I mentioned before that there were some exciting changes coming, and the time is NOW.

• better communication
• education (do you want to learn about blogging?Well, you can. How about some neat marketing suggestions from members? That too)
  
• and a forum where you can ask questions, make suggestions, and seek assistance from fellow members.

• Our blog has been up and running for about a year and readership continues to grow - we are averaging about 100 readers per day now!
  
• We will soon have a link via widget from our home page to this blog.
  
• We have already added a video of the 2008 Officer Installation (if you have not seen the video on our site, you can visit it here)
• You can expect more use of technology tools in the future
• We are also hoping to add some e-learning experiences on a number of topics as well.
  
• The Chapter is actively seeking more members, and we believe that technology will enable us to attract, and appeal to, a broader spectrum of members
  

And here is Part 3 of the article "To Blog or Not To Blog" from the SoCalCRS newsletter.

Here is Part 1

And here is Part 2.

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New bloggers often ask "what should I write about?" Well, the answer is anything and everything. Sure, that may be literary exaggeration, since I can think of a few dicey topics that might not be suitable for your real estate blog. But the point here is that you have an incredible range of things you can talk about in your blog. As long as it relates to the world of real estate and your market, I'd say it's fair game. Think about the things people might want to know about buying and selling, and the communities you are familiar with (e.g., things to do, restaurants, events, town government). What sorts of questions do you get from clients? What counseling and educating do you do with buyers and sellers? Got the idea?

Certainly you should keep in mind the audience you are writing for, or want to write for. Before launching into your blog you really should give this some serious consideration. You can't effectively write for everyone on the planet, so decide on your focus, whether it's first time buyers, a farm area, or a particular community. This will make you a better writer, you will focus on topics of interest to your intended readership, and blogging will have the side benefit of generating leads of the type you desire.

There is certainly much more to know about blogging, and many more issues to ponder. But consider the title of this piece…to blog or not to blog.

That really IS the question. Is it right for you? Do you like writing and working on the Internet? Can you commit to the time needed to write regularly? And do you want improve your search engine ranking and generate leads? I can't give you the answer. It's your choice. I've made mine.

Here's Part 2 of my article "To Blog or Not To Blog" for the Southern California CRS.

If you missed Part 1, here it is.

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Here is my list of 7 things to do if you are blogging.

Yep, there are others I could list, but for folks starting out these seem to be the most important things to keep in mind.

• Your blog must be CONSUMER-CENTRIC not agent-centric
• Don't advertise yourself - this is not a PR piece
• Focus on what buyers and sellers want and need
• Provide information and good, fresh content and your readership will grow
• Don't obsess about readership and traffic - just write
• Know your market and your audience, and write for them
• Focus on what you enjoy and your interests - you won't write well about things you don't enjoy

Only about 4% of the nation's REALTORS, according to NAR, are actually involved in blogging. SO, if you are, or you are seriously thinking about it, you have a competitive edge.

One of the questions new bloggers often have in our business is...what should I write about?

Well, the answer is...pretty much anything and everything you want (except of course certain dicey topics like politics and religion). A key focus should be on information that consumers want and need. Your blog should be consumer-centric, and NOT focused on you and how wonderful you are. Nobody really cares, and your blog will just appear to be a self-promotional marketing piece. Avoid that at all costs.

Here are some ideas on general topics, just to get you started.

• The buying process - everything and anything to do with buying a home
• The selling process - anything and everything to do with selling a home, including preparing it for sale, from start to finish
• How to choose a REALTOR - what consumers should know and do about finding the right agent, for listing or buying
• Community information - what would buyers want to know about the community(ies) you service - restaurants, services, parks, beaches, mountains, things to do, tourist stuff, town government and issues, buildings and development projects. Think of yourself as a tour guide and THE EXPERT on your town.
• Housing - what kinds of housing are available in your area (styles, pricing, sizes, subdivisions and neighborhoods). What are the market conditions and are they changing, and if so how? Market reports and statistics are often popular with buyers and sellers

Got any questions? Let me know, I'm happy to help.

Just a quick reminder that I will be teaching TWO blogging classes at SDAR in San Diego on Tuesday November 13

Introduction to Blogging - 12:00 - 1:15 PM - for those who know nothing about blogging. Find out what it's all about and learn why you should consider becoming a blogger too

Intermediate Blogging - 1:30 - 2:30 PM - for those with some experience with blogging. We'll talk about links, keywords, and getting the most from your blog.

Visit the SDAR website to register

Classes are filling up!

Have you joined the ranks of real estate bloggers yet? If not, you might want to consider it.

NAR reports that only about 4% of all REALTORS are actively blogging, which means it can be a competitive edge for you.

I recently taught a blogging class at NSDCAR and hope to teach a couple more at other associations in San Diego and Orange county. So I thought I would also share some of the teaching periodically here in case folks are interested.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU BLOG?

• oBranding

Any readers out there interested in blogging? Or learning more about it and how it can be a significant part of your marketing plan?

I will be teaching an Introduction to Blogging class at NSDCAR on August 14th from 11 - 12. This is a chance for those of you who don't know what blogging is all about but are interested in learning more, as well as those who have started blogging but really want to gain a better feel for it, to acquire some more info on this rapidly growing cyberspace activity.

True, it is NOT right for everyone. If you are not interested, or cannot commit to it then you should NOT blog. But if the idea piques your interest. I hope you will decide to come by. There will be notices from NSDCAR but you can contact them to get more information in coming weeks. My guess is the cost will be about $5 for members, and $8 for non-member agents.

And if you would lilke to know about a terrific real estate social networking site where you can gain knowledge and experience blogging, let me know and I will send you an invite to join.

I don't know how many of you are doing any blogging as part of your real estate marketing, but if you aren't you might seriously want to consider it.

I started blogging about 5 months ago and now have several sites I maintain. While it is a bit of work (you really only need one site), it is a great way to network with folks around the country, learn, move up in the search engine rankings, and potentially attract clients, among others.

I am reading a terrific book, "Realty Blogging,' on the subject and wanted to pass it along in case you had an interest. Their website is also a great resource for agents interested in how to use blogging effectively.

(NOTE: While you cannot "CLICK TO BUY", the photo is clickable and links to their website)

One of the great classes I took last year while finishing my designation was the technology course (CRS 206). While most agents, if not all, have a good general sense of how technology has changed in our business, many do not know what they SHOULD know to be effective, efficient and compete in this evolving marketplace.

Buyers and sellers these days are knowledgeable about technology and will expect you to be as well – are you prepared?