Learn from Bloggers: Meet Ken Bajar, the Real-Estate Blog Ph
If you want to learn more about blogging, the best way is to learn from others. In this series of articles, “portrait of a blogger”, I am choosing an advanced Filipino blogger to tell you about their tips, mistakes and own insights about their blogging journey. And this to help yours. As they took the time to answer those questions, I am thanking them in advance, and I am inviting you to check their website and work.
Today, we are with….
Who are you?
I’m Ken Bajar: a licensed Real Estate Broker and Real Estate Blogger.
I sell real estate properties within Ortigas Center and Pasig City and I’m one of the few real estate bloggers in the country.
I have covered some of the big real estate events and wrote articles about them such as:
- Lamudi’s THE OUTLOOK: 2019 Philippines Buyers Choice Property Awards (November 2019, Makati Shangri-La)
- Lamudi’s Philippine Real Estate Conference 2019: Shaping the Future of Real Estate (October 2019, Makati Shangri-La)
- Lamudi Media Roundtable Series (2019 and 2020)
- Lamudi Broker Awards Night (February 2019, Makati Shangri-La)
- Security Bank Gold Club Awards Night for Real Estate Brokers (February 2019, Makati Shangri-La)
- I-Academy Game Changers Summit Real Estate Conference
- Prosperna and C-Estates Real Estate Technology Revolution
- Events of Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards (PAREB) and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA)
- Events of realty companies in the Philippines
What is your blog about?
My blog, www.realestateblogph.com, goes with the tagline – “Providing real estate facts (and more) in the Philippines since 2017.”
The tagline says it all.
It provides real estate facts in the form of real estate news, definition of real estate terms, real estate features, and anything to do with the real estate and construction industry.
Technical question: what hosting service and what blogging platform do you use?
I use WordPress with GoDaddy as host.
When and why did you start this blog?
I got my license as a real estate broker in 2014 and while I was practicing my profession, I noticed that there are only few real estate bloggers in the country.
The ones writing real estate articles are employed by big news organizations.
I wanted to prove to myself that someone like me can start from scratch and provide a platform to my fellow brokers and to anyone who wants to learn real estate facts in order to guide them in buying their first property, help them make a sound decision in their real estate investment, among others.
Thus, Real Estate Blog PH was born in 2017.
The blog initially covers real estate events but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those events were either cancelled or shifted to online events.
The blog also started with few uncategorized articles – anything that I thought of which includes property review, tips for buyers and investors, personal reviews of hotels and resort destinations that I have been to, etc.
As years passed by, I noticed again one “setback” that the real estate industry lacks – there is no single platform that covers real estate updates.
Most of the real estate updates are embedded in news websites either as part of Business Section or in the Special Section.
If you are a buyer or investor, you still need to scan more than 10 websites to get your daily real estate updates. Thus, I revolutionize the blog.
By logging in to www.realestateblogph.com you can read all the latest major real estate updates in one place. No need to click 10 websites and search for real estate news. It’s all in my blog.
This saves the readers time which is a valuable asset in our profession.
Which social media do you use and why?
I use the following social media accounts:
- Facebook: @RealEstateBlogPH
- Instagram: @realestateblogph
- Twitter: @r_estateblogph
Some stats about your blog / social media
My biggest followers are found in Facebook followed by website. Instagram and Twitter are starting to gain momentum.
What is your greatest achievement since the beginning of your blogging journey?
My greatest achievement so far is being able to cover big real estate events and being recognized as a real estate blogger by my peers in the industry.
Recognition is something that I earned along the way. It was not a walk in the park.
What is your greatest failure (or worst experience) as well?
I consider myself lucky for not experiencing any worst situation. Although, I must admit that I aggressively “sold” myself to real estate companies in order for them to give me a chance and blog about their event or project.
Plus, I sent emails, followed up my emails. I called them if they receive my emails. I reiterated that I will not charge them for blogging.
All these and other minor efforts just to be able to claim a spot.
What would your advice to people who want to start blogging or who are new into blogging?
Blogging is easy but finding your spot in your chosen niche can be challenging.
It takes patience and perseverance to establish a credibility for yourself that people and companies can trust.
You must have a winning attitude and you must believe in yourself that one day, one company, one person, will trust you and when you take care of that trust the next steps will be easier.
Who are the bloggers you follow and why?
There are few dedicated real estate bloggers in the country so I can’t name one at this stage.
What I do is read the articles of news reporters assigned in the Real Estate / Construction beat and I am learning from them on a daily basis.
I want to further revolutionize my blog so I am following Neil Patel. I want to capture a bigger audience through the use of other digital platforms and Neil Patel is very effective in these aspects.
Any last word to say to the readers?
You can never be 100% prepared in blogging.
If you want to blog, start now. Get the momentum as you build your blogging platform.
Do not delay it as other people might get your niche and your brilliant ideas will take place in a different persona just because you did not decide sooner.
