Most industries are moving forward with the use of technology. Sending and receiving e-mail on mobile devices, accessing the Internet and reaching consumers in the comfort of their own homes is common as industry looks to the future.

Local real estate agents are no exception.

As many would-be home sellers and buyers look to the Internet before meeting with a Realtor, agents are reaching out to them from multiple angles.

Some local realtors are now adding blogs, or web logs, to their traditional Web sites to reach out to buyers and sellers with a more personal touch.

"Blogging is a great fit for real estate since agents can do it all on their own and give people a feel for the area, you can be a resource for people who want to read info on the town," said Lexi Cerretti, a Realtor with Chase International.

Cerretti said she has been blogging since late April 2007. Her blog, www.buytahoehomes.com/blog, covers everything from local real-estate market trends to Cerretti’s account of the recent snowstorm.

"It’s great for both buyers and sellers," Cerretti said. "Buyers can get a lot more info about a home they are interested in and the area online. Sellers benefit from having informed buyers who know what they want, it’s a win for everyone."

One of Cerretti’s blogging associates at Chase International is Sandy Soli. Soli is relatively new to blogging - she started September 2007 - but she is already excited about the possibilities it presents.

"Some consumers go for personality and this is a good way to showcase that," Soli said. "Of course my blog is mostly filled with local market news, housing statistics from Chase and a list of hot properties, but it is a little more personal than our Web site."

She pointed out that the amount of visits to her twice-weekly blog at tahoehomesblog.wordpress.com also raises her Web site’s traffic and her profile on search engines, driving more buyers and sellers to Soli.

She said one drawback to blogging is generating content week after week and keeping up with the blog.

"You have to commit to it if you’re going to have a blog," Soli said. "You can not just start it and then forget about it, you have a responsibility to your readers to give them new, interesting content. If you do not, people will drop off and go to someone else for information."

Todd Disbrow uses a different approach than Soli and Cerretti on his blog. The Intero Realtor has been blogging for about three months and sees it as more of an outlet to sell the Tahoe lifestyle instead of Tahoe homes.

"I like to show people they can work with me to capture the Tahoe dream," Disbrow said. "My blog is not so much about real estate as it is about getting people to visit here and showing them the cool stuff they can do."

His Web site, http://www.tahoereal.net/tahoe-blog, covers everything from a flank steak marinade recipe from a friend’s mother to a trip to a local dog park and a recap of the Intero Christmas party.

Disbrow also utilizes contributors on his site, a local mortgage planner, a real estate lawyer, photographers and even other Realtors to keep his blog chock full of content.

"Having all those contributors creates a snowball effect for the site," Disbrow said. "My friends read it, their friends read it, and we get a lot of visits."

Connor MacIvor Interview comments: If I could sum this interview up, it would be with the phrase ‘Connor Macivor bleeds trust!’ Connor is the type of person who raises your spirits by the infectious’ nature of his positive attitude. Honestly, a call or an email from Connor will improve my day. He wears honor, hustle, heart, accountability and reliability on his sleeve. And by the way folks, Connor’s sharing of knowledge isn’t remotely calculated; however, with a business- blog he’s able to put the nature of how he serves a client on display for all to see. He is the definition of transparency, which allows Connor Macivor to demonstrate one of the many ways Business- blogging can serve as a powerful marketing tool. For his effort, Connor and his wife Paris are seeing great new business opportunities… so please read on.

Q: "Can you describe your business?"
A: "We are not geographic farmers. We farm by employer. We founded our business where I worked for 17 years, at the LAPD. We have expanded it to serve all law enforcement agencies and the military as well [see lapd911.com, lasd911.com, chp911.com, usmc911.com, navy911.com, army911.com, usaf911.com, uscg911.com, ocsd911.com and it goes on and on."

Q: "How did you get into the business?"
A: "We were actually taken advantage of when we purchased our first home, back in 1996. In order to figure out how I was taken advantage of, this human lie detector, I went to Real Estate school at night and worked LAPD during the day. After obtaining my real estate license I was able to get the agent to come clean. I then was asked by some of the police partners I had at LAPD if I could help them buy and sell real estate."

Q: "When did you first establish a web presence?"
A: "Near the beginning [2004] we had a very simple site built. With a domain name that I thought was pretty fitting of who we were. About 3 months after the website was working, just up not obtaining any leads, we were hit with an 8 million dollar lawsuit for having “a deceptively similar trademark”. Never appreciating the value of doing research before you purchase a URL, this happened to be a strange circumstance by someone else that was working the same Non-geographical farm, so it was not like we wanted to be Microsoft and sell software and computer stuff – Microsoft would have a great case as they did (recent past). This was entirely different and what I call the price of doing business. But the experience was invaluable. It saved our marriage and put us on the map with the police department and our business blossomed. So instead of killing us it made us very strong. So hence the True Federal Registration on Paris911®. Pull one on me once, shame on you. Pull one on me twice, shame on me."

Q: "How about a Blog presence?"
A: "The Blog started after I resigned in March 2007. March 29, 2007, the day I went into Parker Center, handed in my badge and swapped it for a Reserve badge and ID. I went into the building armed and was thinking about walking out unarmed. But as a reserve I did not have to cross that bridge. I started blogging in April, it was a hokey non-personal blog, a free service. I started writing and then found Active Rain and shortly thereafter, Jeff Turner with Real Estate Shows. Enter stage left Chris Frerecks and Kristen Veraldi – and you have history being made."

Q: "Do you have any techniques, strategies or discipline for keeping your Blog content fresh?"
A: "Pictures are worth a thousand words and emotion even more. I have a lot of experiences in Real Estate on a day to day basis that I can share I wake up in the morning and think about what I am going to blog about. Having that thought in the back of my mind, I come up with something interesting. Usually based on the ‘human experience’."

Q: "How are you benefiting from blogging?"
A: "Blogging hits very hard. I can post something and hyperlink the content, to add more value to the blog, not with the intention of tricking search engines, and have it show on Google within several hours. Also when you write enough (142 blog posts on Active Rain), you start to develop a certain personal style. I am unrefined and to the point. I am also a positive and happy realist. I have had comments that people cannot understand how I can be so consistently happy. I am real like everyone else. I just have a rare ability to find the good in everything and to be thankful for it!"

Q: "Why did you choose to pay for a blog solution versus counting on one that is free?"
A: "With the free blogs, try to get someone on the phone when you have a problem. Good Luck. Furthermore, a strange side effect was the conversation that I had with Kristen. She gave me information about Internet blogging amongst other things that made the price worth that alone. I started to look at the Blog as a free bonus. Her information was invaluable and has amplified what I was. Plus look at the other blogs, mine is custom and I can add all of the stuff to it I want. Much Cleaner – and much more effective."

Q: "What value do you see in the Social Networks like Active rain for your business?"
A: "Social Networks and Active Rain have been great to our business and my Internet presence. We are blessed to have come across it. I will continue to blog there due to the huge amount of information that I get on a daily basis. The experience on the Rain is fantastic. You can search for a topic that you are having trouble with and you will find someone that has the solution. If you cannot find it then you just ask and to you it will be given. Very helpful people. You just to step around some of the inflated egos. But that is what we do in the Real Estate business as well!!!"

Q: "Are there differences between the value of Social Networks and having your own blogging voice?"
A: "I think my own blogging voice is different. I write things in my own blog that I would never write on Active Rain. I would be offending those others that have a transactional approach to their business. I am all about the relationship and the experience. I actually am interested in finding out how someone ticks. I also would never write on Active Rain for people to wait to buy real estate. I would not write not to wait either. But on my own blog, I am absolutely out side the box. Uncensored and straight from the mind of a 17 year police veteran. I have had my share of close calls with death knocking on my door. 4 ambulance rides that were touch and go. Fear has its place, but that place is under lock and key. You only should use fear when you have no other options, but scared people do some really crazy and dangerous things. Scared people have been known to kill millions, a scared person did so in the middle of the 1930’s and 40’s. So I reserve fear for a time when I have no other choices. Never forget: a scared man dies a thousand deaths, a brave man dies but once. I cannot take credit for that one, but my Dad did!

Q: "Has blogging shown a return for your Real Estate Business?"
A: "I have leads that are generated from my blogging. I have developed some really great relationships with those people that read me. I am also very honored when someone takes the time to see what I think. I am pretty ignorant and I have no ego to bruise. I also know that without my strong belief system I would be worthless as a Husband, Father, Servant or Realtor."

Q: "If so, can you site any specific examples?"
A: "I had a couple in here two days ago that were speaking with Paris and I. After we were finished the wife asked us if we wondered where they found us. They were not law enforcement, fire department, teachers, federal or military, so we were curious. She told us that she found us on the web and found my blog (that was the one that Chris and Kristen built). She was hooked and read and read, citing some pretty embarrassing examples of how to the point I can be, but she told me she had never seen a Realtor wear so much truth on his sleeve. We were both honored by their comment and by being given a chance to earn their trust."