About

I’ve been a Realtor since 2004, and in my first year I did the traditional things new agents do: I told everyone I knew that I was in business, volunteered for floor time hoping for hot calls, door-knocked, and developed a custom website.

I designed my website with the idea that if I were moving to Reno, NV, and didn’t know a thing about it, what would I want to see? So I displayed pictures with neighborhood information, links to helpful articles, and information about market trends in the area.

“By the end of my first year I had completed 15 transactions.“

Though only 22% of my clients came from the internet, they represented 35% of my revenue. This was an “aha” moment for me. My internet clients spent more money, were email-based and easier to work with. So I decided to focus my next year’s efforts on the internet.

I began blogging in December 2005 as a natural extension of this plan. Blogging seemed like a great way to share insights about the market quickly and easily with anyone who was interested. I put myself in the shoes of the consumer and started writing about my local market from the standpoint of what would I want to know about if I were interested in buying or selling here.

“My goal was to provide the inside scoop, the truth about our market, so that readers could make intelligent, informed decisions regarding real estate.“

It was also a great way to share lessons learned, great deals and other interesting market tidbits. I posted 3-4 times a week for two months before I got my first comment. At first it seemed as though I was writing for no one, in a void, but gradually, traffic grew, comments increased, and two years later, I essentially own the online local real estate conversation.

“My rewards are many, including an endless supply of leads, even in a down market.”

I can’t begin to describe the bounty my blog has created for me: PR opportunities, partnerships, client relationships, speaking engagements and more. I’ve met many wonderful people through my blog. Even those who’ve never used my services, but read regularly, tell their friends, family and colleagues about it, and many of them end up as clients.

As the blog grows and prospers, so does my business. In my third year now I’ve closed over $13 million so far, up from $7 million the previous year. This, in a former bubble market where the median priced home is about $275,000, down nearly 23% from its 2005 high. I’ve added an assistant and a partner and am on my way toward building a cohesive team.

“My blog has become an online asset. It generates business, exposure and ad revenue.”

80% of people now start their real estate searches online. Therefore, you must be online with them, providing inside information they truly care about. My blog has enormous value, and I can take it with me should I ever decide to change brokers or become a broker myself.

Starting a blog is easy. But tapping into online trends, turning your blog into a popular, consumer destination, and a serious media asset is not easy. Like many things worth having in life, it does take work, nurturing, knowledge and dedication. That said, the rewards can be great.

“If you think you’ve got what it takes and have the desire, I can help you.”

- Diane Cohn
Realtor®, ABR, SRES & Blog Coach