GRI Class Covers Blogging & Social Networking

Hello!

The latest GRI class is GRI 320 - Advanced Customer Care Through Technology.  The one day elective course spends about 2 hours on blogging, 2hours on Social Networking, as well as some time on the use of video and other web based marketing tools.  Here is the “official” course description:

This one-day ELECTIVE module is designed to help students optimize their web sites to provide maximum lead generation; use web-based tools and video communities to enhance their overall marketing plan; use blogging as an effective branding and marketing tool; and to create podcasts to use for personal and property marketing.

The FIRST opportunity to take this class for 7 hours of Continuing Education is 30 September at the Scottsdale Association of Realtors.  Please go to www.azgri.com to sign up!

Rob Gibbs

“Blogging For REALTORS” at SEVRAR Expo - 17 Sep at Mesa Convention Center

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that if you need any more hours or just want to come to class, I’m teaching Blogging for REALTORS (R) at the SEVRAR Expo 17 Sept at the Mesa Convention Center for 3 hrs General Credit.

Don’t miss this exciting event on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at the Mesa Convention Center where you’ll find a variety of events, exhibits, informational break-out sessions, and continuing education classes all presented to help steer your career in the right direction.

See you there at 9:00!
Rob

Blog Info Bonanza

A few reasons to blog..

I began blogging about a year and a half ago. VERY slowly at first but it has picked up (slightly) as I learn more of the benefits for myself and for my clients. Yes, my clients. You see, I have never been a “writer.” (many will probably attest to that) BUT, for the past 15+ years, I have been a REALTOR. It is in my blood, it is what I do. Currently, the percentage of agents that have a blog is very small but I promise you, that percentage has begun to change. My clients benefit from my real estate endeavors (blogging) in several ways. The more successful I have become, the more people I meet. The more people I meet, the better chance they will be interested in what I have to offer. Everything we do is geared towards providing the best information possible to customers, clients and consumers. Blogs help people get to know you, they help with search engine optimization and they help drive traffic to your web sites. It is easy to sit back and rely on the “old school” way of doing things but, it makes more sense (to me) to change with the times. Heck, many of our clients have no idea what a blog is.. That’s ok too. Blogging just seems to create more opportunities to reach modern consumers. Everything is “Googled” these days.

In addition to the benefits of my business, I have made many friends while blogging. Some have been through the AZ Real Estate Blogging Network and others from reading other blogs, participating in social networks etc. I have met some great people and have learned a lot. Of course, I have a TON more to learn but it is time well invested in my business. For agents, lenders, inspectors, title companies and any business owner, blogging can be a great way to reach a whole new audience. This network was designed to help people achieve their blogging goals.

The pic below is from a recent meetup of geeks friends from “Twitter.” (You do “tweet,” right?) Luckily, the guys from Real Estate Shows were in town and it happened to be Sarah Cooper’s birthday! We had a great time.. Unfortunately, Sarah isn’t in the pic. :-(

Pictured from left to right are.. Jay Thompson, Dru Bloomfield, Nick Bastian, Candace Robinson, Bill Leider, Jeff Turner, Steve Belt and Christoph Schweiger

Finding Time to Blog - ‘Don’t Tell Me You Don’t Have Time’

So often I have hear the thought or comment.  “How will I ever find the time to Blog?” I am sure many of us real estate professionals have asked ourselves that exact question.  Since I started Blogging and the bug got to me, I have struggled with setting up a schedule to blog consistently.  It’s not that I don’t want to blog, don’t have the time to blog. It’s working a routine in my day to make it happen.

I know this, not blogging is not an option. I know I have to make time in my day to fit it in! The benefits are too great not to blog. I have to work blogging in my schedule weekly, the benefits are too great!  This then leads me to ask, When? …

Everyone has their own thoughts as to when is the best time to blog and you will need to determine that for yourself. I prefer blogging in the early hours and late hours and post when I complete it.  It doesn’t always happen that way, but for me, I am not one to block out an hour here or there to make it happen.

I think Teresa Boardman, the real estate blogging Goddess from St. Paul says its best,

“It is part of my daily routine and part of my weekly schedule.  I don’t use time blocking, I find that too restrictive… but I do plan which tasks I will complete each day and writing is always on the list.”

Theresa shares that marketing and prospecting have always taken time and that it’s a good practice for real estate professionals spend about two hours a day prospecting.  I can’t agree with Theresa more. If we shift our minds and understand the power and benefits of professional blogs, we would all make time and prioritize our days accordingly.  Consider it a form of farming, newsletters and direct mailing.

Put your personal touch on your own blog, send that out to your SOI and friends and family. You would be surprised that your blog will be the ‘hot topic’ at the next BBQ or office meeting.  Show it off, share it and find the time.  You can’t afford not to.

I love Theresa’s thoughts about finding the time to blog and her statement,

“We all have time to show houses, get listing contracts signed and attend closings.  Writing a blog is just as important. I can’t imagine not having time to show houses.  Most of us figure some way to work that into our schedules.  Why doesn’t writing a blog post get the same kind of priority?  It is just as likely to generate revenue as showing homes.  From a big picture point of view showing homes can lead to one sale in the near future but writing a blog post every day, can lead to home sales for years.”

Don’t dare say you don’t have time to build your business through a blog, do your research, ask around! There are many professionals here in AZ Real Estate Blogging Network that can testify of their successes and closings due to their blogging efforts!  So what are you waiting for, get your blog started!

To read a fabulous article written by Theresa Boardman, contributor at The Real Estate Tomato Blog, click here.

Come join our group AZ Real Estate Blogging Network monthly and learn the basics and setting up a blog wtih Mike Jones, AZREBN member.  Learn how to set up a Wordpress blog and how to host it yourself with our Team of Instructors.  For more information, email me at Join@AZRealEstateBlogs.com

Agents have a thirst for Blogging

Yesterday, I attended a blogging class at SEVRAR taught by Rob Gibbs. Rob did a great job answering a ton of questions and by providing a nice lay out of relevant information. The class was very well attended and gave a nice over view blogging. Some of the items of discussion were.

Blogging - What is it?

Blogging Platforms - Word Press, Blogger, TypePad, Active Rain and others.

Customization - Explaining a few of the endless ways to customize your blog.

Widgets - resources to find and add to your blog.

Content - Yep, content is king. Who are you speaking to?

Social Networking - Briefly touched on a couple of these.

How to use a blog in your business. The class was asked to think of and discuss ways to use blogs.

I really enjoyed Rob’s style of teaching. He is a nice guy with a real passion for blogging. On a break, I mentioned this blog and invited him to check out OUR group. :-)

I believe most of the people in the class were new to blogging and I could tell the amount of interest was sky high. Blogging is still something very “new” to many of us. Classes like this and groups like ours will certainly help many agents get a grasp on this effective way to reach an audience.

Why Are We Here?

Just some first thoughts of what will be an exciting network of people sharing ideas about a common interest.. “Blogging.” I’m sure others will give us examples of what is to come very soon.

Here, you will find information about creating a blog, marketing with a blog and having fun with a blog. We will discuss learning about trackbacks, key words, tags, pings, feed readers, categories, page rank, blog formats, blog platforms, success stories, failures etc etc.. You will also find opinions on the benefits of a blog, what to blog, when to blog and how to blog. Get it? Yep, we are all about blogging.. Hopefully, I haven’t just blown it for you because we do want you back!

We share a common field, the real estate industry, but our group may be beneficial to people with an interest in any other business, hobby or occupation. Blogging can be a lot like the real estate business in that, just as no two agents are exactly alike, the range and topics of blogs all have different styles and appeal to different people in different ways. If you are new to blogging and want the basics, I’m pretty sure we can help you. If you are a “blogging fool,” looking for some great information, stick around because we have some very talented people that are here to help. I’m not necessarily one of the talented ones, but I have some good friends that are going to be sharing a ton of really good stuff. So, sit back, relax, subscribe to our feed and enjoy the ride!