Last week Inman News – I call them the CNN of real estate news,  discovered the young man that has been a weekly contributor for the last two months to our Caribbean blog site.  Joseph Natividad was introduced to me by my good friend and Realtor,  John Harper as a possible resource for me to consider as a contributing member of our Caribbean blog crew.  After meeting with Joseph I spoke with John and let him know that my first impression was that I was dealing with a very young person,  and I wasn’t sure what he could contribute to my Caribbean project. John suggested I get over my preconceived ideas about youth compared to Old Dogs and give him a shot.  We did and the rest is history.

Joseph has been focusing his blog contributions to the news and cultural happenings in the Caribbean.  And he has more than exceeded any of my expectations.  Below is a small excerpt from the Inman News article about Joseph.

Here is this really bright kid,” Harper said. “I know he’s sharp. It occurred to me that if he launches his own blog and he treats it as the number one business resource in his life, in a year he should be able to monetize that blog and probably pay his way through college by monetizing that.”

Harper’s real estate team launched a blog in late 2006, and that site had grown from about 350 unique visitors per month in December 2006 to about 3,000 by April 2007. Walberg, who launched his Caribbean Islands Realty blog just two months ago, said he has been “blown away” by its quick success.

“I am 60 years old and even though I’m an Old Dog I can still learn new tricks,” Walberg said. “There are lots of people who are just not understanding the power of blogging.” Walberg said he was impressed with Harper’s blogging success, and that led him to pursue his own blog. Finding time to blog can be challenging, though, and Harper introduced Natividad as a possible blog contributor.I could not believe — my first meeting I thought I was dealing with a kid — I am dealing with a kid,” and he said he has been impressed by his work. “I tip my hat to him regarding many of the things he is uncovering.”

Joseph said, “I can’t believe the fun I’m having learning about a part of the world that I didn’t know anything about. ”

Within a couple of months the site has led to some surprising business opportunities, including the opportunity to be an exclusive marketing partner for some new developments in the Virgin Islands, Walberg said. “To gain this position in two months has just floored me. I’m in an area of nonstop learning now.” Walberg expects the blogging effort to leapfrog into online video to promote the islands. “It has opened up so many fun ideas and doors in how to participate in the worldwide real estate market.”

I welcome your comments about young people that you may be working with that are supporting your blog sites.  Until next time….