Why Should I Blog? - It's About the Value of Being Seen as the Expert in Your Niche

As I was standing at the podium at the Christie’s Global Conference talking about the marriage that is Real Estate and Content, an idea struck me that at the time I only had a limited opportunity to touch on... knowing it deserved more.

The audience I was speaking to deals mostly in incredibly high end luxury homes.  We're talking mansions, castles, villas and the like.  What struck me was the idea that if you were to break down the value of their time when applied to working with one of these listings, you're easily looking at several hundred dollars an hour... and perhaps the prospect of putting several hours a week into blogging for business might be difficult to justify.

The more I thought about it and considered the true value of real estate blogging, one question came to be the measure: What would you invest to be the leader of an audience of potential and qualified clients looking forward to hearing from you?

The power of blogging and the answer to why you should, lies in the goal of developing an audience that you can lead. 

Blogging is taking the initiative to be a leader, a leader in thought, reporting, opinion and exposure.

In the offline world, you may have 90% percent of your market wrapped, but what about the online mind-share? 
Are you seen as the leader? 
Do you have the exposure? 
Are your opinions respected? 
Are you recognized as a resource that stands apart? 

When you push something forward as powerful as a well maintained and developed blog, something that you believe in, your audience will respond.  They will be attracted to your breaking from the status quo, and the content alone will provide you with the exposure necessary to draw them in the first place.

What has the investment been to be recognized as the leader in the world outside of the internet?  In most cases, it takes years of physical advertising costs coupled with an unwavering dedication to hard work and success for your clients.  Why should this seat be held with anything less for the world online?

The good news is that it (still) does, in fact, take less.  Much less.

By maintaining a quality blog, that is that resource, you are already doing more that 99.7% of your potential competition.
The number of quality blogs in any given market is lower than low, and it will be for years.  As a dedicated blogger, nailing topics that your intended audience is seeking, your exposure will be unrivaled and you will lead.

Since the search for answers to real estate needs starts on the internet, whether your hourly rate works out to be $30 or $3000, you can’t help but recognize the incredible return on the time investment you make with your blogging.

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He Asked Me, "Why Am I Blogging?"

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Tags: Christie's+Great+Estates, Real+Estate+Blogging, Blogging+Advice

Comments

[Brian Herman]

This is true no matter what field you are in.
The fact of the matter is that you need to
connect with your clients on all levels,
in person and on the web. Most people think
that blogs are only relevant to needless
nonsense when in actuallity they are free
marketing platforms that when used
correctly can get you the eager audience
you are looking for.

[Tyler Wood]

Timely post Jim.

Blogging seems to be just like any other marketing task, you get what you put into it. It requires strict discipline and for those that stick with it, results will follow. Given that the vast majority of consumers are online there days, it only makes sense to focus our efforts in this arena. And blogging is the most productive online medium I know of.

[Sharon Simms]

It's really all relative. If your time value is $50/hour based on your market, your niche and your production - then the potential gain is appropriate to that. If it's $500/hour or $1,000/hour, you stand to gain appropriately from each new client you gain from blogging.

[Eric- New Orleans Condos and Lofts]

The more you blog about the niche, the more you learn about it. The more you want to know. It snowballs after a while.

[Roberta Murphy]

Were it not for your blogging to that little niche of Realtors who wanted to blog, there would be no Real Estate Tomato. Most of us found and followed you online.

Congratulations on the Bermuda coup!

[Chad W]

Fantastic blog you've created here. If you had described a "tomato" theme to a blog, I'd probably think "no way." But in reality, it looks great, it's memorable, and the information you supply here is first rate. Good job!

[Ryan-Lubbock Home Loans]

The post was truely informative and to the point. I truely appreciate for your job!

[First Time Home Buyers]

Plus blogging is one of the more "fun" activities in the business. Anyone can print up marketing materials and tell you how great they're going to be as your agent, but to hear useful tips week in and week out from a personal level that a blog brings, can really put you ahead of the field. Keep the good stuff coming!