Wanted: Apprentice for Project Blogger
By: Drew Meyers, Zillow Business Development Specialist | March 30, 2007
Part of what’s so enjoyable about blogging is helping others. Participating in Project Blogger as a coach is another great way for me to give back to the blogging community. If you aren’t familiar with Project Blogger, I’ll let Jonathan Washburn of Active Rain describe it — "10-15 blogging coaches [will] each train a real estate blogging apprentice
of their choice. Over the course of about 4 months, the blogging
coaches will aim to develop the most successful real estate blogger
they can."
On behalf of the Zillow Blog team, I’ll be lending some of my time to help a blogging newbie learn to use a blog as a lead
generation tool in their local market. I’m looking for an apprentice. If you’re interested in receiving some blogging guidance to increase your business, leave a comment (either here or on my post on Active Rain). I’ll be selecting my apprentice by the end of next week!
Update: Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in being my apprentice. I’ve finally made my selection — Tisza Major-Posner from Claremont, CA. Head on over to my Active Rain post to find out the details!
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Zillow
Comments
14 Comments so far
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Bob Connors on March 30, 2007 7:51 pm
As your Apprentice I will expect your comb-over to be in tip top shape at all times.
We’ll also need to come up with a catch phrase for you. “You’re Blogged!” Or, “Blog off!” have a nice ring to them.
You’ll have the opportunity to shape my company’s fledgling blog (just a few days old) from its infancy. You can check it out at http://www.realasave.com/blog/
Christina Ethridge on March 30, 2007 7:53 pm
Drew - Just wanted to let you know I left you a comment on your Active Rain Blog about potentially being your ‘apprentice’. Thanks for considering me!
Christina
Debbie Ferrari on March 31, 2007 12:18 pm
I was picked as one of Donald Trump’s 100 top real estate advisors in his new best selling real estate book. See: http://www.debbieferrari.com/DonaldTrumpBestRealEstateAdvice/index.html
My husband, Bill, and I started my blog about a month ago and have posted some 40 times. My blog of http://blog.DebbieFerrari.com is in my site and our hope is that it will make my site come up higher.
My site at http://www.DebbieFerrari.com used to be #1 on BOTH Yahoo and Google for almost ALL of the best real estate search terms (example: search for “san clemente real estate”) but now the bigger directories have eclipsed me and now I want either my site or new blog to go back to being #1 on Google, Yahoo, AOL and MSN as it once was back several years ago. I have had my web site since 1997 and am soooo eager to learn now how to blog well as a means to getting more home buyers. Currently, 95% of my sales come from buyers I get from my site. See more on me at: http://www.debbieferrari.com/deb.html
Debbie Ferrari
Tisza Major-Posner on March 31, 2007 10:39 pm
Hello Drew,
It was suggested that I toss my hat into this ring as well, so here it is.
I must admit, that until just a few minutes ago I had only a cursory understanding of who Zillow was and what it could do.
Sure, I knew that it offered “Zestimates”. With all the news coverage Zillow.com has received, I would have needed to live under a rock (which I now know I can claim on the site as my very own) to have missed that.
What I didn’t know was everything else it offers. I hear the grumbling about values being “way off” but I think folks are really missing the point. Accuracy of the information is not what is most important here, access is.
No one, no matter how skilled, seasoned or experienced they may be, can tell you for absolute certain what a home is truly worth until someone buys it. Bottom line.
Having a site where the general homebuying public can peek behind the curtain, if you will, to see where and how value on their home, or the one they dream of is determined, and an approximation of what that value is, can only make things better in the long run for us all.
I also did not know until mere moments ago, that everything was offered for free, gratis, bupkis, nada, zip, zilch, well, you get the point.
The chance to offer my clients additional exposure for their homes on such a widely trafficked site is worth its weight in unobtainium.
I am being given the chance to place the ultimate newspaper ad in a place that I can guarantee will be seen and read and I can do it all for the cost of a few clicks of my keyboard. Amazing!
I must say, if I get nothing else from this Project Blogger experience, I have already received more valuable parting gifts than I ever did when I was trying to become Miss America (seriously).
Take care, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!
Tisza Major-Posner, Realtor, Keller Williams Profesional Group, Claremont/La Verne, California
Brande Bradford on April 1, 2007 6:15 am
Hi Drew,
I use Zillow, and obviously need to look at it a lot closer. I didnt realize there was a blog going on.
Being new to the blog world, has opened my eyes tremeendously to the power a “blog” has to offer.
I have been searching and looking for the right place to start a blog and how to break loose into the blogshephere.
I threw in my hat over on Active Rain, and please consider it done here as well.
I look forward to being chosen. If chosen be ready to be at the top of the competition. For 14 weeks, its do or die in the blog world. I am a survivor, I dont like to lose
G. Scott Stanglin on April 1, 2007 5:21 pm
If you would be interested in a real estate blog project that will be different than the rest, please read my email titled APPRENTICESHIP.
Philip Ganz on April 2, 2007 8:27 am
Aanother great real estate blogging site is landbrokr.com. It makes real estate blogging easy.
Christoph Schweiger on April 2, 2007 12:28 pm
Drew, with me as your apprentice, I believe we can show the world of Active Rain how a pro can mold a novice into a noteworthy blogger. I have been blogging for about three months, and have had some nice comments and a couple of stars, but I often feel that I’m not quite hitting the target. Desire and commitment will take me a long way, but your coaching will be the difference between just another blog and well-crafted articles that generate leads, attention and new business.
My background growing up in Austria gives me a unique perspective – I tend to see things a bit differently, and I think that’s an advantage. What I need is guidance from someone who is an expert in successful marketing in today’s interconnected world. My interest in both historic homes and cool architecture in the Phoenix area could be a basis for the brand-building that I know is important to help me stand out.
Apprenticeship – learning from a master - is an old-world concept that I appreciate. Learning to communicate in new and more effective ways is an essential part of this business, and I’m asking for the chance to learn from a coach with your expertise. I’m eager and ready to invest my time, resources and determination to make you proud, and to make me a better blogger.
Herb Hamilton on April 2, 2007 12:28 pm
Drew,
It has been a Wild & Wooly Weekend ( Looks like a great title to a future Post ) For the Fixer market in Portland. Subsequently I did not have as many minutes left in the day as I had hoped to follow the Comments on your invitation in AR for Project Blogger.
Lots of great suggestions and candidates. One Clear choice shines through the Shrowded Mist ( another good title).
Let’s Kick Butt.
Herb Hamilton ( I bought a new domain over the weekend so I would have something new for the Dance )
Intrigued ?
Eileen Forster on April 3, 2007 12:58 am
Hello Drew,
Been looking through the Blog Archive tonight. I am completely drawn into the work Zillow is doing for the Real Estate Industry. As a total newbie, I just took and passed the test for a Real Estate license a week ago.
Last December I found this site, posted our house on Make Me Move and have watched as the company continues to bloom. My favorite blogs included the charts, like the heat maps, (so as to know where to get the best candy on Halloween) and the ones about the House Math. The data IS the thing. As time goes on will we see a shift in the posting numbers - agents 70%, by-owners 30%?
Tomorrow I’ll post on Active Rain and share a profile. I aspire to work for Zillow and my goal in this project would be to train up and combine my education in Journalism and English with the newfound love of Real Estate to become useful for your company.
P.S. I also really want one of those T Shirts with the green and blue “Z House.”
Thanks
Eileen Forster
Vince Kelly on April 13, 2007 1:30 pm
If you have not selected an apprentice for the blogging I would like to be considered. I am looking for systems to employ to create successes for my company and its agents to succeed in the modern marketplace. I am hungry to succeed and you will have someone with a history of successes that is dedicated to putting your expertise to work to create results. I look forward to it.
Drew Meyers from Zillow on April 13, 2007 4:46 pm
Sorry Trevor, I already have one picked out - feel free to follow along over at Active Rain and you’ll see all sorts of great advice from a number of coaches (http://activerain.com/groups/projectblogger)
forum on May 21, 2007 3:28 pm
If you would be interested in a real estate blog project that will be different than the rest, please read my email titled APPRENTICESHIP.
OCStandard on April 1, 2008 4:58 pm
I would love to start a blog at our upcoming site OCHomeFinder.org. Any suggestions??