Our MyST Blogsite generates highly qualified leads compared to other venues of online lead generation. One of the primary reasons is we have a trust factor, which we built (and continue to build) by providing dependable and accurate information through the blogsite. As a result, actions are more meaningful for business and the customer."
Do you want to be a "blogger" or a business person that blogs?
It's great that there are blogging superstars; they help ordinary business people (like myself) understand and learn how to embrace blogging and other aspects of business communication in this growing and participatory space we call Web 2.0. Unfortunately, business people tend to lose focus of their core business objectives as they try to mimic or become blogging superstars.
It would be wonderful if business people of all types could sit back and write about their domain expertise all day; but they can't, and even if you were wealthy enough to do so, you still might not be successful at it. As Jonathan Miller points out, blogging can be a great communication vehicle, but few become truly successful "bloggers".
"Although technology was being pushed and blogging was seen as a marketing vehicle to all real estate agents, I didn’t really agree (but I was the only non-agent on the panel). I think all agents should consider blogging for marketing their brand, but for the majority, it just won’t work. Given the time constraints, variation in writing ability and the ability to connect with the audience, its hit or miss." -- Jonathan Miller
While I agree with Jonathan's remarks, it's also important to draw some distinctions between business people that want to become successful "bloggers" and businesses that want to benefit from participating in the blogosphere. These are two very different ideas and Jonathan makes it very clear that business people (real estate agents in this case) have little time to devote to becoming "blogging superstars". Any good business person knows that there's much more income to be earned doing what she (or he) knows best.
This is precisely why MyST Blogsite was created - we built it to help business people who understand the value of staying focused on their business more than trying to master all the nuances of becoming a "blogger". This idea is no different than any outsourcing decision. While real estate agents typically outsource the production of printed materials, they also [typically] write the content that helps to attract buyers. Printing experts know which papers and ink work best given each publishing objective; real estate experts know what to say with that ink and on that paper.
Participating in the blogosphere is the same idea -- Real Estate Blogsite (REB) services provided by our exclusive reseller are designed specifically to help real estate agents that know what to say, but have little time to learn all the details necessary to create and sustain a highly productive and visible blogsite. Smart business people know they need a business blogging solution that empowers them to focus on their domain expertise and business objectives. Real estate brokers and agents shouldn't divert their energies to managing the technincal infrastructure of a blogging platform for the same reason most don't own their own printing presses.
I spoke with a group of bloggers in Phoenix recently. What I found is that very few had any business from their blogs despite a lot of effort. I have 5 closings and 7 active buyers directly from [our MyST blogsite] in 2008. I know because I ask. One person told me they have been reading my blog for almost a year before they called me to buy a property."
