All The Greatest Blogs
Article originally published on August 30, 2008
Recently, SEOMoz analyzed the Internet’s top blogs and revealed some nuggets of information that we can learn from. He went so far as to create many, many attractive graphs, a few of which are seen below. Check out how he compiled his information:
“Unlike traditional top blog lists, I did not seek to place blogs in order of perceived importance. Instead, I combined public lists of top blogs ordered by the amount of inlinks (Technorati), amount of community subscriptions (Bloglines), ability to start and follow trends (BlogPulse), and the ability to thrive in foreign markets (Wikio). I then weighed each individual blog against its all encompassing internet performance using SEOmoz’s Trifecta Tool. The result is a list of blogs that have proven to be powerful in all aspects of Internet success.”
Topics of the Successful Blogs
We’ve long said that there’s plenty of room in the blogging pond and SEOMoz’s research proves it. Just look at the graph below regarding the subject matter of the most successful blogs… do you see anything about real estate? Me neither. If you’re considering blogging but are scared there are already too many bloggers, keep the visual of the following graph in mind and remember that there is ample room for greatness, the road is NOT blocked!
Blog URLs, Man!
There are a LOT of real estate blogs with tediously long titles… we can’t help it can we? It has to say “BoiseIdahoColdwellBankerRealEstateTeamAwesomeSpecializingInLuxuryRealEstateRealtors.com” right? Sure, but if you’re thinking in the vein of successful blogs as a whole, it appears that the top sites have extremely simple one or two words in their URL. We all want to the URL to be snazzy and descriptive, but the research reminds us above all, it should be memorable and God knows that our brains hold so much that keeping it simple is the best method in modern times.
The Takeaway
On your road to greatness, remember:
- Blogging is young, there is still room at the top for Real Estate.
- URLs with fewer words currently reign.
Mariana
August 30, 2008 at 7:19 pm
The pie charts are sexy. The information is delicious. The fact that “real estate” wasn’t even IN the research is awesome.
Vicki Moore
September 1, 2008 at 2:04 am
Can we rename real estate to something shorter?
Glenn fm Naples
September 1, 2008 at 6:40 am
Does anyone wonder why Technology leads the pack?
BawldGuy
June 14, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Hey Lani — Allow me to combine my penchant for smart-ass with a Socratic question.
How would you, or most folks in real estate define a ‘powerful’ blog?
Andrew McKay
June 14, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Succinctly asked what I was thinking BG. I would presume maybe wrongly that most agents want to hit page 1 of Google with relevant local/real estate searches. This may not equate to huge numbers of readers or comments but should equal business. When I check Google Analytics I put a lot more store in a few number of relevant searchers who read a few pages than days with many more visitors who click in and out. Stating the obvious I know but I wonder if there are agents who worry more about quantity than quality; yes there is a size joke there waiting to blossom.
Lani Rosales
June 14, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Jeff, Andrew, at this point if you don’t have a blog that’s dead, stale and not updated since 2007, you’re ahead of the pack. In my opinion though, to answer your question, a “powerful” blog is one that converts. Period. If you’re an agent in a market that one side per month feeds the family, then if your blog converts one client per month, it’s powerful. If you’re an agent that needs 200 sides per year to stay in business, then a “powerful” blog is one that produces at least half of those leads.
Honestly, it’s purely subjective but my personal opinion is that a powerful blog doesn’t capture the hearts of fellow agents and collects THEIR comments, but is one that converts despite traffic or comments.
Andrew Mckay
June 14, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Nicely put Lani. I know my blog gives me credibility both with people who know me and those that find me through Google etc. I’m repeating myself but new to the industry in 2008 and new to the town and country in 2007; the blog was a way to kick start the belief/perception of me having a certain expertise etc
BawldGuy
June 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Couldn’t have put it better.
Miami Condo Shop
June 15, 2010 at 7:43 am
Great article. Very useful tips specially the Blog Title Conventions. I’ve read a couple of Lani’s other articles and they ‘re all highly informative. Keep up the good work! As for me it doesn’t really matter whether the road to blog greatness is blocked or not. If you have the skills and the proper tools, then by all means share it with world. If one is really good, surely people will take notice sooner or later…