Interview with Kristal Kraft of the Denver Real Estate Blog
As some of you may already know Ardell and I have been playing on ActiveRain lately. My personal goal in taking part was to learn about the group dynamics and see how and why people are active on the site. 
Interestingly, one of the things I decided to do was ask the group who was the most influential person on ActiveRain so that I could interview them on RCG.
The results were loud and clear in that Kristal Kraft is not only the point leader on ActiveRain, but the most influential person for many members of the site. I spent some time following Kristal’s posts and I found her to be consistently informative and interesting. Armed with that knowledge, I decided to ask Kristal a little bit about her blogging influences and experiences.
What inspired you to start blogging?
Blogging has been a natural progression for me; ten years ago I published my first real estate website. Then in the year 2000 I took a year off from work to travel around the world on a bike. That year I was biking and blogging (without a blog platform). At the time I thought of if as a travel/photo journal of my experience, the site Bike Tracks was written often times in a tent with a flashlight attached to my head. I would publish as soon as I could find a land line. OK, so it wasn’t really a blog, but I had a huge audience. In fact at one point in Africa I didn’t publish for a couple weeks. Everyone was in a panic worried I had been eaten by a lion or something awful! After that, they got used to my irregular postings. Funny how things work, I took my position seriously when I found out people were reading my site. Riding a bike 80 to 105 miles a day can get boring! There were times when the journey got very difficult, but my “responsibility to my audience” kept me going. In retrospect my world journey was a blogging boot camp for what I’m doing today.
Three years ago I started blogging on “my other blog.” Like many folks I wasn’t loyal to it, and then Active Rain came along. Since then I’ve been loyal, no addicted. The group interaction is very compelling. It’s a competitive environment that is supportive and enlightening at the same time. Business comes to me from in the form of referrals from Active Rain members and consumers. Life in the Rain is good.
Are there any special topics or issues that you enjoy covering?
My real estate business is relocation based so when I blog I think of things the out of state buyer might like to know about Denver. Photography is a passion for me, so I use pictures to present my city. Since Active Rain has many Realtors involved I also enjoy helping newbie’s get started blogging. I write to help them understand how the system works. Active Rain doesn’t have an “instruction manual” so I’ve been blogging one!
What have you done to personalize your blog?
I found the best way to stand out was by cropping my photo. I don’t care to be on the receiving end of a camera. Having ½ my face makes me easy to spot in a group of headshots. I am the Phantom of the Rain.
Do you have any favorite posts?
Yes, there are a few. Last summer I was photographing one of my favorite Denver parks, I noticed a man watching me enjoying the flowers. I ended up talking to him and that night posted The Pride of the Unsung Hero. Sometimes I labor for a long time over a blog and ditch it, because it doesn’t portray the message I want. Then there are the times when an unknown force takes over and I post straight from the cuff. Blackmail…has its place, The Investors are coming, the Investors are coming
The most rewarding times are when I manage to share something that is beneficial to others. I always end up learning something too. Rent to Own…deal or no deal another broker, Carol Williams convinced me my view was shortsighted in Lease-To-Own: A Better Way. How Absorption Rate is figured , continues to garner personal emails of thanks.
What are some of your favorite blogs (real estate or otherwise)?
My focus is on Active Rain Bloggers. The Rain City Guide is great for its innovation in real estate blogging and I like reading blogs from the real world; Copy Blogger, Seth’s, FutureNowThe Idea Motivator. My feed reader has dozens more…
What tools/websites do you find most helpful in putting together your blog?
I love composing in Writely; its online platform helps me keep up with my blog fodder where ever I am. I use SnagIt for grabbing instructional sections in writing the Official Unofficial Guide to Active Rain
My favorite tool is my Canon Rebel XT, PhotoShop Elements 5.0 and the remarkably beautiful State of Colorado!
How does blogging fit into the overall marketing of your business?
Blogging helps my Denver real estate website make rain for my company. Blogging about Denver relocation and real estate is a natural cross pollination.
What plans do you have to improve your blog over this next year?
I have a keen interest in expanding my other blog on the local level. More photos, more features on local businesses and personalities. I intend to cross promote on Localism and MyHouseKey.org. The more exposure, the better.
What is the one tool or feature that you wish your site had?
I’m nuts about the widgets on the Altosearch blog. Got to have it! Please do Denver!
What do you think real estate blogging will look like 3 years from now?
There will be a lot of abandoned blogs in cyberspace. The people who stick to it will reap the benefits; the Pareto Principle proves itself again.
Thank you Kristal for the great interview!
Twenty-one more interviews of influential real estate bloggers!
- Ardell DellaLoggia of the Searching Seattle Blog
- Drew Meyers of the Zillow Blog
- Joel Burslem of the Future of Real Estate Marketing
- Michael Simonsen of the Altos Research Blog
- Glenn Kelman of the Redfin Blog
- Joe and Rudy of the Sellsius Blog
- Jim Cronin of the Real Estate Tomato
- Greg and the Bloodhounds of the Bloodhound Blog
- Jonathan Miller of Matrix
- Jim Duncan of the Real Central VA blog
- Noah Rosenblatt of UrbanDigs
- Andy Kaufman of MyEastBayAgent
- Property Grunt of the Property Grunt blog
- Tim O’Keefe of the Real Estate Marketing Blog
- David Smith of the Affordable Housing Institute
- Merv Forney of the Northern Virginia Real Estate Guide
- Todd Carpenter of Lenderama
- Alex Stenbeck of Behind the Mortgage
- Fraser Beach of Toronto at Home
- John Mudd of Inside Real Estate (deceased)
- Fran of The Real Estate Blog
Posted: January 16th, 2007 under General Real Estate.
Tags: advice, benefits, blogger, influences, interview-q&a, kristal-kraft, prediction, real-estate, tools
About the Author: Dustin Luther
- Author's website: http://4realz.net/
- More posts by Dustin
- Email the author
Comments
2.
Comment
from Kristal Kraft
Time January 16, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Dustin ~ thanks for interviewing me, I feel like a school girl up from the farm! 
Maureen ~ thanks for your kind comments, I appreciate your support and encouragement, you can always be counted on to have a good word and great blog idea.
kk
3.
Comment
from Leanne Paynter
Time January 17, 2007 at 1:43 am
Dustin - thanks for this excellent interview that’s filled with great resources… some I hadn’t come across yet and have now bookmarked. Kristal inspires us to be better bloggers and photographers (or at least to have a camera handy at all times!). I’m so grateful that she shares with us so freely.
4.
Comment
from Colleen Kulikowski
Time January 17, 2007 at 2:54 am
Dustin — great interviewer, one thing that is so wonderful about Kristal is that she inspires others to greatness! She is so wonderful about encouraging others to write and so gracious about sharing her knowledge with others. She is what I strive for in my own writing and inspires me to find my own voice… Had it not been her kind words of encouragement a few months ago, I wouldn’t have continued to write or improve as I have over time.
5.
Comment
from teresa boardman
Time January 17, 2007 at 2:57 am
Dustin - Nice post, with Kristal I think it is about the pictures too. She has great photographs on her blog.
6.
Comment
from Maureen
Time January 17, 2007 at 3:04 am
Great interview Dustin. It’s too early in the morning. I saw the banana with the word Rain on it and read nearly the whole thng before realizing it was not about Kristal and Active Rain. Kristal being the top banana on Active Rain??? I was puzzled… not Dustin’s style…and when was he going to interview Kristal… Kristal is all about encouragement.
I need coffee…….
7.
Comment
from Jennifer Fivelsdal
Time January 17, 2007 at 3:27 am
Dustin, I enjoyed the interview, Kristal’s post is something I look forward to. She is funny yet at the same time providing informative material.
8.
Comment
from Linda Davis
Time January 17, 2007 at 4:32 am
Kristal offers the whole package - wonderful photos, great content and a willingness to share with the Active Rain Community. You couldn’t have picked a better representative! A big 5 for you here! NO wait…that would be a big 5 in active rain.
9.
Comment
from Fran White
Time January 17, 2007 at 4:43 am
Fabulous Interview! Rain City made a great selection when interviewing Kristal. Kudos!
10.
Comment
from Craig Schiller
Time January 17, 2007 at 5:03 am
Great work… by both Dustin and Kristal.
Kristal was the first person to ever comment on my Active Rain blog. In that comment she welcomed me. That “welcome” really made me see what was possible in blogging… connecting to an audience. So for that I am grateful to Kristal.
Since then Kristal has been a leader and a great person to observe and learn from as she evolves in her own mastery of cyber space and personal marketing.
Me
11.
Comment
from Jim Lee
Time January 17, 2007 at 5:27 am
Good interview.
I’ve known Kristal and several other Denver REALTORS from other forums we participate on together. As we say over in east Tennessee; “She’s a good’un”
12.
Comment
from Ed Rybczynski
Time January 17, 2007 at 5:58 am
Hey all, I decided to comment on both sites to show support for this wonderful effort and the two very special people involved. Kristal, it’s just too cool that you took a year off to trek on your bike. Dustin, deep down inside, I still think you were trolling for points on AR. (lol)
13.
Comment
from Jeff Belonger
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:30 am
Dustin… what a great choice. Between her traveling for several years, her blogging techniques, her passion of taking pictures, and just her great insight to put wonderful blogs together….. Kristal Kraft was a great choice. Almost like finding a ‘Jack of all trades’.
Great interview and Congrats Kristal….
14.
Comment
from Suzanne Marriott
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:31 am
OK - First time trying to leave a comment here - no log in so hope this works! I left comments on both blogs. Now I know why KK uses the photo of herself the way she does!
15.
Comment
from Angus - Naperville Real Estate
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:35 am
Excellent interview. Kristal was way ahead of the pack on blogging. In 2000, I was one of those reading up on Kristal’s travels through Europe. Kristal was born to blog, she really knows how to tell a story…
16.
Comment
from Dena Stevens
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:47 am
Dustin,
Great interview. Kristal is an asset to all who are interested in real estate. She is kind and giving, like I said an ASSET!
17.
Comment
from Leigh Brown
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:58 am
Thanks for patting such a wonderful, giving person on the back! It’s well-deserved praise for KK, she gives so much and so freely.
18.
Comment
from Carole Cohen
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:59 am
Hey Dustin, good questions for an interview and proof that Kristal knows what she is talking about! My first cup of coffee can find me at her AR blog looking at her latest photography. Kristal you are amazing and inspiring motivation to keep up a consistent level of blogging even when I would rather just…..drink coffee lol
19.
Comment
from Brian Brady
Time January 17, 2007 at 7:15 am
Great interview, Dustin.
Way to represent the AR, Kristal.
20.
Comment
from joanne Douglas
Time January 17, 2007 at 7:22 am
Terrific interview, Dustin — Kristal comes across as genuine and passionate about her blogging skills. Thank you for highlighting the “Rainers” and answering the question ‘what is that AR community all about?’
Kristal: Well said (as usual); thanks for being such an integral part of AR. When I was a newbie, you made me feel so welcome, I will not forget that!
21.
Comment
from Lisa Hammerstein
Time January 17, 2007 at 7:41 am
Great interview series, Dustin. Very well done!
Kristal: You are very worthy of such a compliment to your Blogging Skills as well as your great spirit of Giving on the Active Rain Network. We love reading your Blogs as well as receiving comments on our Blogs from you! It’s always a great honor for Bloggers to get comments from others - especially when they are so well written. We always get the sense that you really gave some thought to what you are commenting on. It makes the recipient of your comments feel special!
Thanks for Blogging!
22.
Comment
from Rich Schiffer
Time January 17, 2007 at 7:55 am
I began in Real Estate in late August, ‘06. By Early September, I began blogging on ActiveRain. It was clear to me very early on, that KK was one of the many bloggers I could learn a lot from. Her posts are always informative, highly professional, and often inspire me to emulate them (but never plagiarize!) KK is one of the people that definately deserved the Time Magazine Person of the Year award…have you collected your prize yet, KK?
23.
Comment
from Chris Tesch
Time January 17, 2007 at 8:06 am
Excellent interview! No wonder Kristal is so inspiring. I never knew about her tour on the bike!
24.
Comment
from Ines Hegedus-Garcia (from the RICK & INES team)
Time January 17, 2007 at 9:52 am
Congratultions Kristal and thank you Dustin. Kristal was also one of the first to comment on my blogs. Whe went out of her way to make me feel welcome and answered all the questions I have. She is definitely not a boring person has great enthusiasm for what she does and it good with a Camera - not to mention her great writing. Thanks for inspiring us Kristal.
25.
Comment
from Lisa Kolb
Time January 17, 2007 at 10:06 am
When I found Active Rain just weeks ago, I went straight to the top of the points system, Krystal Kraft, and began reading her blogs first. She is a very giving and supportive person and I am glad to see someone showcase her and her efforts. She deserves it.
26.
Comment
from Dustin
Time January 17, 2007 at 10:11 am
Wow! Waking up to so many comments is rare! Especially when you consider that more comments were left on the ActiveRain post about the interview!
Kristal is obviously much loved in the ActiveRain Community!
27.
Comment
from Bill Williams
Time January 17, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Dustin, thanks for another great interview. This is a great series. And can you tell that most of the Rainers love Kristal? One of the reasons why is her heart for all the rest… it doesn’t stop at just blogging hints for newbies, she reads and comments on a lot of blogs, which is also encouraging.
I’d like you to ask your interviewees how they find time to do real estate full time AND write wonderful blogs at the same time. I see it done, and they make it look easy. “How” might make for interesting reading.
28.
Comment
from Bob Volanti
Time January 17, 2007 at 12:20 pm
A wonderful interview. As a recent AR member I can see that I’ve got alot of catching up to do. I didn’t have any idea that there were so many brilliant folks in the Rain, starting with Kristal. Thanks for alerting me.
29.
Comment
from Charles Richey
Time January 17, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Nice interview. I often wonder when Kristal actually sleeps! Thing I like the most about her posts are her great photos. I think good photos in a blog post are a must.
30.
Comment
from Jacqueline McCroy Elbert
Time January 17, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Dustin–Thank you for posting this on AR. A very engaging interview with a very interesting person. I continue to learn so much from Kristal’s posts.
31.
Comment
from Monika
Time January 17, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Kudos…great interview Dustin and a great selection…KK rocks!
Thank You
32.
Comment
from Jeff Dowler - San Diego coastal real estate
Time January 17, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Great interview, Dustin. Kristal’s blogging is an inspiration to all, and raises the bar to a standard most (perhaps all?) will not likely reach. Her photos are terrific. Learning about her travels by bike was fascinating, being a bike enthusiast myself. But not sure I am up for a round the world tour. Thanks for sharing this awesome interview.
Jeff
33.
Comment
from Jessica Hughes
Time January 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm
You picked the best by far! But come on back by and do an interview with Craig Shiller sometime soon. We need more exposure here!
34.
Comment
from Margaret Rome
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Dustin, It had to be easy to write such a great post. You picked such a perfect subject. Kristal has been an inspiration to all of the Active Rainers. Thank you for putting the spotlight on such a deserving person.
http://www.HomeRome.com
Baltimore,Md.
35.
Comment
from Carol Williams
Time January 17, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Great interview. Kristal is one of the most interesting, informative and generous bloggers I’ve come across… plus she has a great sense of humor and take fabulous pictures!
36.
Comment
from Blanca Cholewczynski
Time January 18, 2007 at 8:09 am
Way to late to the party! Maureen said to bring my thesaurus with me.. that I will need a new word for great, terrific, fantastic to describe the interview. How do I say it in a different way? I know…
Fantastica entrevista Dustin, Kristal es fenomenal y una fuente de inspiracion para todos! : )
37.
Comment
from Kristal Kraft
Time January 18, 2007 at 10:08 am
OK guys this is way to awesome…I went to the Stock Show last night and my cowboy hat no longer fits….
Keep it up…please! 
kk
38.
Comment
from Ann Cummings
Time January 18, 2007 at 10:36 am
This was a great interview to read, and Kristal was a terrific person to interview. There are many of us on AR who look to her posts for inspiration and motivation, and truly to enjoy those beautiful pictures she uses in her posts. Those are visual and mental eye-candy! And she has a wonderful way with words that just paint her area perfectly.
Thanks for putting this together for us to read! Nicely done!
39.
Comment
from Vali
Time January 18, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Dustin you painted a very vivid picture of many of the talents of KK, well done! As for Kristal Kraft, well, she is an every day inspiration for people to discover and develop their individual passions like she has done with her photography and bogging.
Thank you Kristal (a.k.a. Mom)!!
40.
Comment
from Karen
Time January 18, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Well, I hate to comment after “mom”:), but I will. Excellent job Dustin with and excellent choice of subjects. Kristal is quickly becoming a role model at Active Rain.
41.
Comment
from Kristal Kraft
Time January 18, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Karen ~ Vali is my daughter. She wrote that in a way it looks like she’s my Mom Vali is a Colorado real estate broker and Realtor. She has an idenity crises as times when she is with me. We are associates and family. I am truly lucky to have 3 wonderful kids.
42.
Comment
from Kristal Kraft
Time January 18, 2007 at 8:14 pm
To Dustin and the really nice people on Active Rain who nominated me for this interview, Thank you. I realize without your kind mention and your support, I would not have had the opportunity to tell my story. It’s fun to be in the spotlight for a day and I hope you all are offered the same chance someday, somewhere to feel as good as you have made me feel.
I know now I will work even harder to live up to your expectations!
Thanks,
kk
43.
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from Interview with Mary McKnight of RSS Pieces | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog…
Time January 19, 2007 at 8:43 am
[...] Kristal Kraft of the Denver Real Estate Blog [...]
1. Comment from Maureen Francis
Time January 16, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Dustin, a great interview with Kristal. Her posts are consistently excellent and always visually beautiful. That Digital Rebel is in good hands. Kristal’s series on how to blog and use AR has really helped expand participation in the network.