"Sharon, Why do you Blog?"

Simms: "I blog because I can! OK - seriously - I’ve found that blogging is an excellent way to develop relationships with potential clients, real estate agents, developers, journalists, and people in the community. It’s a way to demonstrate my knowledge and expertise and to develop trust. It’s an excellent way for prospects to pre-qualify themselves - i.e., determine a similarity of market, price range and personality. It sets expectations so that the meeting is "warm" rather than "cold". Readers are able to subscribe either by e-mail or RSS subscription or they can just visit the blog as often as they like, without having to reveal their identity or personal data."

"How do you discipline yourself to Blog?"

Simms: "It’s important to schedule time for blogging, to set blogging appointments. Some people set topics by day - i.e., Monday they blog about the market, Wednesday about a particular listing, and Friday about an architectural style. I tend not to be that specific, and will blog each time about what I feel is important. Whether you choose to blog in your office, at home, or off in a quiet blogging spot, realize that this appointment is as significant as one with a client. Don’t check e-mail or surf the web - just write your blog. I feel consistency is very important - if you’re "on a roll" and want to write several posts at once - fine. Just post the one that’s due then, and save or embargo the rest for regulated timely postings."
 
"What do you see in return for your effort?"

Simms: "Blog sites today are what websites were in the late 1980s. People want immediacy and they want interaction. Once they’re comfortable with you and how you do business, they’ll contact you when they’re ready (and just as good, if they determine you’re not a good fit, they won’t contact you at all). More than 95% of our "new" business comes from the internet, and it’s coming from blogs rather than websites. The bottom line of value is not comments, nor hits - it’s closed business that came because you blogged. Blogging has also raised my visibility and credibility in the community. Further, when I go on listing appointments, I print out a Google search page on their condo or community, and when I can show that 4 of the top 6 searches are my posts, it’s a very strong indicator of not just "being on the internet" but "successfully mastering internet marketing".

Thanks very much Sharon

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