like him, among other reasons ‘cuz he agrees with my thinking on hyper-local blogs.
While at lunch I told him I thought the first agent who set up 4-5 hyper-local blogs in La Mesa, a San Diego suburb, would print money. After some back and forth he totally agreed.
Fast forward to the other day. We’d met for coffee and were revisiting our above mentioned conversation. And that’s when he did it. He said he was gonna launch the La Mesa blogs himself. He said it while looking me right in the eyes. He never even blinked.
After that we went back and forth about how to cordon off the different neighborhoods based upon our local knowledge of the city. It’s not a large city — its population is about 50,000. The blogs won’t cover every single home, but will cherry pick the ripest fruit.
It’s my considered opinion Sean will trip over $150-250,000 this year. By 2009 he should do between $500,000-1 Million — seriously. If the recovery kicks in next year it might even be more. The median price of all but one area is give or take $500,000. The exception is much higher, possibly $750,000. Frankly? I’m convinced he’ll do the upper end of that range next year without breaking a sweat.
OK — he’ll sweat — but he’ll still do it.
Does this kinda sorta put some pressure on Sean? Naw — he’s up for it. He’ll kick some major booty, and by this time next year he’ll dominate those neighborhoods. Sean’s average paycheck will be $12-20,000. You can see where this is going, right? Since I’ve lived in the area since 1979 I’ve agreed to be a kind of local knowledge consultant, though he knows the area very well. The fact Sean knows online marketing at a level at which I don’t yet function, won’t hurt.
Since Sean has been a gauntlet thrower all is life, I suspect his results this time out will be no different. He’s always been able to accomplish new goals, and take on new challenges. He’s succeeded at everything he’s tried in business — including Wall Street. This one though will prove to be a tad different.
How?
I’m gonna be reporting from time to time on his progress — he’s under the public gun now. There’s no turning back. I invite other Bloodhound contributors who wish to pile on to please do so. (Yeah, like they had to be invited to say somethin’.)
Time to turn your words into deeds, Sean. 🙂 And Spencer? What are you waiting for, an invitation?
Let the games begin.
Suzy says:
Is there a link to this blog yet?
March 10, 2008 — 11:29 am
Sean Purcell says:
Jeff,
My artfully crafted plan revolved around quietly building a hyper-local farm into a dynasty. I guess that ship has sailed. 🙂
I am excited to get this off the ground. It feels a little like the days before my first Ironman. I was fairly confident I would finish, but that did not quiet the nerves and anxiousness I felt anticipating the work that was to come.
Thanks for the spotlight Jeff. A good tan never hurt anyone…
March 10, 2008 — 11:31 am
Jeff Brown says:
See how he is, readers? I’m so proud of the fact I’ve run half a dozen marathons and he plays the ‘Ironman’ card. 🙂
He’s been successful in whatever he’s chosen to do — and he doesn’t think small.
Sean — Yer about to find out what a Bloodhound spotlight is all about. 🙂
March 10, 2008 — 11:40 am
Spencer Barron says:
Brings a whole new meaning to loosing the hounds doesn’t it.
Definately enjoyed the conversation. I’ll stand by my concerns though I have softened my grim outlook for success. Somebody is going to do it. Who knows, another month and I’ll be drinking the koolaid too.
Sean, looks like you’ll have plenty of support and a plethora of advice. Whatever you do, don’t look back. oh and good luck.
March 10, 2008 — 2:21 pm
REBlogGirl says:
Looking for a real ROI on a hyper local blog? Laurie Manny- owns Google for all things Long Beach (#1 and #2 for Long Beach Real Estate) and generates up to 30 leads per day. Also- try Mariana Wagner and Ines Garcia- they also own their territory in Google and generate plenty of leads.
March 10, 2008 — 8:30 pm
Jeff Brown says:
BlogGirl — I know about those and they’re kicking major butt, as you’ve pointed out. I beg to differ on your central point however.
They don’t run what I’d term hyper-local blogs. Laurie takes on condos in downtown Long Beach. She knows what she’s doing and leaves her competition in the dust. She’s beyond magnificent. Still, in my view, and I”m willing to be wrong here, she doesn’t run a hyper-local blog. It’s one if not two levels larger than that. If she did, her current blog would actually be 3-5 different blogs.
Both Mariana and Ines are the same. They’re killer bloggers who consistently outclass their local competition. They just don’t run hyper-locals.
The defining factor, at least in my opinion, is to whom you’re marketing. I don’t care a wit about anyone but the 2-4,000 homes in each blog. Anyone else coming to the party is icing on the cake.
Also, the more ‘localized’ the blog, i.e. the more hyper-local, the better the batting average on so called leads. Most of the leads coming to the average ‘high lead generating blog’ don’t amount to a cup of coffee and a cookie.
They need the big numbers so when they close 10 deals off of 100 leads the money still keeps them blogging. Make sense?
There’s a ReMax team in Idaho who is the lead generating machine of all time, at least in my experience. Their batting average? Less than 5%.
I’d rather have folks call me with the idea they can convince me to come to their house on Saturday instead of a week night to list their home. That’s the consistent phone call I received in the ’70’s when I was doing the hyper-local blog thing — Flintstone style. 🙂
March 10, 2008 — 9:01 pm