Isn't it great when you write a post on a topic you're passionate about, and you get a string of intelligent and informative comments? This creates an awesome platform to educate, and share your knowledge and experience with your clients and other consumers. Are you waiting for them to come find your great post using Google? Do you hope they just find your post by coincidence, or from a keyword search? If you want to be proactive, and get this information out to readers and clients everywhere, they'll need to know that it's there. Are you "Farming Your Blog?
Many Active Rain members subscribe to each others Blogs, so we know when there's a new post. Many of our comments are made by those members. In fact, the majority of comments are from other members, but the public is still finding and reading them as well. They are probably a little less likely to subscribe or even comment, as they are not AR members. It's a fact, they are reading your Blogs.
So how do you get the word distributed outside of the Active Rain Blogosphere? Here's an idea: Get your individual posts or even your entire Blog out to all your clients first, before they try to find you, and maybe find someone else. Use this tool as you would any other farming tool! Farming with Newsletters, Recipes, Just Listed and Just Solds etc. Let's farm your Blog! :-)
Every post on Active Rain has a tiny icon below it (especially yours) that offers you this opportunity! Are you using this powerful little email tool?
When you use the internal email function here at Active rain, you have to select each individual, one at a time. Here's what that looks like when you prepare it for your client, friend or someone from your email database.
This is a great way to send your post to individuals you feel may be interested in your topic, idea, or discussion thread. Now if you want to send your post to multiple individuals, that's different! Some large networks and companies see this as spam. If you are sending your post to email addresses you have in your Outlook, Yahoo, or Google databases, then is this really spamming? I don't feel it is. Government says you can't call, now they have the "Do Not Mail Me" list, and at $3.50 per gallon for gas, who's gonna drive and knock on doors? :-) I say EMAIL!!
Here's a great way to send your post by email to everyone in your database. Just create a cover message in your email, then BCC: a copy to everyone else in your database. You'll have to use an accurate link back to your post. IE (The Holiday Gift) What better way to drive readers to your post, instead of waiting for them to maybe find you someday. Not only will you be driving readers to your post, you'll be driving more visitors to Active Rain and Localism. Either way, ultimately, everybody wins.
Take it one final step further, why not email your entire Blog to your email database. Instead of just sending a link to a particular post, send the link that contains all your posts, or your RSS Feed, or even your profile page. Let them choose which topics and posts they'd like to read. The point is, you are bringing it to them, and this is how to increase your readers, your business, and Active Rains continued growth and success.
We can always put links on our business cards, our flyer's and signs, but are we using our email to really market our Blogs? Not just a link in the signature of a reply either, are you sending email to anybody about your posts or Blogs? This one is easy and may payoff in "Big Dividends," I'd try it.
What does your Blog have to say to the world about Real Estate, and how are you getting that word out there? Is there any better way to compete and get results from all your hard work here? As the media continues to get their Real Estate News into America's homes by television, newspaper and radio, and the Internet, how are you doing it? Or are you? :-)
All Content Copyright Protected © 2007 
you can also do "teaser headlines" and link to the balance of the post to drive traffic back to it as well. Farming is about loyalty and if you can create a following, you will reap the rewards.
The world's shortest story: What Brad Andersohn Doesn't Know About How to Use Active Rain
Thanks (once again) for providing great, useful information to us all, Brad. I have never used the email feature but what a great way to let clients know when I am pushing their listing or location!
Brad, Right on my man. I've been shoving my posts on people for a long time now. It works great.
I've never been one to fish with a bobber I use rubber worms where you constantly have to keep throwing it out there. I catch a lot of fish. Not sure why I started writing about fishing but it just seemed to fit.
Great advice, my friend. You are constantly feeding us with good information. Thanks for the ideas!
Hello Brad,
The stuff you put out here is so helpful and usful, your business must be going through the roof...
Thanks so much for sharing your technical information.
Brad,
I'm relatively new to AR and blogging. Thanks for the great tip!
Excellent tip! Thanks so much for sharing! Nancy
Another Great Post! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, it is much appreciated.
You are just too smart, ya know that don't you? Thanks, once again, for another great informative post.
Brad,
Thanks, this is such an informative "how to" post, and guess what? I get it!! I'm going to do it now!
Brad:
Thanks for this information! I just learned something. There is just so much to learn here. I'm going to give this a try.
The world's shortest story: What Brad Andersohn Doesn't Know About How to Use Active Rain
Thanks (once again) for providing great, useful information to us all, Brad. I have never used the email feature but what a great way to let clients know when I am pushing their listing or location!
Lisa - that was cute! Contrary to your belief, I am still learning everyday, and there is a lot I still don't know! But as I learn and find out, you know I won't have a problem sharing!! :-)
Brad, I use the email feature a lot, sending posts to my team or office. The last few weeks when I click it on, another post comes up. Yes, I sent it to support to see what could be done. I think this is a lovely idea. Are you saying email to ourselves and then forward to our data base?
Hi Missy - got your email. This happened to Dan Forbes as well, there must be a glitch in the system somewhere. I just sent Ben an email with the details, we'll see what he says or if AR responds. I like to do what you said in your comment, email yourself, then you can be sure it's all good, and then forward to anyone you want. I'll let you know when and if I hear anything back from Ben! Thanks Missy, I can't wait for us to meet someday!! :-)
Brad, you never cease to amaze me. You come up with such a plethora of well thought out, articulate topics, that your blog posts are always worth the read.
This idea will be something I will definitely check out.
Brad ~ You are a genius! Not only did I not "see" the mail icon (I saw it but it didn't register) I never even thought about farming my blog, as you suggested. I've sent a couple blogs to friends and family...you'd think my mind would take me farther than that! Thank you again for another great tip!
Hello Brad, The stuff you put out here is so helpful and usful, your business must be going through the roof...Thanks so much for sharing your technical information.
Wayne - oh it's going through the roof alright...LOL! I thinks it's the same everywhere right now, I haven't announced that the RE tunnel we've been in this past year is over now. Once I get that word out, I'll be too busy closing deals to Blog anymore! hahaha! I'll be hiding on the roof!!
Hey Brad, We have been farming our outside blog for a while now, sort of pushing it out there and I am glad you did this post as it gives us an additional way to get more posts out there a little easier for those that use this as their primary blog. Another job well done.
Jay - I think the way you are already doing it is best, just add your AR Blog to the mix. The envelope email in AR is only allowing 1 recipient at a time. And I also understand they have been having some problems with it. I have reported that to the AR Gods for them to be able to look into it for us. Haven't heard back just yet. I hope they'll add the ability to add multiple addresses or a way to pull from our databases. I use Outlook and Yahoo to send out certain posts I like. It works great so far! :-)
Great post, Brad. This is the 'stuff' we should all be doing. More bang for our blogging buck. :-)
Elizabeth - you are right about that. But this is the stuff everybody might not be doing because they just might not know they can or how. Hopefully, these types of posts will change that and help everyone, at least those who see the value. Thanks!! :-)
You are just too smart, ya know that don't you? Thanks, once again, for another great informative post.
Des - and you are just too cute and kind!!!! You know that don't you? LOL! Thanks for always making my posts so enjoyable to return to! :-)
husbands and kid, I mean husband and kids! sorry... They may be getting a lot of email already...I think they're on my distribution list! hahaha! Just kidding!!! Hope this works well for you and generates some more readers and clients! :-)Brad, You are truly amazing. We are so fortunate to have you. You are so willing to teach what you know and it just blows me away. I have learned so much from you. Thank you for you latest wisdom. You are a very gifted individual. I wish I something to give back to you. Perhaps someday I will.
Pat - WOW! I don't know what to say after that comment! Truly one of the nicest I have received in a while! Your words are very kind and heartfelt, I sincerely thank you! As far as giving back to me, I'd rather you pay it forward to someone else. When you see a person in need or who is down, think of me, and do something special for them! That is how you can give something back to me. Now if you want to talk about referral business...now that's another story!! (HUGE SMILE AT PAT) Thanks again Pat, enjoy the rest of the weekend!
One more thing Brad. You look so much like my nephew and every time I see you picture I think of him. That not a bad thing either. He is far from me now in Pompano Beach. Thanks again.
Pat - sorry to hear your nephew is so far away, but now you have me curious?!? You're going to have to upload a picture into these comments so I can see what he looks like? Is he handsome and a stud? If so, I'll change out my photo! :-)
Brad, my next big project will be to get my best blogs set up as a resource library in Top Producer, to send out to my database as appropriate.
Brian - what a great idea! I didn't even think of TP7i. You could actually setup a library and then create an action Plan to email out a single designated post every week or every month for the entire year! Man, what an awesome idea. I'll have to let my TP7i users in my area know about that. I guess I just need to click on the
right now and send it from here to let them all know! How convenient yet ironic is that! LOL! :-)
Brad, you never cease to amaze me. You come up with such a plethora of well thought out, articulate topics, that your blog posts are always worth the read.
This idea will be something I will definitely check out.
Hi Teri - (my friend in red) you'll need to add some green for the holidays! LOL!! Thanks for a wonderful comment Teri, your comments never cease to amaze me!! :-) Hope all is well, it's always great to have you stop by, I need to get out more....I'll be by soon!! :-)
Brad ~ You are a genius! Not only did I not "see" the mail icon (I saw it but it didn't register) I never even thought about farming my blog, as you suggested. I've sent a couple blogs to friends and family...you'd think my mind would take me farther than that! Thank you again for another great tip!
Joddie - If I were such a genius, than why did it take me so long to figure it out too!! LOL! Some things are obvious, and some things I just have to think about for a while. When I'm done with my posts here, I should have enough for a mini bloggers AR manual! LOL! Hope the emailing idea works well for you and hopefully generates some more readers and of course business. :-)
Brad, I've encountered the same glitch as Missy did when emailing a post, at least on two occasions. I'm glad to hear the AR folks are working on the problem.
Eric - just use your email from your regular email carrier. You can send multiple emails to unlimited individuals until they get it fixed. I would always email yourself first, even after they review and fix it, then forward from your email t anyone you want! I'd hate to see you try Farming your Blog "one email at a time". As soon as I hear back from Ben, I'll be sure to comment here! Thanks Eric! :-)
Brad, you son of a gun! I never noticed that email thing-a-ma-jig! You are really something...always thinking! Thanks for waking some of us up!
Gena - want to hear something funny? My fathers name is "Gunner" so I guess you nailed the bullet! I am a son of a gun! hahaha!! :-) I'm glad I could point out that thing-a-ma-jig to you! Now that you're awake, it's my bedtime! LOL Here's a couple thing-a-ma-jig-le-bells for the Holidays! :-)
Ouch,
Me too in the group of geniuses who did not pay attention to all these icons there.
I have reported this to AR and flagged this post for them to review and repair. I would say that you can still use your existing email to farm your blog out to past clients, friends, and family. You should always send yourself an email to be sure that what you think you are sending is what your recipients are actually getting. I just tried to send this post to myself and this is what I got:
You'll notice the subject line is correct, but the link and the post being sent are totally wrong! This is not good and needs to be corrected right away! Sorry AR Gods, one more thing to do ASAP on Monday morning!
POST FLAGGED FOR AR TECHNICAL SUPPORT REVIEW!!
Roberta - thats awesome! Now that your Blog is linked to your website, you need to send out emails to everyone telling them to go see your Blog that's now connected to your page. Otherwise, nobody will know or care. I mean that in the kindest and most gentle way! The whole concept of websites and Blogs is to drive traffic to them, not wait and see who will come. IF you plan a party, do you send out invites and tell everybody? or do you put a sign in the yard and just hope people show up. I would hit the emails hard with your website and blog now being connected! Now is the time to drive readers to both your Blog and you Website! You will benefit from your efforts I assure you.
Brad steps off the podium and has a seat in the front row...LOL! :-)
What fascinates me is not that you write good blogs, and not that you get a lot of comments, but that you answer all of them, and the timing of it is impressive. This makes it worth commenting, even if this is not a group discussion, but more like a face to face.
Thanks
Jon - I appreciate that, and It is kinda like being face to face. I hope we will meet someday and be able to raise a toast to all the good times out here, and all the great friendships that get established. You're a good man, and I wish all the best to you this Holiday Season!
Hey Brad - LOVE this idea!! I've had this in the back of my mind for awhile now, and you just pushed it to the forefront. Thanks!!
Ann
Hi Brad- you're toooooo much :-) I've been so busy the last few weeks (and it's all good) that I haven't had much time for extra caricular activities. But as usual you continue to provide us with truly relevant information - thank you! I hope your business is going well and you close 2007 with a bang.
Really informative. A good post to re-read every chance I get. Thanks.
Ryan
Brad....(I didn't read any comments since I am late to this party. And not sure if anyone mentioned this) I have used this feature before.... but curious... you talk about farming clients.... a client to me is someone that is new, meaning that we haven't spoken as of yet and they might be interested in my services. Meaning... I want new clients. Your title and first paragraph or so alludes to the fact that we want new clients... but then goes into the part to e-mail to those clients that we have. But you never really got into the fact of how to obtain e-mail addresses of those that you have not talked to. When a realtor farms a certain area, prospecting for new clients, all they need are the client's names and home address. That is farming....
Again, you break down the envelope well, but I just felt that it didn't get me to what you mentioned in the beginning. When a client comes to me, that is when I have their e-mail address already. And I either have them as a client or trying. But getting back to the point.... how do you get that envelope to work for you for those you don't know as of yet. ????
Hi Brad,
Great stuff. I am learning a lot from your posts.
Thanks for the help
Anne
Hi Brad- you're toooooo much :-) I've been so busy the last few weeks (and it's all good) that I haven't had much time for extra caricular activities. But as usual you continue to provide us with truly relevant information - thank you! I hope your business is going well and you close 2007 with a bang.
Gail - it's great to hear you've been busy, some folks in these parts wish they could say that! We have seen a great deal of change in our West Coast market just like everyone else. As things slow down for you, it may be a good time to start keeping in touch with past clients, your sphere and family, and new target clients. Start sending out your Blog to EVERYONE so they can see how AWESOME you are on AR! Have a great Holiday, and a "SUPER" 2008!
Every couple weeks I learn about all the new features available to us on this site.....THANKS BRAD, very few are able to condense the features into blog styled snippets in an equal fashion.
Diane - I think the link on your email signatures is a great start to getting the word out there, but is there a more powerful way to get it across? When you reply to an email, that person is more in tune to your response, than your signature, and if you send or initiate an email, they are more in tuned to your message than your signature. So make your message the Farm!
Here's a Sample email you could send to a past client or friend etc - (farming a new client with email would be different)
Hi Diane -
I hope this email finds you in great health and happiness! I just wanted to let you know that I am now authoring a Blog that I hope will bring you some great value and information regarding Real Estate. There is some useful information there and I hope you'll stop by to see what I've built for you. There's statistics about your area, home values and the changing market, when you should buy, sell or invest and more. I have also written about local upcoming events, local and national news, and created a few "NEW" tools for my clients to use like property showcases, featured homes this week, rates and loans that really do still exist, and a whole series on "Do-It-Yourself" Home repair, maintenance and How-to's, plus much more! I hope you'll stop by my Blog for a visit, it's loaded with information you can use, it may also save you some time and money! Visit my Blog Diana at Brad's Blog, and feel free to comment or contact me anytime. It's like having an office open to you 24/7. Thanks Diane!
PS- I am never too busy for your calls, emails, business or referrals!
Now that's not exactly what I'd say, but this is just a comment in my Blog! LOL!
This might be something you could email to a friend, family member, past client, or your sphere. Creating a "farming email" and getting email addresses to "NEW" or target clients would be a different email entirely, but I'm sure you get how this would work in that scenario as well.
Hope this gives you something to kick around in your head, and helps you put together your own email campaign. You could also just email out each post with the subject line that says, "SOMETHING I THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW" then include a link to your post, and now they're at your Blog! Many ways to do it, just think outside the box! :-)
Brad-
Your doing what I dream of doing. Thanks for the help!
Do you mind copy cats?
Sharkey
Christina - yes, it could be used as promotional, the key is to get email addresses of individuals you don't know if you want to get "New" business. The value in promoting to past clients, friends, and your sphere, is to build up your referral business. If you send this out to a "FARM" list of email, you want to be sure it comes across as a third party referral email.
There are many ways to do this, but not on this Blog post! LOL~ Somethings we just can't give up that easily! :-) I did an email farm once to about 10,000 total strangers, and actually got back 600-700 responses! I was promoting a Real Estate Tech Fair, and wanted to get the word out, but I had to make the email appear that it wasn't spam! It worked!! There are ways to do this, you just have to be creative...which I know you are! :-)
Brad....(I didn't read any comments since I am late to this party. And not sure if anyone mentioned this) I have used this feature before.... but curious... you talk about farming clients.... a client to me is someone that is new, meaning that we haven't spoken as of yet and they might be interested in my services. Meaning... I want new clients. Your title and first paragraph or so alludes to the fact that we want new clients... but then goes into the part to e-mail to those clients that we have. But you never really got into the fact of how to obtain e-mail addresses of those that you have not talked to. When a realtor farms a certain area, prospecting for new clients, all they need are the client's names and home address. That is farming....
Again, you break down the envelope well, but I just felt that it didn't get me to what you mentioned in the beginning. When a client comes to me, that is when I have their e-mail address already. And I either have them as a client or trying. But getting back to the point.... how do you get that envelope to work for you for those you don't know as of yet. ????
Jeff - now you know better, go back and read the comments!!! You should know by now that the true value and credibility of any and every good post is in the comments!! (Big Smile)! :-)
My opinion of a client is different than yours, you say "a client to me is someone that is new, meaning that we haven't spoken as of yet and they might be interested in my services." I disagree, a client is just that, a client! They HAVE done business with you. A potential client or "new" client is someone who doesn't know you or has never done business with you. (gotta love our difference of opinion) :-)
I have to be honest here, getting email addresses of "New and Potential" clients for the future is key, and there are ways to do this, but you'll have to do some research on your own to get that, or hire me as your consultant and coach! :-)
If you read further into this post, you'll see the other ways I mentioned to do this without using the "one-by-one" email envelope in AR. Use your email service like Outlook, Google or Yahoo etc. to produce your email campaign.
You may be missing a great opportunity to farm "Past Clients" for referral business too! I think you just have to look beyond my post, and into your creativity. How many people do you email your Posts or Blog to currently? Do all the people in your database know about your blog? How are you exposing it to existing and potential new clients?
Did you know there are sources out there that will provide you email addresses to people you don't have in your database? I could go on and on, but again, this is just a post to get you thinking, and to stop waiting for people to find you and your Blog! I don't want you to miss the point in the message. Promote your Blog by Farming, short and simple. New clients, friends, family, neighbors, past clients sphere, no matter how you put it, It's ALL FARMING!!!
I hope this helps answers your question. If you want email addresses of potentially new clients, well.....you're a pretty sharp guy, I know you'll figure it out! Now go back and read some of the comments and see what the others are getting out of this, there may be more light shed on the subject. Thanks Jeff, now get busy farming for ANY clients you can! LOL! :-)
Hi Brad,
Man, you continue to amaze us with your great ideas. I feel like the I could have had a V-8 commercial now! :) Thanks for this one! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Every couple weeks I learn about all the new features available to us on this site.....THANKS BRAD, very few are able to condense the features into blog styled snippets in an equal fashion.
Ryan - that's a very nice compliment and worded differently then a lot I receive. Thanks for your appreciation and for taking the time to put it into words so eloquently! :-) Keep learning my friend, that's what keeps us growing!
Brad, great post and a great idea. I will start linking my clients today. With over 1,000 in my data base I should get great results. Great post. Thank You
Mark - now that's what I am talking about!! I wish Jeff Belonger could see your comment! If you have a 1000 in your database, and each of them told just 1 person about you or your Blog, there's a potential for 1000 "NEW" clients by Referral. Mark, it doesn't get any better than that! Good luck to you, I know you will prosper from your email farming efforts. Once they come to your Blog and see the value you offer, now you'll have clients for life!!
Brad...as I mentioned, no, I didn't read any comments and I made that statement for several reasons. At least I state this.... it's bad enough when someone doesn't read the whole post, which is a pet peeve and that I just wrote about. And yes, there are two types of clients. I attach two links to my signature of my e-mail, so when I send an e-mail, my blog sites are at the bottom of each e-mail. Besides, you can also do news letters, which keeps in touch with old clients. Referrals and repeat business is a good part of my business.
Yes, you did a good job of breaking this down. But my main point was because you mentioned farming. And farming to me is going after new clients in a certain neighborhood as many realtors do this. Yes, I am sure there are ways to get e-mail addresses. I haven't look into this... one reason is because I think this is partially spamming. I so hate getting e-mails that too me are consider junk mail. From people who solicitate my business. And I am sure there are other ways to go about this. I will read the comments, but at a later time.
thanks for sharing this and getting back to me. You make some good points, but I guess I am using the 'farming' term that so many realtors use and talk about, and trying to shed light on that. We just have two different view points.
Great advice Brad. I started emailing mine about a month ago. This is certainly a great proactive method of getting your voice out there.
Hey Bill - I haven't even known what Blogging is for 9 months, you are way ahead of the game my friend! This should have been your post!! Did you know that some corporate websites offer email addresses to employees and staff? I also have found that when you get a call from a stranger in the office about Real Estate, we are so used to asking for their name and number, we forget to ask for their email address! Here's just one way to build an email database of "New" and potential clients for the future.
We need to get your Blog in front of every person we can! You can also get email addresses from CC: emails that you receive from other friends and family members. Keep growing your email database, that's where the future and referrals are! :-)
Jeff - My bad, would you like me to change the word "Farming" to "Prospecting?" To me my friend, anything you do to get business from new or existing clients is farming, prospecting, target marketing, niche marketing etc.
The term Farming according to the true definition of the word means: Farming was once the chief way of life in nearly every country. People cannot live without food, and nearly all their food comes from crops and animals raised on farms. Many other materials such as cotton and wool also come from plants and animals raised on farms. Not many people farm for a living any more, but farming remains the most important occupation in the world.
source: http://42explore.com/farming.htm
So I guess we are both wrong!! LOL! Thanks Jeff for keeping me on my toes and accountable here in the rain! Now get out there and farm...I mean prospect! LOL! :-)
BTW - spam is something you eat out of a can if we're going to be analytical about words here! ROFL :-)
Brad-
Your doing what I dream of doing. Thanks for the help! Do you mind copy cats?
Sharkey - dreams can become reality.... you're welcome!
I don't mind your compliment, but I guess I'd need to know what you mean by "copy cats" before I said "Go For It" If you meant to cut, copy, and paste my materials in your posts, I'd have a problem with that. :-)
I think you meant the whole email concept here, and If I didn't want you to copy this idea, and put it into use, I would not have written this post! :-) Best to you and all your marketing efforts, I hope this idea will generate you new and referral business!! B-)
Hi Brad,
Man, you continue to amaze us with your great ideas. I feel like the I could have had a V-8 commercial now! :) Thanks for this one! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Guess what, I just had a V8!! LOL! That's funny! I miss my Snappy Tom though. You have a great Thanksgiving Holiday as well. Thanks for stopping by and for the V8 comment, it brought back some memories of some of those funny commercials! :-)
Brad - I gotta admit man, you are on the ball and on target. I didn't know about this either. I must say, you are one of the best contributors Active-Rain has........that's a fact in my book. Keep it up amigo and watch out for the V8 stuff, it can be high in sodium:-)
Brad, Good! You're back on track. I'm glad you went beyond the AR email facility because it is so cumbersome. But emailing the blog to clients and potential clients (see I read the comments too) is a very good idea. Thanks.
Bill Roberts
As always thanks for sharing, Brad. This is a great tip to start implementing.
Mobile Notary
Hi Brad ... Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
During my time at A/R visiting your post as also helped me to learn more and more......I'm so appreciative for all your advise.... You've helped me to rethink; how I can improve myself and my business.... I truly can't thank you enough.... your a blessing to me.... and I will always remember how you have feed me... from all your posts to having you sharing with me your special songs dedicated to your son... WOW... thanks for taking the time to give.
Please don't STOP giving.... WHEN YOU GIVE IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
Brad - this was terrific, as always. I have used the email feature a little, but have sent links to posts to individuals and groups of people quite a bit...and am doing more all the time, especially since I can send to as many foks as I want at one time. Email IS the way to go. Thanks for the great suggestions.
Jeff
Brad - I gotta admit man, you are on the ball and on target. I didn't know about this either. I must say, you are one of the best contributors Active-Rain has........that's a fact in my book. Keep it up amigo and watch out for the V8 stuff, it can be high in sodium:-)
Jason - your words are kind, and I love your fact book! LOL! Thanks my friend, and I took some tums for the overdose of sodium! :-)
Hi Brad ... Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
During my time at A/R visiting your post as also helped me to learn more and more......I'm so appreciative for all your advise.... You've helped me to rethink; how I can improve myself and my business.... I truly can't thank you enough.... your a blessing to me.... and I will always remember how you have feed me... from all your posts to having you sharing with me your special songs dedicated to your son... WOW... thanks for taking the time to give.
Please don't STOP giving.... WHEN YOU GIVE IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
Donna - if you give expecting something in return, you may never achieve it ever, but if we give with no expectations, we will truly be blessed! I am Blessed! Thank you so much for such a wonderful and uplifting comment. It's days like these, that you make me proud to be a member here! :-)
Brad - this was terrific, as always. I have used the email feature a little, but have sent links to posts to individuals and groups of people quite a bit...and am doing more all the time, especially since I can send to as many foks as I want at one time. Email IS the way to go. Thanks for the great suggestions.
Jeff - thanks my friend, i hear the AR email envelope is busted and it sends out arbitrary posts to your recipients! Might want to just use regular email right now. Guess my post broke it!! LOL! ooopps..... :-)
Natalie - I have since slept and had a day in the world, but funny thing is, I can still hear your voice in my head! Is that totally weird or what. Not your most recent comment, but your original one...I'm sorry...I'm still laughing but it's kinda creepy at the same time. Now I feel like I have to call you on the phone just to see if it is the same voice I am hearing in my head!! Too Bizarre!
BTW - It takes more than you got to offend me, I like when people are honest and real! Thanks!! :-)
Brad...Some of you posters are so prolific. I can hardly keep up with the information you share. I'm going to keep trying to figure out what I'm doing in this new world. Thanks for your help.
Kathleen
Brad,
Thanks for the article.
I usually mention to my students when we talk about RSS and lead capturing that they can use a service like feedburner or feedblitz for this very thing.
Not many people know this, but you can replace your traditional email newsletter with an rss email subscription service... I use feedburner.
There isn't an import tool to enter in all your current contacts to protect from spam, but if you contact feedburner directly and ask nicely, they will send you a link to do just that. Then you can write all your regular email newsletters on your blog, and they will be delivered automatically... pretty cool!
-Justin Smith
Real Estate Tomato
Brad- WOW, you are great at sharing and paying it forward. I use the email feature to send links to our listings and to prospects to show them what we do. I also wanted to do this farming by email with my blog but did not know quite how to go about it, thanks for the how to tutorial once again! Katerina
Katerina - shhhhh.......farming your Blog is great to clients, past clients, friends, and family! I suggest to try and start building a new database of emails and potentially new clients! The best way to email a "New" person is by referral or 3rd party endorsement. Getting your email to be "Viral" so to speak. If you can get the people you know, (that know and love you), to forward your email to their friends and their database, now we're really onto something. I actually train and teach Agents and other Industry professionals how to do this. You have to be careful when just sending to email databases, it might be construed as spamming. But when you ask others to do it for you, and you reward them, BINGO! JACKPOT! GOLDMINE!! :-) Everything works better by referral.
Lisa - grab your head for a second and stop the spinning!!! LOL! It's this simple....
The key is to not wait for people to hopefully find your Blog or Posts someday...they probably won't. You need to farm it the same as you would a newsletter, or a just listed or just sold, or any marketing piece. Your Blog is your "Know All - Be All" now. You gotta get the word out there, so others know it exists. Hope that helps the spinning! LOL! (Big Smile) :-)
Justin - awesome point, I was just explaining that as a portion of my comment to Lisa above. I use it on my AR blog, you'll see it under my photo to the right. I didn't know about the import tool (I can ask real nice LOL!) from feedburner. I'll have to check that out.
I just use outlook to BCC everyone I want to let know about a post. Or I send a link to my entire Blog depending on who, or the situation. My hope is that when they come to visit my Blog, they'll subscribe using the feedburner tool. Do you have any suggestions on how to do this more efficiently?
You guys at the Tomato are the Bomb! Tell Jim I said Hi if you see him today! :-)
Good News!!!! - The AR Gods have informed me by email this morning that......
I would try sending yourself
Thanks AR Techs, YOU GUYS ROCK and are always ON IT!! :-)
Brad - has anyone ever called you the ActiveRain Genius? If not, I guess I just did.
Brian Wilson, Zolve.com
Hey, Brad! You are too funny. Call me anytime! I'd like to know if my voice is in your head. You'll really be freaking out, won't you!?!
Saw a blog today by Bob. I didn't read the comments, but I do feel you need to read it and edit your tags and be part of this...
http://activerain.com/blogsview/241901/Community-Support-From-the
Hey that is some good stuff, I never knew one could send an e-mail of their article to a mailing list. Thank for the info!
Take care!
RJH
Brad,
I've been doing this every month with my market report. I don't know how many actually read my blog on a regular basis, but it's definitely a way to get it out there.
Naoma - here's what I think. Many Bloggers will write their post then walk away and hope someone finds it and reads it. Either another member will come along and comment (most likely), someone will do a google keyword search, (maybe get lucky), or they'll come back later to find nothing at all. Kind of like fishing.
If you do it this way, it's farming! Putting the word out there and by invitation bringing people to your Blog or just an individual post! Email is the best way in the world to communicate long distance. Text messaging is a close second. The phone is 3rd, snail mail is forth, and lastly is in person. We should use all these ways to market our Blogs and stop waiting for people to find us. We need to invite and send them to us!
Hi, Brad,
Could you post information about the MY ADS link on members' home pages? Maybe you've already written about this, and if so, please direct me to that post. I've seen a couple of blogs asking about it, and I know what it is... just not sure how/what kind of ad would be productive. I'm sure you are using for some of the things you have on your sidebar.
Thanks!
Hi, Brad,
Could you post information about the MY ADS link on members' home pages? Maybe you've already written about this, and if so, please direct me to that post. I've seen a couple of blogs asking about it, and I know what it is... just not sure how/what kind of ad would be productive. I'm sure you are using for some of the things you have on your sidebar.
Thanks!
Hi Jan - I did a post awhile back regarding "20 Google Tools for Your Business", you will find everything you need in that post. Let me know if you have any questions or need additional help with that! Have a great Holiday! :-)
Renee - there are a couple ways you can do this.
You can use the "envelope icon" to send individual posts or you can use the "Link" to your post or Blog to send to multiple recipients. Like this link: http://activerain.com/blogsview/277447/Marketing-and-Farming-Your
I would rename it and make it look like this: An Article You Must Read!
Or you could email your entire Blog and it could look like this! The Ultimate Real Estate Resource
Either way, they should ALL work. Let me know ok?
If you need help, I also run The Blog Builder if you ever need it! Not marketing here, just trying to help! :-)
Adam - your comment was as good as a post! LOL! This is exactly what I am trying to get across. Your Blog is the "Be All" to your clients and prospects. Why are we not pushing it like business cards and email replies? :-)
Don't wait for them to find you, tell 5 new people everyday about your Blog! That's over 1000 new readers every year! This is just the beginning when it comes to farming your Blog...watch for more coming soon... :-)
Brad-
What an awesome post! Thank you so much for sharing. I will put this to use.
Meredith Amon. Sotheby's International Realty. Breckenridge, Colorado
once again.. great post! What do you NOT know about Active Rain? =P I am so glad you post such great blogs!
A great way to advertise your blog is to put an RSS feed in your email signature. I found a step-by-step guide on The Real Estate Tomato's blog... really easy to follow and works great!
www.MeghanMullee.com
There are so many ways to farm your Blog and bring readers to your Blog! Why would we ever want to wait for others to maybe find us with Google or just by luck! Hmmm....
This is a very powerful tool (your Blog) you need to let everyone know what your doing and why. What a great way to compete with the media, and to get valuable information out to your clients and communities.
FARMING and ADVERTISE YOUR BLOG!! :-)
Latonia - thanks! I think we all start by not being too technologically savvy. I know what is takes to learn and commit to all this techy stuff, it's one of the reasons I'm willing to share. I remember all those who have helped and taught me. Call it compassion, or call it pity, either way, this is how I roll! LOL!!~
Have a "not too techy" e-Holiday! LOL again! You're always welcome here.....technologically savvy or not! :-)
BTW - Hope you'll come by my post for the "12 Days Of Christmas!"
Thanks for the advice...that was great! One Question: Do you writer blogs daily (M-F)?
Very Intelligent information and again I appreciate another fine blog on your part! Super Job and I think you will continue to see the great feedback your getting!!
Tom-
great information yet again. I will send out an email to my subscriber list.
Anne
Once again Brad, you've outdone yourself!
What a great AND simple way to maximize the exposure of our blogs.
Thank you!
This is great information! It's definitely something I'll keep around for reference in the future!
DM
I always email my blogs, but I didn't realize that you could do it directly from the email icon at the bottom. Time saver. Thanks.
I never even saw the email icon!
Thanks Brad for all the ideas that you share with us. I am just now getting started on Active Rain and it is a great new experience. My blog will be up soon and I can't wait to get started. After 26 years in this industry it will be a great way to share some of my experience. My goal this past year has been sending out to give! Again, thanks!
subscribing to my competitions blogs...what a concept. If it was a snake it would have bitten me. Thanks.
My head is in a cloud of information over-load and I love it! Thanks for the info.
I have an Aunt who makes a 3 page newsletter for our family every three months. She emails and mails it out from coast to coast. I think a webblog would be more economical and quicker. I will need to tell her about this.
Excellent Brad. I emailed this one to myself as a resource for future use! :o)
•:*¨¨*:• Joe & Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
Our ActiveRain Blog
Hi Brad,
Thanks for the idea, this is a great low cost marketing tool that I will definitely use. So much of our marketing is missed by the consumer that it's important to keep using fresh ideas like these ... thanks.
Best regards,
Mike
This is great! As a newbie. I didn't know about this. I've got so many pages bookmarked - it's a whole nuther list to read!!
This is great! As a newbie. I didn't know about this. I've got so many pages bookmarked - it's a whole nuther list to read!!
Will Check this out thanks for the tip
Thanks Brad, what a great marketing tool and something I can afford! Ha! I love your blog. Glad I subcribed.
Tj
Another bit of great advice. I haven't stopped by your blog recently as I have been busy, but every time I do, I get more and more educated, and it amazes me. I love coming across these informative blogs from before I was even an AR member. Thanks again.
This is great stuff and one that I will share with my office manager who will understand it better than me.
Thanks Brad, this is something I never knew about but looks like it would definitely be a beneficial real estate marketing tool.
Brad - I can't believe I am reading this just now... where have I been??? ~Rita
Brad, Great ideas. I have started selectively to add my blog link on my email signatures when write one that may be particulary interesting to my clients and future clients. i have not used the email feature on the blog itself but this will be great to specifically target individuals. Thanks again fo rthe ideas.
Craig - I think this post stands true still today - farming your Blog is simply proactive.
Dan - I'm glad, I hope it will be useful to you and your business.
Virginia - it's funny what our eyes see on the screen, we all train them differently, that's funny.
Nicki - Looking forward to your Blog posts. Welcome to the Rain. :-)
Lee - that's just sneaky...but why not? haha
Eva - you must be a glutten for punishment eh? LOL~
Dee Dee - you need to get your Aunty Blogging for sure.
Colleen - excellent! BTW - I love your little house sig with the little fireworks symbols by your name. Cute.
Mike - I hope this will help bring some awareness to your Blog and efforts. Seems like a no brainer to me.
TJ - this is most certainly affordable for sure. :)
Troy - there are so many great Blog posts here on AR, I don't think there is anything you can't find out information about on AR. We have over 3/4 of a million posts here from over 100,000 members, now that's a library of information and experience.
Allen - thanks for sharing with your manager and team, but the concept is really easy to understand, don't wait for others to hopefully find your Blog or posts, send it out pro-actively, just as you would a farm letter, or a just listed or just sold card. If your Blog has great content, you need to let your SOI and the rest of the world know about it. :-)
Susan - those driving traffic to their Blogs have incorporated this type of marketing and farming. Some take a while to figure it out, but waiting for consumers and google to hopefully find you is not as powerful as sending your posts to target markets for faster and more effective results.
Rita - yeah, where have you been??? :-)
Steve - it's all about target marketing, and with all the tools the Internet provides these days including the ones here on AR for FREE, why wouldn't anyone everyone take advantage of them? hmmm... :-)
The funny thing is, I wrote this post almost exactly a year ago, it's like a dejavu post to me. haha!! :-)
Hi,
I just joined ActiveRain! I was interested in integrating my new blog on my website. Is that possible? how can I do that please?
Thanks!
Michel Bron
Michel - you'd have to create an rss feed or something like that. I don't think just having a link is good enough. It might be better to incorporate some of your website to your Blog? Hmm... :-))
Hi Brad. Thanks for the great tip. I am new to AR and am enjoying learning about all of the great tools here.
Aimee - thanks for the comment, welcome aboard. I know you'll enjoy the site and the people here. :-)