Spirit of Community
Kris Berg and Jim Cronin wrote very eloquent articles about the power of blogging and how the landscape of the blogging community is changing. As blogs become recognized as powerful marketing vehicles to the real estate community, the systemic competitive aspects of the occupation start manifesting. The real estate industry itself has always thrived on co-opetition and blogging itself is completely aligned to that spirit. Acts of transgression in business or blogging are checked and balanced.
It's very topical that high school is being mentioned as the new playground of the maturing real estate blog community, as if we were all basking in the innocence of elementary school up to now. I have never seen any factionalism in this very close real estate blogging community; Inman Connect NYC was a testimonial to the United States of Bloggers, and Inman's Blogger Connect this summer in San Francisco will reinforce that spirit. Jon's Project Blogger is a welcome mat to new bloggers in principle.
In her article, Kris speculates on an idea based on an old high school clique refrain* - "don't support a competing blog". Blogging, by virtue of its linkage-based architecture requires that a blogger should not only link up with their so-called local competitors, but also have networking parties together with them (pardons Karim, I've just opened up our new SF Bay Area wiki to the public, but I think that was the point anyway). So it's really a matter of education... it's been proven that linking, commenting and creating relationships with other bloggers raises the tide and all the boats float along with it (hmm... whatever, I've never figured out exactly how that phrase goes).
Although I've been advocating blogging as a must-do for Realtors because there's a real chance a non-blogger will get locked out of search engines in the future, I counter balance that hyper-competitive message by emphasizing over and over that the most accepted (and eventually successful, if I can use that word) blogs in the space are not cutthroat and make extraordinary efforts to support this community.
* re-edited due to my misreading of the original article... sorry...
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate blogging, high school
I do believe if you are not actively blogging or changing your site your position will be lost in the SE. Realtors will get on the next new hot thing, but I think they will have others post for them because it is too time consuming. A lot of Realtors just don't get it, like not posting on a competitors blog. They don't get web 1.0, much less web 2.0. So be it. It will be fun to follow the outcome.
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The jagged lines of demarcation between RE brands are now being blunted, almost obscured by the consumer who long ago, and without our consent, noted the lack of distinctions and yearned wholeheartedly for a link from PRU to C21, to EXIT Realty, to CB, to ReMax and to the local independent firms. Indeed, transparent, freedom markets that are designed for the flow of uninhibited information are here. Whether RE brokerage models can adapt is another question. My term for the hesitancy to link is LinkPhobia (LP), the fear that the consumer may find a competitor through me. LP is a hangover from the secrets of the corporate brand giants who actually believe the consumer cares. Cheers to linkage! Down with LinkPhobia.
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Keller Williams made their business model agent-centric. It's one of the driving forces behind their continuing dynamic growth. Me thinks - another branch of evolution is needed.
Consumer-centric is an interesting idea. Does part of consumer-centirc involve supporting relationships consumers need or choose?
It seems to me that many of those crusading on behalf of the consumer ignore the evidence of what the consumer really wants or needs.
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Pat,
Count me in with your housing2.0 party - I'm planning a trip down to SF around that time and would love to attend. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
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Thank you for this most important post! Successful real estate practitioners (and lenders) have always relied upon the spirit of cooperation.
The cut-throat mentality that permeates the mediocre tier in the business has no place among the greats of real estate weblogging.
Congratulations on the Carnival!
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Appreciate the kind comments Brian, and yes, everyone is invited to party in our hometown San Francisco Joel! We're all looking forward to your move south... and Donald and John sound like they'll be taking their discussion to the REALonomics room!
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Blogging is definitely important for the Realtor in today's market. Not only is it great for SEO (which search engines will be more eager to spider your site with updated content), but also giving the sense of community to viewers of the site.
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