Fake News vs. Fake Blogs

“Those who know, don’t talk; those who talk, don’t know.”

–Wall Street saying.

“Those who sell, don’t blog; those who blog, don’t sell.”

–Real estate corollary.

Yeah, yeah, I know the knock on Realtor-bloggers (Exhibit A: yours truly): they — we –don’t actually sell real estate (or at least, not very much).

I don’t know about other Realtor-bloggers, but I have 9 Edina Realty “Circle” awards — and 12 consecutive selections as a Mpls. St. Paul Magazine “Super Real Estate Agent” — that say otherwise.

So, what’s the knock on the vast majority of Realtors who clearly sell lots of homes, and also purport to blog?

They don’t really blog.

Realtor Blogs . . . that Really Aren’t (Blogs)

At least in my experience, there are two variations of what I’ll call “non-blog” blogs:

One. Syndicated content.

Somebody actually writes the posts that appear on the blog — just not the Realtor.

Rather, the Realtor pays a monthly fee to license generic, “canned” posts that they pass off as their own.

Nothing illegal or even unethical about it — just not what most people (OK, me) would consider a real blog.

Two. “Non-post” posts.

Instead of written pieces (“posts”) on various real estate-related topics, the so-called blogger simply showcases their transactions, both listings and closed sales (where they represented the Buyer).

No opinion, consistent point-of-view, or any real writing to speak of — just the marketing verbiage and home photos accompanying the property, often literally cut-and-pasted from MLS.

Bottom line?

My sense is that less than 10% of Realtor blogs (including the ones that invariably show up on lists of “Best Realtor Blogs”), really are.

Even then, the vast majority feature as much original content in a year as this blog does in a week . . .

See also, “Real vs. Faux Blogs: The Difference Between “Blogging” and “HAVING a Blog“; 2019 “Super Real Estate Agent” Nominees Announced“; and “The Best Realtor Blog in the U.S.?* You’re Reading It!!

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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