Reviewing Bloggers for Project Blogger, I've enjoyed seeing the interaction between teacher and apprentice, and the step forward visible in blogs from the previous week. While Project Blogger is a blogging competition, keep in mind that above this goal, Project Blogger is a safe and exciting opportunity to explore who you're about [apprentices] and to invite that personality and uniqueness into your blogs. Judges may only grasp one part of your gig, or be on the watch for certain key components. While I encourage you to venture out into new territory, to explore a new level of transparency as an important means of connecting with your readers, as well as customizing your content to reach your clientele, remember to stay true to the things you are passionate about. Most of all, have fun with it!! Tie blogs to real estate when appropriate, but don't feel compelled to restrict your writing to merely real estate related matters. Readers will connect with you when they see you are a real person. Even above what the judges say, this is about you. Congratulations for being an apprentice. Have fun on the journey!
The Runner Ups:
Kevin Tomlinson and Ardell DellaLoggia
Kevin means business. His dedication to the consumer's best interests is clearly evident in his blog posts. His posts are real estate industry heavy, and exude high attention to detail in client representation. Kevin is clearly his clients' advocate. The pleasant conversational nature of Kevin's posts also give the sensation of interacting with him live. http://activerain.com/blogs/kevincito
Michael & Barbara Daly and Joe Ferrara & Rudy Bachraty
This week Michael and Barbara have switched to a new blogging patform that is very appealing to the eye. Their extensive joint blog features a relaxed mix of posts, from a YouTube video performance of "New York State of Mind" to news tidbits of new listings, market reports, a blog keynoting Sellsius' new "Hot Listings, Cool Tools", and local social developments. Michael and Barbara's posts are concise, informational, and relevant. BeachHamptons
London Whitted and Pat Kitano
London delves into the particulars of commercial lending, displaying a keen understanding of the commercial market. His demeanor is professional and to the point, and excellent match with his target audience. London has a precise vision that he is pursuing, and it comes through cleanly. London does an excellent job establishing rapport. FutureofCommercial
Ines Hegedus-Garcia and Paul Chaney
Ines blog site is heartwarming and comfortable to visit. Ines' attention to detail is evidenced in her recent blog documenting her passion and education in architecture and its application in her work (high relevancy). Ines did a wonderful job documenting her experience blogging this week, while incorporating an ingenious level of usefulness in her posts as well.
Miami Shores Newsletter
Vali Wimberly and Teresa Boardman
Vali's blog site is easy to navigate and graphically appealing. Vali uses pictures successfully to embellish the story shared and draw the reader in. Her blogs are useful and informational. Live Denver
Madison Hildebrand and Dustin Luther
Madison's posts are intelligent, relevant, and profound. While some bloggers are quantity producers, Madison delivers blog posts with greater "oomph" factor and benefits greatly from his group blogging format. From his posts this week, it is evident that 1) Madison delivers from a high level of excellence, and 2) he has defined his niche and is serving it nicely. His approach, while different from the norm and not as real estate heavy, has its merits in consistency for the quality he publishes. This fits in nicely with his target audience, InsideBu
Jackie Colson Miller and Jim Cronin
One thing's for sure: Jackie is a fantastic, engaging writer. She knows her target market and makes no exception catering directly to them. Her blogs are personal, smart, informational and captivating at the same time. Some blogs are enjoyable to read merely because of their caliber; Jackie certainly exceeds this criteria! Her attention to detail shines through. Kudos for the podcast! Real Estate Sizzle
This Week's Top Five:
5) Kelly Kilpatrick and Joel Burslem
Kelly has courageously ventured into new avenues with her first video this week! She has great reach in her posts and really seeks to cater to her community market. Kelly's posts are also exceedingly relevant and personable, conveying a comfortable ease and upbeat manner. I have no doubt from reading her posts that Kelly is delightful to work with and feel strongly that consumers/clients get the same impression. Kelly has accomplished this with her variety of material covered and it's down to earth and captivating nature. Her blog site is easily maneuverable and Kelly's use of pictures affirms that a picture can most certainly tell the story of 1000 words. Rancho Santa Margarita Lifestyles
4) Julie Ferenzi and Jeff Turner
Julie's blog posts are incredibly consumer friendly and inviting. Julie has superb reach in her blog content and strong follow through in sharing her experience on ActiveRain. Her blog site is aesthetically designed and also includes links to personal info (social causes she supports). Julie is exceptional at creating a sense of rapport with the reader. Living in Plainfield
3)Tisza Major-Posner and Drew Meyers
Tisza has excellent reach in her posts and displays an incredible social consciousness. Her personable approach gives you the sensation you are chatting over a cup of coffee. Tisza' environment-friendly leaning is laudible in 1) being an active voice in promoting a better world for eco-stewardship, and 2) connecting with a niche market that is environmentally savvy and desires the same in their realtor. Tisza's blog site, Route66Living, is nicely designed, easy to navigate, and consumer resourceful.
2) Theresa Lussier and Greg Swan
Theresa, aka "Teri" Lussier is delightfully witty and enjoyable to read, while maintaining her professional demeanor. Her go-getter personality shines through and provides consumers with an in to her business style. Teri covers a range of topics with candid forthrightness, and her humor is disarming--which goes a long way to establishing rapport with the readers. TheBrickRanch
1) Mary Pope-Handy and Frances Flynn Thorsen
Mary has fabulous range in her blog posts. She successfully keeps posts relevant to social developments as well as real estate orientation. She is intricately familiar with what clients are looking for and her posts continually give it out. Her blogging approach is well-balanced and covers fields pertinent to her local market. The variety and openness in her posts makes her personable and approachable. Because of her transparency, rapport is established quickly. Mary's quality is consistency high. Her writing style is insightful and entertaining. The graphical design of this team's primary blog could use some work. A graphical header and some refinements in the formatting could improve this blog a lot. http://liveinlosgatos.realtownblogs.com/
Thank you Inman News for co-sponsoring this contest! Please check out their Bloggers Connect Conference where the winners of Project Blogger will be announced.
Hi Paul,
I tried to track down every post from each apprentice and coach during the week. I considered any combination of posts from how ever many blogs each team had.
I love the new name, Miamism!
Judging this competition has been surprisingly difficult for me. The level of work being completed by each of the teams has far exceeded my expectations. After reading and reviewing each team's posts for the week, I just sat and stared at the finalists for hours, yes hours, trying to justify why one team deserves a top ranking over another.
Seven or eight of the teams were head to head on many of the factors of the competition, with the top two or three pulling ahead because they had the most balanced blog orientation. For example some of the competitors did a superb job as a real estate blogger, but could have complemented their writing with the addition of more personal blogs and life sharing as a form of building rapport.
This competition is incredible.
One of the links above is broken: Michael & Barbara Daly and Joe Ferrara & Rudy Bachraty
beachamptons has ONE "H"
www.beachamptons.com
thanks, mike
I can't imagine trying to first keep UP with all the posts and then trying to weigh everything. Thank you for all your hard work on the contest.
Congrats to everyone in this competition. I am sorry that I haven't been able to read everything from everyone. But I do thank those that I have had the chance to read and that I have learned some things from. And good luck for the upcoming week.
Laurie & Michael, Thanks for the help on the Beachamptons blog link! It's fixed now.
Keith, I went into this week of judging planning to critique each blogging team. My plan was to give all kinds of helpful tips and suggestions, but about 3 hours into it I realized that I was only maybe 10% through the weekly blogs, and if I continued at that pace I would NEVER finish. I would love to see some of the guest judges come in throughout the rest of this competition and provide some good constructive feedback, but for my spin of the wheel I chose to focus on what each team did well.
One word...fabulous!
You can make this into a top-selling novel..as done previously by a stockbroker blogger!
I have read everyone else's posts (or tried to read 100% of them). Only they can tell you if the criticisms of theirs is on target or not, but I have to agree with the judges so far in my weak spots.
Hi All,
Jonathan - I have been trying to read everyones postings as they come up, along with writing my own as well. If only reading burned calories I would be about a size four by now. I agree with the positive comments all have expressed about the difficulty of the job and about how well the judges, coaches and apprentices are doing with it.
As for those who really want to see a knock-down, drag-out slugfest, I don't see that happening anytime soon. Sure we all learn when a critique is presented because something needs attention, but we also learn when a compliment is given when things are working well.
This has been a very enlightening, encouraging and validating experience for me both as a participant and as a spectator.
Oh, and Mary I agree with Fran, your blog is not ugly, with your words and thoughts making up its heart and soul, how could it be anything but beautiful?
Take care all, have a wonderful day and help lots of people,
Tisza
trying to follow this contest and can not follow how judging is rated. Can you give me a better understanding of the criteria used to judge the contentants so I can better follow. It is based on personality or performance ?
Best regards, Jeff L.