I am returning to a previous blog that I was suggested to be deleted for the reason that was evaluated as a plagiarism... It was not my intention to create that impression so I am returning with a revised contend, as I still consider that anyone can write about subjects discussed in prior materials.
The "subject" is not an intelectual property. Is meant to start a conversation, more debates and open to new interpretations. I've been trying to stay away from copying the material and light up the few points that I found to be interesting to revise. The blog is meant to be just that "a place for debate and info", as not everybody reads everything that is written on internet.
Coming across Transparent Real Estate Blog, I found a detailed article regarding AR presence on the Internet, the assets and challenges they are facing within the real estate marketing network. I found particularly interesting the sugestions about challenges that AR has to address in order to go to the next level of success.
Here below is a revized summary of points I found most interesting to mention, as well as some personal interpretations;
1) AR owns the bloggers... the blog authors owns the content.
AR should reach out for brokers to build their own blog and educate their agents to blog. That would create dynamic, reach content and more informative blogs. On the other level AR will develop tangible avenues for relationship with brokers, which at the moment seem to be lacking.
AR should extend their services to its members by distribution of real estate blog content over the Internet.
- Blog content can be distributed to more than one blog or website... (most of real estate professionals have one or more individual blogs and duplicate content from AR to those blogs) .
- On the same time should facilitate blogers to promote and interact within the bloging community. ( just on example would be... allowing RSS creation of the blog)
2) AR priority - to connect bloggers with consumers.
This is the area where AR should develop further strategy. From the consumer point of view the blog is not attractive, is not informative enough, doesn't offer the contend and data they are looking for. It is very hard to find useful information about location or issues they may be interested in? The end of the day a blog is about providing information... as many as possible.
The Internet is flooded with other real estate blogs that offers all they need to know. I recently spoke with one of my clients and advice him to search on Google for ActiveRain blogs on subjects that may interest him... He came back to me and reply:"not much out there..."
3) AR needs a web design presence to attract consumers:
- AR needs a new face, a new smile... it is to simple, unsophisticated web design. Not that is a bad think but doesn't stand up, doesn't make a visual impression as per today's standards. Competitors are popping up everywhere... to compete in the professional world today means to keep up with internet savy .
There are few examples of other major sites that are hugely successful in spite of the simplicity, and one that came to my mind in Craig's List. Maybe AR will become equally successful but still should make an effort to change its the design image.
- AR is a platform for Realtors to talk to other Realtors. The main content of AR site is evolving around blogging between AR community members - it is virtually unusable for consumers.
4) Management.
- Management must achive whether they can make to grow a social network.
- The meaningless(see some of the comments) of its social network, or the quality of the blogs content must be better monitored.
AR must start offering the new lead generating services that attract consumers.
Read more on the subject >>> Transparent Real Estate
The fact remains that ActiveRain made a huge splash, has made successful impact in helping the blog community to get their voices heard and achieve high ranking positions on Google.
If writing is an art, then, blogging is one way of using words to come up with an art. This is because people who are into blogging are the ones who are artistic on their own sense, carefully choosing words that would best describe their feelings, sentiments, wishes, desires, and everything. 