Active Brads Blog

Call Me - Do Not Call Me - No, Call Me... Wait, Are You Confused?

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:26:08 -0500

ALL Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month

REMINDER: "All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies - you will start to receive sales calls...... YOU WILL ALSO BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS!"

Though this Hoax is going out all over the Internet as it often does from time to time, I just wanted to point out a couple things. You may receive an email or a notice from a friend about this, and though the National Do NOT CALL organization is legit, the warning here IS NOT. See Snopes

Some of you may want these calls and yet others may not. If you decide to do this, your clients and prospects might be deciding to do it as well, if they haven't already. Is telemarketing gone out the window with WEB 1.0? Do you really want your cell phone, office phone, or home phone blocked from telemarketers? It's your decision and there is no right or wrong answer here, just an opportunity to take a moment and reflect, give it some consideration, make a decision, then take your action...or not.

An interesting fact I just found is that there are literally millions in American adding their phone numbers to this list, yet there's a significantly higher number of folks joining Social Networks and places like FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. The world's a changing for sure. It's exciting to be part of this time and ERA, and it's interesting to see the changes that are taking place in these times.

What Lists and organizations Will Be Next?
DO NOT MAIL ME - DO NOT EMAIL ME - DO NOT TEXT ME - DO NOT FRIEND ME - DO NOT FOLLOW ME - DO NOT ADD ME - DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO ME - DO NOT TALK TO ME - DO NOT LOOK AT ME - DO NOT...YIKES!

To reach the National DO NOT CALL organization, (should that be your choice) here is the number: 888-382-1222 It only takes about 20 seconds, but before you do, I'd love to know your thoughts and feelings about this? Why or Why Not? I confess, I added my numbers, but did I just do it to conform to a trend of society or do I really hate getting calls from telemarketers? How about you?

How To Get Started on ActiveRain

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:51:29 -0500

How To Get Started on ActiveRain - A quick route to a successful Journey on ActiveRain.

The ActiveRain Staff, along with our members and ambassadors, wish to welcome you to the community. We know you have a choice, and we're glad you've chosen our network as a place to connect with others, support your local neighborhoods and communities, plus grow your business and relationships.

Before you begin your journey here, there's a few areas we invite you to navigate first. This will save you time and give you a better understanding of the Network. We're confident that our site will bring value, benefits, and substantial rewards to you and your business.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
These are REQUIRED and a MUST READ for ALL New Members - NO EXCEPTIONS!

What We Stand For - Weltenschauung
Weltanschauung: The guiding principles and philosophy of an organization. A world view.

The ActiveRain Community Guidelines
Please take these rules seriously.

GETTING STARTED in 3 EASY STEPS
Follow these next steps to get setup on ActiveRain.

How To Setup Your ActiveRain Profile - Completely Customizable
Creating a personal profile is the very first step and the most important. It's ALL about you.

How To Complete Your Profile - Part II
Your profile has three areas that allow you maximize the page. Learn How to use these sections.

How To Use Your "My Settings" Page
Now you are ready to Customize your ActiveRain Settings.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF ACTIVERAIN
Social Networking, Connecting and Blogging

ActiveRain Member Success Stories
Read what other industry professionals and members have to share.
Here's A VIDEO version

Understanding ActiveRain Points
Learn about points and how they work on the network.

The RainMaker Membership
Becoming a RainMaker - The Value and The Benefit

READY TO MAKE LIGHTNING, THUNDER AND RAIN
Now that you're a member and RainMaker, put the power tools to work

Top 10 Tools for New Members and RainMakers
Take the time to review what this network has to offer.

ActiveRain Custom Outside Blogs
How To Create and Maximize Your Outside ActiveBlog.

The ActiveRain Starter Kit
Details about more ActiveRain Products, Tools, and Services.

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
Use these links to dive deeper in the "Rain" if you need more information

The ActiveRainGuide
A Tutorial Blog by Members for Members

The ActiveRain Staff Blog
The Official ActiveRain TEAM Blog

Help/FAQ Group
A network group created to help members

An ActiveRain eBook Tutorial
Find Almost Anything about ActiveRain here

DID YOU KNOW?
ActiveRain is the TOP Real Estate Social Network in the World (source: Google)

The network hosts over 150,000 RE Industry members averaging 200 new members daily. There are more than 1.3 million articles posted, with an average of 10,000 new posts monthly. Two million+ visitors traffic the ActiveRain network each month, over 80% are consumers. Only Rainmaker upgraded accounts receive Google trafﬁc to their blogs and posts. ActiveRain Members blog posts receive more than 500 views on average. Activerain is the ONLY on-line Network that offers this wide of variety of tools, diverse services, and proven solutions to the Real Estate Industry and for consumers on the WEB.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Fourth of July - Weather is Calling for "Rains" Over Most US Cities

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:38:03 -0500

Fourth of July Weather is Calling for "Rains" Over Most US Cities

The national weather and climate control at ActiveRain is forecasting HUGE Rainstorms all across the country via the ActiveRain Community and Network. It's time to bring out your FireWORKS, or put them away. Sorry, this post almost started off sounding like some type of warning news or a sad attempt at a press release. ha-ha...

Over the past few years, we have tracked an increase/spike in traffic, particularly over the Fourth of July Weekend. We're looking for "Local Fourth of July" posts to feature over the next few days. If you have any events, parties, fireworks, concerts etc. in your local areas, we need your posts. We're looking for posts that are well written with hyper local content for your geographic areas. Keep in mind that consumers in your area are looking for this same stuff too. What better way to give them what they need and potentially lead them to your local Blogs.

As one of the most popular Holiday's draws closer, we thought this would be a great chance to give members a heads up so that Google will have some time to find your posts, featured or not. Here's one quick tip: One way to successfully do this is to make sure your Blog Post Title's include area specific location information, and that your first 1 or 2 sentences includes precise event or location details. As you know, when people search Google, results found are most often by their titles, and only the first sentence or two appears in the search results.

This is important in order to get found on Google and also, to get "keyword searchers" to click on YOUR links and read.

Maybe Something Like This as an idea or sample...

Fourth of July Event - Fireworks Over San Francisco, CA. - World Famous Fireworks Display
World Famous Fourth of July Fireworks over San Francisco, CA. This is the most spectacular event being held in the Bay Area. Looking for something different to do this 4th of July? Entertainment, Great Food, World Famous Fireworks Display, FREE parking, and more all located at the Pier in San Francisco, CA. from 4:00-11:00pm. Bart transportation running every 15 minutes.

Wouldn't it be great having this sample show up somewhere in the top 5 on Google tomorrow?

San Francisco 4th of July Celebrations - Fourth of July in San ...
A guide to San Francisco 4th of July fireworks and celebrations. The guide includes information on festivals as well as fireworks cruises on San Francisco Bay.
sanfrancisco.about.com/od/.../qt/sffourthofjuly.htm - Cached - Similar -
Fourth of July Fireworks in San Francisco - July 4th Fireworks and ...
Map showing places where you can view the 4th of July fireworks on San Francisco Bay. Includes information on Fourth of July celebrations in San Francisco ...
sanfrancisco.about.com/library/sfmaps/bljuly4map.htm - Cached - Similar -
More results from sanfrancisco.about.com »
CBS 5 - San Francisco Bay Area's source for news, weather, traffic ...
San Francisco Bay Area news, weather, traffic and sports. ... the number one question every Fourth of July: Where can you watch the fireworks this year? ...
cbs5.com/ - Cached - Similar -
Fourth of July Event - Fireworks over San Francisco, CA - World Famous Fireworks ...
World Famous Fourth of July Fireworks over San Francisco, CA. This is the most spectacular event being held in the Bay Area. activebradsblog.com/ - Cached - Similar -

You've got nothing to lose with an "explosion" of opportunity like this. I hope you'll take advantage, and start getting those "Local Neighborhood and Community Fourth of July" posts up.

Are you still here? Why aren't you gone yet and writing that "Fourth Of July" post for your area? There are people out there searching for things to do in your area right now while you're sitting here reading this! In advance, CONGRATS on your featured post. :-)

Tips about Your ActiveRain "Settings" Page

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:22:57 -0500

Tips about Your ActiveRain "Settings" Page

So much has changed since my initial post from 10/07 regarding the ActiveRain "settings" page. I'm creating an updated post for our new members joining the network. To access your settings, make sure you're logged into AR, then go to your "MY HOME" link located at the top of any page. Next, click on the "Settings" link located on the left hand side of the page. I'll explain each section of the "settings" page below.

This is your Blogs Title. Be sure to give this one some thought, it is the theme of your entire Blog.

Your Blog Description. This is an important area of your "Settings Page." This is where you can add Widgets and their HTML codes to your Blog. This includes any ActiveRain Approved Widgets that are available.

This is your Blogs Description. (Text Only - NO HTML Allowed Here) This is where you should describe your Blog, it's content, and it's value to your readers, but remember the SEO opportunity. You are limited to 100 words, so focus your description and keywords. This is often times the most overlooked area by new and existing AR members. Maximize your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Allow Non-Member comments. Be sure you have this box checked, otherwise readers who are not members of Active Rain will be unable to comment on your post. Unless all your posts on your Blog are members only, I would make sure it's checked!

Sharing your comments. Your comments are already shared in the posts where you've made them. If you want other members and readers to access "All" your comments in one easy access location, you can check this box and allow them, it's your preference.

Twitter Settings. Enter your user name. Be sure it's the one you have setup on Twitter. Detailed Post Here

Add your password for automatic Twitter updates. You may also wish to tweet your "Members Only" posts. By checking the box, you are allowing your "members only" posts to be broadcast over the twitter network. If you don't currently have a twitter account, you can get one here at Twitter.com

Your Email Settings. This is a very important part of your settings page. You have to decide how you want your email notifications to work and be managed here. Do you want to get emailed every time someone adds you as an associate? What about the comments you'll receive on your Blog Posts? How about the groups you've joined, the founder or administrator can do mass emails to the group, do you want to be notified? There is even manual score and point adjustment email notifications. This is really up to each members own discretion.

Under the General Settings, the option to allow others to see when you are on-line is no longer available. This feature will be removed in a future update and release. It was available when the member count used to appear in the upper right corner of AR pages.

Reblogging Option. Reblogging allows others to "ReBlog" your posts on ActiveRain. If you check this box, other members will have to option to Reblog your content on their ActiveRain Blog posts. To find out more about Reblogging and how it works. Click Here.

Hit Router Settings. This is one of the Super-Power features on ActiveRain. Over 100,000 consumers use this per month on average. The Hit Router allows consumers to search specific geographic areas for homes from nearly every Blog post and AR profile. Be sure to setup your Hit Router, maximize Hit Router and create your Market Area Campaigns when you leave this post. This is a great lead generation tool for directing traffic and visitors to your IDX sites and listings. Here's some important information about Hit Router you'll want to know about.
The Final and MOST IMPORTANT TIP HERE: Don't forget to click on the after making changes.

A--------C---------T---------I---------V-----------E-----------R------------A------------I-------------N

This next section is actually part of your "My Home" page, but let's cover it while we're here.

My Comments. Here's where you can go back and track every comment you have ever made on Active Rain. Use the "My Comments" link to go directly to any post you have ever made a comment on.

Notifications. This is a new feature that allows you to review comments made when you've checked the "Notify Me Of Comments" on another members post. They can also be deleted from the list here.

Points Summary. This is a breakdown of points earned. It shows your total points on Featured Posts, comments, regular points, inviting new members etc. ONLY YOU can see the breakdown of your individual points.

Statistics. How many comments do you receive? How many views do you get on your post? How many clicks are your posts getting? It's all on this page. Another great feature of the Statistics page is that you can see every post you've ever submitted on AR. Using the stats page will help you determine many things about your Blog and posts.

Associations. These are other members that have added "YOU" as an associate. When you add someone as an associate, don't forget to put a comment in the box at the bottom of the page. When someone adds you as an associate, hopefully, you'll reciprocate. In my opinion, this is one of the best reference and referral here.

Invite Others. Use this link to send an invitation to someone who is NOT currently a member. When you invite other Real Estate Professionals, and they accept, you will be credited for their membership and get a percentage of points for everything they do on AR. You can also send an invitation outside of AR, just be sure to use the proper link so you can get credit for inviting them.

Blog Bookmarks. This will take you to ALL the posts you have bookmarked on AR. We all get the comments from members that say "I've Bookmarked Your Post!" This is so they can be referred back to at a later time.

Link To ActiveRain. This page will give you the options and graphics to place links and images on other websites and Blogs. It allows you to promote your Blog and membership here at AR. You can use these HTML codes on most outside websites and Blogs.

Review Pending Outside Blog Posts. Another new feature, this allows you to deny or approve other members posts to your Outside ActiveBlogs. Depending on how you setup the admin rights will determine how you end up using this feature. You can find out more about Multi-Authored Outside Blogs here.

Feel free to modify your AR settings anytime. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what each of these areas and links covers. If you have any questions on how to do ANYTHING here on ActiveRain, there are hundreds of instructional posts available that I can point you to, or you can just ask me, and I'll find you the answer. Thanks and Enjoy!

Extreme Landscape Makeover Contest

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:39:29 -0500

The Value of "FREE" -vs- The Perception of "Price"

They say that there are no "Free" lunches, and that nothing in this world is FREE. We once had a neighbor who put his couch out on the sidewalk in front of his house, then placed a sign on it that read "FREE!" It was a really nice couch with great upholstery and no stains or damage. The neighbor simply purchased some newer furniture and didn't have room for that particular piece.

Well that couch sat there for three days, and no one took it. IT WAS FREE! After 3 days, he was going to haul it off to a goodwill store and donate it when he decided to test his theory of the value of FREE vs the perception of price, so he placed a sign on the couch this time that read "For Sale" $100.00. That night, the couch was gone. Yep, someone stole it right out of his driveway. Can you imagine?

What made the difference? Was it the perceived value of 100.00, or was it that people truly believe there is no value in things that are FREE? Something must be wrong with it if it's FREE right?

REALTORS in CT, DC, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA & VA - Win a free landscape makeover!

Bob Stewart sent me a link to a post last week about getting a FREE Landscape done for your clients valued at $2500.00. Is it really free? It's worth 2500.00 dollars so how can it be FREE? Here's the catch. You can steal this one by simply sending in a photo as explained in this post by Kristen. There's been a few responses, but nothing like what we would have expected.

So we're removing the FREE sign and seeing if anyone will steal this opportunity by us placing a $2500.00 dollar price tag on it. Snap those photos and send em in, it doesn't get much easier than that. It's not too good to be true, maybe it's just too true to be good?!?
Deadline for submission is July 8, 2009 - The winner will be notified by July 29, 2009

A Great Celebration in a Spectacular Location - What a Fantastic Vacation!

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:14:09 -0500

Having been away for the past week or so, I have to admit that this was one of the best disconnects ever! My son and I just spent a wonderful time in Hawaii celebrating his accomplishments and graduation from Cal Poly, while also making sure our time away served as an awesome vacation. We had the best time ever. From the moment we landed in Honolulu, till we returned, it was go, go, go! Together we took over 2000 photos, and shared some of the best memories that will last us both a lifetime.

See Sean's Graduation Photos

The first sign that our trip was going to be incredible was when Avis upgraded our car rental from a mid-size vehicle to a Mustang Convertible. The agent at Avis looked at Sean and said "here's my graduation gift to you." Every moment of our trip was like that. We stayed at a friends house in Kaimuki, a 4000+ sq. ft. home with a million dollar view of Diamond Head and Waikiki. The Aloha Spirit was overflowing from day one. Some of the things we were able to do included our Golf Game at Luana Hills, the most beautiful course in the world. (Like playing golf at Jurrasic Park) and yes, Sean beat me by 10 strokes. DOH! :-)

Click Here - More Hawaii Photos

We traveled and explored the entire island of Oahu, stopping to dine and swim at nearly every scenic location. From Sandy Beach, Kailua, Waimanalo, Lanikai, Hanauma Bay to North Shore and Waimea, you could find us snorkeling, swimming, and soaking up the rays. We surfed in Waikiki, shopped at the International Marketplace, and even picked up some goodies at the ABC stores located on nearly every corner. We both soon forgot it was a celebration, and turned it into a vacation in Paradise.

One day, we were actually followed by the Google Maps car while heading to North Shore and we're certain we will be on Google maps when you search "Chinaman's Hat." We had a great time in Haleiwa, and ate at Cholo's, a great Mexican food restaurant in town. Then we had some awesome photo opportunities with the turtles swimming around over on the North Shore. Last Saturday, we took some time out to fly over to Maui, grabbed the Molokini Express, and spent the morning snorkeling in one of the top 10 underwater preserves in the world. Molokini Crater, a must see for any diver or snorkeler.

A day at the Aloha Stadium swap meet shopping was enough to almost convert our carry on bags to check-ins, they were completely packed with gifts and souvenirs. There were so many places we visited, shops, scenic views like the Pali, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, and beautiful coast lines, there is no way I could list all we did in a single post. The best part of the entire trip was getting to be with my son, and celebrate Fathers Day with him alone, something we haven't done in years.

The only negative event that happened this trip was that a man passed away in his seat on the plane coming home. It made us realize just how special life is and that our time here should never be taken for granted. Sean's leaving tomorrow to go on a final cruise with his college buddies, then it's off into the working world for him. I could not be any more proud and pleased with what my son Sean has done and who he has become. He's a young man now, and is the legacy that one day I'll leave behind. The world will be good to him and he to it.

I am so grateful for the time we were able to spend together, and I appreciate all my AR family and friends supporting my leave of absence for this celebration/vacation. It was a very much needed break and disconnect for me and my son. Thank you. Now I'm back, rejuvenated, and ready to try and catch up with all I missed while away. It's great to be back home, but I will have to be going back to the Islands very soon

once again, my wife has made that very clear!! :-))

Mahalo and Aloha!

The Time Has Come - I Hope You'll Forgive Me for Leaving?!

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:47:46 -0500

I never thought I'd be saying this, but it's true...I'm leaving. I knew that this time was coming, but now it's actually here. I know that sounds bad, but it's really not. Some of you might remember the post I did back in 2007, the one about taking my son down south, and dropping him off at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. This was one the proudest yet most tear jerking moments in my life. Reading that post again took me right back to that moment, and nearly soaked and ruined my laptop.

Guess I'm just an ol' softy.

Well, my son and I made a deal back then. If he graduated from Cal Poly with a 4.0 GPA, then I would take him to play a round of golf at any course of his choice. This was our deal, so the agreement was made. Here we are, two years later, and the time has come. I can't believe it, he has done it! UNBELIEVABLE!! Sean is getting his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He has studied his a$$ off and chased a career he's very passionate about. He was also blessed to land the ideal job working for the company of his dreams.

Which brings me to the title of this post. I am the proudest father in America right now. (...a short pause and swallow) My son deserves what was promised, and so much more. Since I'm a man of my word, it's time to fulfill that promise. Sean has chosen a Golf Course in Hawaii to celebrate this fine "Life" achievement. 18 holes, each one representing the years of hard work and effort he has put into his education and career. I have a few other surprises up my sleeve that I know he'll enjoy, but those are a secret for now.

So it is with great anticipation and excitement that I announce I'm heading down to watch the BIG CEREMONY, and my son Graduate with honors from Cal Poly. Oh My Gosh~ Then we'll be catching a flight to Hawaii where we'll spend 7 days together, including Father's Day soaking up the rays, playing golf, lounging on the beach, and just reminiscing lifes journey...

Will you be able to reach me? Hmm. I'm not sure how on-line and connected I'll be during this trip. My iPhone will be with me, but I'll probably need it for emergency calls like booking a tee time, where should we snorkel, what luau should we attend, which Island would be best for a day trip, etc. I'm sure you understand and get the picture. This is not an ActiveBrad Vacation, it's an ActiveDAD Celebration. So if you need anything while I'm away, (10 Days) you can always contact Bob or Jeremy.

You will ALL be missed terribly, but I promise I'll be back... I hope you'll forgive me for leaving. Aloha.

Uh Oh.......st..at.i..c.....you're br ea k ing up..... hssssss.....crackle crackle.........click........dial tone.........

ActiveRain Member Discount - Inman Connect San Francisco 2009

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:48:00 -0500

Connecting socially in the On-line World is great, and important, especially for networking, building relationships and business, but connecting in person after that cyber handshake is what makes it even more exciting and awesome than you can imagine. These are extraordinary times. Inman.com calls their annual event "Inman Real Estate Connect" and it's pretty clear as to why.

"Visitors to Real Estate Connect enjoy 3 jam-packed days full of the industry's best networking opportunities and the very latest business intelligence that will help you rethink, re-frame and recharge your business." Inman.com

The AR community has been a big supporter of "Connects" all the way from San Francisco to New York, and we're doing it again this year. The good folks over at INMAN have extended an "Early RAIN" special discount to ALL ActiveRain members in hopes you'll join us there this year. Jon, Bob, Jeff and I will be there, and we're excited to see old friends and finally get to meet many of you.

Here's some of what's been planned for REC "09"

Bloggers Connect - Familiar names and friendly faces will be speaking like Jeff Turner, Daniel Rothamel, Dustin Luther, Jim Cronin, Reggie and Nicole Nicolay and others. A one-day workshop that is worth the time and investment it takes to get there.
ConnectTECH - Look at these topics and speakers they have which include Matt Lerner - CTO at Walkscore, Gregory Cosmo Haun - Chief Programmer at ForeclosureRadar, Zach Scott - COO at Point2 Technologies. Grab your notepad! :-O
Internet Marketing Summit - The great debate with Sean Black - VP of Sales at Trulia, Alex Chang - CEO at Roost.com, and Tom Tognoli - Founder, COO, and VP of Intero Saratoga. Here's your monies worth.
Top Experts and Speakers - Warning: the list is LONG! In addition, rumor has it that our own Jonathan Washburn and Jeff Corbett will also be speaking this year. Even if this is just a rumor, the AR Gatherings are not. (more on that coming soon...)
Start up Alley - What's the future of real estate technology? Start-Up Alley, the newest addition debuting at Inman Connect.
2009 Innovator Awards - See who's The Most Innovative Brokerage or Franchise, Most Innovative New Technology, Most Innovative Web Service, Most Innovative Blog, Most Innovative Media Site? These awards started back in 1997. Previous winners included ActiveRain, Roost, Estately, AgentGenius, Frontdoor, vFlyer, Altos Research, Google Earth, Curbed.com and many more.
Social Networking - This is happening before, during and after the event on sites like LinkedIn, FaceBook, Twitter etc.
Sponsors and Exhibitors - Stroll the isles and see the latest and greatest products, tools, and services for your business from some of the greatest vendors and minds in the Real estate Industry. This is one of my favorites.
The ActiveRain Gathering - To Be Announced!

Inman Videos From Past Conferences

Looking back at years past, I have never regretted attending one of these events. They just get bigger and better every year. If you have never attended an Inman Connect, it's difficult to put into words the value and benefit they bring to your business, and if you have attended in the past, then you know exactly what I mean. Come meet many of the ActiveRain members you may already know on-line, and also come away with a good understanding of what is needed to survive the future of the Real Estate Industry.

My trip down "Memory Lane" from previous connects:

VIDEO:
Video from Inman Connect 2007

ActiveRain Member Interviews from Inman Connect 2008

PHOTOS:
Inman Connect San Francisco 2008

Inman Connect - New York City 2009

We hope you'll join us August 5th -7th for another exciting "connect" and "gathering" and just FYI, ActiveRain Gatherings in the City By The Bay are the absolute best! So go get that member discount, and come join us for a time you'll never forget. We'll see you in San Francisco. :-)

Click Here for ActiveRain Partner Pricing
Deadline to register at this discounted price is June 19, 2009

ActiveRain Community Search - HGTV’s "House Hunters" Is Now Casting

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:30:55 -0500

ActiveRain Members - HGTV’s "House Hunters" Is Now Casting and Looking for YOU!

HGTV’s hit TV series, House Hunters, is looking for Homebuyers and Real Estate Agents who want to appear on the show! ActiveRain and HGTV are working together in an effort to find qualified candidates who may be interested in sharing their "House Hunting" journey on National Television.

This could be a huge opportunity, and a lot of fun for some of our members and their clients.

House Hunters follows buyers and their agents on the hunt as they find just the right house for them—and every story is different. If you’re an energetic and outgoing Real Estate Agent currently working with a Homebuyer, we'd love to hear from you.

Are you in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia or Colorado?

House Hunters is currently looking for Homebuyers who are:

Buying within a 90 min. drive of downtown Philadelphia, Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul and St. Louis

Closing in the next 1-2 months, this includes buyers who are actively bidding on a home or newly under contract

Fun, enthusiastic, and have a great story to tell

If you're interested, let me know and I'll forward your information to their Associate Producer. If you'd rather, you can also apply directly at HouseHunters@HighNoonEntertainment.com. Thanks for helping us find some members and clients for their show, we're excited about assisting them with this endeavor.

House Hunters airs weeknights at 9/8c on HGTV and is produced by High Noon Entertainment. To learn more about the show visit HGTV.com/HouseHunters. We appreciate your support with this Casting Quest.

The RAINMAKER - Social Networking & Growing Business

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:24:57 -0500

The Northern California Chapter of CRB invited us to come discuss Social Media Marketing and Networking with their group at their annual spring luncheon yesterday. The event is held every year at the Sacramento Convention Center. First off, I want to thank the Board Of Directors for inviting ActiveRain to speak, and also thank those who attended. It was an honor and privilege to be part of your meeting. I also want to thank President Earl Shuttleworth CRB, GRI and Executive Director - Joseph Banuat CRB for the beautiful plaque and for their wonderful hospitality. Your organization is Top Shelf.

This particular presentation was to help Brokers and Managers to understand Social Networking a bit more and also the benefits of being an ActiveRain RainMaker. Our goal is to show Brokers and Managers how a group or team Blog can benefit their company, brokerage, or them as an individual. Also why supporting agents and their effective Blogging efforts is so important. There was a great deal of interest by the group as we had 30+ CRB members/guests ask to be included in the upcoming webinar "How To Build A Powerful Team or Group Blog!"

Congratulations to Gerrett Snedaker, CRB - CEO/Broker of Frank Howard Allen Realtors in Sonoma County for winning the drawing and an ActiveRain RainMaker Membership. We're looking forward to the development and success of Gerrett's new Team/Group Blog. For those unable to attend, I've included what was shared at the luncheon: a mind map from mindmeister, a PowerPoint presentation, and a video webinar created by Steven Graham using ActiveRains own Virginia Hepp from Mesquite Nevada as a case study. Thanks again for allowing us the opportunity to be part of your meeting, we hope ideas for opportunity were shared and created for you in return.

CRB Broker Presentation

Here's a short video about the case study done on one of our Rainmaker Members

UPDATE: Here's the "RainMaker" Webinar Presentation if you missed it on June 11th. This was the follow-up that I recommend any Broker, Manager, or Individual agent take a look at. Thanks Bob Stewart for helping put this together for this group, you Rock!! Click below to play the video.

How To Maximize Indexing (RAINdexing) on your Outside Blogs

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:56:06 -0500

There is a need for some clarification as to how RAINdexing or Indexing your Outside Blogs works on ActiveRain. With all the options available and the inter-connections between AR Blogs, Localism and Outside Blogs etc., I am going to try and simplify how it all works and what it all means. Since my recent post "poll survey results" concluded that reading was the #1 best way for the majority to learn, I'm opting to do a Blog post on this topic.

Here's the 5 areas we'll cover in order to help you grasp and get your arms around how this all works:

Channels, Topics, Localism, Outside Blogs, Categories & Local Post Widgets.

MAXIMIZING INDEXING ON OUTSIDE BLOGS - PART I

Indexing Your Outside Blog Categories Using Channels and Topics

TIP: The Channels and Topic options are located just below the Visibility Section when creating or editing a post.

When creating a new Blog post that you want to appear on your Outside Blog, it's imperative that you are adding the post to Channels and giving it a "TOPIC". Topics will appear on your Outside Blog as "Categories" and will be indexed or RAINdexed accordingly. When you apply the Categories Widget to your Outside Blog, your "Topics" will appear on the sidebar as "Categories." See below.

Here's a Screen-shot from the Outside Blog Sidebar
(This is referred to as the Category Widget)

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MAXIMIZING INDEXING ON OUTSIDE BLOGS - PART II

RAINdexing your Outside Blog Local Posts Using Localism and the Local Posts Widget

TIP: The Localism options are located just below the Visibility Section when creating or editing a post.

To have your Blog posts RAINdexed and sorted by Geographic Location, you'll need to add them to Localism for this Widget to work on your Outside Blog. Adding posts to Localism allows you to select State, County, City, and even down to a specific neighborhood. Having these geographic locations broken down this way allows viewers to search those specific Hyper-Local posts by "Index" for the areas they may be interested in.

Here's a Screen-shot from the Outside Blog Sidebar
(This is referred to as the Local Posts Widget)

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MAXIMIZING INDEXING ON OUTSIDE BLOGS - PART III

How To Add The Indexing / RAINdexing Widgets To Your Outside Blog

Step 1:

Go to your Outside Blog and Log-in

Step 2:

Click on the link at the top of the page and then click the button.

Step 3:

Open the "Add New Widget" pull-down menu and select "Categories" or "Local Posts" then repeat.
(you can only add one widget at a time)

Step 4:

You can use the button to align your Index Widgets by simply dragging and dropping them where you want them to appear on your Outside Blog sidebar. Once you're finished, just click on .

Step 5:

Click here to see a sample of how this has worked well for another AR member. RAINdexing is Powerful.

I hope this post clears up some of the confusion or misunderstanding of how all these tools work together to get you the best possible results and indexing of your Outside Blogs. As always, if you have any questions or need any assistance, our support staff and team are always ready and willing to help. If you do not currently have an outside blog but might be considering one in the future, taking these steps now will ensure you won't have to go back and make edits to your posts in the future.

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Related Articles To Assist You

How To Create and Maximize an ActiveRain Outside Blog - 10 easy steps

How To Drive Traffic To Your AR Outside Blogs

ActiveBlogs - Link Love and SEO

CRB Real Estate Brokers - Building and Supporting Hyper-Local Blogs

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:20:58 -0500

Are you a Real Estate Broker or Manager? Do you support your Agents Blogging? Should a Real Estate Brokerage have a company Blog in addition to their own personal Blogs? What is the value of having a Brokerage or TEAM Blog with multiple contributors? Who are the "key" people that should contribute to a group Blog? What should be the focus of a "Brokerage Blog" vs "Personal" and what kind of time commitment is involved? What tools can be incorporated to bring more value to your Blogs and to the consumer, and why the Heck should you care?

This Friday, we'll share some insight about these and other questions. The CRB (Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers) Northern California Chapter has invited AR to attend and represent the community. The question of whether to have a Blog or not is really no longer the question at all, especially if you're in todays Real Estate Industry and Market. The real question is; "how do you support, budget, and integrate time and technology so that the individual and Broker Blogs work, and are not something that can cause you or your office problems, lost business, or big money?"

Consumers are using the Internet more and more for research causing Agents and Brokers to take a deeper look at their involvement with Blogging, WEB 2.0 technologies, and their Internet presence. Is it time to be in tune with them and to find more ways to support them? Every Brokerage should consider having a Group/Team Blog. In the very near future, this won't be a choice or option, it'll be an Industry standard, just like "the website" was.

The only choices soon will become when and how...

Building a Team or Broker Blog with Multiple Contributors doesn't have to be challenge or nightmare. Understanding some basic key fundamentals can help you establish a powerful presence both on-line and in your Local Community. ActiveRain programmers, developers, and our staff have put in many hours of time and research to determine what works and what doesn't. Without a doubt, it takes commitment, focus, time, and a plan. Investing these four basic elements will deliver a multitude of positive results.

Making the decision to have a Blog or Team Blog is the easy step, but knowing how to make it work and what things to implement, along with who should be contributing, is the key to ANY multi-authored Blogs' success. If you're a Real Estate Broker/Manager, and you do not currently have a Blog or TEAM Blog for your Personal, Brokerage or Office, this may be an enlightening Luncheon for you to attend. Joe Banuat from Coldwell Banker (also the NOR-CAL CRB Executive Director) is inviting ALL OF YOU to join us in Sacramento this Friday for:

"Technology and YOU - the Broker/Manager"

brought to you in part by:

All Licensed Real Estate Agents are Welcome, you DO NOT have to be a Broker or Manager to attend this event.

Can a Network Poll Make A Difference?

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:59:45 -0500

Maybe if you vote and reblog this post, we'll find out...

- What's the Easiest and Fastest Way for YOU To Learn? -

Is it reading? Is it just listening? By Watching Video? On-Line Webinars? Hands on training Classes?

Your ActiveRain Staff and Community Builders want to know?

Please take just one second and vote, thanks. :-)

The New CSS Styling Option for Activerain Outside Blogs

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:12:12 -0500

Today, Jorgen Hahn announced the *NEW* Chameleon "Theme" for ActiveRain Outside Blogs. Unlike all the other themes available, this one has CSS Styling capability. STOP! Don't PANIC. We're here to help you understand what CSS is, how it works, and how to use it. DO NOT CUSTOMIZE your CSS enabled template or Outside Blog Theme until you absolutely understand how it works and what it does. You could really mess up your Blog. This is for ADVANCED USERS with knowledge of CSS Styling. Having said that, I'll try and break it down, make it simpler and easier to understand, and help you feel comfortable with this new feature.

Those of you who are proficient with CSS styling, you're free to go, have fun customizing your Outside Blogs.

So What Is CSS?

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets

This in simple terms just means the formatting and style of your page or Blog and how it will appear to visitors. It allows you the ability to customize your Outside Blog to be unique, and look any way you choose. It's a very powerful and advanced tool for those using the new CSS Styling theme. If you want to know more details about CSS Styling, you can go to http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_intro.asp for some basic details. Before trying to understand CSS, you should try to have a basic understanding of HTML / XHTML.

What Can I Do With CSS Styling?

You can set your background color or use an image. You might want to change the color, font size and font type of your text. You can customize borders, outlines, margins, padding, tables, dimensions, classifications and a ton more. Take a breath, relax, and count to 10.

This tutorial walks you through each of these areas.

Where Can I get Help or Learn More?

WEB3schools.com is a great site that I have referred to on many occasions to learn what I can about this stuff, and then share with others. It's an easy way to get started understanding this techy stuff. Though this may be making your head spin at this point, It is worth every bit of your time and effort to at least understand what it is, what it does, and how it works. Another option is to have someone else you know and trust just do this for you. :-)

Try It Out For Yourself - You Can't Break This Part!

Let me show you some samples of what changing your CSS Styling can look like.

I've added this link so you can practice - CLICK HERE.

Finally, don't be intimidated by this NEW POWER offered on ActiveRain, instead, try to harness it and use it to enhance and better your Outside Blogs. I will be testing out this new theme in the days ahead, and seeing what I can do to provide you more clear and concise instructions with some samples on using CSS to maximize the look and feel of your NEW customizable Blog Theme.

Beginning CSS - Tutorial from FREETutorials (Part 1of 5)

NO! It's NOT You - There's a Hickup in our Giddy-up!

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:11:58 -0500

Sometimes in an effort to make improvements , the lightning and thunder (which create the rain ) can also cause some small inconveniences.

As many of you may have or will discover today, we are experiencing some issues with commenting, posting and even uploading photos to your Blog posts. We have narrowed down some of these unfortunate problems to be issues with the Internet Explorer Web Browser for the most part. Photo uploading is not working with either web browser currently. We are aware of ALL these inconveniences.

We're working hard to get it resolved quickly and thank all our members for their patience. :-)

This post will self-destruct 60 seconds after the storm has been weathered and all repairs are completed!

The REBarCamp "VIRAL" Phenomenon - Spreads to Denver Colorado

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:00:29 -0500

This event will potentially be the Largest REBarCamp ever! The BIG DADDY of them all! Last I checked there were over 450 RSVP's, and more than 30 Corporate Sponsors. I remember attending the very first REBarCamp in San Francisco, then is was Seattle, Texas, New York, and now it's made it's way to Denver Colorado. What is it about REBarCamps that has them popping up all over the United States? Is this the next biggest Real Estate Industry Phenomenon since Twitter or what? Have you been to an REBarCamp? Half the battle is just getting there.

What is REBarCamp? - See Kristal Kraft's explanation On TV~

"REBarCamp is a One-Day event where passionate real estate industry experts come together to share their knowledge peer to peer. Sessions evolve based on whatever topic one wants to share and whoever wants to learn."

REBarCamps are successful and growing because of one simple thing...people! It's the "people" that make these things happen. It's the "people" who sponsor them, and the "people" who put it all together. It's the "people" who show up and share with others at their own expense. It's also the social networking aspect that has turned these REBarCamps into a "must attend" the for the Real Estate Industry. REBarCamp is more than just learning and sharing WEB 2.0 Real Estate Technology and tools, it's meeting and mingling with some of the finest experts in the Industry.

REBarCamp Denver Attracts Headliners!

There will be a "LIVE" streaming video from Broker IPTV, and a Twitter feed (#REBCDEN) so you can be there in "Virtual Real-Time." I have a gut feeling about this one, it's going to be huge! So Pack your bag, get in a plane, train, or automobile, and get your butt over there. You don't want to miss "The Largest and BEST REBarCamp" in the history of these events.

I'm flying out to Colorado tomorrow to be part of this spectacular event. I hope to share some photos, videos, and podcasts while I'm there. Kristal Kraft and others have poured their heart and soul into putting this all together. Please take a moment to stop and thank her and the others including all the great sponsors.

My prediction is that there will have been an REBarCamp in every state by the end of 2009.

It's not just the sessions, presentations, and the event that make these REBarCamps so valuable, it's the connections and stuff that happens in the hallways, before, and after that can bring the greatest opportunities, value, and fun. I'm looking forward to seeing you there, and if not physically, then virtually! :-)

http://rebarcamp.com/denver/
Friday, May 22, 2009
The DPPA Event Center
MAP & DIRECTIONS
2105 Decatur Street
Denver, CO 80111
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
RSVP Here!
COST: FREE!

Your Daily Recommended Dosage of the Rain

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:52:25 -0500

How do you keep up with all that's going on in RE and the ActiveRain Community? One way is to just login each day and read the posts on the feature board, or check out the blogs of members you subscribe to, maybe pop into the groups you've joined for interesting topics, or just use the AR Blogroll to seek out today's newest posts. This is typical of how most members are trying to keep up with all the content that's available each day in the rain. Talk about having your finger on the pulse of the Industry, it's about 2000 BPM. lol~

Another way is to just read the "Daily Activerain NewsPaper!" Activerain has a newspaper? Well, kinda...

Everyday our staff and team are not only looking for featured posts, we are also looking for articles to include in the AR Newsletter that goes out to our members every evening. The AR Newsletter is another great resource for getting member information and ActiveRain Blogs out to our members. I use the newsletter to forward to friends and others who are interested in AR or what it's all about. There are posts, videos, featured members and more. It's convenient, easy, and FREE. It's like a trickle of rain delivered to you daily.

May 16, 2009

Are You Using Real Estate Tools, or a Jig Saw?

Featured Blogs

	Top 10 ActiveRain Tools for NEW MEMBERS and RainMakers Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain)
	Be at all of your listings appraisals! Ralph Gorgoglione (EcoBroker Certified - John Aaroe Group, Inc.)
	Whats the Point of a Comment? Dinah Lee Griffey Allyn, Belfair,& LakeLand-Homes & Land (Windermere Peninsula Properties)
	If you are doing what this agent is doing, you are doing it backwards! George Paukert (Road to Wealth, Inc.)
	If You Want To Sell Your Home, Don't Dwell On The Past Lisa Udy Realtor Utah Real Estate Specialist (Logan Utah Real Estate Immaculate Homes)
	The No Spin Zone Sandy Childs (Keller Williams)
	Making Activerain More User-Friendly Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate (Long and Foster, Crofton Real Estate)
	Using First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credits for the Downpayment - It's GONE !!!! - The story of the $8,000 tax credit Sheldon Neal -- That British Agent -- (Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited)

Featured Video

Real Estate "Blogging for Dollars" - Darrin Friedman, Part 1

Member Spotlight

Renee Burrows - Las Vegas NV. ASK ABOUT -1st Time Buyer Down Payment Assistance! (Nevada Realty Solutions - Realtor - Estate - Probate - REO)

Renee Burrows has been contributing local Las Vegas content on her ActiveRain Blog since November 2006. Her sharing of information, her experiences, and her successes within the community are a must read!

View Member

Your Daily Dose of Rain, for the Storm, click here.

The newsletter makes it easy for those on the go who may not have the time to check in each day to see what's going on around the world and in the Real Estate Community. If you're not getting the newsletter, and would like to be added to the list, you can subscribe on my sidebar over on the right. It's not about adding another task or email to your day, it's about keeping you up to speed with just a portion of the wide variety of content and information that might be useful to you. The Newsletter is just one more way to help members reduce the fatigue that comes from trying to keep up with it all.

NOTE: If you subscribe and are NOT receiving the Daily Newsletter, it may be going to your spam folder. Be sure to accept email coming from AR [reply-14018@up0.net] and add it to your approved senders list.

Social Media Howcasts for Social Networking Beginners

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:31:34 -0500

How about a wall of video instead of a wall of words for a change? :-O Did you know there are folks out there who have never heard of these networks and concepts before? These videos will hopefully enlighten those who have an interest in learning about Social Media Marketing and some of the tools and sites available for Social Networking.

Yahoo Real Estate? - The Jury Is OUT!

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:41:24 -0500

I'm looking for a "Verdict" on this one, and need your help.

Do you use Yahoo for searching the web or for any other reason? Do you advertise on Yahoo? Do you pay for your Yahoo.com email address? Are you in on this Yahoo Real Estate thing? I was not aware the Yahoo was in the business of selling Real Estate and quite honestly I was rather shocked this was available. I received this "spam" email and it really got me thinking wondering...

I'm just curious what your thoughts are about the idea of Yahoo trying to capture the "Buyer" market? Just because they have the presence, power, money and ability to do this on the web, does this mean they should? I was spammed to boot. Don't get me wrong, I believe in equal opportunity, just wondering how this might affect those who are using their tools and paying for some of their services only to have them trying to take the very business you're after away. I'm a big fan of the many Yahoo tools and services, but this one, I'm not too sure about.

The jury is still out on this one, will you be the Jury?? What are your thoughts and wonders....I'm parked!

Top 10 ActiveRain Tools for NEW MEMBERS and RainMakers

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:14:40 -0500

I've been out doing office presentations these past few weeks, and sharing with Brokers and Agents what ActiveRain is all about. In my travels, I have found that as new members join ActiveRain, it can seem a bit overwhelming because there are so many members, tools, great posts, and let's face it, there's a ton of information here.

So Where do you go and what do you do once you hear about ActiveRain?

The first step is to just sign up, the second step is to setup and create your ActiveRain profile, and the third step is to write that first post. To help new members with these steps and to try and simplify the process, there is a "Getting Started" post that helps minimize the frustration some experience their first few visits here.

The most common question I get is "What tools does ActiveRain offer to help my Business?"

Having useful tools in your "Toolbox" is great, but if you don't know where they are, you're not using them, you don't know how, or you never open the toolbox, then none of them will present much value? Hopefully this wil help some of you that are new to the community.

Here's the "TOP 10 ActiveRain Tools" and in no particular order:

10. Advertising on Activerain can get you some great exposure. Nearly 150,000 members, and over 2,000,000 visitors each month. We have numerous options available through channels, Activerain pages, the Daily Newsletter and the Top Spot on the Feature Board.

9. Go Hyper-Local using Localism.com Creating content on ActiveRain for your Localism Blog can be a huge resource for your local communities and neighborhoods. The worlds most complete neighborpedia. Sponsoring a community is easy and inexpensive.

8. Building a Profile is more than just your picture, company name and phone number. Member profiles CAN generate Subscribers, Traffic, Associates and Business. Take the time to make your profile your masterpiece. Your Profile can be just as powerful as a website.

7. Outside Blogs have become one of ActiveRains leading tools for members. There's No need to learn a new Blogging platform. It's easy to set one up and there are plenty of tools and widgets to help make your custom outside Blogs successful.

6. Vision - Do you know what your prospects are thinking? ActiveRain presents a new vision for success. IDX and Leads are great to have, but you'll need the tools, a plan, and the follow-up / follow thru to make any lead generation tool become a success.

5. Hit Router - With over 100,000 City searches on ActiveRain recently, you could generate some great leads via your IDX. Set up your FREE Markets, create City Search Campaigns, you can watch a webinar how to do it all. There's over 1,000,000 posts on ActiveRain which means one million plus opportunities for visitors to search for homes in your area and find YOU.

4. The ActiveRain Referral Exchange. Be sure to setup some alerts in your area immediately. This training webinar will help. There's even a rating system in place that can be used at the close of referral transactions. A tool every referral exchange should have.

3. Networking, Connecting, and building Associations with other Real Estate Industry Professionals on ActiveRain will increase your knowledge and resources faster than any other website or Social Network out there. Your Associates are a great reference and endorsement. You can Build your National and International Associates all in one place.

2. It's good to find Blogging mentors who have been successful. There are thousands of great Bloggers and successful members here on ActiveRain, you can see the Top 100 most subscribed to get some great ideas and to see what works for them.

1. Becoming a Rainmaker member does have it's obvious privileges. Why? (see all the above) There are many more tools, services and benefits you'll discover on ActiveRain, but these 10 are the most valuable and powerful in my opinion. Remember that joining ActiveRain and using these tools is not a "Sprint To The Win" it's a "Marathon To The Victory!"

Sometimes finding support and answers to your questions can seem like a daunting task, but there are some easy ways and "tools" available to help you get anything you need on ActiveRain. You can Contact ActiveRain, use the SEARCH tool, check the HELP/FAQ Group, visit the ActiveRainGuide.com for "how-to" posts and tutorials, use my profile, or you can contact our staff on-line anytime. You'll find our staff Blog at ActiveRainTeam.com.

Specific Tools are created to get certain jobs done, I hope these tools help you "Get Your Job Done!"

REALTORS® - Important 100K Announcement!

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:24:23 -0500

If you're a REALTOR®, Broker, or an Agent and member of ActiveRain, this is a MUST READ! Last month, over 100,000 consumers searched ActiveRain for Real Estate in specific cities using the "Search For Homes" feature. I was just in a meeting with Bob Stewart and Doug Ching going over the stats and analytics reports. Folks, this is no joke, consumers flock to AR and used this tool in their quest for finding homes.

So why is this so important and why should you care? We've discovered that most of our Agent and REALTOR® members DO NOT have "Hit Router" Campaigns setup. That means these searches are NOT going to your IDX lead generating sites. WOW, look at these numbers and stats. I'm sharing this with you because while you are out there searching for tools to better your SEO and Blog, consumers are searching our network interested in homes in your area, and in most cases, we have very few members with campaigns setup in these areas.

And the list goes on and on and on... in fact, there are 600+ cities that had more than 100 searches.

If you're a REALTOR® member here, please don't miss out on this crucial opportunity to take advantage of the Hit Router Campaigns that each of you have access to. If 487 people searched San Diego last month for "Homes For Sale" and not a single member has a campaign setup there, this means those possible leads are lost to another company that may in fact be selling them off.

The key to making this work for you is:
#1 - Setting Up Your City Search Campaigns, and
#2 - Making sure you have a good lead capture IDX site where this traffic will land.

After researching some pay per clicks sites out there, Brokers and Agents are paying upwards of $3.00 per click to capture these leads from other sources like Google. AR campaigns start at .49 cents per click. I can't emphasize enough the value and gold mine you're sitting on here. Please take a few moments to look into this, the urgency here is that if our members aren't interested and don't take advantage of these "campaigns" fairly soon, they will end up being sold to the larger companies who are already willing, able and want to capitalize on these Clicks.

ActiveRain members need to be aware of this while you have the opportunity to jump on it. This is HUGE!! We want our members to get first shot at directing these home searches to your IDX sites, and will do everything we can to get this information out there to every REALTOR®. Bob Stewart is doing a price comparison of some other pay per click sites to show you the difference in value here, I'll add that link shortly. I would also assume that the home searches conducted here are of higher "quality" than they may be on some of the other generic pay-per-click sites.

This is one of the most important posts and announcements I've written on ActiveRain. Home searches are taking place on Activerain right now, these stats are proof. We want YOU to be able to help complete the process in finding these people homes. Please, contact Bob or myself if you have any questions or need more information regarding these stats, or if you just need help setting up your hit router campaigns.

This should be given priority consideration today. Thanks.

The Ultimate WEB 2.0 Business Card

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:38:49 -0500

Today I was reading Russell Lewis's post about "The Trials and Trepidations" regarding Business Cards. The video "Your Business Card Is Crap" he has posted is very interesting and is actually what sucked me into the "Think and Wonder" tank today. How valuable is your business card these days? What do people do with them? What do you do with yours that you've collected? I have hundreds, maybe thousands, all rubber-banded together, sitting in boxes located under my desk.

Now don't get me wrong, they are very important, and I would never throw yours away, but.....

All the important folks I know or have met in life are either in my phone, in my email contacts, or available via the web. Heck, I have a database right here on AR with over 145,000 and it's so much easier to access them on-line than it would ever be trying to find their business card in one of those dusty buried boxes. It's time to re-evaluate the most commonly used marketing piece in business, your business card. Here's the card I like to use when I DON'T want to be contacted by an acquaintance: lol~

What is my idea of the ultimate business card in a web 2.0 world? Here's my thought: Do you want to drive traffic to your Blogs or sites? Do you want Google to know your name? Do you want to be the ONLY ONE that shows up on pages of the search engines with NO competitors? You can, and here's a unique and creative way. If you must give out a card, getting people to remember your name is the key. If they lose the card or forget your website, or even parts of the conversation you had, hopefully they will never forget your name!

Here's my NEW WEB 2.0 business card and it actually works so don't laugh at it.

So the next time someone asks you where you work or for your business card, just say Google.com. First off, they'll be shocked thinking that you work for Google, (love that shock factor) then they'll most likely ask you if you really do? At this point, get them to know and remember your name, then hand them the above card, and just say "Google Me!" I know this is different than the typical business card exchange, but that's exactly what makes it more impressionable. Try this yourself and test the results. The card will be destined for the same place it ends up normally, but the concept, delivery, and message hopefully won't be forgotten.

Go ahead, Google me!!

Disclaimer: Sorry John Smith and Mary Jones, you may have to find a better way... or change your name. :-)

Pink is My Favorite Color...or NOT

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:11:44 -0500

I remember what it was like to be let go from my company where I had over 20 years with them. It's not only a shock, it is devistating. Looking back, it's probably the best thing that ever happened to me because now I am with the greatest company I could ever ask for, ActiveRain Corp.

I'm reblogging this post for obvious reasons. A fellow AR member (and very dear friend) Missy Caulk has experienced some major turmoil in her life with her husband losing his job as a teacher. We are all reaching out and supporting the Caulk family by asking for not only your positive thoughts and prayers, but for the World of Social Media of family and friends to pull together and help find her Husband Mike a job in the Tennessee. Read her post below.....

Please take the time to reblog her post, twitter your followers, facebook your friends, and get Mike LinkedIn to a position he has worked hard for, been dedicated to, and most certainly deserves. Let's show the World and the Caulk family the power of Social Media Networking and the hearts of friends who really care. Help! Thanks.

Via Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor):

Tuesday my husband was given a pink slip from Belleville High School. He is history teacher and social studies teacher. He is tenured.

I was shocked

The schools in Michigan are handing out a lot of pink slips including: Flint 257, Detroit 600, Pontiac everyone, Lansing 170.

Last year at Belleville High School, (where he teaches) they didn't let enough teachers go so in October after the enrollment count they had to redo classes. Mike was not one of them.

When they change the class sizes some students go and some classes are dropped and it is disruptive. So this year they are letting 90 go and then hiring back.

If you are pinked slipped and hired back you can still be let go in October after the enrollment count.

Can you stay unstable?

I don’t want your sympathy but your advice, prayers and help.

I want to see if Social Media (which we all hail) can get my husband a job.

In Tennessee

Most of you know I am from the South and we have hoped to move back there when we retired if not before.

So I am asking you if you know anyone in Tennessee, the Nashville Area to please pass along my husband’s name. We have looked and there are 5 History teaching positions available in the Nashville, Williamson County Area, which he is applying for.

However, it is not what you know but WHO YOU KNOW.

A little bragging:

My husband is an outstanding teacher. Every year his classes fill up and if a student is removed for scheduling issues…mom and dad demand they be put back in Mr. Caulk’s class.

Mike does all of his lesson plans on Power Point, uses YouTube and the news this week by Uncle Jake. He is a fun, and an engaging history teacher. Making the subject come alive for his students.

Everyday at school for 5 years, he would check out the over-head projector so this year, the administration bought him one. I can count on my ONE hand the days he has missed in the last 6 years, even returning the day after he had stints put in his heart.

Social Media is more than Twitter, more than FaceBook it is like attending a Chamber of Commerce meeting that extends outside four walls.

Can Social Media help find Mike A JOB?

They say if you want to adopt a baby tell everyone you know. So I am telling everyone I know. Any help would be so appreciated, especially if you know anyone in the Nashville area that teaches, a principal or works in Administration. ( If you do I will email you his resume.)

When one door closes, another one opens so we are thinking and hoping this might be an open door to move and settle in TN. First of all we are believing God will open a door if we are to move forward with a job in Tn. But, we know He works through people, so hence my appeal to you here on Activerain.

I figure if Jay McGullicuddy can find his birth mother and Brad Andersohn his brother,....

ALL things are Possible on Activerain.

AnnArborRealtor@gmail.com

ActiveRain Referral Exchange - A Great Way to Manage Referrals

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:54:16 -0500

Now this may not be eHarmony or Match.com, but then we're not trying to match you to a soul mate either. We're trying to help you find the "Best" real estate Professional match for your clients. Here's another tool and service that AR members have access to, but may not know about or be using.

One of the greatest values I saw when I first joined AR, was the access to 21,000 members scattered all across the Country. Exchanging referrals with other Real Estate Professionals seemed like the "Best" value ActiveRain had to offer at the time. I still think it's one of the greatest values here today. Now with over 145,000 members, and Global reach, exchanging referrals and leads just makes sense. If you're not familiar with, or using the "Referral Exchange" here, you may want to research this a bit further.

Having access to a network of this magnitude is one thing, but having access to the tools that were created and designed to assist you with referrals is really the key. The referral exchange goes beyond just connecting with others in the industry and on ActiveRain, it focuses specifically on meeting you and your clients Real Estate needs in ALL geographic locations. Making a match, and here's how it works:

Some Key Benefits of The Referral Exchange:

Browse Available Referrals by State or Province seeking Agents, Loan Officers, Inspectors, Appraisers, Stagers etc. You can also search and sort by the quality of the referral or lead. This can be a very useful and powerful tool in the event my clients happen to be looking for services in your area. My sellers are leaving my town and coming to yours. They need a loan, an Agent, and Insurance etc. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this...

Posting Referrals: has never been easier, go ahead, click the link and see for yourself.

Manage Your Posted Referrals: having access in one location makes follow-up easy and saves you time.

Create and Manage Referral Alerts: which can be created and setup in a matter of seconds. Literally.

"The Referral Exchange is the place for members to effectively pass/share client referrals with one another. A referral is a 'live' client contact, someone who is seriously considering either buying or selling a home in the near future. The Referral Network IS NOT a place to advertise your listings, promote your development, or solicit 'potential' referral partners for some unknown possibility down the road. It is ONLY for members to share/pass actual 'live' clients who need a real estate professional to assist them now."

If you want to find out more about The Referral Exchange on ActiveRain, you can join our training Webinar this next Thursday 5/7/09 at 11:00am PST, we'll be unveiling all the tools, tips, tricks, and techniques, on how to make this all work for you. This is not just for REALTORS, it's for ALL members, and it's currently FREE. Do yourself a favor and check it out, I just saw a bunch of 4 star referrals crossed out, so there's obviously members using this, and to me, that's a sign it must be working. Looking forward to sharing more at the Webinar next week.

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Edited 5/7/09

Here's a link to the Recorded Training Webinar

Click Here to Download The Webinar To Your Computer

Be sure to watch the "Rating" process, this is a powerful tool for you to use.

How To Setup and Maximize Hit Router for Generating Leads

Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:25:37 -0500

Every member on AR has access to "Hit Router" on their "My Home" page. Setting up Hit Router and maximizing it's potential with lead generation and IDX solutions is exactly why it was created. The vision and goal of Hit Router was to help our members be able to direct visitors and traffic to their customized IDX sites, then convert those leads to clients and transactions. There are a couple ways you can do this, and we'd love to show you how. Understanding how to set this up properly can make all the difference in the leads you could be generating from your AR Blog.

Bob Stewart and I will be showing members how to best utilize Hit Router this Thursday at 2:00pm PST. Join us if you'd like to know more about the ways you could be using Hit Router on your Blog and for your business.

In the Webinar, We'll be Covering the Following and more:

How To Setup and Capture Your Local Market Leads

How To Create City Search Campaigns

Using IDX -vs- Websites

Understanding The "CPC Click Campaigns"

How To View Results and Reports

Understanding What "Hit Router Credits" are, and How it all Works

To Join The FREE Webinar - Click Here
(No RSVP or Pre Registration Required)

If you are unable to attend this particular training, we will be doing some repeats in the future. We'll also be recording certain sessions that can be reviewed later as refreshers, or by other members who may be interested in some of these topics and trainings. We hope to have these available weekly to the AR Community. If you have topics or suggestions for future AR Webinars, let us know your needs.

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Edited 5/1/09

Click here for streaming Video of the recorded webinar

Click here to download the Webinar to your Computer

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