faq: "The 3 Powerful "P's" of Conversational Blogging" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 02/25/09 09:37 AM
Okay, so you're sitting there, late at night, staring at your computer screen with that blank, zombie-like expression, wondering "What in the World am I going to write about? Well, don't get discouraged, Sports Fans. We've all made that incredibly scary first jump into the great expanse known as the Blogosphere. You're probably feeling pretty vulnerable about now, aren't ya? I mean, you're putting yourself out there, for all to see! What if they don't like me? What if I don't get any comments? Will they laugh at me? Will someone flag my post for Stupidity? (thank goodness that isn't a category for flagging!)
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faq: What are the ActiveRain Community Guidelines?
- 03/15/08 06:42 PM
The ActiveRain Community Guidelines are as follows: The following are the ActiveRain Community Guidelines. For an expanded explanation/definition of each point, simply click on the highlighted links. Respect the Real Estate Industry ActiveRain is a place where real estate professionals can network with their peers and discuss industry insider topics. It is also a public forum where consumers can pull back the curtain and see what the real estate industry is really about. Because of this level of transparency and openness, ActiveRain members must remain zealous in their quest to represent our industry in as true and professional of a
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faq: "Don't Turn Your Blog into a Refrigerator Magnet!": Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 02/06/08 12:33 AM
One of the primary hallmarks of the ActiveRain Community has been the wonderfully warm and nurturing nature of our membership. For many of us, the prospect of learning how to blog was daunting enough, but to be able to do so in a non-threatening and encouraging environment like ActiveRain is incredibly helpful to the process. I remember making my fair share of mistakes early on. Fortunately, there were many extremely helpful fellow Rainers who kindly mentored me, and showed me the errors of my way. I've been tempted on numerous occasions to go back into my archives and delete some of those
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faq: "Rain-vitations!" Your Ticket to a Higher Point Score - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 01/31/08 07:35 PM
It's no secret.... The genius of this platform? ....It's in the points! Seriously,... forget about all the great information, the social networking, and all the potential business it generates. We Want Points! Just put a bunch of "Type A" personalities in the same virtual room, tell them they're competing for status & position by earning points, and watch the 'FRENZY' begin! Now, granted, there are some who take this point thing just a little TOO seriously! But for the majority of us, it simply adds to the fun and enjoyment of participating in the Rain. (Who are we kidding? We'd sell our own Mothers if
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faq: "Would You Like a Side of SPAM with Your Comments?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 01/22/08 11:40 AM
Okay, so we're working through the guidelines, and one of the areas that we are most definitely going to revise/clarify BIG TIME is in regards to what constitutes SPAM. (Can I get a loud, collective 'AMEN!" from the ActiveRain Choir?) Just so we are all on the same page here: The first point of our ActiveRain Community Guidelines states: Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another members blog post.(What part of 'DO NOT' do we NOT understand here?) This practice is normally referred to as "Comment SPAM." It is something that bothers and annoys the large majority of members in
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faq: "How to Balance Your Blog" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 01/18/08 08:23 AM
As I roam the Rainscape these days, I'm noticing a lot more property listings being posted to our Network. And I mean, A lot! That's not necessarily a bad thing. As a professional real estate agent myself, it's nice having one more viable domain to promote my listings. But I think if you asked the founders of this community, they would tell you that it was never their intention for ActiveRain to become a Listing Aggregation site. There's enough of those already! Nonetheless, published listings have become only one of many valuable features that can be utilized 'FOR FREE' by our members. That said, I simply
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faq: "How to Kreate Kwality Kontent" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 01/05/08 02:55 PM
Okay, so here goes my broken record impression again.... For those of you who've heard this tune before, and actually GET IT, you have my permission to move on to the next post. I've covered this ground numerous times before. Here's a quick trip down memory lane: "Is Your Blog a Toxic Waste Dump?" "How to Sabotage Your Own Blog!" "Counterfeit Blogging" "Original Content" - Using Your Own Voice in the Rain " Kopy Killers" - Plagiarizers on the Platform In our on-going efforts towards improving overall posting quality, one of the reoccurring problems we encounter here in the Rain are members posting 'Cut & Paste' content
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faq: "How to Engage Your Blog Readers" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 11/30/07 09:39 PM
The night that I proposed to my wife, I had everything planned out perfectly. First, we would enjoy a really delicious meal at our favorite sushi bar over in Berkeley. Then, we'd drive over to San Francisco for some ballroom dancing at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Then lastly, driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, we'd park at the vista overlooking the city lights. And there, I would romantically kneel to pop the question.... Unfortunately, driving from the Hyatt to the Golden Gate, I got lost. As we drove around for what seemed like hours (men never ask for directions), my bride-to-be feel asleep. Finally arriving at the
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faq: "Is Your Blog a Brick Wall?" Responding to your Readers - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 11/08/07 07:13 PM
Okay, so I'm rehashing another one of my pet peeves here in the Rain. So you're sitting there late at night, or perhaps it's early in the morning. Either way, it's your valuable time, time you could be doing something else. Like 'sleeping!' But you've chosen to be here - at your computer, logged onto your favorite on-line addiction "ActiveCoCain." And like any dedicated 'Rainer,' you're sitting there busily engaged in making your daily comments. You know, that aspect of conversational blogging where you, 'The Reader,' can actually contribute to the dialogue initiated by the post author. It's also one of those glorious opportunities the Rain
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faq: "When is Your Blog like a Toxic Waste Dump?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 10/29/07 05:43 AM
Forget about Al Gore and all the alarming hype about Global Warming! The real danger is a growing epidemic right here on the ActiveRain Network. More and more of our members are turning their blogs into a Toxic Waste Dump! Rumor has it that ActiveRain will soon make the EPA's Worst Superfund Site List! What are these deadly pollutants, you ask? Well, instead of posting valuable relevant original content for consumers, many ActiveRain members are posting plagiarized (stolen cut & paste) articles to their posts. Rather than generating content that attracts and engages potential clients in meaningful dialogue, Rainers are posting blatant and obsessive
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faq: "What is Comment Junk Mail?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 10/21/07 07:20 PM
Okay, so I went out to our mailbox the other day... I tell ya, it gets SO annoying! I mean, seriously, do the postal workers have some kind of sick contest going to see who can stuff the most junk mail into residential mailboxes? Maybe in addition to the National "DO NOT CALL" registry, we should have a "DO NOT MAIL" registry? This is the real mail I had! ---> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Today's Blog Tip for Rain Drips topic is "Comment Junk Mail" In our last
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faq: "How to Sabotage Your Own Blog" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 10/19/07 08:30 AM
Okay, so you've decided to jump into the Wide Wonderful World of Blogging. I bet about now you're probably feeling the 'Agony of Defeat' a bit more than you are the 'Thrill of Victory!' Am I right? Well, don't get discouraged, Spanky. There's a learning curve here on ActiveRain, and we all go through it. Allow me, if I may, to give you just a brief bit of advice on how to make your blogging experience more enjoyable and effective. My suggestions won't improve your SEO or Google page rank. Unlike the marjority of members on ActiveRain, I don't claim to be an SEO expert.
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faq: "What is a 'Strafing Run' Blogger?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 06/30/07 12:23 AM
I touched on this topic once before in a previous post aptly entitled, "One Way Traffic Jams on the ActiveRain Blogway." It garnered some fairly active response (nearly 200 comments). But with over 36,000 members and growing, it's something that bears repeating. A 'Strafing Run' was a war-time battle tactic employed by fighter and bomber pilots. It was first initiated in WWI, but was predominantly used during WWII. Pilots would descend rapidly, increasing speed, flying in low, and fire upon typically stationary targets. Once their weapons had been discharged, they would pull up into a quick ascent. Strafing Run Bloggers. Seems like they're everywhere
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faq: Playing Fair in the Blogbox: "The Core Rules of Netiquette" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips
- 06/15/07 08:33 PM
Rules??? We don't need no 'stinkin' rules! The more I write and publish to my blog here on ActiveRain and on SOUNDBITEBLOG, the more I realize there are no hard & fast rules for blogging, but simply opinions, preferences, and common sense social netiquette. So let's start with Proper Netiquette, or, "Playing Fair in the Blogging Sandbox." According to Wikipedia, "Netiquette is a catch-all term for the conventions of politeness and respect recognized on Usenet, in mailing lists, in live chat systems, and on other electronic forums such as Internet message boards. These conventions address the relationship between personal behavior
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