Blogging - Dead or Alive??? Short term or long term in the blogosphere/internet???

Blogging, is it dead or dying? Social Media Networking, is it a fad or will it just be dust in the wind by next year. Shopping online? Searching online? Where does it all begin and where can it all end.

Now, I am not an expert when it comes to such subjects, nor do I do this for a living, but I do have my own strong opinions in regards to these specific topics. Keep in mind, much of what you read about is opinion over time.

Recently there have been a lot of posts written about these subjects and what inspired me to write about this. I listed them below. Please read: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Getting My Daughter High at the Beach. by : Joel McDonald - Joel states this in his blog... "Before I Let me start off this post by saying "your headline is everything." ......."

I have to disagree with that statement and I will explain why. But a boring headline that has key words, will get your searched. And ps... yes, a catchy headline can be good at times, but if you fool the reader, to get them there, you could lose that same reader for good.

• Blogging is Dead - by : Courtney Cooper - This post was written because of a comment that David Gibbons stated on Twitter. "Blogging is Dead". My opinion about that statement? Just an attention getter, right or wrong.

Courtney brings this up.... "I keep hearing that blogging is a dinosaur,..... Twitter and Facebook ... The growth they have both seen this year is truly phenomenal. Is social media taking over blogging?"

And then she goes on to say that she doesn't believe that blogging is dead. I agree ...

• I am an Active TwitFace.... are you? - by : John Cannata - John talks about his daily routines both on Active Rain, Twitter, and Facebook, and how he thinks it's important to socialize on these.
  

• Re-defining ROI in the age of social media. - by : Matt Stigliano - Matt shares his opinion about ROI's when it comes to Twitter and Facebook. ROI is your return of investment. He lists some good examples to why this is good.
  

• A "soft-sell" approach to marketing your listings on Facebook w/seller participation by : RealEstateSupport - A great way to market your listings on Facebook.
  

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Social Media Networking & Marketing.... I will admit, I did get caught up in the craze about 10 months ago and even wrote about it, Social Media Marketing, and it's importance.

Sure, I think it's important to network and to socialize online. Here are my opinions on the 3, Active Rain, Twitter, and Facebook.

Active Rain - I love Active Rain and a networking group like this. I think it's easy. You can blog and comment at your own pace. Network with others from all over. And you don't have to be right in front of your computer/cell phone 24/7.

Twitter - I think this could be a fad. Sure, you can follow people in a group on twitter through tweetdeck, but a lot of what happens here is in real time. Which means you have to be visible often, sharing updates.

Facebook - I think it's easier to follow people here. Sure, the main page is in real time or you can go to someone's profile page and she what they have written lately. I think this is easier than what's on Twitter. You can also start a fan page and give updates directly there. My fan page on Facebook : The FHA Expert

Blogging and titles of Blogs :

- Blogging - I don't believe blogging is dead and will never be dead. Yes, I hate saying that word never. But my common sense would state that as long as people use the internet for searching, they will find your blogs.

I have talked to people such as Ken Cook about this matter, who is on top of the social media networking concept. Ken Cook and Jason Crouch hold a weekly call about this and supply some good information. Find them on their Blog Talk Radio show. Social Media Edge - Talk Show

My point to this, and Ken agrees with me, is that blogging will always be there and I feel that it's better than interfacing with such things as Twitter and Facebook. Here is why...

Twitter and Facebook is real time in most cases. You need to grab that persons attention now or in the first 24 hours. In regards to blogging, you could blog today and be searched :

• that same day

• the next day

• a week or month from now

• 6 months to a year.... etc, etc. I closed 3 deals this year from someone finding a blog of mine over a year ago.
  

With blogging, you are planting seeds and if you use the correct tags and hot key words, you will be searched. Keep in mind, writing good content is important. Confusing for those that are new to this? For more information about blogging, please read : Crash Course on Blogging In my opinion, blogging will be here to stay as long as the internet is active and that people search online. Keep in mind, more and more people are becoming informational 'hogs'. Some people love to read.

- Titles of blogs - I do believe a catchy title can work. But I don't think they serve its purpose as many would think and or assume. If you make people curious, they will come and look. But will they stay long? And keep in mind, this is like a quick fix, but titles don't usually last long in the blogosphere. Not unless you have some of your 'hot' key words in the title.

Key words will out last a catchy title any day of the week. Example : I am wrote about those listing agents that don't accept offers with FHA loans. Which title do you think would work best for me?

1. Listing Agents can destroy a perfectly good offer. - Catchy, but it would be hard to search for this, unless you used those exact words.
   
2. Those offers with FHA loans. - Good to capture those searching for FHA loans.
   
3. Sellers !! Ignore what your listing agent tells you about FHA loans !!! - A catchy title and some have said misleading. But it also has a few good key words that can be searched in several different combinations.

Summary : In my opinion, just use common sense when writing your blog and especially when writing the title of your blog. Do you want to be a rock star for a day or for a life time? I would rather be found now and later, and not just razzle you with headlines, looking for attention now.

Overall, don't get me wrong. The blogs that I mentioned above, they all bring up some very good points and tips. And I know you can get business from Twitter and Facebook. And you can use either one to get your blogs out there. But after speaking to a few others that are knowledgeable about this topic, I think a lot of what we hear is opinion, proven by fact, but facts that can be used for their argument. What about the flip side of the argument? Me? I want to know to know the possibilities and example of both sides. thanks

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