Simple Question, Great Answers!

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Yesterday’s post wasn’t much of a mystery.  I really just meant what I said: the blog is getting boring and needs a facelift.  My initial position was that more in-depth numbers were the answer. The challenge is that I don’t have time to do the work, which means I need to pay someone else, and that costs money, hence the solicitation of opinions on cost recovery solutions.

They say a good lawyer doesn’t ask a question unless he already knows the answer, and to a certain extent that applies here.  I’m not surprised that few people want to pay for access to the site, nor am I surprised that many people would put up with ads. 

They also say don’t ask a question unless you want to hear the answer.  In this case I heard a few things I didn’t expect, and I’m so really glad that I asked the question.  There are lots of good suggestions about how to improve the blog.

What does surprise me is how some people construed the sentiment that “The blog is stale and needs a facelift” with “I’m tired, not having fun and want to throw in the towel”.   Sometimes there isn’t a hidden agenda. Sometimes the question isn’t in code.  Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.    I do appreciate the concern.  I also think its an object lesson in the way communication is filtered.   We all see things from our own perspectives.  For some, the solution to this blog’s challenges is to shut it down.  I have to ask everyone to put themselves in my shoes for a minute, though:  What kind of a Realtor would I be if I adopted that solution? I tell people that real estate is a great career if you like dealing with people and like solving problems.  If you apply that thinking to this blog is clear that shutting it down isn’t a real option.  There has to be (and frankly, there is) another solution.

I appreciate the business advice as well.  Blogging is new marketing tool, and the rules are still in flux.  There are many who argue that blogs will not generate business, but I can testify that I have actually made a few deposits in the bank that can be directly traced to the blog.  The amounts don’t justfy the time spent on it, but for the time being the combination of income and fun are rewarding enough (its no surprise that I like to argue, and from time to time there is some good give and take here).  That said, its a bad businessman who doesn’t consider his costs. It was a question that had to be asked. Besides, who wants a Realtor who shirks from challenges, doesn’t want to compete and can’t count money?

 Thanks for the input.  Changes are coming, but I’m not going anywhere.  Have patience. My “geek  tendency” (as one emailer called it) is low - new technology and software is a challenge at times.

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