How Has Blogging Changed Your Real Estate Career? - Uncle Jack LeVine

This article is the second in a series of interviews that we've conducted with a handful of our Tomato Blogger Clients. 

The theme throughout these interviews is to learn how their blogging efforts have made huge differences in their real estate career.

Today we meet "Uncle Jack". Jack Levine is the author of Very Vintage Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Jack originally began blogging way back in October of 2005.  He may even have been the very first real estate blogger in Las Vegas.

After a break from blogging in late 2006, Jack reemerged with the official launch Very Vintage Vegas in March of 2007.  A few months later, Jack hired us to take his blog and blogging skills to the next level. 
The following is how it has changed his life.

Tomato-
I know that you blog quite regularly.  How often do you post and what's the secret to the pace you maintain?

Uncle Jack-
Since I made the decision to make the blog the main focus of my marketing efforts, March of last year, I'd say I post anywhere from 2 to 4 times a day. 

To keep that pace, I tend to post a lot of easy to publish stuff.  Almost every day I do a Worst MLS Photo, and commonly keep my editorial posts to under 3 paragraphs.  Less is more, I guess.

Tomato-
What is the biggest change to your real estate career since you started VeryVintageVegas?

Uncle Jack-

Suddenly I'm famous.  It's so common for me to meet someone in the real estate world here in Vegas that knows exactly who I am because of my blog.  Now I am memorable because of my blog.  They remember the name. 

It such a change from when I had a template site with Advanced Access.  I had that site for years, no leads, no mentions of it, no one knew me because of it... I had it listed on all my marketing, everything... and it never produced.

With the blog, it was only a matter of months and I was not only getting great business from it, but it has really transformed me into a very well know agent in the city.  It's amazing.  Every buyer and every seller I work with tells me that they know and read my blog.  It's unbelievable, the difference.

Tomato-
Just as I had asked Jackie last week, what are the changes in your marketing strategies now that the blog is at the center of your marketing efforts?

Uncle Jack-
I used to do all the usual stuff, right up until last year.  Print, magazines, newspaper ads, classifieds, mailings... all that stuff has been shed.

I still have the business cards, yard signs and property fliers, but everything is now geared to brand the blog and plant the seed to read.

Tomato-
What were your blogging goals when you started back up again in March of 2007?

Uncle Jack-
I wanted to become a listing agent in the niche market of Vintage Homes in Las Vegas.  Homes that were built in the late 1940's to the early 60's...back when there were only like 50,000 people living here.

I know I keep saying it's amazing, but it is.  I am famous in that niche here now, and it has all been because of this past year's blogging.  For the first time in my life, I am a listing agent, and in fact, I am getting all these calls to list a house where they have already made their decision to list with me.  They aren't talking with anyone else.

Tomato-
What's the most common type of business contact you get from the blog?

Uncle Jack-
Recent arrivals to Las Vegas.  Out-of-towners that moved here like 5 or 6 months ago.  They've been reading my site since they landed in town, and now they are ready to talk.

Tomato-
What power has the blog given you?  I mean, you don't just become a well known real estate agent because you blog.

Uncle Jack-
The blog has given me the opportunity to be recognized as the expert.  I have credibility now that I just couldn't get when I was providing the same information to an individual [in emails].  Now I get to share my knowledge with a huge, and ever-growing audience and the effect is unbelievable.

Tomato-
It's been a tough year in Vegas real estate, yet you seem super optimistic.  What gives?

Uncle Jack-
Survival this year has been 100% because of my blogging.  I am doing better than almost all the agents I know.  I am sure that I too would have been struggling if I hadn't committed to it.

Tomato-
Is there something I should have asked you, but haven't regarding the change that blogging has brought you this past year?

Uncle Jack-
You never asked what joining the Tomato Team has done for my blogging.

The out of town leads have quadrupled since September when we [Steve Christmas and I] became Tomatoes. Learning to SEO my posts and eliminating all those unknown mistakes has made a huge difference in the volume and quality of those contacts.

Tomato-
If I could blush, I would.
Thanks for your time Jack, we really appreciate it!

We’d love to hear from you about how blogging has changed your real estate career.  Feel free to post below, or email me to interview you directly for a future post.

Other Interviews with Tomato Bloggers:
Week 1 - Jackie Colson-Miller
Week 3 – Mary DeLuca

 

Tags: Jack+LeVine, Very+Vintage+Vegas, Real+Estate+Blogging

Comments

[Hilary Shantz, TheOakvilleBuzz.com]

These results are inspiring to hear - I want to continue to blog frequently adn wisely and carve out a niche in my own market. Thanks Jim and Jack for some much needed endorsement that we are on the right track!

[Hilary Shantz, TheOakvilleBuzz.com]

Jack, do you mind sharing some of the ways that you go about marketing your blog and how that helps with getting listings in your niche?

[Derek]

Hilary: Quickly scanning your blog, I think you already found your niche - first time home owners. You look like you are exploring some of the more historic homes as well. I thought you did a good job describing the historic home you blogged about and if you continue to write thoughtful articles like that one you could be well on to becoming an expert in that field as well. Not too many agents describes the homes in as much historic detail as you did. Most tend to just focus on what's there and what's not and not the home's history. The best buyers for historic homes are those who are aware of the home's history and are committed to preserving it's history as well. Then, I am also biased about that as I am a history major!

[Joe Peffer]

Here is the meat of this interview:
-"I am getting all these calls to list a house where they have already made their decision to list with me. They aren't talking with anyone else."
>>>This is huge.

-"They've been reading my site since they landed in town, and now they are ready to talk."
>>>>Also huge, again, it's as if there are no other agents in town.

I think most of Jack's contacts, though, really just want to touch his mustache.

[Uncle Jack (Jack LeVine)]

I'd better get some posts up for today. I usually do my blog reading late at night. Thanking Jim for the interview and the great job the Tomatos have done for me requires a switch in my schedule today.

I'm a regular reader of Joe Peffers Blog, since Columbus is my hometown. Today was my first visit to Hillary and Oakville looks like my kind of downtown. Keep up the good work.

Thanks again, Jim

[San Diego Real Estate]

Jim and Jack:

It is so good to hear the stories of successful bloggers--and how targeting what might seem to be a specialized niche can turn into a producing Mother Lode.

Congratulations to you both!

--Roberta Murphy

[David]

Great job Jack! We love Las Vegas!