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blogging: First Impression-ist Masterpieces Now Hang in the Active Rain Gallery - 04/14/08 11:05 AM
Last week something new began to be seen in the great hallowed halls of Active Rain. Beautiful blog masterpieces started to appear. Active Rain gave to us all another great new improvement to help us all better differentiate and further brand ourselves through our blogs. We now all have the access to a FREE tool, the ActiveRain Customizer, that allows us to easily create a visual masterpiece of our own blogs. I have scoured Active Rain's walls to find 15 fine examples of blogs that have a new and improved branded" look. I encourage you to click and open the examples below, to see in detail what others have already done. You … (58 comments)
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blogging: I FINALLY Gots Me a Purdy Puddle... in the Rain - 04/11/08 03:09 PM
The ONLY problem I have EVER had about Active Rain was it is UGLY. YUP UGLY and I have not been afraid to let the Rain Gods (Matt Heaton and Johnathon Washburn) know how I felt.
But there is a saying, "you only get to complain if you are willing to provide a solution." So not only did I register a complaint, I also tried my best to get them over to the "pretty side". I sent them mock-up ideas JUST to get this site LOOKING better.
But the AR guys could only move so fast on all the improvements they were providing us. I could no … (32 comments)
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blogging: Ruffled Feathers makes for some Good Flapping in the Rain - 04/09/08 09:20 AM
When Active Rain "works" it does something quite wonderful. It grows, and expands, and teaches, and challenges. It creates dialogue in places and spaces where there was none.
I think sometimes we forget that we all here are a community. An ever growing community, but a community non the less. In the "good old days," when there were only a few thousand members, there was a daily banter of ideas bouncing back and forth. Those of you who were lucky to be here then know what I am talking about. Some of what was shared was of great "industry" value; some was just plain "trivial … (20 comments)
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blogging: One Blog Post on "Emptiness" Sure Did Fill Up the Blogosphere! - 08/13/07 07:07 PM
Who says blogging on Real Estate industry topics does NOT get you noticed?
This is a tale that stresses the importance of and reason for finding your own blog voice and sharing your own voice.
Recently, I was approached by Design Talk, an amazingly popular on-line consumer oriented design site, with an idea they had for me to guest write a blog on why vacant homes are harder to sell then furnished homes.
Well, after doing a bit of research and learning that Design Talk gets approximately 7000 hits a day, I decided it would be a VERY good idea to write the post. My only … (36 comments)
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blogging: I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours! - 06/19/07 06:40 AM
Revealing how I approach and how I actually study what I see working with my blogging here in the Rain is what this post is all about. (Its NOT about the goofy picture to the left... that is just to make you smile a bit.)
First I know that blogs that have fresh original industry related content reigns in the Rain. Yes, the fun and quirky personal posts add an interesting dimension and they do help to reveal your unique personality and differentiate you from your fellow bloggers. But all in all, industry related posts that inform are the posts Active Rain Moderators like … (31 comments)
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blogging: "How Does Active Rain Make Money?" Chicago Wanted Answers. - 06/18/07 07:22 AM
I swear EVERYONE, at this past weekend's Midwest West Celebration for Active Rain, wanted to know the answer to the GREAT mystery.... How does Active Rain make money? People even were grilling ME (as if I had an inside scoop). But like I told them... ask Matt. So sorry, you won't find that JUICY and complelling revelation here in this post.
However I DO have some other secret tid-bits about Matt & Lydia you might not know.
First, Matt does NOT like eating seafood. So I guess taking them to Navy Pier to a seafood restaurant, probably wasn't one of my best ideas! Also Matt has never seen fire-flies..., so when he did, he was … (35 comments)
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blogging: Run Off and Join a Blog Carnival... You Might End Up Being FEATURED in the Rain - 06/11/07 09:52 AM
So, I just finished being the guest judge for this week's Carnival of Real Estate. Some really great and informative winning posts for this week's contest can be found here on my "pretty" blog: Judging for Real Estate Blogging Award Ain't Just Easy as Black & White.
But that is not what I want to talk about. While judging it was fun and informative, I have to admit I was a bit shocked and surprised as I was reading through the variety of colorful and varied Real Estate industry posts that were submitted this week... it hit me that NOT MANY Active Rain Bloggers submitted their work for this week's carnival. And … (14 comments)
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blogging: MANGIA! MANGIA! and Celebrate Active Rain in Chicago-land this June 16th - 06/01/07 04:47 PM
Don't FORGET the PAR-TAY RAIN CLOUD is moving to the MIDWEST on June 16th!
We picked a site that would be easy to access from surrounding states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.
In my original announcement post I pretty much knew none of the details.
BUT!!! No we've finalized the location at a Restaurant ICON that originated in Chicago as part of the Lettuce Entertainment Group of restaurants.
So taaaaa daaaaa! We will be celebrating Saturday afternoon for lunch, adult libations (if you want) and rain soaked Birthday Cake at: Maggaino's Little Italy in Oak Brook... where being loud and festive is a good thing.
Address: 240 Oak Brook Center … (46 comments)
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blogging: Become a Paranoid Blogging Narcissist... in 3 EASY Steps! - 05/20/07 04:00 PM
One of the interesting dynamics about Active Rain is that it is a COMMUNITY of bloggers. Daily thousands of people log-on to read and learn from and of each other.
However while your blog informs, it might also inspire and/or provoke another blogger to write more. That "MORE" might be more about what your had to say in your blog, or about you personally and specifically in their own personal blog. Either way, they might make mention of or reference YOU, by name.
With so much blogging activity, how will you know if or when one of your fellow bloggers ARE saying something behind the front of your back here … (39 comments)
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blogging: The Windy City to Celebrate 1 Year of the Rain... Actively on June 16th! - 05/08/07 08:03 AM
UPDATE ON PARTY DETAILS CAN BE FOUND HERE! MANGIA! MANGIA! and Celebrate Active Rain in Chicago-land this June 16th
Well the Rain Gods have spoken, (actually the Rain Goddess) and its official.
Chicago is to be a celebration destination for Active Rain's 1 Year Anniversary Party Tour.
The date for Chicago's event will be Saturday June 16th. Other events are scheduled for:
June 2, Seattle, Washington June 9, Los Angeles, CaliforniaJune 23, Orlando, FloridaJune 30, New York, New YorkHere is what I know so far...
Exact Time... TBA. Exact Location... TBA. Why are the details TBA (to be announced)? Because the Metro-Chicago area is HUGE … (45 comments)
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blogging: For a QUICK DIVE in Blog Readership... Go on Vacation! - 05/05/07 05:30 PM
I have read of the frustration that new Bloggers here on Active Rain have regarding not being able to "stand out" amongst the "power house" Bloggers who always seem to get all the attention.
One thing I don't think new Bloggers see is that fact that many of the best-of-the-best Power Bloggers have worked hard to work their way up to the top of the this Blog Pile. It takes time and commitment to generate good content that readers connect with and like to read. BUT Bloggers need to also understand the brutal fact that while it takes time to get to the top, it take MUCH … (29 comments)
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blogging: Was Barb Schwarz the "INVENTOR" of Home Staging? - 04/17/07 09:29 AM
Once you have written a blog, for any amount of time, it's inevitable that you come to a point where you search for that one "right word" that clearly conveys exactly what you are trying to say. Finding the right words is critical to communicating a message... and ultimately establishing one's credibility. Your words are a reflection of you.
Recently I was reading a post here on Active Rain, in it Barb Schwarz of StagedHomes.com was cited as being the "inventor" of home staging. As I read it a few bells and whistles went off in my head. I thought that it was a mighty audacious statement to claim that Barb "invented" the process … (84 comments)
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blogging: My Personal COMMENT on a STAGER'S STORM in the Rain - 04/17/07 09:29 AM
While it was NOT the intent of my initial post entitled "Was Barb Schwarz the 'INVENTOR' of Home Staging"... somehow this post did cause issues to swirl to the surface. And in all this there lies a lesson for ANYONE who writes a blog.
So first let's talk about MY PERSONAL PURPOSE for writing that post.
The great thing about Active Rain is it a place for me to write my "first draft" and see what "works" with what I wrote. Comments then give me a clue to how well I communicated my message and if I need to alter/tweak before putting it up on my "Pretty" blog. … (25 comments)
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blogging: Getting MORE RETURN for your Blogging Dollar - 04/04/07 06:59 AM
If you have blogged, for ANY amount of time, you know it is an investment IN time. However, one of the "PERKS" I have found in blogging is it gives me a means to capture and articulate, in a concise manner, just what I do want to communicate to my clients. So now instead of saying someday I SHOULD write something about XYZ topic... I find I HAVE written about that topic.
Which is all fine and good.
But... did you ever notice that ONCE you posted your blog it quickly becomes "yesterday's news?" And all that investment seems a little lost. I have... and that bothered … (54 comments)
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blogging: A Bit of Decorum would be Appreciated… Especially today! - 04/01/07 09:10 AM
On this day of frivolity (April Fools day), I hope this site does not go all "hell in a hand basket' on it's readers and members with silly jokes.
This is a professional site, with professionals sharing and discussing professional topics about the VERY professional real estate industry.
As professionals we need to hold tight to the COLD HARD FACTS that people come here and want. It is a WELL KNOWN FACT that they expect to read straight forward dry diatribes on our industry... day in and day out, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Our colleagues and our clients need not be amused, smile or delighted in any … (28 comments)
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blogging: Held Within A Comment... - 03/22/07 06:52 AM
I woke up this morning thinking about my recent (NBC) post and the many thoughtful, supporting and encouraging comments that were made by so many... that I just had to do something to show just how much I appreciate all of your kind and generous words. So this is my "collective Comment of Thanks" to all your comments.
What is so odd about Active Rain, is that while you can find amazing and well written blogs that teach so much, share so much, and help so much... it is in simple short Comments where "volumes" are often spoken.
It is the Comment that gives Active Rain life. For in the Comment something magical happens … (59 comments)
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blogging: NBC picked up my blog... How do I EVEN BEGIN to thank Active Rain?!!!! - 03/19/07 11:35 PM
Today has been a day I will ALWAYS remember... and I have to thank ACTIVE RAIN for so very much of it.
Yesterday morning I discovered that NBC-5 TV in Dallas had picked up one of my recent posts from my "Pretty Blog" (which is my AR blog slightly re-constituted) and posted it on the station's website. I was flabbergasted. I was floored. I was thrilled. And I really wanted to thank Active Rain... However, my "thank you" was going to have to wait as I really wanted to also post my 3 Year Anniversary Post.
When I finally DID get to post my … (119 comments)
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blogging: Standing Out in the Rain... a Lesson to take to Localism. - 01/04/07 01:10 PM
Yesterday it was announced that of the 27,229 blog entries* posted on Active Rain since its début on June 25, 2006 my "very personal" post entitled "The Gift of Tears" was voted the Most Memorable post for the year. First, I have to say WOW and huge thank you to all who voted!
And while I am flattered and grateful, it got me to thinking... Why? Why THAT post? Did that post REALLY have anything to do with Real Estate?
As a professional in the Real Estate industry I know that working with people is at the core of what I … (40 comments)
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blogging: I can’t hold it any longer… this old Blog-Dog is gonna hit his 100th Post. - 12/08/06 09:25 AM
Well I am about to a hit a personal milestone here in the rain. My next post will be #100!
And while that may not seem like a lot for some bloggers here in the rain... it is for me. You see prior to joining Active Rain I barely knew what a blog was... let alone write one. (Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?)
Anyway, now that I have been a part of all this am I am grateful for all I have learned AND the fun I have had. Yes... FUN! Fun has been for me part of my personal Return-On-Investment … (33 comments)
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blogging: Tic-Toc !Tic-Toc! How much ACTIVE TIME do you clock? - 12/06/06 06:20 PM
While ActiveRain has proven to be a down pour of good and insightful information to and for the real estate community... it is not free.
Well, actually the information is "free" in the fact that it costs nothing to be a member, post a blog, read a blog, or write a comment. But being an ACTIVE participant in the rain can be a huge INVESTMENT in time.
Lately. searching for images, researching and writing original blog material, inserting links, and reading other's blogs seems to be taking more and more time.THEN on top of that... I feel a bit obligated to comment on other's … (26 comments)
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Craig Schiller
Chicago,
IL
More about me…
REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.
Address: PO BOX 5267, Aurora , IL, 60507
Office Phone: (847) 384-9369
Email Me
These are the creative writings of Craig Schiller, a home staging professional, passionate real estate marketing professional and founder of the Real Estaging, one of the nation's leading home staging companies.
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