ProBlogger Offers “Killer” Advice on How to Improve Your Writing

You do not need to be a professional writer to be an effective blogger. In fact, I think that “professional” writing can actually inhibit the conversational style of blogging. I recommend blogging more like you are actually talking to someone.

However, there are definitely ways to IMPROVE your writing/blogging skills (beyond spell check) … ways to make your readers coming back for more, more, more.

Have you been reading ProBlogger? I hope so. If not, go do it now. And put it in your RSS or Google feed reader.

ProBlogger is one of my all-time favorite Blog Toolboxes. Every time I open up my feed reader, I find a new little gem from Darren Rowse. Darren is an excellent blogger, packed full of excellent advice. How he has all that information in his head is something I will never figure out…

Read Also: Creating Blog Momentum

Anyway, Darren of ProBlogger just posted a “killer” post on how to improve your writing skills:

5 Killer Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills Right Now

Like everything else he writes, this is a Must Read, for anyone in any stage of blogging.

Also … Check Out Pro Bloggers Blogging for Beginners series.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Keller Williams Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent – Coach – Trainer – Realtor®

Behaving in the Blogosphere – Dealing with Blog Trolls

There will come a point in your blogging “life” where you will either:

1. Read a Blog Troll’s comments on a blog you are reading, or
2. Read a Blog Troll’s comments on YOUR blog, or
3. Read a Blog Troll’s post, or
4. Feel like becoming a Blog Troll, because of a Blog Troll

If, er, I mean WHEN one of these things happens to you, you need to be prepared. One wrong move in the presence of a Blog Troll can mean the potential death of your blogging life. Blog Trolls are not, limited to political and MySpace blogs. Unfortunately, there are even Blog Trolls in the Real Estate Blogosphere.

I hate addressing issues like these, but, let’s face it; these issues NEED to be addressed. And the earlier you learn how to deal with these issues, the better.

Although, I read mostly Real Estate related and Blog related blogs, every once in awhile I stumble across amazing other blogs. Today was one such occasion.

Meg Fowler is the author of the MegFowler.com Blog, and she wrote a fantastic post (2006) about Blog Trolls that is a MUST READ for anyone who is, or plans to be a blogger:

How not to be an a**hole or encourage a**holism on the internet: a handy guide.

Thank you, Meg, for putting, so eloquently, into words what every blogger should know.

A Song for My Twitter Friends

Being an agent in the world today,
takes everything you’ve got.
Pretending you’re working but wasting time
sure does help a lot.

So, wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your @name,
and they’re always LOL you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
140 characters or less per post.
You wanna be where REBloggers
tweet the most.

Whether we txt or twhirl or web,
we Tweeters all the same,
We wanna go where Web 2.0
knows our @name.

Join Twitter: www.Twitter.com
Follow me: @mizzle

How to Use Google Reader and/or RSS Feed Reader

Using a RSS feed (that cool orange button) reader or Google Reader is the best way to stay on top of blogs that you like to read, without physically going to their physical website every day.

I was going to do a post on using Google Reader or an RSS Feed Reader, but thought, “If I wait long enough, someone else will put together a post explaining RSS feed readers and Google Reader better than I can.”

And, sure enough, someone did.

Nick Bostic, author
of RETechCoach.com and Agent Genius contributor, just wrote a very detailed, yet easy to read explanation of RSS and Google Reader:

Stay on top with RSS and Google Reader

There are all kinds of great visuals and instruction. Check it out!

Thank you, @nbostic for making my/our life easier!

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Keller Williams Clients’ Choice Realty – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent

What Does it Take to Be the Greatest Real Estate Agent in the World?

What does it take to be the greatest real estate agent in the world? Is it the availablility 24/7 for clients and potential clients? Is it the perfect balance between professional real estate and personal life? Is it the ability to predict the market, list and sell every house and find the perfect home for every buyer? … No, that last one is impossible.

I believe that the greatest real estate agent in the world is a dedicated professional who also has a meaningful personal life. This would give them (the greatest real estate agent in the world) the ability to master the business of real estate, yet still be able to connect with their clients on a personal level.

Keller Williams teaches: God - Family - Business
I could not agree MORE with that philosophy, which is one reason why I chose to be affilliated with Keller Williams.

However, “great” is a term that means different things to different people and we all know that we cannot be all things to all people … so maybe seeking the title of Greatest Real Estate Agent in the World is a fruitless task … at least in reality. (SEO may be a different story though…)

So, although I would love to be the greatest real estate agent in the world, I have a lot to learn. Someday, maybe I will see it in lights: Mariana Wagner is the Greatest Real Estate Agent in the World.

Maybe I should just go for the Greatest Real Estate Agent in Colorado Springs title …

(Idea for this fun post taken from the Greatest real estate agent in the world post by Eric Bramlett.)

Other “Great” Posts:
Jay Thompson - Phoenix Real Estate Guy
ARDELL’s Post on Rain City Guide (P.S. She is winning this little contest so far…)
Ryan Ward’s Atlanta Real Estate Blog
Greg Boser’s SEO Consultant Blog
See Georgia Real Estate
Real Estate Webmasters
VIP Realty Info

2008 KW Reunion – Photo Journey

I really enjoyed my time at the 2008 KW Family Reunion in Atlanta, GA. I was able to meet up with some great friends as well as teach my Top 10 Ways to Use Blogging in Real Estate. Thank you to each of you who supported me in that class! I hope that you learned something new!

Here are some pictures of my time in Atlanta…

(Picture taken from airplane.)

(View from my hotel.)

Mary and Laura Ryan – Dayton, Ohio Real Estate Bloggers

Missy Caulk – Ann Arbor, Michigan Blogger and
Irina Netchaev – Pasadena, California Real Estate Blogger and
(me) Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs CO Real Estate Blogger

Teri and I were able to get our picture taken with 2 Keller Williams Icons:
Mo Anderson and Mary Harker

I had the honor of getting my picture taken with our keynote speaker, Seth Godin. His presentation was one of the most thought-provoking and motivational speeches that I have ever heard.

Be Remarkable!

I learned a lot of great things while at Reunion, and cannot wait to apply it to my business.

I am also excited to pursue my KW blog-coaching and regional KW tech-training endeavors.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Keller Williams Clients’ Choice Realty - Colorado Springs Real Estate – Keller Williams Blog Coach and Trainer

KW Reunion Red Bash - February 10, 2008 (Atlanta, GA)

Check it out …

http://www.realestateshows.com/254029

Join Active Rain

Click here …
JOIN ACTIVE RAIN

 

Or, click here ->:

Click one of the links above to set up your FREE Active Rain account.

Hot Tip: Make sure you choose an appropriate username. This username will be a part of your Active Rain profile and cannot be changed.

Active Rain is a “FREE online community for real estate professionals designed to help them promote and grow their business.”

Hot Tip: I like to post my listings here with the address as the title. This makes my listings searchable, via address, on Google. My Sellers love this!

To Blog or Not to Blog … That’s The Question

Keller Williams Family Reunion 2008

Only less than a week before I fly out to Atlanta, GA for the Keller Williams Family Reunion 2008! I missed it last year and am SO EXCITED for this year. We are in a shifting market and I am looking forward to all of the break-out sessions and new and innovative tools and techniques that we will learn.

I think I am MOST excited to hear Seth Godin speak. He is such an icon in today’s marketing world. I hope other agents understand his wisdom as much as I would like to think that I do … Seth Godin rocks. He even has his own action figure.

Second only to hearing Seth, is my excitement to finally meet my favorite KW blogger: Teresa Boardman. She ALSO rocks!

I look forward to seeing all my fellow KW RE Bloggers in a few days! J

**UPDATE: Mrs. Boardman will not be attending the KW Reunion this year. She is an UBERBUSY woman. In her stead I will be sporting a (shhh … nevermind .. you will have to wait and see.)