Kevin Tomlinson’s Blog Lesson: Why Blogging Will NEVER Work!

By 22 commentsInternal Blog, Rants and Raves

I happened to be at both blog introductions in Dade and Broward Counties. I would like to make some observations.

In the Broward meeting it felt as if the agents were excited to be learning about something new, WANTING to embrace it and wanting to benefit from it. In the Dade meeting the feeling was skepticism and just a general “prove it to me” attitude. What perplexed me was that the Dade agents seemed to go out of their way to find reasons why blogging WOULDN’T work. I could hear comments like “I don’t have time for this” or “my friend said…..” with all sorts a reasons why blogging wouldn’t work.

What really interested me was the especially low turn-out from the Miami Beach office. Except for a handful of people, including the TOP PRODUCER of the company for 2006, not many agents from my office showed. You know what I say? Oh well. Their loss.

I guess the best way to explain my thoughts would be by anecdotal information. I did a post on my South Beach Condo Blog about many properties that came on the market last week in Key Biscayne. Two days after I did the post, I received a buyer inquiry on an $8.3M listing. Now, knowing the reality of this business, I’m not counting my commission just yet, but I can say one thing though: It’s not so bad to get a lead like that, huh?

I can understand that this is a lot of work and it is time-consuming. I know more than anybody. Here is a test on whether you should blog or not. Ask yourself this question: Do you feel that you missed out on the benefits of having a great website for the last five years? If you answered YES, then NOW is the time to jump in and be ahead of the blogging curve before the “blogosphere” gets crowded. In a year, it won’t be so easy to rank for searches like it is now. Get in there and establish a presence, be the expert (in Google, YAHOO!) in your niche.

EWM is giving it’s agents an unprecedented opportunity to be ahead of the pack. What you do with that opportunity is up to you. I can tell you one thing: I will be blogging everywhere I can and leveraging the power of the net and opportunity of ewm.com.

It’s your decision. Some of you may blog, others won’t. I’m making lemonade with my lemons!

I wonder if Beth can post the stats on how many posts came in from Dade vs Broward offices, Beth?

22 comments on “Kevin Tomlinson’s Blog Lesson: Why Blogging Will NEVER Work!”

  1. Patti Reid Reply

    Hi Kevin,

    I can’t believe that people are still poo-pooing anything that has to do with internet marketing. Do you think they fear trying something new? I’ve been impressed with all the new listings I’ve been seeing coming out of Dade on the EWM Blog. I would love to see more from Broward. I think it’s important to put the address of the property in the title, otherwise no one knows where the property is located. Save the cute titles other things.

  2. Kevin Tomlinson Reply

    Hey Patti

    I think they poo-poo it because they would like it to go away so they don’t have to deal with the responsibility of learning more.

    Unfortunately, that isn’t a luxury that a real estate agent can afford today.

    If they don’t blog, someone else will (like me).

    I love money!

  4. Beth Reply

    Interesting Kevin- Joann said at the FAR tech session this weekend they discouraged blogging because of liability. I think it is still not a fully understood concept… so much the better for us. Meanwhile – Broward is outblogging Dade about 3 to 1.

  7. Kevin Tomlinson Reply

    After doing some Google analysis this week, I’m going to start focusing on Key Biscayne. There is not one agent with a web presence or blogging presence over there.

    Is anybody from KB reading this…..????

  8. Bob and Susan Reiter Reply

    Kevin, it so invigorating to hear your success stories. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Since we have been in the business we have been presented with many “must have” marketing ideas that cost time and money just to sort through there relevence. None of which had the potential of this. It is such a great opportunity and it is for all practical purposes FREE! Any additional input on blogging etiquette would be appreciated.

  10. Ana M. Schnabel, P.A. Reply

    Wait a minute, it was until our Dade meeting this past Wednesday that I really grasped the concept of blogging. Broward had a headstart. Beth, could you consider counting Saturday listings entries for Dade?

  12. Gregory Lynn Horton, Jr. Reply

    Kevin,

    I enjoyed reading your condo blogs you referred to. I think we all should embrace anything that the public is interested in especially if it throws off some new business and you can expand your sphere. What is your opinion of other social networking sites such as myspace?

  14. Gregory Lynn Horton, Jr. Reply

    Kevin,

    Thanks for the info. I established a profile on active rain a while back but never did anything with it. I plan to get things rolling soon and maybe use all three in conjuction with each other if I have the time to devote to it.

  15. Kevin Tomlinson Reply

    Gregory,

    I didn’t have time either but I knew it was the most important thing I could do right now.

    If you do “find” the time, you will be WELL rewarded.

  16. Kevin Tomlinson Reply

    I cannot stress enough what a valuable tool Active Rain is.

    There are approximately over 44K memmbers there actually taking responsibility for their own careers and DOING something about it. They are not whining and poo-pooing, they are learning, interacting and reaping the rewards of all the seeds they are sowing.

    Blog or not….it is all up to you!

    Good luck.

  17. Kevin Tomlinson Reply

    Bob & Susan
    I will continue my “Blog Lessons” almost on a daily basis.

    The better we do individually, the better we will do as a whole.

    Blogging is all about inclusion rather than exclusion.

    Good luck!

    Blog on.

  18. Claudia Emanuele Reply

    Kevin,

    You are the king, as far as I’m concerned. As Joanne will tell you, I was working as a secret agent and embrasing technology too much (she was right) but this blogging is really worth a try. (given my personality type, kinda shy). Your working model of Real Estate is very interesting.

    I am going to try…

    Thanks for all your encouragement.

  19. Richard V. Grochan Reply

    Kevin,

    Thanks for all your encouragement and lessons, as well as sharing experiences on blogging. But you saw first hand how slowly personal websites were embraced, why think blogging would be any different? Besides, it’s work, and you know how that goes! It’s the old “You can bring the horse to water, but…” As being pretty new to the real estate industry, I really appreciate all you and Beth and the rest of the Team have done to bring blogging litteraly right to the rest of our finger tips! Great Job!

  20. Claudia E. Riva Reply

    Kevin, your right. I heard alot of comments at the Dade meeting. “Not having enough time” is just an excuse! I really appreciated seeing Nelson, Ashley, Carol and yourself at the meeting. Anyone that does not give this new marketing strategy, is losing out

  22. Monica K. LoMonaco Reply

    Kevin – You are everywhere!!! Thanks for setting such a fine example for all of us and I intend to make the best of this and have some fun as well 😉 See you around campus.

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