How NOT to Leave a Blog Comment

Part of being a blogger is leaving comments on other blogs. The longer you are in the blogosphere, the more “interesting” comments you will see left here and there. Some “interesting” comments are truly interesting, while other comments are interesting in the “What the…?!?” kind of way. Here is an awesome set of guidelines on how not to be the latter type of interesting:

7 Things to Avoid While Leaving a Blog Comment

Written by Daniel Scocco of Daily Blog Tips … A definite “must subscribe to” blog.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Keller Williams Blog Coach
Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent and Trainer

Dr. Mariana Wagner’s One-Post Cure-all for Writers’ Block

Part of blogging is proving that YOU are the area or niche expert. Proving that you ARE the expert of an area sets you apart from all the other real estate agents.

However, sometimes the task of proving that you ARE the expert can be a bit daunting. We ALL get Writer’s Block!

How am I going to do ONE post that incorporates EVERYTHING about my area just to prove that I am the expert?

Well, you don’t have to. In fact, you shouldn’t. Do a bunch of smaller posts instead. This does 2 things:

1. Keeps your brain from melting. Brain matter oozing out of your ears is not a good way to get repeat business. (And it is just plain gross, anyway.)
   How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Understanding that you can do this in small chunks will motivate you to actually DO it.
2. Your readers do NOT want to read ONE HUGE MEGA post. (Yawn!) They would rather understand that they can return time after time to read a little something new … Now you have built readership!

So, now that you understand that you do not have to do it ALL AT ONCE, you may be asking,

Where are these “small chunks” that I should be writing about?
I HAVE my elephant, so where do I start?

In my quest to offer the One-Post Cure-all for Writer’s Blog-ck, here are some posts that will give you a great idea of where to start:

Dr. Mariana Wagner’s OWN Writer’s Block Concoctions:

• The Blog Fodder - Random Blog Content Ideas Inspired by The Godfather (the movie)
• The Blog Fodder II - Random Blog Ideas Inspired By The Godfather II (the movie)
• The Blog Fodder III - Random Blog Content Ideas Inspired By The Godfather III (the movie)
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (A-D)
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (E-H)
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (I-M)
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (N-R)  
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (S)
• An Alphabet of Localism Post Ideas (T-Z)
• Breaking Writer’s Blog-ck … Local Content Ideas for Your Blog

Other Posts of Interest regarding Effective Blogging:

• When the well runs dry - Ines Hegedus-Garcia (of MIAMISM.com)
• What To Include In A Neighborhood Profile (Localism Ideas) - Mariana Wagner
• A Year’s Worth of Real Estate Blog Ideas - RSS Pieces
  
• ANYTHING by Kristal Kaft
• Writing Tips: I’ve got Writer’s Block, Now What? - Barry Hurd
• How to Overcome Active Rain Writer’s Block! - Andrew Lenza
• 101 Real Estate Blog Ideas - Theresa Boardman on the “Tomato”
• Best Resources for Real Estate Blog Content - Carolyn Nelson
• What should I write next? The Ultimate Guide to Ideas for Your Next Blog - Angie Vandenbergh
• Sarah Cooper is another Lady that ALWAYS has some great Anti-Writer’s Block Ideas …
• Leave Me A Trail Of Breadcrumbs - Sarah Cooper
• Writer’s Block? Noooooo!! - Sarah Cooper
• No Writer’s Block Allowed Here! - Sarah Cooper
• Localism Brainstorming Review - Sarah Cooper

Examples of High-Powered and Inspirational Real Estate Bloggers:

• Ann Cummings - (Queen of Portsmouth). Her Portsmouth AT HOME Series is awesome!
• Ines and Rick - (Okay, not Rick …) MIAMISM, Baby!
• Lenn Harley - Any and Everything about Rockville Maryland…
• Laurie Manny - Long Beach’s BEST local voice
• Jeff Dowler - Everything Carlsbad …
  
• Maggie Dokic - Miami Redlands Info.
• Dena Stevens - Check out THIS strange Place! … (updated with new link)
• Broker Bryant - When in doubt, write about your life as a Realtor®!

[To understand the background for the title of this post, please read John Novak's comment in THIS post.]

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Keller Williams Realty – Broker Associate
Blog Coach and Real Estate Technology Trainer

Colorado Springs Real Estate Connection

Free Blogging Webinar for All KW Agents – Monday, June 2, 2008

Blogging Webinar

Mon., June 2 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST

Hosted By: Mariana Wagner

Register Now!

Keller Williams is embracing the Blogosphere!

I will be hosting a FREE webinar on Bloggging, through Keller Williams MAPS from 11am - Noon CDT on Monday, June 2, 2008.

This webinar will offer some tips and tricks on being a real estate blogger.

You will also learn more about the EXCLUSIVE Keller Williams Real Estate Blog Coaching Program that will kick off this Summer.

I am the official (and only) Blog Coach for Keller Williams Realty International and look forward to seeing you at this free blogging webinar, and in the coaching program.

For more information, you can email me directly: marianawagner@kw.com

What Google Knows About Spam (AKA: I Love Matt Cutts)

Matt Cutts is an engineer for Google. He recently gave a keynote presentation on:

What Google Knows About Spam

If you want to know ANYTHING about spam and what Google knows about it … check out this video.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Real Estate Agent, Trainer and Coach

RE Blogworld - September 19-21, 2008 in Las Vegas

I have the honor of being one of the featured speakers at the RE Blogworld. Will I see you there?

OMG! Blogging Statistics

Thank you to my friend, Justin Smith of CREN, I found a great compilation of blogging and internet searching statistics.

If you ever needed a reason to start blogging … consider this:

• 28% of all visits to blogs in 2007 resulted in some kind of action (email signup, contact form, etc.).
• 40% of all search engine searches are for local businesses and services.
• 92% of all local searches will eventually convert into a sale.
• Roughly 10 billion search queries made per day.

There is A LOT OF BUSINESS to be had in the world of real estate blogging.

Read the Full Report Here:

Interesting Search Engine & Blogging Statistics

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Broker, Trainer and Coach

Keller Williams Listings Now Feed to Zillow

Take out the middle man (or woman)!

Now when you input a listing to the KWLS, it will automatically show up on Zillow… that has a reported 5 Million visitors* monthly. Tell this to your Sellers. They will love the added exposure they will get and the added value you will bring to the sale of their home…

Read the full news article here: http://zillow.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=61 *

However cool this is, I would still recommend creating a FREE profile on Zillow. We have gotten business from people who found us on Zillow and I believe creating a FREE Zillow profile is well worth it.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Broker, Trainer, Coach

Speed Up Your Website Load Time

No one wants to wait for a website to load… So, in order to make your website/blog a more pleasurable experience for your viewers, Daily Blog Tips offers a great read …

50 Tips to Speed Up Your Website

You will find some excellent tips and tricks, and this post also offers resources form other sites.

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Trainer and Blog Coach