Real estate as an industry has always been driven by innovation, technology and the implementation of cutting edge tools. In the last 25 years the real estate industry, as a result of embracing these technology (faxes, computers, cell phones, wireless), has evolved into a new era of productivity and efficiency. But fasten your seat belts! There's a new kid in town. Real estate blogging is the hottest new multifaceted productivity tools to ever hit our real estate business. If used effectively it is cost effective, a marketing tool for our own image, and a great fluid tool for our clients.

What is blogging? It is an online article, news or diary written by an individual or company to journal whatever topic is chosen as a focus. Blogging allows the author to build a professional image, and successful real estate practice at little or no cost. In these changing times we are in, that can make the difference of survival.

In order to survive changing times in real estate we must re-focus our energy and goals to differentiate ourselves from everyone else. We must be able to distinguish the difference between marketing hype and the effective use of beneficial technology. Those that are successful in the employment of new productive technology tool will be the survivors.

Blogging will probably survive because it is fluid! It feeds the Internet and consumers' insatiable demand for new information. A marketing focus can be changed as quickly as an article can be written and posted on the Internet.

The employment of real estate blogging as an effective real estate tool offers several benefits to the real estate agents and brokers:

1. Personal Marketing: Blogging affords us an opportunity to place our marketing image in front of consumers, both buyers and sellers. It allows the author to build a professional image and successful real estate practice at little or no cost.

2. Increased Service to Clients: The distribution of information on the Internet via real estate blogging assists us in expediting the sale of our real estate products and services.

3. Real Estate Services: Buyer agency, relocation services, listing agents, information, news, local events

Another item to keep in mind, blogging in an real estate industry and consumer focused format is the best possible solution on every level. For that reason activerain.com has become a popular real estate blogging community. ActiveRain is a real estate focused blogging platform -- allowing membership to all associated in the real estate industry and industry related affiliations, which furthers professionalism in a topical forum like manner updated in real time. Members can post reports, listings, and photos. Blog Articles can be focused to member only or consumer at level of General, state, city, and even subdivision.

However, your blog can be posted anywhere -- as long as you are sending your site to prospective clients -- either in your own marketing or on search engines. Many sites, such as blogger.com, offer free blogs. A simple search online will lead you to numerous free sites.

Blogging is a new marketing tool this decade. Getting your name and message out could result in:

• Increased listings -- new and past clients find you more easily on the Internet

• Increased web traffic on your main website

• Increased showings and traffic

• Increase of listing sales

• Agent to agent incoming referral opportunities from increased Internet exposure

Be careful that your blog is full of original content, or content you have permission to use. Simply copying and pasting material -- even when the author or site is sourced -- can sometimes still violate copyright laws. If in doubt, ask the original publication.

Published: August 2, 2007

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Jim Crawford, ABR, e-PRO 500 is currently licensed as a Broker Associate with RE/MAX Paramount Properties in Atlanta Georgia, and as a Broker Associate with Prudential PenFed Realty Fairfax Virginia. Jim and his wife Ellen work as a husband and wife team in the northern Atlanta suburbs, and have recently expanded their web business to Northern Virginia and Maryland. As the team's rainmaker, Jim is a self-taught webmaster and designer, and he relies exclusively on the Internet for marketing. He is considered an expert on marketing, nationwide relocation, cutting edge technology, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for real estate, and Internet marketing. Jim's seminars, online contributions, and technology ideas assist real estate agents to maximize their business results, and raise the industry's professional service level skills. His common sense marketing ideas have been published and quoted regularly in trade publications. He has also consulted and advised NAR offices regarding Internet issues, and Internet ethics for Realtors. In between sales, Jim is a popular speaker at national and regional real estate seminars, REBAR Camps, Blogging seminars and retreats. Jim is a major proponent and advocate of online ethics and the development of social media policies. He is also an online real estate coach, with a self-tutorial coaching site for real estate professionals for webs and Blogging. Jim was a featured speaker at the November 2004 National Association of REALTORS® convention in Orlando, and has spoken at the several REALTORS® conventions both in the United States and Canada. Visit his website at RealEstateTechCoach.com, or e-mail him at .