Several months ago, I received an email from Carolyn Nelson, offering to help me get started with blogging. Her timing was perfect, following within days the warnings from my son, Steve, that I would be left in the real estate dust if I didn't start blogging. (Moment of motherly pride here: He is the founder of a very successful online business, buySAFE.com, and he knows a lot about consumer expectations.)
So I accepted Carolyn's offer, and she immediately set up an account for me with Blogger. I will always be eternally grateful to Carolyn for giving me a headstart on this - I might never have gotten around to it. For weeks, even months, I diligently posted nearly every Sunday morning, even though I had no idea if anyone ever read it. It did give me a certain amount of pleasure to receive a google alert every Monday, and my son's email saying that he approved of my most recent blog. At least he saw it and knew I wasn't left in the dust any more!
When Carolyn set up my Blogger account, she must have invited me to ActiveRain and I must have accepted - honestly, I don't remember that at all. But somewhere along the way I realized I had an ActiveRain account , set up a profile and wrote a short blog posting to refer people to my Blogger account. That was the end of that for many weeks... until I got an email contact form from ActiveRain.
A consumer saw my posting on ActiveRain and wanted to list her house with me! I thought it must be a joke. But no, I got the listing! That was it. I was hooked! And the rest, as they say, is history. I love ActiveRain!
I never knew if anyone ever saw my Blogger postings, other than my family. Yes, there was an occasional comment - when I emailed a friend and asked her to please comment. On ActiveRain, I know my postings ARE being read because people actually comment on them. And THAT, my friend, is the value of the point system. Readers are rewarded for commenting, so they take the time to do it. Brilliant!
Not only that, but ActiveRain encourages community-building - and I have renewed old friendships, like the one with Lenn Harley, had excuses to get in touch with long lost friends, such as Katie Landon, met experts I might never have known, such as Jim Crawford, made a successful referral to Eric Anderson, and made so many new friends that I can't begin to list. I enjoy participating in ActiveRain, and literally have to force myself to make time for my weekly Blogger posting - usually a cut and paste from something I've already written for ActiveRain. Did I mention Localism? Yet another benefit of ActiveRain participation - Advertising for ourselves and our listings plus an opportunity to interact with consumers through the Q&A section.
As far as I'm concerned - it's no contest! ActiveRain wins this competition, hands down!
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
__________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
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Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114 (410) 721-1500
Great Post Margaret, 5 stars from yours truly. Congrats on the business you've garnered from here!
"Readers are rewarded for commenting, so they take the time to do it. Brilliant!" Well put and I think this is often over-looked. You also touch a cord when you wonder if what you write will be read at all. Amazingly, most times it is. To boot, there is someone out there feeling & thinking just like you. In this case, little old me:-)
THANK YOU, Jason, for the 5 stars! I often forget to rate postings with stars, and I appreciate your remembering! I do hope it's helpful to anyone who might not have tried both, to know that they've made the right choice by participating in ActiveRain.
i can remember back when i was leaving upstate new york in september and returning to southwest flroida i asked our techy what blogging was? he was nice enough not to laugh openly at me, but he looked like he wanted to.
the helpful information that i have received from active rain memebrs has been priceless.
Bloging can bring you good things, just a matter of choosing the right platforms to spend your time on.
Active Rain - really good for reaching realtors -ok for reaching the public
REW - great for reaching the public- not so good for reaching realtors.
James - I don't entirely agree, since I got a listing through an ActiveRain contact form. I think we can maximize the public access by using the localsim web site. Besides, other Realtors make referrals, so that's not a bad thing either.
Deb - Good luck, and let me know when you get started... I'd love to be one of your cheerleaders.
Jay - I probably rolled my eyes a few times as my son gave me a "talking to" about the need to blog for my business; and it has been fabulous for me from the giving AND receiving end.
You're right, Michael - but this is FREE!
Monika - Business will come... just keep participating... This is just another form of prospecting.
Joshua - Exactly! How true!
Donna - Me too! I wasted a couple months after joining, and didn't even look at this site again until a consumer contacted me through ActiveRain to list her house. (Settled last week... Yay!)
Rick and Lynne - It is discouraging to be a secret agent on ActiveRain. But the good news is that you can tweak your blog forever - if no one reads it, change your title. If people are clicking through and reading it, but not commenting, modify your content. If no one is paying attention in one group that you post to, post to another instead. It's a constant learning tool.
I started blogging on AR last week and I have a listing appointment set up Sunday because of AR!!!!
LOVE IT!!!!
David N. Slavin, ABR www.SellMyHouseDave.com
Margaret
This is such great news about AR. I have not received a listing from a consumer on AR yet. I will keep my presence up on here. I have only been on a few weeks. I am really happy for you. Keep it up.
So far no clients as a direct result of ActiveRain but I am learning so much that I consider that secondary. It would be a wonderful bonus I must admit and I truly expect it to happen--just a matter of time.