I've been writing blogs for about a year and a half. I have been selling Real Estate for over 12 years. I'm a pretty darn good Realtor® and have become a pretty darn good blogger as well. Over the last 9 months I have discovered how to generate business from my blogs. Most of it comes from consumers located in Canada and some has been local.
I was trying to figure out how syndication fits into the equation and one day I was reading a blog posted by my freind Renee Burrows and noticed this little button on her side bar. It said Blogburst and I was thinking what is a Blogburst? So I clicked on it and I came up with this site. I asked Renee if she got anything out of it and what it was...she had told me at the time that she didn't see any difference there was by joining but I decided to join. Later on...she changed her tune and was getting a lot of traffic.
I'm not going to get into detail about the process of joining because you'll have to read this post to get that information.
I was finally invited to join their network and nothing happened for about 7 months and then all of a sudden I noticed all of these links to some of the blogs I wrote. I started asking around and people told me that I was syndicated. Over the last few months I have noticed that they will only pick up stories that I write that are local oriented posts.
But I also noticed that I was receiving many more inquiries from over seas and in Canada where we already have a client following. I also added my blog feeds to any site I could find and this has changed my client base from local to out of the area.
Your blogs have the ability to be picked up by some of the world's most popular media sites. All of mine have been picked up on Reuters.... but recently this Activerain featured article was actually picked up by the Chicago Sun Times.
BlogBurst places blogs on nearly 100 top-tier news and media sites, including:
Reuters
USA Today
Gannett
McGraw-Hill Architectural Record
FoxNews
Internet BroadcastingSo what does this all mean? It means that syndication might be a benefit for both out of the area and local consumers. I have seen my blogs on local website. And there are critics that will tell you they see no benefit to it but I don't think it can hurt your exposure.
Think about how many other places you can find your blogs and if there is a consumer looking to come to the area you write about ......then it has to be some sort of a benefit to you so go out and place your RSS or ATOM blog feed everywhere you can
Here is a list of other sites I found where you can place your RSS or ATOM feeds...some of them don't work so just move onto the next.
Here is a recent update for all that need questions answered regarding the content they choose....this was taken right from their site below....
Requirements for acceptance into the BlogBurst network:
At this time BlogBurst requires each blog to have an XML syndication feed in a standard format such as RSS, RDF, or Atom (most blogging platforms generate usable feeds automatically). You can find more information on Wikipedia regarding RSS feeds and XML formats.
See our Editorial Guidelines for more information.
For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom
-CRS-Realtor® /Remax Hometown
2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103
Weston FL 33331
(954)608-5556
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Neal - I've already checked it out, now it's time to implement it. Thanks bro.
Thanks Neil, it is worth a shot. Yep, your both a good Realtor and a good blogger.
Neal, thank you- very valuable stuff!
Thanks for the link Neal. It can't hurt, but can possibly help a great deal.
Ok Jason...so get off your little butt and do something about it!:)
Missy,
I'm only as good as yesterdays news:)
Laurie,
I hope it helps you.
Eugene,
I've been experimenting with it and it doesn't seem to be hurting my business.
Neal - sound slike this is a great tool for you!
Courtney,
If you want to find out more..click on the link within the post...thanks
I haven't really thought much about it but I think I'll follow your advice and check it out. Thanks Neal.
Hi Monika,
Try it...what do you have to lose?
Hey Neal I also have been in the business for about 12 years. I think I am a pretty darn good realtor, and I want to be a good blogger to. Everything in your post sounded like a language I have never head of before. I guess it's time to do my homework. Thanks for the info!
I started reading this a half hour ago Neal..then I started clicking on links and signing up and goodness...took me this long to get back here LOL! Great info and thanks for helping!
I've applied to Blogburst twice and have been rejected.
Hi Neal... FOX, Reuters, Gannett, USA Today... that is some heavy duty media exposure. I was aware of Blog Burst but didn't know of how widely they were syndicating their stuff. Excellent!
Neal - Great info, thanks a gazillion! Exposure, Exposure, Exposure.....is great for blogging. I will check it out.
Hey Neal - you real deal you! Back when you and I first talked about this, I followed your lead then. Nothing happened then, and I've noticed of late that a number of my articles have been syndicated and I get google alerts from a wide variety of sources - interesting traffic.
Ann
Neal, there are so many things that the web offers that it is hard to keep up with it all. I had not heard of this before but it looks like something that I should take some time to check out. Thanks for the heads up on it.
Thank you for the heads up. I sent in my application to them.
KATHY,
Why not try to pick up some extra exposure or business.
SALLY,
so how did it go?
JIM,
I was rejected the first time...I guess they aren't accepting anyone now...keep applying but wait about 3-4 weeks.
MARTI,
Yes they are...now I am just waiting for them to pick up a few of mine.
CHRISTINE,
Go for it!
ANN,
It took me about 7 months before I saw anything from it.
GEORGE,
You should and maybe you'll write some more good stuff.
RANDY,
I'm sure your blog will be considered by them
Might be worth a shot! Thanks for the idea.
Your Friend in Charlottesville, Virginia!
I love syndication. Just write your blog and they will come :)
Happy Bday Neal!
Thanks Renee,
Some how twitter knew it too:)
Charles,
Check it out bud.
Well, for one...the blogburst rejected me....that was the second time....what am I doing wrong? I do have a couple of others picking me up somehow.
Sally,
They only pick up my local or public posts. Keep trying in a few weeks.
I have not heard of them before but I will give it a try. Seven months is nothing if you plan to keep maintaining your blog. If you're not syndicated now then you have nothing to loose and everything to gain right? :-D
Neal,
I think I joined them. I can't honestly remember. There have been so many sites that have come up. I can barely keep up. My kids are thinking this laptop is attached to my hip..... I will definitely check them out though. It does pay to get your words out there (as long as they are good). I often times over censor myself!
Neal, this is fascinating! I'll bet this also creates great backlinks as well. I think my posts may be too local but I'll check in to it.
Neal, Thank you for the advice. This why to me Active Rain works. I keep learning about new things. Thanks again
Neal - that is an awesome tool! Thanks for sharing it with us - I am off to check it out!
Hi Neal, Thank you so much for this great information. It is defiantly something am interested in and will follow your links and see how to go about all this. Many Thanks again.
Hi Neal, thanks for sharing such valuable ideas and info. Once again, you are leading the pack in helping others and it is greatly appreciated!
Neal - thanks for tips and links - I have always know that links to and from directories were very important to my web site but did not give it much thought when it came to blogging.
Kimberly,
Hey...for me the more the merrier!
Christy,
You would only know if you joined if you have their button on your side bar or they will not let you link to them.
Matt,
Learn that poem!
Diane,
It does...in my opinion.
Leesa,
Go for it!
William,
See if they will let you join...it seems many aren't getting their foot in the door.
Denise,
Good luck with it...thanks
Kathy,
If you deal only local it might not help you but if your clients are from out of the area then it definitely gives you extra places to find your blogs.
Hi Neal...It was good to read this. I did try on Blogburst some time ago and was rejected> Is the AR blog good enough or should it be an out side blog developed for local posts. I was thinking of making a wordpress blog for my local posts. I need a little help! Thanks!
Neal, Thank you - I submitted this morning and will keep my fingers crossed - every avenue contributes to success, Karen
Neal - interesting concept. I have to wonder what they're looking for and what their criteria are if Jim Crawford and Sally Cheeseman were rejected. Can you shed any light on that?
Neal - Thanks for sharing. I clicked on your link to Blogburst to check it out and immediately went to their FAQ page. What a great site. Oh and thanks for letting us know that posts that pertained to your area seemed to be picked up more often than general posts. I've just started blogging, so once I get some local posts up I'm joining.
Lizette,
You can add it to any of your blogs...i have it on Activerain and my outside blog.
Karen,
Good luck....it might take some time.
Sharon,
I really am not sure why I was rejected and then accepted...but whether or not it is actually helping I can only say my traffic has gone up and I find some of my posts in places I would never think. I found one that was on a Latin website for example.
Jessica,
That's what I noticed...if you read the ones that were licked up you will see that they are related.