Comments on: Who Are You Blogging For?

By: Rodney Dunn

Rodney Dunn — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:33:55 +0000

Hi from New Zealand.
Browsing your site and just wanted to say that its very good. Market here in NZ is following trends that seem to exist in the US.
I’ve been selling here in Auckland for 14 years now and this is the quietest period within that time. Sales volumes have reduced by 50% compared to this time in 07.
We have challenging time ahead as I suspect you do in your part of the world.
Regards
Rodney Dunn

By: Kristal Kraft

Kristal Kraft — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:02:27 +0000

Good points to ponder Jim. Having a blog and writing something of interest to the population is often times two different things. I try to showcase my area for people looking to relocate to Denver. I figure they don’t know much about the neighborhoods, so anything I provide is useful, especially photos.

By: Matt Heaton

Matt Heaton — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:43:09 +0000

Once again another great post Jim. With so many new agents entering the blogging world, education is the most valuable commodity.

By: Jim Cronin

Jim Cronin — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 10:30:38 +0000

Teresa,
You bring to light an excellent point: “news that for the most part is not covered by the traditional media”
Blogs have set the standard for delivering the above and have found their place and readership because of their subjective points of view. However when it comes to earning readership, unless you are already recognized as someone ‘bringing the news’ you have a lot of work to do to set yourself apart as a ‘news bringer.’ Teresa, you have been blogging on your current site for about 10 months and have grown to break the top 50 most read real estate blogs. That is awesome! Unfortunately, every new blogger over the next year is going to have to work much hard than you and I have to experience such success. My advice in the article above was for bloggers to make an effort to bring clarity to the investigative audience – the obvious group.
I agree with you that blog readers are looking for an alternative to the mainstream media, but attracting them in the first place is difficult by just covering the news. Investigative real estate readership is either those with questions that need clarity, or those that are already keeping a pulse on the real estate blogosphere (read: you, me, Greg Swann, and the rest of the community). The ones looking for the alternative media have probably found you because you have earned your place as a resource through content, participation and consistency. I too don’t believe that the audience is as narrow as I have pinned it, but I do feel that making an effort to reach out to those that will be using the internet as a resource for their real estate needs will help you establish yourself as a worthy resource and in turn a destination for the news as well.

By: teresa boardman

teresa boardman — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:40:29 +0000

I agree that the content should be geered toward a blogs readership. I am not sure I agree with you on who the audiance for a real estate blog would be. I am finding that home owners and neighbors read my content as much as home buyers, people who are relocating and investors. I am not so sure that anyone is really looking for indepth information as much as they are looking for news that for the most part is not covered by the traditional media. I think content needs to be focused and geered toward an audiance but I think the audiance for a real estate blog is not as narrow as you have indicated.

By: Jim Messenger

Jim Messenger — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:05:16 +0000

Hi Jim,
Commented & Dugg.
Jim

By: REBlogGirl

REBlogGirl — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:41:14 +0000

Well said, Jim. Focusing your content for your audience is essential to not just driving traffic to your site in the first place but to helping people subscribe to your feeds and ensuring that they will indeed return.

By: Norm Fisher

Norm Fisher — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:36:52 +0000

Content is king and your site is packed full of it. Thanks for sharing so generously. I’m learning a lot!