Comments on: Neighborhood Sites: Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

By: Ryan Hukill

Ryan Hukill — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:32:40 +0000

Carson, it’s funny, I had some of these same thoughts about a year ago and decided then that it was far too overwhelming to take on individual sites for specific individual communities. Besides that, most folks looking in one community are also looking in others, so why not have all the info in one place in an easy to navigate format for all to see?

I think of it like farming. There’s no way I could effectively farm 20 different neighborhoods, so instead I focus on 3-4 I can manage efficiently and grow from there.

Same concept with neighborhood blogging. Blog hard about 3-4 and add more later if you can handle it.

By: Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:42:30 +0000

Nice thinking–but isn’t it better to specialize in one specific niche? If we’re going to be a “neighborhood” blog, why not be one fairly specific category? A thought.

Oh, and as always, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE IN NORTH AMERICA.

By: Carson Coots

Carson Coots — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:29:32 +0000

Exactly.

As another alternative, I would recommend spending all of that extra effort on using a good mix of social networks to channel the content through… or at least blurbs/feeds that funnel into the main site.

I think the ability to harness feeds by breaking them up and feeding them to specific sites will make maintaining 10 neighborhood sites with limited resources feasible.

Or you can go with the multi-author approach, by teaming up with some local professionals who would mutually benefit with a neighborhood site. But wow, that would require some serious coordination.

By: Benn Rosales

Benn Rosales — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:12:51 +0000

Carson, I am so glad you made this point. Many have asked me why we arent doing what you described and I’ve said basically the same thing.

Also, I would point out that real manage (hoa managment company) here in Austin has already put together neighborhood sites and are marketing it as a service directly to them. It seems more effective to partnership market on these sites and get the same outcome.