Updated note: This was written during the heady, early days of real estate blogging–when we are all going to be connected and syndicated in every direction. It never quite turned out that way. First came the Great Recession and many early players moved on to different ventures. As a seasoned and toughened San Diego Realtor, I continue to list and sell homes and write when the opportunity arises.
Many of the ealy elationships, though, have not only survived–but thrived.
Its fun to peer into the crystal ball and try to divine what fortunes lie ahead. It also helps when you have a visionary providing some tips and guidance.
Pat Kitano and Kevin Boer are two visionaries worth following, and they are convinced that 2008 will be the Year of the (Authoritative) Blog Network. Kitanos article is a great read that provides good information and understanding of what blogging networks are and how they can benefit both the consumer and the blogger.
An authoritative real estate blog is what the California Chapter of the Womens Council of Realtors plans to launch at the end of January. They are tapping their membership seeking capable and knowledgeable real estate bloggers whose personal real estate blogs will feed into the California WCR Blog Network.
All of the members contributed blogs will be indexed and offered as an encyclopedic resource for home buyers and sellers. As with most blogs, consumers will be able to enter into casual and anonymous, if they choose conversation with the blogging authors. Consumers and agents will be able to ask questions ranging from open houses, to market insights, to home selling strategies. The goal, says Kitano, is to promote the free exchange of real estate knowledge without any sales pitch.
Kitano and Boer, with Domus Consulting Group, are working feverishly to have the California WCR Blogs online by the end of this month. The site will feature mapping tools so viewers can check not only houses for sale, but can also find participating and local WCR bloggers to learn more about neighborhoods, market trends, home features and other real estate related topics.
The WCR Blog Network is revolutionary, says Kitano and will provide solid benefits for both the real estate consumer and the blog authors. œThe WCR Blog Network home page in effect acts as the ˜main newspaper to aggregate and distribute the published content of their agent œeditors. As a content repository, the blog network is positioned as a search engine magnet, and the resulting traffic flows through directly to the participating agents blogs. Each blog, he says, is a separate website that reflects the personality and special expertise of its author.
The WCR Blog will be non-denominational, in that the blog authors will represent many different real estate companies, and their blogs may come from any number of frameworks including WordPress, TypePad or other available sources.
As a member of the Womens Council of Realtors, I am tickled to share that I will be a representative blogger for North County San Diego when the WCR Blog debuts. For additional information, email roberta@sandiegopreviews.com
