3 Years Of Real Estate Blogging - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

A very special post on the Real Estate Tomato today: Teresa Boardman takes a look at what 3 years of blogging on StPaulRealEstateBlog.com has done to her and her business.

3 Years of Real Estate Blogging - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

By Teresa Boardman

There are not many places where a blogger can write about blogging, except for here on the Tomato which is about blogging so once again I send my post to Jim. 

A year ago I sent a list of 40 observations I had made after two years of writing a blog.
The observations still apply but the list is so 2007.  My neck still hurts but not as badly; I found an exercise that helps.  The only thing that has really changed from last year is that I don't talk anymore I just blog.  I am kidding of course.
 
Now that I have hit year three I realize that my blog is the gift that keeps on giving.  Posts I wrote three years ago are working hard for me  as readers search through Google and find them.  Some of the posts just never go out of style.
 
When someone sends me a question via email, I almost always have a link to my blog to send back with an answer to their question.  When I need most anything in writing, I can usually find it in my blog.  If I can't, I call it 'blog food' and write a new post.
 
I face new challenges these days.  When I go to write a blog post, and I already have 1300 of them, it isn't as easy to come up with new ideas.  Sometimes I write the same thing twice and don't even realize it.  Sometimes I just recycle old posts.  Occasionally I am truly inspired and write something decent.
 
The blog was redesigned this past year.  I wanted something a little fresher without changing the brand or making it look too commercial.  I learned a lot through the design process and Jim was extremely patient with me as I shared my vision.  He laughed when the design was ready and I didn't want to pull the trigger.  He told me that he expected me to resist.  He knows that my blog is my business and that it isn't easy for me to let someone else go in and change it. I am lucky to have a friend like Jim who gets it and isn't afraid to give me a kick in the . . . you know what I mean.
 
I am very happy with the new look, and my readers have responded positively. It looks more professional and it handles photos better which is important as they are a huge part of what makes the blog work.  It doesn't look like anyone else’s blog which is also important to me.  Like me, it has it's own personality.
 
The blog is now the center piece of my online presence.  A couple of years ago it was my online presence.  Today it is like a hub in a wheel  of my ever expanding online business portfolio.  The wheel is made up of memberships to social networks, and photographs. There are also thirty two separate pages in my blog, five photo albums, and two other blogs.
 
It may sound like all I do is write my blog, but keep in mind this is content built one word at a time, one day at a time over a period of three years.
 
The blog is still an experiment, and I continue to learn and grow.  I know my writing skills have improved as have my photography skills.  Doing something everyday is a great way to fine tune one’s skills.  Writing is still my biggest challenge. . . oh and I still can't spell.
 
Has it been worth all the work?  Yes it has been.  The content keeps brining me buyers and sellers, and the blog still has a higher ROI than any other marketing piece.  I seriously doubt if anyone is reading post cards or newspaper ads that I published three years ago, but they are certainly still reading my blog posts. 

Thanks Teresa!  Happy Blog Birthday.

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Related Must Reads:
40 Observations By Teresa Boardman Regarding Her 2 Year Old Real Estate Blog
How Has Blogging Changed Your Real Estate Career?

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Teresa Boardman is an exceptionally professional Realtor in the St. Paul, Minnesota area.

Her website:www.TBoardman.com 
Her blog: www.StPaulRealEstateBLOG.com
Voice: 651-216-4603

Tags: Teresa+Boardman, Real+Estate+Blogging, Blogging+Advice

Comments

[John Carr]

Congratulations Teresa – Boy, do I know what you mean! With Jim's help we started blogging only a few months ago, and all I can say is ... I need a holiday.

It is very rewarding though to receive positive comments from other agents and visitors. As soon as I get back from holidays I will go back at it again and I am looking forward to start seeing some of the same results you have had in your blog.

[Keahi Pelayo]

Thank you for the post. I have been at it for about 6 months and you have re-inspired me.
Aloha,
Keahi

[Judy Peterson]

Love the fresh look of your new site. Sounds like you've achieved blog nirvana of making your blog work for your business. That's the goal. Well put about the post cards.

[Rhonda Porter]

Congrats Teresa! You are in inspiration to us all.

[john harper]

Teresa - It's amazing how much energy can be crammed into such a petite container. It would be interesting to get some feedback on how many bloggers have benefited from your generosity of guidance. The number must be in the thousands. Carry on

[Jill Wente]

Teresa:
Great observation that probably no one is reading your postcards or newspaper ads from 3 years ago but they are still reading your blog posts.

I love the look of the new blog it is clean and crisp and your photos provide a lot of eye candy.

[Matt Sweet]

Thanks for being a leader and sharing your experience with the world. It's encouraging to hear that someone with a long running blog still has challenges with it. And I appreciate your willingness to admit that you are not inspired 100% of the time!

[Eric- New Orleans Condos and Lofts]

Feels like I just started. I know your camera gives you a lot of ideas. Thanks for the pep talk.

[Florida land for sale]

Very good post.Thanks for sharing!

[AP]

I just started my real estate blog and I've had some visitors that I did not expect. That's good, but now that I've poured my heart and soul into the blog, I want to get calls. That list of 40 observations is great. I can relate to all of it. But I want to know, did it make your phone ring?

[teresa boardman]

AP - yes my blog does make my phone ring and generates email and causes people to sign up for a home search that I have. I wrote an offer on a home last week for some buyers that found me through my blog and two of my current listings came in through my blog. One seller has been reading it on and off for two years. It did not happen right away. It took a few months to have enough content out there so that people would find me.

How long have you been writing your blog? Is it set up correctly?

[Justin Smith]

Thanks Teresa for 3 great years. I can't wait to see what the next 3 will bring. You will forever remain one of the most successful early adopters of real estate blogging.

[Jim Gatos]

I totally agree and want to thank you as being one of my primary "inspirations" for me when I redesigned my blog a couple of months ago. I am starting to get recognition and my readership goes up steadily and constantly. After learning to focus on what matters, and recycling some older posts, I now have 84 posts on my blog, and yes, they are beginning to work for me.. Like you say, my posts are beginning to be reference points for a number of issues I deal with, and already I too have email posts to clients for information. Thank you, Theresa, I just wanted to take a moment and thank you..

Jim

[UK Estate Agents]

Congratulations on year 3 years of successful blogging. The main reason on why you guys keeps on moving on is because of the great and unique post/content you provides for your readers

[GLADSTONE SIX]

Congrats!! and thanks for providing us the information through out the years...

[Susan]

I think your blog looks great! I haven't been blogging for long, but I like you "blog food" concept. There are probably alot of questions that come across and various situations that can be used to compose helpful blogs.

[Di Kawell]

Teresa - I just started my blogging efforts 60 days ago, and your name keeps popping up all over - your 3 yrs of dedication have built a huge online presence - I hope to be as successful in developing my skills, adding value, and attracting new, great customers. Also, after my 23 years in real estate sales, blogging has sparked an amazing new energy within me for this business!

[Portland Real Estate]

Very good post. It brings up a good point that some posts are gold because they continue to bring you traffic long after they have been written.