I'm going to have to disagree with you here, Andrew. Hiring a blogger is a great idea. It doesn't even need to be a ghost blogger. Advertise that it actually isn't you writing the blog.

If you're a Real Estate Agent that wants to have some constant information flow coming out of your site and you don't have the time to do it yourself, hiring a blogger to do it for you is the perfect solution.

This is only half true. Blogs can also be a viable source of information. The fact that blogs usually rank better than websites is a good way to get more area/event information out through your site. And if it is simply area/event information that you would be posting, it doesn't really matter who posts it. I would be more than happy, hiring a blogger to post such information for me.

Now, this is from a business perspective. If you're hiring a ghost writer to blog on your PERSONAL site, posing as you, writing opinionated posts, THAT'S a big ridiculous. General Information? I say go ahead.. Hire someone

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Nicholas May
Creative Linking Team
Real Estate Webmasters
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Featured Blog Post:REW's Crazy Hat Day!

Blogging doesn't have to be difficult. It can be alot of fun, but there is still intimidation for many agents. I can recommend a great blogger who will get to know the client and have the posts approved before they are scheduled to launch. She charges $.50 per word and does a great job. This is a screaming deal and I use her services for most of our copywriting.

I don't see that ghost writing is a problem. Many companies hire full-time bloggers to keep them active in the search engines. As long as the copywriter is good at what they do, and they understand keywords without stuffing, there is no reason not to hire outside help.

PM me if you want her name.

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Cherie Young
Online Marketing Strategies
www.CherieYoung.com
www.SanDiegoGoingGreen.com
Green homes and condos in San Diego.

Wow, $0.50 a word. I think I am in the wrong business! A 100 word post doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort and that would net me 50 bucks.

I had no idea copyrighting was so expensive. If .50/word is a screaming deal, what is a typical rate Cherie?

The problem I have with ghost writing is people tend to assume it's the agent writing the post. Unless the copywriter can write in the agent's "voice" then that benefit (which is huge) of blogging is lost.

Now if it's disclosed up front, that is different. But a ghost post under your name could be misleading.

120 words in this post -- $60 bucks. That could get expensive REALLY fast!!

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Jay Thompson
web: ThompsonsRealty.com
blog: PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

A good copywriter is worth their weight in gold. I have tried going cheap and $.50 per word is a good deal. If you are writing your own posts, then of course, it would seem expensive. But many agents don't have the time or want to blog, and are happy to have someone help them out.

A qualified real estate copywriter will charge per project. You can expect to pay at least $250 per article, depending on the scope of work.

I don't think that people care whether the agent or someone else is helping with the copy. The blogger is talking about current issues, events and the good ones get to know their client likes and dislikes.

Nice to see that you are using the RSS from Diverse Solutions. They are one of my favorite IDX providers.

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Cherie Young
Online Marketing Strategies
www.CherieYoung.com
www.SanDiegoGoingGreen.com
Green homes and condos in San Diego.

Thanks Cherie.

Wish I'd paid more attention in all those English classes, I might could have given up my day job to be a copywriter. $250 a pop could add up if you wanted to have say 3 - 4 posts a week.

There's no question that blogging isn't for everyone. I know many people would rather poke a stick in their eye than sit down and write anything, much less a post that makes sense and reads well -- and do that every day.

I am *loving* the DS IDX solution. I'm just glad that the Phoenix MLS finally got out of the 1980s and started opening up to 3rd party providers.

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Jay Thompson
web: ThompsonsRealty.com
blog: PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com