NEW YORK — I’m at Inman’s Real Estate Connect conference in Manhattan, attending a morning session about the importance of blogging. So I thought I’d better. Blog, that is. The reason you blog, of course, is to interject a bit of personality into your endeavors, whether you’re a Realtor or a reporter. You’re a person, not an institution.

Looking over some of the examples, it helps to have one. Personality, that is.

Especially if you video blog. Take a look at Ian Watt’s vlogs at IanWatt.ca. He’s mounted a dashboard camera in his car, and he talks to it while stuck in Vancouver traffic. He’s animated, passionate about his subjects, and always renders an opinion (that you are welcome to disagree with).

There was another example — not naming names here — of a well-produced video blog, with a pretty Manhattan skyrise backdrop. The vlogger could have been reading the CNBC stock crawler, he was so dry. Moral: There’s nothing wrong with a little entertainment, folks.

More later…

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Update: 11:30 am EST Jan. 7

Interesting session on producing Web videos with lessons for everyone, not just Realtors:

We’ve said it before: Adding video to your business, whatever might be, adds new and complicated dimensions to public perceptions — and public expectations.

For Realtors, you’re not just zooming through rooms in a house with a camera. You’re not merely making a statement about the house. You’re making a statement about you, your level of professionalism, your personal competence and charisma. Which makes a big statement about your business.

The images you convey speak volumes beyond words.  “A picture is worth…” and all that. How much more is a video worth?

Because on the Web it’s easy for video to get googled and disassociated from its source, it’s important to remember always to include a personal introduction — in the beginning and before the final fade. And don’t forget the call to action.

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Update: 12:15 am EST Jan. 7

Um.. Where am I??? New Orleans?

Outside the pressroom, a seven-piece Dixieland band just finished up what must have been a 10-minute Jazz rendition of Movin’ On Up, the theme to the 1970s sit-com The Jeffersons. I didn’t recognize the piece at first, until they started singing the lyrics. Great musicians, horrible singers, which didn’t stop them from having fun. “We finally got a piece of the pieeeee.”

It was in keeping with the conference theme, Roadmap to Recovery – and in keeping with mine: nothing wrong with a little entertainment.

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