I can’t say whether or not it’ll make you better at what you do if you blog for fun. But I am starting to see that blogging for business certainly improves your work standards and overall competence. In fact over the years, I’ve found it to be quite a powerful exercise in career-improvement.
I think there is a certain psychology at work within a professional who blogs whereby over time that blogger just ends up being better at what they do. When you blog words need to be chosen carefully, the message needs to be clear and the information has to be trustworthy. In essence blogging can be a method of you honing in on your authenticity. And the only thing that keeps on selling is authenticity combined with competence.
I’ve wondered why this may be the case. I think its because blogging is all about content. An empty mind is void of content. So to be a good blogger you first have to fill that head or obtain that experience. Which means you have to be on a learning binge of some sort. Also you have to bring to mind all those experiences relevant to what are going to blog about. Both these exercises increase your professional competency.
This is why I personally spend a good deal of my time reading other people’s blog posts. I would say that for every blog post I write I will have read three other posts. I’m not saying I will have read it on the same topic I’m writing about but certainly within my area of expertise (mortgages). Over time this makes me a better blogger since my head is constantly being filled with good content I am able to churn out good content. This is certainly good for the online world but, guess what, it’s even better for the off line world as well.I have proof of it too. I find that in talking to mortgage folks who do not blog, I’m much better informed about the real estate market and the latest industry news. For example, I was surprised that many of my colleague were not aware of the rate freeze and the mortgage debt forgiveness act as it unfolded, but only until well after the fact. Imagine a well informed borrower asking you about such a topic as the issues are unfolding? I’d hate to be caught uninformed on such consumer relevant topics just because the main stream press hasn’t picked up on the news.
So, blogging is not just about marketing yourself, it’s also about improving yourself and become better at what you do. In a hyper-competitive profession where the biggest players want to reduce you to a commodity, I’m finding that blogging has become a life line in distinguishing myself from the pack. Both online and off line!
Writer for national real estate opinion column AgentGenius.com, focusing on the improvement of the real estate industry by educating peers about technology, real estate legislation, ethics, practices and brokerage with the end result being that consumers have a better experience.
Mariana
March 6, 2008 at 4:52 pm
What you mention here, is one of my favorite parts of blogging: I am able to learn more about my business AND myself – making me a better person and Realtor(r).
Brian Block
March 6, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Shailesh, I agree wholeheartedly with your post. Blogging for and about business makes you constantly aware of what’s going on in the market and in the industry and keeps you on top of the latest issues. Reading other blogs and participating in the blogosphere helps keep us real estate business bloggers at the forefront of information and changes in sales data, statistics, practices, and news that affects both the way we do business and how we convey that information to better help our clients.
Athol Kay
March 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The old adage is that the teacher learns more than the student. In order to teach a topic you are forced to learn it. In order to write or blog about real estate, mortgage, or whatever, you’re forced into learning more about it.
Plus you bump into hundereds of other highly skilled and smart people when you blog, and you may not always agree, but you do always seem to discover something new.
Missy Caulk
March 6, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Shailesh, your right, do your follow John?
Tyler
March 6, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Being in my first few months of blogging, I can tell you I’ve noticed a difference of my level of market knowledge. I find myself reading and absorbing more and more content for future posts or for joining conversations like this.
Blogging is a great way to push yourself to constantly be educating yourself.
I’m a constant reader of your personal blog and would recommend it to anyone looking for great market news.
Good stuff Shailesh!
Bucking the Real Estate Trend
March 6, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Love your post, as I think about the benefits all the time and know how much I am learning along the blogging trail. Building trust and credibility are much more important to me at this point in my RE career than, say, chasing expires, and I want to be the very best I can be as a blogger, providing fresh, great content. There are some great teachers in the blogging world. Thank you for the great post.
Susie Blackmon
Faina Sechzer
March 6, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Shailesh, I learned more about real estate practice from blogging, then from any other training. There are plenty of local “top producers”, but they are not always sharing:)
Drew Meyers
March 6, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I 100% agree — good post.
jaybird
March 6, 2008 at 9:06 pm
So true….
Blue Ridge Cabin For Sale
March 7, 2008 at 6:37 am
It’s a great experience blogging. You are constantly reminded of all the details of the industry and get perspective on current market and what people are looking for. You hear about other markets and reports and helps you to understand the national picutre. It’s a good thing!
Matt Scoggins
March 7, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Blogging is like continuing education – I wonder if NAR will ever give CE credit for blogging – probably not, but it would be nice.
Shailesh Ghimire
March 7, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Athol,
You hit it on the head. When you have to present something you end up learning more than you ever thought you would.
Missy Caulk,
Did you mean Joel? I don’t understand your question “.. your right, do you follow John?”
Matt,
Interesting thought. I certainly professionals who blog on a regular basis are a cut above the rest.
Craig Schiller
March 8, 2008 at 4:54 am
You are soooooo right on this on. Writing a tight blog translates in to a tight message. When I only have a few seconds to get my ideas out to… I now can get to the point and leave them wanting to know more.
Me
Fort Worth Gal
March 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m starting to somewhat like blogging, I know it must be done. btw, that’s one of my favorite Pastors’s 🙂