Is real estate ready for a "blogging revolution"?
Are blogs poised to become the next big thing in real estate? According to a Chicago Tribune report on a recent symposium on real estate technology, experts are predicting that in 2007 "real estate bloggers would at last depart from the tried-and-true formula of offering just home listings and common-sense home-sale advice and instead swing toward personalization to cultivate an image of authority and trustworthiness.
But real estate professionals are only just beginning to see the benefits of blogging. A blog requires a certain amount of time and effort to work well, keeping many time-squeezed agents on the sidelines. "You have to be blogging consistently for six months to a year, with good content, not just boilerplate, to generate transactions," one agent told the Tribune. Those who persist and find ways to make their blog interesting claim the technology can generate clients and more sales.
Blogs are just one of several technologies making inroads in real estate marketing, says NAR chief technology officer Mark Lesswing. "What we're going to see goes beyond listings," he said in the International Herald Tribune recently. "We'll see blogs take off, maps take off, research-driven things like trends in the market, more tools on social networks."
Comments
You have listed so many great technology ideas for the future of real estate agents. Great tools that some of us are already using and some are dragging their feet on trying. I make use of the 'instant notification' method a lot. My clients love it. They feel they get a much quicker response than trying to reach me by phone or email.
Another tool I recently found that has been most helpful and is rather new on the technology front is a company that provides custom showcase websites dedicated to a single property for sale. WOW! What a deal this has been. I have sold 3 properties using www.SmartStreets.net on. I was told specifically by the buyer that they were immediately attracted because of the personalized website address on the sign.
I think all agents trying to keep up with the new advances need to be made aware of this new tool. Go to the site and see what they have to offer. I can guarantee it will have an impact on your sales.
Posted by: bmacgoo | February 10, 2007 01:54 PM
It does not matter if real estate is ready, the blogging revolution is already here. Some time squeezed agents will be able to do it and others will not. I am one of the agents mentioned in the Chicago Trib article and a member of NAR.
Posted by: Teresa Boardman | February 18, 2007 05:55 PM