How in the world did I get here?
I am loving the world of blogging. I walk down the street and think of a new topic or write half a post in my head. I get excited when I click on the “publish” button and go review my handiwork. Its an exhilarating feeling for me. I love the idea of sharing what I know through my posts and often find myself researching things I don’t know, so that I can write about them with confidence. But once, not all that long ago, I was a “newbie” (back when I first started messing with the internet, the word newbie had a very negative connotation – that has since relaxed as the word has become more common). I hadn’t even started blogging when I was invited to join AgentGenius. I got lucky, I admit.
I had written for my band’s website in the past, keeping an online journal of our tours, but it was a different beast altogether. I wrote nonsense half the time – one word posts, descriptions of my lunch, just about anything – it was great for passing time on the road. When it came time to blog for the purpose of real estate, I was scared. Scared that the world would be reading my nonsense and judging it. Judging it for content, grammar, spelling, and most of all my knowledge of real estate. I wasn’t sure I had the confidence to do it. Lucky for me, I had (what I considered) great bloggers to emulate, study, and bounce ideas off of. So I dove in.
So where does one start?
I feel like I’ve found a bit of a voice in blogging at this point and I know what I like and what I don’t like. Sometimes I don’t love a post, sometimes I feel I just wrote the greatest thing since Atlas Shrugged. As I considered where I am now, I obviously looked to the past. In the interest of showing you my thought process, here are several first posts I wrote (I eliminated my “welcome” posts and went right for my first “real” posts):
In being encouraged to blog by other bloggers, I took a leap of faith and jumped right in. Its all you can do really. I read a lot of new bloggers posts when I can, because I think there’s a certain innocence to them. They’re not blogging for SEO or trying to sell their wares outright. They haven’t started to even consider that yet. They don’t know what to write, but they write none the less. They are pure and some of the most fascinating blogs to read. To follow them as they start to understand the ins and outs of what they’re doing…well that’s just fun to watch it develop.
Write what you can, it will get better – trust me.
So if you’re a new agent or a well experienced agent sitting there, worried about your first blog post, this is my call to you. Do it (I had to avoid to word “just” so I don’t get sued). Open up a blank page and start typing. Try not to over think it. Just go to town and see what comes out. Want advice or opinions – ask the many great bloggers here – you’d be surprised who will answer the call for help. If you want a so-so blogger to read your post, let me know. Blogging is about personal expression as much as it is about gaining business. Being yourself will get you further than copying the latest stats on your market. People want statistics, but they want to know why they matter and want to feel like they know who’s giving them the explanation. Blogging will be a connection with you and the reader long before you meet them.
I’d love to see some of the more experienced bloggers (c’mon Teresa) talk about their first posts here (with links preferably). I think the newer bloggers will enjoy knowing that the “gods of blogging” were once mere mortals with a rough start too.
photo courtesy of londondan
Please forgive my out of place Public Enemy reference. I heard them today and just had to use them in a post somehow…it was the best I could do.
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Consumerism, Geo-mapping columnist
Marketing columnist
Matt, writing is an exercise, you practice you get better.
My first posts I tried to cover too many topics. They were pitiful.
Now I like them short, as you know people rarely hang around and read the whole thing unless it is really engaging.
Hopefully Teresa will hop on as she has been at it a long time.
Matt,
When I first started blogging, until I knew people were reading my stuff, it felt like I was talking to myself. One of the biggest questions that new and potential bloggers ask is “what should I write about” and they fear that they have nothing to say.
Everyone’s got something to say. You just have to say it. People will read it and connect sooner rather than later.
Heck, I just met a guy at my open house this past Sunday who said he’s been reading my blog for a year and stopped by just to meet me in person!
Here are three of my first four. I sucked:
http://www.realtown.com/jdalton/blog/welcome
http://www.realtown.com/jdalto.....orts-mecca
http://www.realtown.com/jdalto.....ed-sellers
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i wrote my first blog post back in the late 90s. after only a few posts i deleted the blog and saved the internet from boring garbage about nothing interesting whatsoever
How perfect!!! Today I attended a “Social Media Training Camp” and listened to Ginger Wilcox,Todd Carpenter,Kelley Koehler (TheHouseChick)..(I just love saying that and even typing it!!) and Mariana Wagner.
I am just about to start a new chapter in my life..it starts with a B and ends with a R..Thanks for sharing your story!!!
She just surfaced. Yup it takes practice.
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Missy – That’s the exact kind of thing I was hoping to hear from someone I think is a great blogger. When I first started reading AG, I couldn’t even conceive of writing a blog about real estate. If someone like you, who is much more experienced can encourage someone like me to do it – then we all benefit. It does take practice, but once it starts to flow, it seems so natural.
Brian – Tell me about it! I felt like no one would listen and I might just be wasting my time. I had a similar experience at an open house. They knew me from my blogs and the ice was broken immediately. It was a great feeling and a bit of justification.
Jonathan – You manage to fit “Citizen Dick” into a post, so I can never question your skills.
Mark – I remember when I first heard about blogging, I was tempted to write one about whatever came to my head. I never did, because I didn’t understand the concept of people reading something about a guy they didn’t know. Look at all the personal blogs out there now…that people actually read. Perhaps its the voyeur side of us all that makes us read blogs?
Judy – That’s quite a lineup. I can imagine that would be a good class to attend and send you home with a zillion ideas. (I like to say “housechick” too – has a nice ring to it.)
Teresa – Where’s the links? I think you were just meant to blog. When your name gets dropped in a class on blogging in San Antonio, you know you’re world famous.