Comments on: Bring The Blog [Product Review]

By: The Harriman Team

The Harriman Team — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:28:45 +0000

Just took another look at BTB and it appears that the cost has risen from $400/yr back when Paula commented about it on 6/23/08 to $57/month ($684/yr) now. Also, if you look in Lani’s example blog in the post above (and also in BTB’s demo blog), it says, “To be notified when I write something new, sign up for daily email alerts or subscribe to the feed.” Doesn’t the “I” imply to the reader that YOU are the one actually writing the articles? I think it would to any reasonable person. And in the demo blog I saw no mention of the blogger NOT being the one who wrote the post or any attribution to the actual author. Or did I miss something (which is totally possible)?

By: Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:39:09 +0000

I just heard about this at Family Reunion from a friend, who supplements when she is busy but adds her voice to it.

I have always been against this type of stuff, but as time has gotten away from me, I am considering.

I like Todd’s comment it is for our readers and can be supplemented.

By: BawldGuy Talking

BawldGuy Talking — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:15:51 +0000

Uh, HELLLOOOO out there. Thank you. Blah Blah Blah.

Does BTB produce results ending with a smile on your bankers ugly puss? Keep usin’ it. I strongly suspect most BTB users are indeed seeing re$sult$.

The rest is the same talk we hear when the subject of the DH comes up in the baseball crowd. Use it — don’t use it. If you’re not bankin’ more because of it, then don’t do it.

By: What Feeds Your Blog?

What Feeds Your Blog? — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:01:20 +0000

[...] Anglin-Rosales, the Queen of Social Media recently wrote a product review on AgentGenius about an interesting service called Bring the Blog which provides pre-written [...]

By: Robert D. Ashby

Robert D. Ashby — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:33:13 +0000

Wow, interesting debate that I have been missing. First off, Dan Green is a great guy and has great material, so BTB is a product I would look at if I decide to venture that way, which I might seeing as my time is getting rather “lost”.

That being said, I still feel that blogging is best when it is an extension of yourself, as if you were talking with your clients (or prospects) face to face, or at least close to it. I do think that you can still receive content from a source like and personalize it, so long as you understand the subject. How woul dit feel if a prospect or client called you up to discuss something on your blog and you knew very little about it?

My preference is to do my own thing, covering topics that are on my mind at the time, especially about what is going on in the mortgage market regarding rates. As my free time dwindles, though, I can see the potential value of BTB and may even look to join myself simply to maximize my time to more immediately profitable functions.

Dan broke down the cost to $1.53 per post. That is very reasonable. Even if it cost $400 and you only used one post all year on your blog, but that one got you one deal, it definitely paid for itself. Also, look at it this way. If it saves you 10 minutes (or more) per day on your blogging, isn’t $1.53 worth it? If you think not, then you expect to make less than $9.13 per hour and maybe you shouldn’t be in this business. (Yes, I am a numbers guy).

By: Barry Cunningham

Barry Cunningham — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:10:29 +0000

Bill..I think it’s the “we” thing that gets me. I can only wonder what kind of industry it would be if most of the agents out there followed your prescribed walk. It would indeed be heaven..now where’s that post!

By: Bob in San Diego

Bob in San Diego — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:50:11 +0000

Open up your hometown newspaper this morning and take notice of how many articles came from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Thompson Newswire.

The reason you can do that is because the source is properly attributed. You can’t compare this to a news wire if you allow everyone to take credit.

If people pay $400 and use most of the 260 to get their money’s worth, the weaker sites will have dupe content issues. Other agents will just rip it off, NAR membership or not.

By: Bill Lublin

Bill Lublin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:36:07 +0000

@Barry – Thanks for the Nod at my practices, and I understand your point about “we”, but I really believe that most people do try to do the right thing – TRUMPETS PLEASE – This is the closest we’ve come to agreeing here – (though you wrote a post about Investing that I read on BHB and after reading it- I was going write another post entitled “OMG I totally agree with Barry Cunningham”)

Matthew – I agree with your point, and would even go further to make it – (because of something I didn’t think through when I wrote earlier) Agents have for many years bought newspaper services and article services (in print and electronically that they have put their by-line on with no Article 12 issue – So I’m going to back up from that position and agree with you. I think I got too caught up in the pride of authorship (if such a thing exists) and would (for myself) want to differentiate between the BTB stuff and my own poor offerings. But saying that, I really like the BTB product, and thanks Lani for bringing it into the spotlight here.

By: Matthew Rathbun

Matthew Rathbun — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:13:28 +0000

So…. If I order recipe cards and send them out on a regular basis, is it an article 12 violation if I don’t say that I’m not a chef and someone else wrote the recipes? Do I need to disclose that I didn’t design the Century21 logo, when I use it on a Yard Sign? I suppose I don’t agree that it’s a marketing violation, since most marketing is bought off a shelf and stamped and mailed by agents. There is no intentional desire to deceive a consumer here. The way that I saw the system was that the agent would still need to decide what gets posted and what doesn’t. So, in totality of the blog and posts, it’s still what the agent decided to create their message with.

The Code of Ethics is obviously a good tool, as many states (to include Virginia) tend to adopt a version of the Code a year or two after NAR has set them forth. It’s like any other type of rule or regulation – it’s only as good as the people who file the complaints. There are some cases in which the Code holds the agent to a hirer standard. For instance in Virginia a Listing Agent is only required to present expressed (written) offers; but verbal offers they do not. The Code requires all offers to be presented…. The courts will hold the agent to the hire standard, if the agent was hired by the seller and expected the hire standard. Unfortunately in both the Code and the law the consumer hasn’t much of a clue as to what is required of the agent.

Either way, you all can keep arguing the same points over and over, I can drop in to just about any post on AG and find Barry sparring the same issue over and over again. I just decided to jump in here, because I don’t agree with either arguments…

By: Barry Cunningham

Barry Cunningham — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:57:00 +0000

Bill you seriously crack me up with the chest thumpin..not going to hijack someone’s thread but the NAR stuff you try to promote is laughable. Don’t worry..not going to get into it with you. It’s just funny at this point. You wrote ” part of the way we do business every day”…really???

How about this, I’ll concede that YOU may do business ethically everyday, if you stop using the word “we” to include all agents which in its statement and implcation is completely and utterly preposterous.

Lani’s got a good thread going here, not looking to hijack and waste time dancing with you.