Read any real estate magazine, talk to any coach, or read any literature, and they will most surely say the same thing… “GET BLOGGING!”
Where I have recommended this to a number of the agents that I work with, my first recommendation is to take your time, find your voice, and read some to find out what differentiates a blog from a good blog. But with all of the blogs out there, how do you find time to read and manage them?
Once again… Google to the rescue! Google has released another fantastic (and FREE) gadget to help you simplify your life and introduce you to the wonderful world of blog reading.
Google Reader allows you to stay up to date and organize your favorite blogs, as well as access your updates on line anywhere. Best of all, it simplifies your reading experience by giving you updated headlines so you can click through instead of logging on to multiple sites. Here’s how it works…
An easy way to add blogs to your Reader Subscriptions it to visit a particular blog and to click on their SUBSCRIBE Button which is usually indicated by a variation of the RSS icon. This icon is the standard for RSS Feeds (Really Simple Syndication) When you click on this icon you will probably see a button like this 
. If you do, simply click this button and it will automatically be added to your Google Reader.
If this button is not available, the site should offer an option that reads VIEW FEED XML. Click this button, and a new page will populate. Copy the web address from the top of the new page
(SAMPLE: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TechnologyForRealEstate?format=xml - THE FEED ADDRESS IS DENOTED BY THE END LETTERS XML),
Go to your Google Reader Page, Click on the icon in the middle of the left hand column that reads ADD SUBSCRIPTION, and PASTE the the XML address into the space. That’s it! You’ve now manually subscribed to a blog’s feed.
Some Samples of what I feel are GREAT Blog formats:
www.futureofrealestatetechnology.com
www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com
If you’re considering writing a blog… take some time. Find your voice. Consider what your clients would actually like to read and then give it to them. Don’t think that this is simply a way to prospect or “capture” leads (ughh)… If you want to capture anything, capture their attention, capture their readership, and become their true provider of knowledge and insight.
A post by an individual named Marc Davison (who encouraged me to find MY voice and speak with it) is noted here http://www.1000wattblog.com/2008/05/the-masked-ball.html While you’re at it, subscribe to their blog, comment on a couple of their insightful posts, and tell them you’re searching for the “You Factor” of your voice.
Matt Dollinger
@properties
Performance Coach
matthew.dollinger@gmail.com
Thanks Matt for the kind words
Thanks – great hints!
I am looking for a good website set up, though….. any ideas to get me started?
Thanks,
Dagny