Thanks for your emails and comments over the past 12 days. I'm sure all 3 of you are on pins and needles as to when and what I will post next. Sorry to keep you waiting. But I have a little dilemma and I need your help and support. Since November of 2007 I have spent roughly a good 3 hours a day working on my blog whether posting or reconfiguring the layout, etc. And I probably spend another 1 to 2 hours reading other blogs which is where I get a lot of information and ideas. In my Blogger profile I prophectically wrote, "Jeff is new to world of blogging and only time will tell if his business will suffer because of it." Let me be clear, my business hasn't suffered since starting this blog but it sure takes a lot of effort and time to keep it full of information that is only slightly entertaining to a handful of you regular readers. And then I read this opinion article in the latest edition of Texas Realtor Magazine about how social networking and blogs can be a huge waste of time for business professionals.
"...you can pour endless hours into without any substantive monetary return. Stop it already, and implement what works because it works, not because it is neat or new." says Michael Parker, principal at Blackwater Consulting Group.He goes on to say,
"What, then, is important? Hits, page rank, page views? No. Once you cover the Web-site basics in a professional manner, the only things that matter are results: the quality of leads you derive from your efforts; how many of those leads you convert to sales; and whether Internet buyers can find your site in one click."I agree with his logic from a business standpoint. And this is the root of my dilemma. I truly enjoy reading blogs about real estate and sharing my thoughts on real estate issues. But is it a good use of my time if it's not bringing in revenue? When I talk with other people who read blogs on a daily basis I can't think of one person who hasn't said, "I'm addicted to reading blogs". I'm sure there are many of you out there who have said the same thing. I know of one person who has blocked blogs from his work computer because he wasted so much time reading them. I don't want to become that person. Like alcohol and crack, use in moderation. Just kidding about the crack. I'd love to hear what you think.
Either way, fret not ye faithful readers. I will continue to post my opinions on this blog but I think the days of spending 3 hours doing so are long gone. So long to the nights - or early mornings - of the 2am and 3am blog posts. I'm hoping to post 3 or 4 times per week and I hope they will knock your socks off. More importantly, I'm sure I'll continue getting a rise out of my fellow Realtors and homeowners.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the support. You'll be hearing from me.
I really have to agree with you Jeff and I understand your dilemna. I love your stories - but they take so long to read that they must take forever to research and write.
ReplyDeleteI typically do about 5 short posts a week. Any more than that and I'm spending too much time in front of a computer. You've got the wit and talent to pull off just a few clever posts a week to keep your readers interested.
I hope you keep it going in moderation. But remember, when it comes to clients and leads - more high touch and less high tech.
The blog would be missed if you didn't do it, but frankly, it has to work for YOU (in terms of business generation and artistic pleasure) before you should concern yourself with our feelings. Question: How would one quantify the aura of expertise that you or Lydia or other bloggers gain from your blogs (or "blobs", as the one commenter memorably called it)? That can't be bad for business, but it's probably not worth 20 hours per week? But is it worth 15? 10?
ReplyDeleteNot everything has to be done for money. As a realtor you're pretty much on 24 / 7. Business hours really don't apply, but then again you get to be your own boss--which is one of the most satisfying things to be.
ReplyDeleteThe blog can be a nice release, a nice little break. And who knows, it might actually go somewhere. Yo mama's sure did.
I wouldn't look at a blog so much as a business generator, but it does raise your profile. When your name and broker is your currency, it's best to get that out there in as many ways as you can (good ways not bad ways). People can't hire you if they don't know your name. I know who both you and Lydia Player are because of your blogs--I wouldn't have known either of you was in the biz without them (it made your names more accessible to me, and we all get a perspective on your personalities because of them).
It's fun to read an insider's perspective. I'd say keep it up--you've got a nice link on the DallasDirt blog.
I wouldn't spend all day blogging, because it's not gonna feed you, but I would keep doing it. Since I found it earlier this year (along with DallasDirt Blog--where have I been?) I've enjoyed checking it for new posts.
Jeff, I miss you!
ReplyDelete