Comments on: You Can Lead an Agent to Technology, But You Can’t Make ‘Em Type.

By: Rebecca Levinson

Rebecca Levinson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:08:36 +0000

Time is a constant pressing issue for agents as it is for their perspective clients. What is great is that blogging allows the agent’s differentiation and to paint themselves as a local expert in some venue. It also personalizes their services and credentials…AND…it allows their busy clients as well to sit down at 6 a.m., 12 midnight, whenever THEY have time and learn more about the agent and hopefully the market. If a professional can make it a part of their business plan, (put it under marketing if you will), and schedule in a time that they can take 15 minutes or more to update their blog, then they can do it, and get results AND respect, for prospects.

By: Joanne Hanson

Joanne Hanson — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:22:54 +0000

I agree that agents that are willing to blog will have a much greater internet presence, but few can put the time that is required into it. Even if they startblogging, most cannot keep it up. I hear there are already companies that will blog for you, but wonder how local those companies can be. Personally, I will keep writing my own stuff, and perhaps that will make my blog stand out from the crowd, if the arena ever gets crowded!

By: Maggie Dokic

Maggie Dokic — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:09:02 +0000

Mighty Tomato, so nice to read another great post from an excellent guest writer. Elizabeth’s point is well taken. I firmly believe anyone who has not dug their heels into the internet scene will be at a disadvantage in a few years when the major players are already up and running and lost time will be hard to make up.

By: Jim Gatos

Jim Gatos — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:26:56 +0000

Hey, well, thanks for your answer. I played with both of them and I actually sat down and “mastered” WordPress first before I did the blog. I liked the look of Typepad, however, and I also liked the idea you can post without pain with Typepad. Thanks for your honesty and frankness. Maybe I should just consider another template.,,,LOL
Thanks,
Jim

By: Jim Cronin

Jim Cronin — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:57:30 +0000

Jim Gatos,
The TypePad platform is a bit easier to use – it is a plug and play model. However, there are some challenges that come with the tool. 1. You don’t own it. 2. You have a root domain that has typepad.com in it. 3. They have recently experienced some server issues (my site was down for as much as 3 hours yesterday). 4. It will only improve in functionality as their product improves… And more I’m sure.
The WP direct upload product is the foundation of all the custom blogsites that we have developed. It is hard to call what we do a WP blog any longer, however, because we have done so much custom programming to make it unique for each client… Nonetheless… if you can handle the management of the site, you are in much better share to have a WP direct upload site as you do with your current situation.
Why did I choose TP over WP in for the Tomato? Back when I started it, I didn’t fully understand the choice, so I flipped a coin… I wish today that it had landed on WP. Oh well. It’s certainly working for me – can’t be too upset.

By: Jim Gatos

Jim Gatos — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:37:48 +0000

Hello,
Very Very impressed with your site here. I have a question that I don’t knoew where to place it. Presently I am using WordPress I host myself through a Hosting provider. I am thinking to switching to Typepad hosted through Typepad. It looks easier doing things through Typepad. I notice you folks use Typepad. Would someone look at my blog and let me know? My blog is at http://www/gatosblog.com
Thanks
Jim

By: Gena Riede

Gena Riede — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:26:43 +0000

I realized this a few years back and agree completely. Print ads are out and the Internet is where its at. If your’re not on the Internet, you loose. Just that simple. In terms of pulling Open House info and making that accessible to the user, it only makes sense.

By: Marg Scheben-Edey - RE/MAX four seasons

Marg Scheben-Edey - RE/MAX four seasons — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:20:58 +0000

I’ve been thinking about this very topic for three years at which time I first pulled out of print media and invested heavily in my website. The return in the short run has been absolutely worth it in that the payback has been tenfold over print however, I’m now finding people asking me if I’m still in the real estate business! there is something to be said for a print media presence. Now I’m going to try advertising my blog and website rather than listings and see what happens.

By: Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty

Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:29:35 +0000

My broker (#1 in the area) walked away from print ads January 1 and has not looked back. In fact, the #2 broker in town also followed suit.

By: katie

katie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:24:21 +0000

I would agree our company is in competition with the local media – and that is a really good thing because for years our company was held hostage by the major media in our locale. We could not compete with the newspaper…there was only one venue for open houses and we paid through the nose for it. Now that consumers are using the web so much, we can afford to cut back in the newspapers and put that money back into our online presence.
Few of our agents blog, too. I think it will be the young ones, new to the business in the next few years, who will blog because they have personal blogs now. They will build their farm via their blog rather than postcards, calendars etc.