This post is going to be ridiculously long. Those without broadband are going to hate me. Anyway, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in San Fransisco for Inman Bloggers Connect. I flew in super early on Tuesday to meet up with some online friends, see the sights, and then head out to a couple pre-conference parties. Wednesday was the official Blogger’s Connect Event, and I flew back out that night. The conference itself was excellent, but the real reason I came was to turn the many online connection I forged into personal one. These pics, like this blog, are about the bloggers who attended more than the show itself.Continue Reading

Blogging Inman Blogger’s Connect By Phone. At least, that is my intention. I set up this separate blog and will try to post pictures and quick notes as they happen. I’ll be taking pictures with my real camera as well and will do a full write after I get back.

With our local fiesta event in the rear view mirror. I want to share my future goals for REMBEX Blog Fiesta.

First off, I am among the most knowledgeable bloggers in this industry when it comes to how blogging works. But I’m also sure that I have far more to learn than I already know. I read what other leading voices have to say, and I think they all are in the same boat. A good start, but we are far from the finish. So my goal for RBF is to create a community where we can all get there together. I’ll be sharing my opinions, interviewing others, linking to excellent posts from outside of RBF, promoting off-line networking events, and looking to recruit HUNDREDS of contributors to this blog.

Yes, I did say hundreds. I’m looking for existing bloggers who want to talk about blogging. You do not need to prove yourself as an expert, just willing to share your experiences and advice. No opinions will be quashed so long as they are readable, professional, and within the law. However, all will be able to comment, disputing or complimenting your arguments. As you can see with the blog’s new format, I’m giving maximum exposer to the visitors who contribute.

I think ambitious is a good word to use. To date, this site is totally unproven. I don’t expect hundreds bloggers to start contributing today, but I will be working to make that happen. If you want to contribute, let me know by email at todd@mariah.com. In addition, if you have a local event coming up in your future, let me know about that as well.

Finally, if you have some ideas on how to move forward I’d love to hear them.

Technorati Profile

Wow, I’m so happy with how the fiesta turned out! Until today, I had only ever met two other RE bloggers in person, and one of them doesn’t blog anymore. Looking back, this is something all of us should have done a long time ago. it was great to meet everyone, and I hope we can all meet up again.

I want to thank Kristal Kraft and Rob Blake for working with me to put this event together, Joe and Rudy for inspiring the event and contributing to our panel, Vali for manning the registration desk, Veronica for contributing a door prize, Mariana for taking up a tip collection, and Jessica for helping to rig the drawing. :p

The only thing I’m disappointed in, is that I didn’t take enough good pictures. Here are a few, with more to come from the bloggerazzi.

We had our fiesta at Garcia’s of Denver. I’m very happy with the way they worked with us. If you ever want to put on a seminar in South Denver, I highly recommend them.

Meredith Hanson, Joanne Hanson & Jason Adams drove all the way from Dillon. They’re shooting the breeze with Jennifer Steck and Doug Lindstrom.

The Blogmobile arrives!

Vali took up the task of greeting everyone at our check-in table.

Joe and Rudy take the stage. Look at that crowd!

Rob advises the crowd on SEO. 23 existing bloggers, plus quite a few more who were interested in starting a blog attended. This might be the biggest crowd of RE bloggers ever assembled! At least for the next few days.

Other pics from Blog Fiesta

Kristal has a great slide show over on Active Rain.

Justin has a few pics and comments as well.

Mariana has a very detailed post with pictures.

Blogger Reaction

Steve Scheer

Dena Stevens

Jay Hicks

If you attended the event, and have posted about it on your blog, please let me know so I can link it here.

Today is the day! The tables are set. Blog Fiesta starts at 11:00. Go here for details and maps. I look forward to meeting you all!

If you were to late to register, or are unlucky enough to live anywhere but Colorardo, fret not. This web site was created to promote the event, but now the event will promote this blog! Everything we talk about at the event will make it to this blog in the next few days. On top of that, this blog has a new purpose.

For quite a while now, I’ve been looking to create a blog that compliments the REMBEX search engine. Initially, I planned to build a “how to” blog building site. But there were two problems. One, lot’s of other bloggers are already dishing out plenty of advice. In fact, I’ve been making a list of these posts for months. Second, and more importantly, dishing out blogging my own blogging advice is great for prospective bloggers, but doesn’t honor the bloggers already included in the REMBEX search engine. So, while there’s a primer on blog building, this site’s main focus will be to cover the views of other real estate and mortgage bloggers.

I have an impressive list of interviews with nationally recognized bloggers in the Q, plus even more who have committed to participate. Interviews from Jim Duncan, Jay Thompson, Jim Cronin, and many of the Colorado bloggers attending our party are already published. You can view the whole list over in the right column. Go ahead and throw this blog in your RSS reader, this is going to be a lot of fun!

In just seven days, we’ll be talkin’ blogs and eating tacos. If you haven’t registered yet, well, giddyup!

I’m sure the burning question that all of you have on your mind is, “what will happen to this blog once the event is over?” Ok, maybe it never even occurred to you. I’m going to tell you anyway. Blog Fiesta will be widening it’s focus nationwide. I’ve been busy interviewing nationally recognized bloggers in the mortgage and real estate industry. These interviews will start publishing this weekend!. On the 18th, a redesigned blog will be revealed with a focus on bringing you the perspectives of other RE bloggers.

Nobody’s a true expert on real estate blogging just yet. Let’s get there together.

BlogTourUSA.com was the inspiration for our Blog Fiesta event. I contacted Joseph to see what they had planned for Denver. The gist of his reply was, “we’re open”. Brad Inman met up with Joseph & Rudy to talk about the tour.

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In addition to the Realty Blogging Books, we will also be giving away a new iPod Shuffle. This little guy is ridiculously small, and can hold up to 240 songs (1 gigabyte). You must be present to win.

Register now, It’s free, we’re not selling anything, not even your email, and we don’t want you to join a cult. This event was conceived to promote blogging in our industry and grow online relationships into face to face friendships. You’ll never have a better chance to learn about this exciting new genre of marketing before it skyrockets in popularity.

Half of which have established blogs. Seating is limited to 100, so don’t wait till the last minute to register.

Richard Natch, and Paul Chaney, of Blogging Systems are contributing copies of their book, Realty Blogging, to be given away as door prizes at the Fiesta! This book is a “how to” manual on starting a blog.

If features interviews from many of the top veteran bloggers in the industry, including some guy named Todd Carpenter, with an oddly named mortgage blog.

With weeks to go before our event, you might want to consider buying yourself a copy in advance. If you’re lucky enough to win a copy at the show, you can give it to your boss for brownie points!