Maybe it isn’t the first rule, but it is definitely important to remember:
Always Have a Contact Page or Some Other Method for Readers to Reach You!
Don’t get me wrong here . . . this sounds REALLY obvious, but it is clearly not too obvious. A few weeks ago I conducted an experiment that I originally did back in May 2007, where I was trying to reach out to some real estate bloggers. What I discovered was actually quite sad. While last year’s experiment where I checked 750real estate blogs yielded 2/3 of the blogs with no contact info, in my recent check there were still dozens of these sites that didn’t have any means of contacting the blogger.
Why Are You Blogging About Real Estate if Not to Get Business?
The results of these “experiments” are particularly sad because the reason you’d think most of these people are blogging is to get new business for themselves. I had a great discussion the other day with Joseph Ferrara at Sellsius, where we talked about real estate bloggers and their motivations. We both agreed that it seems like some folks just seem to lose their way and get caught up in the social aspects of blogging instead of focusing on their core — their real estate business. Part of that business is letting people know how to get in touch with you, isn’t it?
How do they expect potential clients to reach them if they don’t have a contact page? You never know who is going to want to work with you, and it just a good business idea to make yourself available . . .
Maybe it is not the first rule of blogging, but it an important one . . . if you haven’t done so already, get your contact page/info on your blog ASAP.
End Note / Rant: A phone number is okay, and an email address is imperative, but if you don’t have your name on your blog, I’m not going to take you seriously – no one should. I probably could have done an entire post on the bozos who don’t use their name on their blog, but I’ll let this little commentary carry it.
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Joshua DorkinJoshua has written 539 articles for us.
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BiggerPockets.com was founded by Joshua Reed Dorkin in August 2004. An entrepreneur, web designer, real estate investor, and one-time realtor, Joshua was not satisfied by the online offerings of other real estate sites out there, and decided to build one himself. Mr. Dorkin's vision for BiggerPockets has helped to propel it into becoming one of the top real estate destinations online. His vision for the site and its future has brought national press attention to both Mr. Dorkin and to BiggerPockets.
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You’ve been stalking me again, haven’t you Josh?
Okay, okay, okay… I’ll put the silly email addy on my silly blog (grumble, grumble, growl, grouch…)
ConnieBrz’s last blog post: Another Hurricane Damaged Foreclosure
Did you break the first rule of real estate blogging, Connie? Tsk, tsk.
(Heavy sigh…) Yes indeed
My name is not on my blog because I am Highly Suspicious with Dale Gribble-like tendencies. I will, however, conceed that you are right (a little
) and put up the email address-ha!
ConnieBrz’s last blog post: Another Hurricane Damaged Foreclosure
I don’t think that Dale Gribble is a particularly good role model….
I would agree this would be the first rule or in the top 3 to say the least. Maybe there are many bloggers out there doing it for pleasure, to waste time or to meet others, but I would assume most are to generate business in some form.
I gotta plead guilty on the no-contact-details and no-name on my blog rap.
Blame technical limitations: as soon as I get a web designer/master who’s clued up beyond the mid-1970s it’s done.
By the way, anyone got any ideas (to pass onto my befuddled web designer) on how to turn URLs like mydomain/blog/?p=57 into proper, user-friendly urls?
Like http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2008/12/04/the-first-rule-of-real-estate-blogging/ …
It is really surprising how many leave this information off or make it hard to find. It is kind of like leaving contact information off of a business card.
I agree with Jill! It’s quite odd how some bloggers use this “Selective marketing” approach. I mean, heck! I am ALL for being cautious when needed. But when you omit your contact info on your blog, I don’t know! I would second guess their intentions for creating a blog in the first place! ANYTIME I can get FREE publicity/marketing or what have you, I go for it! The real estate business has so many fees as it is, so why not get stuff free when you can! Hmm *shaking head in disbelief* I just don’t know what that is all about! I am going to be starting a blog myself soon,and I can assure you that ALL my contact info will be on there! The ONLY things I might omit is my age,true hair color,and anything else that I may need to “plead the Fifth” on.
If you don’t have your name on it then people will not take it serious. This is absolutely true! One of the methods that I use is the comments section of my blog. People get the chance to leave a comment after each post. I also use a capture pop up to keep visitors coming back. To see how all this works, visit my site.
Bryan Ellis’s last blog post: Homes Are Selling More Briskly… And It’s “Bad” News