Yes, I know that there are blogs everywhere in this so called RE.net, Web 2.0 world, but lately it seems like I am walking down the halls of my high school. There’s the cool kids over by Mr. Hannah’s homeroom. Over there in the smoking lounge can be found the punks who always seem to just be hanging out. In the middle of the cafeteria is where the jocks can be found laughing it up.
By the theater lurking in the dark you’ll find the goths and the freaks, and over there, with the saddle shoes and pony tails next to the gummy floor are the gum-clacking gluehead Heathers all talking at the same time with nobody really saying anything.
Lately I have noticed that the cliques in the real estate blogosphere have become much more pronounced and apparently the Web 2.0 Realtor superdelegates seem to think they are speaking for the rest of the common folk. How sad!
Excuse me if I am wrong, but I thought that blogging in real estate was about buying and selling real estate. When did it become the muse of soda jerks who haven’t any real business and spend night and day writing and finger pointing about all that is not real estate?
Do I care, or for that matter, does anybody really care what this blogger is doing or what that blogger said about this guy or that guy…except if it is regarding a technique or strategy to help one another actually sell real estate?
Think about it for a second…the reason each of us took finger to keyboard to dive into this new world was because we thought it would enhance our business? I for one, call it selfish if you want, only intended to blog to attract eyeballs because eyeballs are important to advertisers and advertisers spend money.
Additionally, in learning how to efficiently blog and write, we created a radio show to help promote it. Now we have progressed to the point that we have taken what we have learned and are beginning our foray into a real estate blog to buy and sell houses.
Never did I decide to get into this because I cared an iota about “Sue” and her idea to change the world, or Fred’s ideas as to what he thinks Hillary should do. I certainly did not start my venture to obtain “great post comments” or have points bestowed.
I began blogging to make money! I want to be successful in buying and selling houses and selling advertising. All of the other smarmy BS is getting a bit old.
Lately it seems that the ‘conversation” on the blogosphere has turned trivial, boring and somewhat spiteful. I don’t wish any person in any endeavor misfortune and I hope that this forum is a way for us ALL to find ways to prosper but I am beginning to have my doubts.
Russell Shaw and I have had our words and I respect what he has to say even if he does not respect what I have to say. I respect the contributions of old schoolers like Jeff Brown even if he thinks that some of what I believe as to the opportunity that new business models hold is the future of real estate. No disrespect, no ill feelings…just dissenting viewpoints.
I recently watched a news show featuring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia. Scalia is an ardent conservative. One of his best friends is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a staunch liberal by any definition. However, they are the best of friends and hold the utmost respect for each other.
They have battled and have had very heated discussions over many issues that they have been at different ends of the spectrum on in regards to perspective and ideology. Yet, they do not denigrate into mundane writings about the other. Maybe the Re blog world should take a lesson. It’s not about you, it’s about the business of real estate.
Recently we began somewhat of an investigative report that we were going to air. It involved looking up the sales activity of many of the so called noble class of the RE blog world.
After a week of looking into this and having our “moles’ review MLS sales records in various locations it became apparent that many in the blogosphere have had more time to write because they have not had any real sales activity. Many of the Gang of 50 have had less than 10 closed sales this year with a great many having less than 5.
You know who you are and you know the truth about your sales activity this year..or rather the lack thereof. Don’t worry, we’re not going to name any names but suffice it to say quite a few “prominent bloggers” need to concentrate on their real estate business instead of their blogging.
We were going to have a show about this but decided against it because it is now obvious. People are too busy blogging instead of actually selling. Maybe that’s why there are so many posts about everything EXCEPT the purchase and sale of real estate.
Maybe (OMG..I can’t believe I am saying this…) but maybe Russell Shaw is right. Maybe many in the business of real estate should be tending to more of the business of real estate and less in the blogging of opinions and obvious discontent with others.
Forget Redfin and what they are doing. Don’t worry about Bloodhound Unchained and whether or not Odysseus is going to succeed. Yes, Russell Shaw has a new home on agent genius…is any of that going to help you sell or buy a home today?
In this business of blogging I believe that the technology affords us the opportunity to explore new business models and propel the business to new heights. It’s okay if you don’t believe the same and it’s okay if you do agree. What’s more important is that we work together to improve each other’s businesses.
Tell me what kind of reaction your clients are having to the media doom and gloom, tell me what works with certain lenders and what doesn’t with others, fill me in on what certain asset managers are doing and how they are handling their REO inventory, what marketing is working for you and what isn’t….who cares if you found a new hand creme or widget that displays an animated character on your blog?
Help me sell! Help each other sell! Let’s work to improve each other’s business. Here’s another interesting tidbit. How about us all actually utilizing blogs to speak to consumers. There’s a novel concept. Speaking directly to the people who may want to buy or sell real estate.
Many of us have blogs with high traffic. Many of the blogs with somewhat high traffic have the same Gang of 50 or so commenting.
I turned off commenting on our real estate sales blog. Not interested in hearing comments from bloggers..I want contact with consumers and it’s working. If bloggers want to comment they can do so here. My real estate blog is for the consumer. I am in it to sell real estate not make friends with bloggers.
Maybe it’s Saturday and I need more sleep, but this blogging thing is becoming all too boring and uninteresting. I mean we are talking about real estate aren’t we. It’s not the sexiest business on the planet. Not like we’re running a race car around a track at 200 miles per hour or anything. We’re trying to buy and sell homes.
At least some of us are.
Anybody got any ideas as to how I can attract more qualified buyers to the South Florida area when mortgages are becoming harder and harder to obtain?
Now that’s a comment or blog post that would actually be interesting to read!
Todd Carpenter says:
One thing I do on lenderama is to seek out contributors who don’t blog themselves, or are not involved in the RE.net clique. I want people who don’t even know what RE.net means. When I’m recruiting, I don’t bother to call lenderama a blog. It’s a website to help loan officers be better at their job.
I don’t mean to insult the people of RE.net, indeed, I’m a full fledged member. But I also think it’s a good idea to get out of the echo chamber sometimes.
May 10, 2008 — 9:29 am
Greg Swann says:
Busy people change the channel, Barry. Not for me? Next. Next. Next. Most of what I think is important I see in (or put into) The Long List.
Cathy tracks our numbers, but I know we’re way fewer than 10 transactions for 2008. This is what Jeff Brown would call a purposeful plan: We won’t take a listing if we know it won’t sell, and we have purposely avoided getting involved with short sales. We’re using the time we otherwise would have wasted on work that cannot produce income to fertilize our fields for when the market turns. This is not profit-seeking, it’s loss-avoidance. The flip side is that our houses tend to sell for a lot of money, so we’re managing to limp along without deflating our fat cells.
For what it’s worth, I think most of the stuff you see that looks like chittering baboons pulling fecal matter out of each other communities is exactly what it seems to be: Mediocrities on parade. Who cares? The Big Picture is always the ninety and nine. Six-dozen real estate webloggers, the entire Inman-co-opted share of the RE.net, mean nothing in the long run. Our goal here is to bring the twenty-first century to a million Realtors, half-a-million lenders and who knows how many millions of investors. Baboons aren’t even all that interesting at the zoo. Busy people press on regardless.
May 10, 2008 — 9:46 am
Jason Berman says:
Good post. Its pretty simple. So-called RE.net participants have a choice, they can engage in negativity, sniping, & passive-aggressive activity OR they can participate in an environment of learning, sharing, transparency & growth.
The latter will set their businesses free. The former will only waste time, attention, & effort.
As an aside, I googled the following:
“talk about people” “talk about ideas” to find the reference to the old adage. My search results included this blog post from 2003, http://tinyurl.com/3c6esu
I thought I would share it as an extension of your theme. Have a nice weekend. ~ JB
May 10, 2008 — 9:52 am
Eric Bramlett says:
>>>Mediocrities on parade
That’s definitely quotable. Worthy of a t-shirt.
May 10, 2008 — 9:54 am
Brian Brady says:
I am not a blogger:
https://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=2878
May 10, 2008 — 10:06 am
Tom Vanderwell says:
Barry,
I’ve been wrestling with the same thing. After having a number of local agents tell me to get involved in Active Rain, I’ve finally gone into it. There is very little conversation that I’ve been able to see that is actually about buying houses, selling houses and writing loans and a lot more about a lot of other things.
I started http://www.straighttalkaboutmortgages.blogspot.com a year ago yesterday as a way to talk about some of the news that was happening. I don’t get anywhere near the kind of traffic that you guys get. I’m working on a redesign of it to switch the focus much more clearly to:
1. Consumers who want to buy, sell or finance real estate in this “new world.”
2. Agents who want to learn more about the intracacies of the financial side of the real estate world.
3. Market the fact that, as a 20 year veteran, I know what I’m talking about and I can do mortgages in 31 of 50 states and would love to help them out.
Do I have some ads on my site? Yep. I’ve made a whopping $2.90 so far. That’s not what I’m doing it for. I’m doing it to expand my reach and contact new people.
Thanks for reaffirming that focus.
Tom
May 10, 2008 — 10:08 am
Christina Ethridge says:
After a week of looking into this and having our “moles’ review MLS sales records in various locations it became apparent that many in the blogosphere have had more time to write because they have not had any real sales activity. Many of the Gang of 50 have had less than 10 closed sales this year with a great many having less than 5.
You know who you are and you know the truth about your sales activity this year..or rather the lack thereof. Don’t worry, we’re not going to name any names but suffice it to say quite a few “prominent bloggers” need to concentrate on their real estate business instead of their blogging.
Be very careful when bragging about your ability to obtain people’s sales records. Fully 60%-75% (on average) of ours are not in our MLS. I’d venture to guess that there are a lot more agents that don’t have all of their sales recorded in their MLS. Most especially if they don’t care about recording it for posterity.
At the same time – I also agree with most of what you say above – I’d venture to guess (fairly accurately I’d be willing to bet as well) that the majority of the RE bloggers have done exactly what you said above, ‘just average’ or ‘less than average’.
As Russell said, get down to the business of BUSINESS.
May 10, 2008 — 11:22 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Christina..no bragging…just investigative research..notice not a single name was used so don’t get all up in arms…I will NEVER divulge such information, it was just that it became quite apparent that it is exactly that..time to get down to business.
May 10, 2008 — 11:54 am
Ron says:
Great post Barry! I have been blogging 4-months for the exact reason you stated: to sell more homes. I try to post on revelant real estate items and hope I will show up on Google searches. And it’s working. I have acquired new clinets, hopefully because they find my posts relevent and helpful to their current needs.
It has surprised me to find so many useless rantings on a varierty of R.E. blogs. Like you, I do not care about subjects unrelated to real estate, especially those concerning “what someone said about someone else.”
Give me a good helping of “tips of the trade” and facts related to the current state of our profession. I am going to Bloodhoundblog Unchained for that very reason.
May 10, 2008 — 12:20 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Ron..I have been guilty of it myself..no more..I want to be cleansed. From now on..only strong motivational posts…well maybe an occasional guilty pleasure might not be bad..but hardly a focus that is worthwhile!
May 10, 2008 — 12:31 pm
Broker Bryant says:
Sell houses!!! That’s blasphemy! I’m sure a lot of REALTORS(R) are struggling right now. Including myself. Fortunately, I have been doing this a long time. So have been enjoying the down time. My tan is looking real good:)
I have to say though I agree that blogging, as it exist today, is mostly a handful of bloggers talking amongst themselves. But just like anything else it will evolve into something better over time.
Other than my presence on AR I have never really gotten into the “blogosphere”. I’ve always been more of a lone wolf just doing my thing.
When I initially started blogging, blogging for business never entered my mind. I started blogging on AR to share what I know and to help others in their business. Once I started I was very surprised to see folks were interested in what I had to say. I was surprised because I had never worked in a real estate office and had always done things my way. I hadn’t read the book or attended the seminar. I learned real estate by trial and error. What I was doing worked for me in my very niche market area but I had no ideas that others would be interested in how I conducted business. So it just kind of took off.
The learning curve for blogging has always been the same. 1. Start blogging and learning. 2. Get noticed 3. Start blogging on a mission to get accolades. 4. Start telling folks how to blog 5. Either burn out or start blogging for business. Most burn out.
Blogging, just like real estate and life for that matter, is a marathon not a sprint. There are ups and downs and somehwere along the way we find our groove and figure out where are priorities lie.
So we can never assume that ALL folks are blogging to get business or that they are in real estate to do tons of business.
I for one, LOVE real estate but the reality is it’s only one very small part of my life.
Life is not about quantity it’s about quality. But hey it took me 50+ years to figure that out. I’m just glad I did.
Now this comment may not be about real estate but maybe just maybe there is something in here to help someone in their business or their life.
It’s all I got today.
BTW if I find any South Florida buyers I’ll send them your way. I think they too are an endangered species. Maybe they are over on myspace blogging:)
May 10, 2008 — 2:24 pm
Laurie Manny says:
These are difficult times for those of us surviving in the real estate industry. I recently put up a post displaying the closed sales in my market; 674 of them, through 4/30/08. Going into this down market there were about 2900 licensed Realtors on record, there are currently about 1600 licensees active in my market. Let’s assume that 8 to 10 closed sales for the year are required for an agent to even survive this market; these numbers would produce 8 to 10 sales for the year for between 200 and 250 Realtors. Those sales are currently spread across the 1600 current licensees.
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/long-beach-real-estate-sales
Many of us are used to producing much more in sales, it has not been easy for any of us. Expecting to find many agents with 10 closed sales for the year in this market was an unrealistic expectation. It would surprise me if there are more than a few agents in this country that have closed 10 sales this year. We are in survival mode, but some of us are selling and we are surviving.
I turn away way more business than I take in. Personally I have declined about 50 listings this year to date; most of which have not listed at all or did not sell if they did. What is the point in taking in listings that will cost time and money to promote with no hope of a sale? Doing this would cripple our business, there would be no time left to pursue viable leads. We are currently turning away all buyers will less than perfect credit and are no longer even showing short sale listings, with about 1 in 5 actually closing escrow and the apparent disinterest of the banks, what is the point? With over $2 million currently in escrow, all as a direct result of my blog, I am surviving.
Sales are way down for everybody, it is a reflection of the market. Those of us that are real estate bloggers, have the advantage of connecting with consumers and making some sales. Those without an internet presence are reliant upon the old traditional methods of lead generation. While these still work a little, they are starving to death. Sales are elusive; the clear majority of buyers start looking and decide to wait. Most are looking for “a deal” and don’t recognize “a deal” when they shop. They end up in our pipeline for a potential future sale. Our pipelines are large – due to the internet exposure blogging has provided and our ability to capture consumer leads. As the market begins to level out many of these buyers will step up to the plate and make that purchase; they are waiting for the “bottom” of the market.
What I am personally most concerned with is surviving this market with the tools that I am now armed with. As this market corrects itself I know that I will still be in business and that my business is established on the internet and I can just rock on.
Yesterday your partner Barry Johnson left a Home Value Request on my system. Your Home Value Request is prepared. I have left a phone message and sent an email without a response. Once I receive a response and am made aware of your intentions, I may send it to you. Are you interested in more information – or were you fishing?
May 10, 2008 — 3:02 pm
Jay Thompson says:
Barry – you seemed to skate right over Christina’s point.
I don’t know, or care, if you include me in your “Gang of 50” or consider me a “prominent blogger”.
Your response to Christina was you did “investigative research” into the real estate business of “prominent bloggers”. But in your post, you only mention MLS records.
Hopefully your “moles” reviewed more than MLS records. MANY real estate transactions are not recorded in the MLS. What isn’t in the MLS? Some new home sales, pre-build sales, many many land transactions, referrals, cash transactions, FSBO sides, purchase (or sale) of non-listed property, etc — none of which you would find reviewing MLS records. In fact, there is a significant portion of real estate business that unless you have moles in the IRS willing to break federal law, you’ll never be aware of.
That being said, there are certainly many real estate practitioners, bloggers and non-bloggers alike, that have struggled of late. Some are trying very hard, some not-so-much.
When it comes to “proving” business success, another fallacy often attempted is to count the number of listings an agent has (I’m not saying you or your moles did this — but many people do). In this market — at least in mine — the number of listings an agent is carrying is not a measure of success. I could go out tomorrow and get 5 or 10 “listings”. All I have to do is find one of tens of hundreds of over-priced expired listings with unreasonable and uneducated sellers and I could “list” their home — at an unreasonable and uneducated price — which will never sell.
I turn down more listings than I carry. Greg said it himself. I see no point in listing a home that can’t be sold. Some will “buy” listings just to plant a sign in a yard, hoping to hook and reel in some unsuspecting buyer.
I think there are far more efficient ways to get buyer clients. Real buyers with real money ready to buy real property.
But it’s not all done through the MLS.
May 10, 2008 — 3:21 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Hey Jay
The “mole thing” isn’t the focus..No Jay..I know what a closed sale is and what an active listing is..like I said above…..no names need ever be mentioned..that’s not the point. I did not “skate” over Christina’s comment. It’s not the focus and no, I was not pointing at you.
My point is too much time is obviously blogging about BS instead of the BUYING AND SELLING OF REAL ESTATE. Including by yours truly. I think the prominent bloggers need to take the bull by the horns and turn this ship around.
I for one am only going to look to write motivating and informative articles for the consumer and industry professional alike. I did some personal assessment and realized Iw as spending WAY too much time going back and forth with issues and people that were not going to make me any money. I’m done with that crap. Let them all wallow in their own pool of self-pity and righteous indignation.
No need to single anyone out and yes I was one of them…it’s futile, it’s wasteful and I haven’t got the time. Luckily I have only been doing this for a few months and can see through it all. Some have been at it for years and still seek to wallow. I am going to ride this puppy for all it’s worth and see what it brings me.
I would NEVER also determine success based upon a listing. That would be foolish.
May 10, 2008 — 3:37 pm
Jay Thompson says:
“I would NEVER also determine success based upon a listing. That would be foolish.”
I agree, but many determine “success” exactly that way.
I know you know what a close sale is Barry. But you said you looked at MLS records. Your point, best I can tell, is many aren’t making sales.
My point is, if you are only looking in MLS records, you may be missing a significant portion of someones real estate income.
Note that I agreed with you — many are not making a lot of sales. But to point out MLS statistics (and only MLS stats) as evidence of that is a flawed argument.
May 10, 2008 — 3:49 pm
Mike Farmer says:
What a pompous post. I for one will blog about anything I feel like blogging about. If you don’t like it, there is an easy way to fix that — don’t read it.
What in the hell does this post have to do about selling real estate?
May 10, 2008 — 3:52 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Mike..how about not having a “typical” answer..I said as well that I have been guilty of it..pompous??? Hardly…it’s about getting down to business and actually doing that which we are here for. I could care less what you want to blog about. Never even mentioned your name. If actually doing some business is not your intent..far from me to interrupt your affairs.
I, as many have re-iterated, know it’s been a tough year for real estate. We all know that.
What I was speaking about was are’nt we here to sell or buy? If you are not..then fine.
I am not by any means telling anybody to take listings that don’t sell. That would be counter-productive.
I often wonder why many don’t court buyers but that’s another post for another time.
Mike..you blog about whatever you desire. I’ll focus on what I think is important to my business and you can focus on that what is important to yours.
I just thought we all agreed this was a platform for enhancing business. Excuse me if that does not apply.
———————————————–
Laurie…BJ did call you back. He will on Monday. I’ll let you know what he was doing but it had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with this post. As you know we hold you in high regard and we were on a learning expedition from one of the best.
May 10, 2008 — 4:08 pm
Sean Purcell says:
I thought that blogging in real estate was about buying and selling real estate.
Interesting premise. Personally, I am glad for the diversity of thought and interest. I know of bloggers, some right here at BHB, that post on the same basic premise each and every time. Hardly holds an interest after the first few.
I am just as likely to choose a business affiliate based on an off-topic but insightful post as I am one that pounds the same nail over and over. I choose friends and business partners in much the same way: based on an interesting and diverse mind. I may be wrong, but I am guessing that I am not alone.
May 10, 2008 — 4:11 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Hey Sean…after speaking with you personally I now feel I know more about you. Without BHB I would probably not have had that opportunity.
Our debate over statistics has spurred me on to look deeper as I read trends and data..it has in my mind, helped my business and my forecasting. In that regard it has helped my real estate business.
Off topic is and can continue to be a source of information. Psssst…don’t tell Broker Bryant but some of what he and Lenn Harley have written on AR have actually been helpful to me..Duoh….had to admit!)
May 10, 2008 — 4:16 pm
Mike Farmer says:
No you didn’t name names, you just posted an off topic blast about off topic posts. Then you post some ridiculous innuendoes about other’s productivity when you have no idea what the productivity of other agents is, and it doesn’t matter.
I thought the post was condescending, pompous and intentionally aimed at a few you didn’t have the courage to name. Excoriating unnamed others is a waste of writing, and claiming to have investigated their productivity as a way to attack is plain silly and petty.
If you want to read posts strictly about real estate sales, then you have a problem — one is that you write about a lot that has nothing to do with real estate sales.
I don’t like your bombastic posts, but I’m not going to write a bombastic post to tell you that.
May 10, 2008 — 4:41 pm
Broker Bryant says:
Too late Barry……I heard you:)
You asked why some REALTORS(R) choose to not work with buyers. For me it was a choice I made about 10 years ago when I opened Tutas Towne Realty. I’ve always pretty much been a one man company. In fact since TLW retired about 5 years ago I do everything including answering the phones, paper work, transaction follow up etc…Buyers are very time consuming. The way my business is set up I just don’t have time to ride buyers around looking at properties.
What I’ve always done is refer them out to other REALTORS(R) in my area. There have been occassions where I have had buyer’s agents that worked for me but this placed me in a position of having to manage them. I don’t like that. I’m not a manager. Plus I work from my home and do not have an office for them to work from.
By referring buyers out I achieve two things. I free up my time and I build good working relationships with my peers. Money wise I make just about as much on a referral as I would having to pay a BA. The difference is I don’t have to manage them.
I do have about 5 Investors that I’ve worked with for many years. They buy mostly multi-unit stuff and usually just call me to say they saw something they want to buy and then I contact the sellers to see if they want to sell and we put a deal together. This I enjoy.
Recently though I have been working with regular buyers. I’ve had to because my listings aren’t selling. Most of the business in my area right now is in REOs and unfortunately this is a section of the market I’m not in. I wish I were but it’s pretty much dominated by a small handful of Brokers who have been doing it for years. My expertise has always neen working with Mr and Mrs Average Homeseller. But in this market they are screwed.
I’m also the broker for my families timeshare resale business. They specialize in Disney Resort resales and have been doing it for years. We opened a company about 8 months ago. I don’t work the business but get paid for brokering. So that helps.
So right now I am a reluctant buyers broker. I hate it. But I have bills to pay.
May 10, 2008 — 4:51 pm
Scott P. Rogers says:
> Help me sell! Help each other sell! Let’s work to improve each other’s business.
I definitely enjoy the posts that do this. I have read many posts on BHB and in other venues that offer creative ideas, insightful thoughts, and challenge my thinking or assumptions. The more of such posts that exist, the better for all of us! It is certainly *entertaining* to read the other posts — though they don’t necessarily help anyone improve their business. Perhaps we need the entertainment too?? 🙂
May 10, 2008 — 5:06 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
the Reluctant Buyer’s Broker bryant…love it! Hope it turns around for you. I know you work hard and it’s just a matter fo time. You own the SERPS’s up there and I know when it’s time they only have one guy in Poinciana to call.
And yes…REO agents must be real happy right now! We need to talk next week. May have some people looking for some things up there.
See..we talked about buying and selling and we may be able to do a deal or two..that’s what I’m talking about!
May 10, 2008 — 5:49 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Hey Jay….”evidence of that is a flawed argument.”..ya have me wrong brother..not making an argument nor seeking to be in one.
Guess the wording was taken wrong..just pointing out that a lot of bloggers are’nt selling. I guess that’s obvious. Not looking to make any argument in regards to gauging success. heck there’s really only one way to measure that.
and I’m not talking about dollars…if one is happy..then they are successful..IMO.
May 10, 2008 — 5:52 pm
Jay Thompson says:
Sigh. Now I remember why I feel like I’m slamming my head against a wall almost every time I stop by here.
“Guess the wording was taken wrong..just pointing out that a lot of bloggers are’nt selling.”
What you pointed out was a lot of MLS data shows some bloggers aren’t selling.
What I’m trying to point out is, maybe they ARE selling. MLS data doesn’t always tell the whole story. Not even close.
“not making an argument nor seeking to be in one.”
Come on Barry. When you challenge productivity of a group of people (even if you won’t name them) you’re clearly looking for an argument. Or at least a heated discussion. You think people are going to just sit there and take, “You know who you are and you know the truth about your sales activity this year..or rather the lack thereof” as not argumentative???
Give me a break.
At least we can agree on, “if one is happy..then they are successful.”
Now I’ll just fade away again…
May 10, 2008 — 6:03 pm
Louis Cammarosano says:
Mike F and I had half a discussion awhile back on what many blogs are focused on; many of them not entirely real estate and not entirely consumer focused.
I think the bhb obviously is not Greg’s tool to get business for his real estate business, but rather a place for ideas to be exchange among smart people. The conversation flows and yes sometimes it gets a little out of hand (witness the “unsubscribe” incident a few months ago)
Barry does have a point.I don’t think he is trying to stifle what people blog about, but merely pointing out that perhaps our imminent bloggers are not necessarily the top real estate producers in the country and perhaps they, we and I are all guilty of spending a little TOO much time blogging.(witness this post-in effect,blogging about blogging)
Mary McKnight, in response to a blog post I wrote EONS ago “The case against blogging” in which I pointed out that perhaps a large part of your audience would be other realtors and you may lose some sleep, wrote:
“You know, I agree. One of the first things I say to a Realtor is “your blog is there to support your business, not the other way around.” A Realtor that can devote all day to blogging and shooting the breeze with other Realtors, isn’t a very good Realtor. My advice is… Blog smart. Use it as a tool to build your business, but once it starts robbing your business of time, join a 12 step program.”
http://blog.homegain.com/case-against-blogging
Jay made a similar point in his cartoon that showed a lone blogger late at night calling back from his computer to his wife “I’ll be there in a minute someone is WRONG on the internet”
This highlights that we may all be a little too addicted and as barry points out
“Forget Redfin and what they are doing. Don’t worry about Bloodhound Unchained and whether or not Odysseus is going to succeed. Yes, Russell Shaw has a new home on agent genius…is any of that going to help you sell or buy a home today?”
Again, while we all may be interested in Russell’s new home or whether Unchained will “kick Inman’s ass” and are free to as Mike F. says blog about what we wish, perhaps we are getting a little too caught up in this type of stuff.
May 10, 2008 — 6:43 pm
Jay says:
Don’t know how some people blog so often. I post once every 3 weeks. I’m busy. I guess 4 kids helps with being “busy” as well.
May 10, 2008 — 7:15 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Louis….maybe my message was diluted..but thank you..thank you..for clarity in observation.
May 10, 2008 — 8:45 pm
Joe Spake says:
I think we need to coin a new name for the seemingly infinite number of irrelevant “real estate” blog posts. It is more brain numbing than just common spam, because, being real estate related, we are sort of compelled to try to read more than we need to. RE agents seem to jump on any trend that they think will put money in their pockets. Many RE bloggers seem more interested in getting content (any content) out there, without regard to quality or relevance. I am finding myself more and more repelled by Active Rain – the point system only encourages blog post spam. We all want to be number one high scorer in our market, don’t we?
May 11, 2008 — 6:43 am
Mary McKnight says:
I’m going to say that it is all about HOW you blog You need to blog smart – spend only a few hours a week on your blog and target buyers in your posts. Our bloggers are selling. I know this becasue they email me constantly with praise about how their blog reeled in a buyer or they put or that hoe into escrow. I can tell you this right now- I can take one look at a blog tell you whether or not that blogger actually makes sales through their blog based on the structure, content and positioning of that blog for its key terms in Google. It’s a simple formula- you have call to actions, real estate focused content and a first page presence in Google and you WILL close deals. Many bloggers are just caught up in doing it wrong – spending way too much time on their blog.
May 11, 2008 — 7:10 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Another Golden Nugget By Mary!
Mary I CONSTANTLY visit the blogs you have put together for your clients. So much so they probably think I am a stalker but I read everything. I read what you write, I look at structure..I even go as far as to check in SEO Firefox how they have been able to rise to the top…then I read everything on RSS Pieces…but MOST importantly..then I try my best to DO what you say and guess what…It works!
Between you and Greg here at BHB I have learned so much. In such a short time Our numbers would NEVER have been so high if it were not for what you guys say.
That being said…if bloggers are not doing what people like you and greg teach then they have only themselves to blame.
Sometimes I don’t get it. The path has been cleared and all one need do is follow? It’s that simple. Yet some (as you can see) just look for reasons to not follow. Like you said, it’s easy to see who is and wants to sell and who it seems wants to audition as a writer.
I’ll take the sales option please!
Thanks mary and Greg!
May 11, 2008 — 7:44 am
Louis Cammarosano says:
Mary
That is the formula for blogging for business.
But for many blogginng is a combination of intellectual pastime (BHB), building points (Active Rain) socializing, sharing real estate tips (Homegain) and a variety of other things other than blogging for business.
There is nothing wrong with that, other than not being able to see the difference
May 11, 2008 — 7:51 am
Greg Swann says:
> intellectual pastime (BHB)
Matthew 7:6. We’re building the future of real estate, Louis. There’s no charge, but we demand the highest price there is: You have to train yourself to pay attention.
May 11, 2008 — 8:46 am
Louis Cammarosano says:
yes Greg, that is an endeavor beyond blogging for business – of biblical proportions!
May 11, 2008 — 8:49 am
Greg Swann says:
> yes Greg, that is an endeavor beyond blogging for business – of biblical proportions!
Everything that matters was built by someone who saw what others could not. We all of us feast on the riches thrown off by men and women who cared for things much more important than mere riches. I do not presume to compare myself, or the other Bloodhounds, to those great minds. But, at an absolute minimum, striving to emulate them is enobling. That aside, you cannot induce me to scorn my values with your scorn. And: What I said is true. We are changing the world of real estate right here more than any other force in the marketplace. If this is not obvious to you yet, it will be.
May 11, 2008 — 9:23 am
Louis Cammarosano says:
Greg lighten up. Scorn was not included in my post.
Besides,why would I agree to attend Unchained, if not for seeing some value.
May 11, 2008 — 9:40 am
Sean Purcell says:
Greg,
We all of us feast on the riches thrown off by men and women who cared for things much more important than mere riches
It is rare in this world to meet someone of grand vision and noble intention. Rarer still is the person with the mental acumen to act on such ideals.
Dude, I am really looking forward to meeting you in person…
May 11, 2008 — 9:49 am
Heather Rankin says:
Jumping in here…..
I am fairly new – to blogging to RE, etc. I saw a need for the consumers interested in my area – there was simply no information other than the standard “I’m the best RE Broker/Agent (insert word here)- Call Us” static web pages.
Without the guidance of BB, Mary, Jay and some good souls at AR I would be pretty well dead in the water. As it is, things are going forward. Maybe you all need to be reminded that there are newbies (raises hand) taking the education to heart.
Living in one of the most awesome areas in the US – yet a small RE market, I am trying to balance…. the RE with the area. Time will only tell if I am succeeding.
May 11, 2008 — 9:56 am
Greg Swann says:
> Dude, I am really looking forward to meeting you in person…
Same here. You seem to be tuned into all the best frequencies.
May 11, 2008 — 10:01 am
Pat Kitano says:
Barry, your views always seem to mirror mine. BHB, Agent Genius, Lenderama et al are essentially content rich media properties that provide exposure for their participating bloggers. Factionalism might be a natural byproduct as these sites evolve; consider the war between Engadget and Gizmodo, two technology blogs that fight fiercely for market share and news breaks. Maybe cliques are inevitable in online societies too.
May 11, 2008 — 10:04 am
Greg Swann says:
> Maybe cliques are inevitable in online societies too.
This is an understandable error, the result of conflating unlike phenomena. The attacks on BloodhoundBlog are a manifestation of the crumbling of the old cliquish order. How do we know that the real estate weblogging portion of Inman Connect is a dead letter? Because Brian Brady and I will not be there. This is not to take anything away from the people who will be there, but the two most significant voices from the biggest weblog in the RE.net are not participating. By definition, the All Star Game will be held in Phoenix next week. If you’re looking for a metaphor for what is really happening in the RE.net, study the history of Rome from Tiberius Gracchus through Caesar Octavianus. I didn’t know how this all would play out when I set it in motion in November and December of 2006. So far, the Populares — the ninety and nine — are winning hands down. The Optimates seem resigned to a rear-guard action. They’re focused on us. We’re focused on the millions of people with whom we have yet to make contact. I don’t think it is at all hard to figure out how things will go from here. If you prefer a different metaphor, think Planck. We leapt out of their orbit a long time ago. The people who seem to spend all their time stewing and bitching about us seem also to be unaware that any of this is going on, even though I have been always been completely forthcoming about it: I don’t care about cranky real estate webloggers. I care about the ninety-and-nine. We’re on our way up. Those who learn from us are welcome to join us. Everyone else is in the other elevator. (Three metaphors for the price of one!)
May 11, 2008 — 10:32 am
Louis Cammarosano says:
Greg
I like to see the Romans are now gaining stature in your analogies
May 11, 2008 — 10:37 am
Greg Swann says:
> I like to see the Romans are now gaining stature in your analogies
Ah, but I am a Roman — a Greek by translation. 😉
May 11, 2008 — 10:54 am
Mike Farmer says:
“I’m going to say that it is all about HOW you blog You need to blog smart – spend only a few hours a week on your blog and target buyers in your posts. Our bloggers are selling. I know this becasue they email me constantly with praise about how their blog reeled in a buyer or they put or that hoe into escrow. I can tell you this right now- I can take one look at a blog tell you whether or not that blogger actually makes sales through their blog based on the structure, content and positioning of that blog for its key terms in Google. It’s a simple formula- you have call to actions, real estate focused content and a first page presence in Google and you WILL close deals. Many bloggers are just caught up in doing it wrong – spending way too much time on their blog.”
This is good advice for an agent who is totally focused on using a blog as a way to create transactions. But some of us have created blogs outside of business and this is overlooked. For someone like me who likes to write, I find the “industry” blog a good source of creative thinking, not to get business, but to use as a way to express ideas or just stay connected to a broader conversation. It seems like the two types of blogs are getting mixed-up in the conversation.
May 11, 2008 — 10:56 am
Louis Cammarosano says:
But Greg, What did the Romans ever do for us? (run with that)
May 11, 2008 — 11:03 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Yes Mike..there are two kinds of blogs. BHB as well as my radio show blog are like yours..creative expressionism.
But many RE bloggers mix the two..hence the problem and that which I was writing here about. That and the losing touch of not attending to business. My business IS my blog…if your busines IS NOT your blog and a “hobby” or Past time, what I was saying is it makes sense to concnetrate on that which is going to get you paid before that which isn’t…sort of applying the Pareto Principle to real estate blogging.
May 11, 2008 — 11:04 am
Jay Thompson says:
If Unchained is but a fraction of the size and scope of your ego, it will be a tremendous success.
I sincerely wish you the best with it. Most “All-Star Games” aren’t worth watching, but I’m sure yours will be.
I appreciated Brian’s gesture on Agent Genius of offering me a free pass to attend. I said there that I’d try, but had several appointments.
I think now I’ll have to respectfully decline.
I do look forward to hearing all about it. Its sure to be the buzz of the net.
You and Brian are to be commended for the work and effort you’ve put into this. I’m sure your customers will be pleased.
Best of luck, knock ’em dead!
May 11, 2008 — 11:50 am
Graeme says:
The best managers in baseball aren’t always the best players. The best sales managers at Fortune 500 companies, aren’t always the best sales people. The same can be applied to this. Just because the person can’t sell homes, doesn’t mean that they can’t contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way. As long as the person isn’t saying, “this is the way to sell and there is no other way to be successful”, they are adding value to the conversation.
May 12, 2008 — 10:40 am
Roberta Murphy says:
Barry:
I basically agree with your contentions and find there is a bit too much time wasted with “conversation about the conversation” (as they say) in the real estate blogosphere.
But that is not my business.
On the other hand, MLS statistics generally do not reflect new home sales which these days pay a handsome X -plus percent referral fee.
That combined with aggressive price slashing and over-the-top incentives have turned us into devotees. Clients also love that we turn the “-plus percent commission” over to them.
May 16, 2008 — 11:46 pm