Today I am going to break with tradition and put a kitty cat on my blog instead of a dog. Everyone knows that I don’t follow the unwritten rules. . . . OK I don’t follow the written ones either. I have been watching the re-net grow and evolve over the past few years. There are many more real estate blogs than there were when I started. In the last couple of years we have seen a growth in multiple author blogs like this one.
As I watch agent genius grow I have decided that this blog has an advantage over some of the competing blogs. Yes, as industry blogs we are competing with each other. No one has time to read them all and so some will not get read. The advantage Agent Genius has is that blogs are social. The writers of this blog are all members of several social networks. Not just members but participants in multiple social networks. Not just participants who spew content for SEO, but contributors who add value.Between us I suspect that we know most of the re-bloggers out there and even have some kind of a relationship with them. We strive to get along with others, to network and to add value.
When we write controversial posts on this blog we manage to do so without attacking anyone. Blogs are about more than good writing or sharing ideas. We need to write for our readers and talk to them, not at them, and be respectful to all commenter’s.
Social interaction, on and off of the blog helps us do that. We stay in touch with each other and share ideas and those ideas become posts. Conversational type posts instead of great walls of words. When people leave comments here even if the comments contradict the post they are treated with the same respect as the kind comments are.
Blogs are social and I think social bloggers, who respect others have the advantage.
Full time REALTOR and licensed broker with Saint Paul Home Realty Realty in St. Paul, Minnesota. Author of StPaulRealEstateBlog.com, Columnist for Inman News and an avid photographer.

Cyndee Haydon
February 18, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Teresa – I think you hit the nail on the head! What keeps me coming back to this site – it’s the people – I enjoy them and their writing and that they attack ideas and not people.
Cheryl Allin
February 18, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Wonderful post! I feel lucky as a VA that I get to ‘hang out’ with so many brilliant folks and cure my isolation at the same time. I’m inspired daily to grow and gain increased knowledge and hope my own contributions help my new friends.
Ines
February 18, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I totally agree! ….and goes back to RESPECT
Benn Rosales
February 18, 2008 at 1:32 pm
@Cyndee & Cheryl I think it is we who’re the lucky ones to have you.
Jeremy Hart
February 18, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Thank you Teresa!
Larry Yatkowsky
February 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Daniel’s post over at the Zebra compliments your thoughts.
Your combined posts are I think, a great foundation for the process.
Teresa Boardman
February 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm
🙂
Daniel Rothamel
February 18, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Advantage– Teresa.
Bob Carney
February 18, 2008 at 1:51 pm
415 Ft = Homerun (preparing for the baseball season)
Chris Lengquist
February 18, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I just don’t deal well with drama fo drama’s sake.
Andy Kaufman
February 18, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Good one T.
I agree. Rules are for suckers.
There’s a new breed of positive, constructive Social Real Estate practitioners that is beginning to emerge and it’s exciting to be a part of it.
Laura Monroe
February 18, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I definitely see the dynamics of the “cream of the crop” bloggers taking a nice effect. Its such a breath of fresh air!
I agree with Andy Kaufman: “There’s a new breed of positive, constructive Social Real Estate practitioners that is beginning to emerge and it’s exciting to be a part of it. DITTO! Thanks Teresa!
Teresa Boardman
February 18, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Cat;s name is Tiger, she sleeps on my lap or on my desk. She is an office cat and a blogger too.