oops, hope I didn't just submit a blannk comment. Anyhoo, Happy Valentines Jay and Francy! Thanks for putting me on the map. All the Canadian real estate investors are in AR right now anyhow. When it gets too hot for them in July can you send them back to Vancouver. I promise they will almost never have to shovel snow.

The connections ARE great! And the SEO is pretty good too.

I agree 100%. I cannot begin to count the number of people I have met online through blogging, not to mention the marketing aspect of it. It is a great tool to educate the masses and even to clear the riff-raff, basically getting the prospect sold on your services even before they contact you.

I just started on the blogs this last month and have found it so much more than I ever thought it was.

Making connection with people on different issues and discussing issues in the real estate industry. Updating each other on leads that may be of interest. SEO benefits to name a few. Marketing benefits.

I've done business from across the country BECAUSE of my internet presence. It facilitated my meeting other agents who referred business to me BUT with that said, I still had to be the person on the other end. I still had to be available and trustworthy in order for someone to send business to me.

Web 2.0 didn't detract from the power of traditional networking and marketing...it doubled or tripled it!

I agree -- it's the BEST way to create a powerful referral network.

Some people tend to think of blogging as taking away time from productive pursuits, and I think it's because they haven't gotten past the fad stage to look at it objectively -- it's a form of communication that reaches, as Jay says, around the world. It's a form of communication that allows us to get to know each other in a way which is perfect for the purpose of referrals.

Web 2.0 not only didn't make the "traditional strategy" obsolete, it embraces it in a revolutionary way. Suddenly you are no longer limited by range and this is a HUGE plus.

It's in the pudding Jay. I don't know where that guy is from but I can guess that he won't be going anywhere. Blogging and 2.0 hookups are valuable and easier to establish than traditional methods of networking.

Well stated Carl (as usual).

And look! There's a new marker on that map, just a wee bit north of Toronto...

Couldn't agree more...with Jay that is. What better way to get aquainted with colleagues in a referral market? If you're part of a larger brokerage, perhaps internal networking allows some sort of mechanism. Even then, you are probably referring "blindly". In just the same way prospective clients get a feel for a Realtor via their blogging efforts, so does the fellow Realtor in getting a feel for a prospective referral partner.

I have prior client who has been toying with the idea of investing in real estate in the US for example and asked for my opinion. I quickly (and confidentally) was able to offer assistance in suggesting I could likely put him in touch with a Realtor virtually anywhere in the US...thanks to the blogging network.

There is no question that I have met some great people due to blogging on AR and other places. These are people that I would send a referral to without hesitation.

Blogging has been the most effective seo tool for me in this industry. Having spent a lot $$ for other marketing tools, blogging has shown me that this is best networking with other agents and consumers around the country. Smart and saavy people are in web2.0

oops, hope I didn't just submit a blannk comment. Anyhoo, Happy Valentines Jay and Francy! Thanks for putting me on the map. All the Canadian real estate investors are in AR right now anyhow. When it gets too hot for them in July can you send them back to Vancouver. I promise they will almost never have to shovel snow.

The connections ARE great! And the SEO is pretty good too.

I agree 100%. I cannot begin to count the number of people I have met online through blogging, not to mention the marketing aspect of it. It is a great tool to educate the masses and even to clear the riff-raff, basically getting the prospect sold on your services even before they contact you.

I just started on the blogs this last month and have found it so much more than I ever thought it was.

Making connection with people on different issues and discussing issues in the real estate industry. Updating each other on leads that may be of interest. SEO benefits to name a few. Marketing benefits.

I've done business from across the country BECAUSE of my internet presence. It facilitated my meeting other agents who referred business to me BUT with that said, I still had to be the person on the other end. I still had to be available and trustworthy in order for someone to send business to me.

Web 2.0 didn't detract from the power of traditional networking and marketing...it doubled or tripled it!

I agree -- it's the BEST way to create a powerful referral network.

Some people tend to think of blogging as taking away time from productive pursuits, and I think it's because they haven't gotten past the fad stage to look at it objectively -- it's a form of communication that reaches, as Jay says, around the world. It's a form of communication that allows us to get to know each other in a way which is perfect for the purpose of referrals.

Jay, a fellow Relib agent from out of state contacted me to sell a condo he owned in Charleston. Even better news, it was priced sharply and went under contract in one day and is closing within the month. So I would suggest that social networking and blogging might be the best strategy for today.

Web 2.0 not only didn't make the "traditional strategy" obsolete, it embraces it in a revolutionary way. Suddenly you are no longer limited by range and this is a HUGE plus.

It's in the pudding Jay. I don't know where that guy is from but I can guess that he won't be going anywhere. Blogging and 2.0 hookups are valuable and easier to establish than traditional methods of networking.

I have to agree. I can recommend a great referral person in almost every state due to blogging.

I have to agree bloggin and the internet way of prospecting does take a lot of time but in the long run the efforts I think have a much longer effect and better network capabilities as already mentioned. Keep it up!

Bang- the shot heard round the world.

Well stated Carl (as usual).

And look! There's a new marker on that map, just a wee bit north of Toronto...

Couldn't agree more...with Jay that is. What better way to get aquainted with colleagues in a referral market? If you're part of a larger brokerage, perhaps internal networking allows some sort of mechanism. Even then, you are probably referring "blindly". In just the same way prospective clients get a feel for a Realtor via their blogging efforts, so does the fellow Realtor in getting a feel for a prospective referral partner.

I have prior client who has been toying with the idea of investing in real estate in the US for example and asked for my opinion. I quickly (and confidentally) was able to offer assistance in suggesting I could likely put him in touch with a Realtor virtually anywhere in the US...thanks to the blogging network.