I have always enjoyed writing. Those who read my posts know that I go on about assorted topics from home inspection to Bellingham news to national events such as aggressive Somalian pirates. Many people follow my series of histories, or tidbits, about rock and country music.
If one likes to write, and do research, blogging is easy. But, it still takes time. A while back, I discovered that the effort I put into blogging today can save me time tomorrow and down the road. Case in point below.
In the past week I wrote three posts here in the rain that described common, and relatively minor but pesky, problems that are found at home inspections. Once those posts are active here at Active Rain, I copy the URL's to those posts into my master report writing template.
Boy, does that save me time later. The language below is text taken from my last three home inspections. By being able to link to Active Rain, to fully describe a concern and it's cure, I am in a position to save on a whole lot of monotonous typing at the keyboard.
Example 1 -- The hose bibb, north end of the home, leaked at the valve stem during a standard water pressure test. This test puts back pressure on the faucet. For additional information on this common issue, please follow the link below:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041188/Bellingham-Home-Inspector-King-of-the-House-My-Leaking-Hose-Bibb
Example 2 -- The downspout at the carport does not have an extension, so it empties next to the structure. Uncontrolled run-off water is defined by the State of Washington as a conducive condition that can lead to attracting wood destroying organisms. For further information on this topic, and a recommendation for solving the problem, please follow the link below.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041181/Bellingham-Home-Inspector-King-of-the-House-Downspout-Extensions
Example 3 -- The receptacle outside at the S/W corner of the house requires a waterproof "in-service" cover. Presently, since the cover is open all of the time, rain can enter and damage the GFCI receptacle. For additional information on correcting this condition, please visit.
Thanks Active Rain! The nicest thing about this method of reporting, and using one's blog, is that it saves time and it enhances the prestige of the author. When clients are sent to a detailed article on a topic that comes up on their report, they are impressed that the professional they hired writes well and is respected within the industry.
This shortcut, that actually enhances the report writing process, works great at my inspection firm and I know the same practice works for realtors and others in the industry who blog and write.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
Great information, I really like the look of it and as you said, it enhances the credibility of the author. Good post.
Suzanne,
I am totally sold on this as a big benefit of blogging. I used to get so tired of posting the some infomation over and over. This also allows me to store photos. In fact, if I want someone to see a photo, but not the whole blog, I can just click properties and get that photo link and put that in there too. AR is great.
I am sold too! I just need to master it and finding something to write about is easy, but finding what someone wants to hear about is hard!
Nanette,
Check out some of the groups. You can get ideas there. Just about anything is fair game at Active Rain.
Hey that is a really good idea! Now I just need to get busy and write something that would be of benefit to my buyer or seller...
Funny - I was just thinking the same thing in the last few weeks as I notice myself more and more sending out links to my library of blog posts about various topics - great to have it all written down, isn't it?
It's amazing how many of our activities as Realtors can be used as fodder for AR blogs, Facebook, and targeting special interest groups. Just writing this comment has me perking on a couple of ideas, and someone to invite to AR. I'll be sure to include a link to your blog.
Steven, I like your format of putting in the links. It is much more efficient for your blog post.
Congratulations on the feature! It's a great post.....as always.
Thanks for a great idea. I am haven't been writing a blog for long but I am learning ever day and it is thanks to Active Rain.
Thanks for the comments. Hope it is useful info.
Steven: This is great and YES a way to save lots of time. Also it gets placed on the net for anyone who may be searching the correct key words can find it as well.
Roland,
Yes, many of my past blogs have been found online too.
I continue to believe that practical real world (meaning offline) marketing of one's blog is the most overlooked way to make your blog successful.That's what you are doing here, marketing your blog to existing clients as a way to demonstrate your expertise......brilliant!!
Stephen, you are no doubt systematically chronicling every aspect of your home inspection business so that it is there for you to pull out at any time. This is precisely what people should be considering as they blog. How can I use the next post I write in my every day prospecting activities as well as how can I use it to educate my EXISTING clients.
Well done sir!!
Stephen, You are indeed a great writer and are leveraging your blog very wisely
I totally get what you're saying and have pointed consumers to some of my posts as well - a real time saver for sure, and hopefully they keep on reading and coming back for more.
I agree with Gary that putting in the links is more efficient.
Thanks for the tip....
Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate
Steve, so true----I have been finding the same sort of stuff happening.
Bob,
Sometimes I do feel like my blog, viewed over time, chronicles many of my intersts and life experiences.
Barbara,
Thanks for the compliment. I apprecaite your checking my blogs. Nutsy does too.
Michael,
I appreciate that coming from the king of localism in my community.
Charlie,
You look like a groundhog in the photo.
Thanks to all who commented.
I often find myself referring people to my blog for more information about things I have previously written about. It is a great tool to save time.
Hi Steven -- Your writing is exceptional and very stimulating to read!
Lane,
It seems obvious that using blogs in reports would make sense but it was like one night it just came to me. It is like recycling. Sometimes I will say to myself that something is common, get a good photo and decide to go with it.
Chris,
Thanks, glad it is appealing to you.
I don't think there are a lot of ways to build "equity" in a business, but blogging is certainly one of them. It continues to work for you long after you have written it.
Mark,
That is a good point you made there.
Steven, you're building a library with every post. Just now, I am able to incorporate links to older blogs in my newer posts. It's GREAT! And leveraging them offline is a fantastic idea. Thanks! And I agree with Mark. After a couple of years, you can slow down on writing and still have the leads coming in.
Great Post, Great Feature, have fun with it.
Good Luck to you in 2009
Karina
Incorporating links into posts will provide more SEO...I think.
I like how it melds together. More blogs make for easier report writing and it all leads to more visiblitly and SEO.
I've been sending clients and prospective clients to several of my posts over the last few months. It works well.
Christine,
Yes, it helps make all the work worthwhile.
Hi Steve,
great post. I have also just started to direct potential clients to my blog posts. Talk about the power of the rain!
Great post Steve! I agree. I have never used the verbiage for my reporting - great idea! I do use some of my AR posts on my website blog link. That improves my SEO.
Tony,
My assistant primed you well in the methods of the communication era.
Jay,
If you start doing this it will, also, allow you blog fodder. You think to yourself, hmmmm, I see that all the time and get tired of explaining what to do. Do a nice blog with photos. By the way, I also link to a few of Charlie's blogs.
Ryan,
Wow, and I thought I was just a guy blogging.
Now this is really great. You are a smart guy to have made it so simple. And I like Ryan's ideas as well. I haven't done much sytemitizing or asset managing offline but I sure will begin to do so. Again, a real eye opener for me. Thanks!
Great information - thanks for sharing the ideas.
I provide people a link to my out side blog for market reports etc. I also advise them to subscribe at the same time.
Thee are just so many ways to use blogging.
Great post Steven and congrats on getting featured. I read your stuff all the time.
I think that it also help with SEO, not that I know. Help buyers/sellers solve their problems based on inspections you've done. What kind of software to you use to blog? NVu, etc?
Jeff,
Thanks.
Lyn,
I am not very sophisticated....I just write right in active rain, then go in and change the font with the html option.
Steven, Your point is exactly why I starting writing articles, then blogging. In addition to eliminating the time to re-write material, I believe you also gain a degree of credibility as a published author.
Steven, good point. I had a consumer contact me today wanting to find local parks in the area. I will be able to easily link him to a blog post I wrote about this very thing!
Great idea, I could have just used one of my blogs to explain a problem in a recent report. I will be doing that in the future.
Glad that this information is useful. The other think I like about linking to my own blog is I know it is there. Linking to various online stuff is frustrating. Even government sites move something and the link dies.
Thank you for this good post. I love your license plate and the name of your company. Keep your great posts coming.