Blogger Spotlight: Diane Cipa
I decided that I wanted a title professional as a contributor for lenderama, so I went on a scouting trip around the blogosphere.
My search ended at Dina Cipa. I only had to read two of her posts off of Radical Title Talk to realize she was one of the most interesting voices in our industry.
Oh, and if you’re wondering about the haircut…
Hi Diane, what made you decide to start a blog?
I started blogging to defend title insurance as a product. The proliferation of lawsuits and penalties being imposed on the title insurance underwriters and many agents had, in my mind, caused the media and the public to blame the product rather than the bad actors who had corrupted the title insurance delivery system. Before even thinking of blogging, I followed the normal routes. I talked with my underwriters. I offered to teach some classes for title agents who might need help reaching consumers without paying referral fees. In desperation, I wrote an open letter to title agents and attempted to get it published in ALTA’s Title News magazine and/or PLTAs newsletter. Both trade associations refused to publish it because they said it was anti-affiliated business. In frustration, I faxed and e-mailed the letter to everyone in the PLTA and ALTA directories. It took a lot of time. I got a few responses from people who felt just like I did but who were terrified of saying anything in the open.
My niece and sister had been blogging so I was familiar with the medium. I decided to give it a go and created two blogs. Title Insurance Talk was designed as a consumer facing blog meant to help consumers understand title insurance and also to provide words and explanations for industry insiders who needed help. Radical was meant to be a forum for insiders to discuss what was going on the industry.
Radical Title Talk is hardly a, let’s be friends, smiley face, everything is keen, marketing blog. How do other professionals in your market react to it?
When I first starting writing Radical, I tried to get other professionals in my market to read it and participate. Most just could not grasp what I was talking about. They had never heard of a blog. Setting that aside, I’ve been in the business for long time. Those who know me know that I am passionate. The “radical” handle was first bestowed upon me by a group of attorneys from eastern Pennsylvania who had tried to change the mortgage banking laws in a way that would have forced many existing small companies out of business. Over that effort I ended up as president of the Western Pennsylvania MBA and lobbied strongly in defense of our smaller mortgage companies. We won. In the process, I was know as “that radical women from Western Pennsylvania.” So, old timers in the business who know about Radical, take it in stride.
While some blogs fade away and die on their own, you actually tried to kill Radical Title Talk. I have to honest, I never really understood why. Care to explain?
Radical Title Talk was born in anger. Every post was passionate and most people reading and commenting did so with passion. That takes a tremendous amount of energy. I am not a personal who walks in anger. I get angry, I deal with the issue and be done with it. I love to laugh and be a goof and have fun. Once Radical found its voice and its mission, I had to commit and follow it through which meant writing every day in a voice defining the argument against corruption. You have to understand that Radical was never meant to be a sales generating blog. It was a declaration of independence and the beginning of a war that only title insurance people can really understand. I carried the mantle until I felt that I had said everything that could possibly be said on all the various subjects. The stats showed me the readership and I knew Radical had been a bully pulpit the likes of which I had never envisioned. Once I felt the entire of what needed saying was said, I figured I could leave it up there for folks to use. They could continue to comment if they wanted but I felt that I need to walk away. So I said thank you, posted Desiderata and let it go.
I think that was in May of 2007. In July I started to notice odd transformation in what was then the subprime crisis. It seemed to me that it was leaking into prime lending and I just couldn’t trust that the “powers that be” would recognize that. I know that might sound egotistical but I never assume that people will see something. If my warning is redundant that’s okay but at least I did my part.
I knew there might still be some readership out there with feeds who would pick up posts so I shared my concerns. The Coalition Petition [a third and temporary blog] was followed by some federal folks because the petition had been directed to those offices. I started with a post or two on Coalition but decided almost immediately to start posting on Radical just to make certain someone who could help might see the message. The mortgage credit crisis then became the second life cycle for Radical. It regained its readership two-fold and then got caught in a sort of negative energy and I decided I really just need to get out so I deleted the entire blog, completely with no back up. [You can still find old Radical posts in search engines if you look for cached posts.]
I talked about it on Lenderama [blew my blog brains out] and the feedback I got was a great help. I kept Radical dead for a week then decided to put in into a virtual beauty sleep mode. Radical woke up as a sort of personal business space for me. I can still talk about hard issues but I don’t feel compelled to be at war. I am purposefully keeping it casual. I like it. I’ve lost some readership but that’s A-OK with me. In the meantime the readership of Title Insurance Talk has grown and I’ve been able to focus on the day to day business of selling title insurance.
I never ask when I’m recruiting people to join, but I’m always curious as to other’s motives. Why do you contribute to Lenderama?
I love Lenderama because it’s a lender community. Close to half of my career was spent as a lender. I am at home there. Being a part of Lenderama keeps me in touch with what’s on the minds of lenders, allows me to share the “title” voice with lenders and it’s part of the original crusade which was helping people to understand title insurance.
Recently, you started a new blog. Ligonier Living. I’m ecstatic that you’ve played off my idea that real estate/mortgage/title blogging does not have to be about the real estate, mortgage, or title business. Please share with us you goal for this blog, and how it’s going so far.
Ed Rybczynski on Title-opoly was really pushing personal - almost voyeuristic - blogging at the same time you posted Denver Modern Homes and a sales tool. Ligonier Living was born as a morph of both ideas. It’s less than a month old and is still finding its voice BUT community reaction is great. People are getting a big kick out of it and we’re about to teach Ligonier to blog. My plan for the community is to create a solid web presence for Ligonier as a destination and a great place to live. I plan to launch a sister blog, Ligonier Homes. Our company web site featuring the Choose and Save program, Title Insurance Talk, Ligonier Living, and Ligonier Homes - all linked together will be a solid marketing platform. We’ve always be consumer facing in marketing but I think these two blogs will bring a synergy we’ve not found before. I am very excited. It’s a whole new way of selling title insurance and it’s free and it’s fun.
What are some of your favorite blogs?
I visit some blogs everyday and some every once in a while. Rather than say I have favorite blogs, I should say I have favorite bloggers. My current favorite bloggers are Ed Rybczynski at Title-opoly, Tanta at Calculated Risk, Wine Dog at Pink Bunny Ears, Greg Swann at Bloodhound, Brian Brady at “everywhere”, Jillayne Schlicke at Rain City.
What advice do you have for prospective bloggers who are sitting on the fence.
Jump right in a start blogging. You’ll find out pretty quickly if you like doing it. It’s not that hard to learn. There are lots of people like you, Todd, who are offering assistance. Whether you’re blogging for business or blogging for fun or both, beware……it’s addicting. My name is Diane Cipa and I’m a blogoholic.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
My typos are killing me here……