Special offer

Approaching 100,000 and Still Have Unanswered Questions

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Broadpoint Properties Cal BRE #01324959

Periodically, I post AR blogs with questions. I've found that I get the very best answers come from the AR blogging community. I'm approaching 100k points, and my questions are getting more sophisticated. My very first featured post was one where I asked about how to add a signature that actually looks like it's handwritten. Then . . . just a few weeks ago, AR finally added the automatic signature which is totally awesome (yes, I am a Valley girl.) Anyway . . . here is my latest list of unanswered questions. I've already done a little research and even searched Brad's blog a little, but perhaps you can help me out.

  1. I've learned that Google Analytics are important so that you can analyze where your viewers are coming from. Can you use Google Analytics with your AR blog (not the Outside Blog-that I've figured out already-but the AR blog)? And, if so, how do you do that?
  2. I just learned about syndication and want to know if the AR blog can be syndicated. I'm certain that the Outside Blog can be syndicated, but can the AR blog be syndicated? And, how do you know what the RSS feed address is for your blog? (I'm sure this is a stupid question, but there are no stupid questions-remember?)
  3. Now this is just a super shameless question that shows that I'm a little bit motivated by the points. Yesterday when I was posting comments, I was looking at the most recent posts and blogging. One individual had a post with 30 comments that was showing up as second on the list and had actually been written about 12 hours before. How is it that this was now at the top of the most recent blog post list?

So, folks, thanks for supporting me during my last six months of blogging. Any help on these issues would be greatly appreciated!

Comments(8)

Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Melissa:  Maybe they went in and made a quick edit.  When they re-post the blog maybe it showed again.  That's my simple answer.

Sep 04, 2009 10:49 AM
Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

Melissa for #3 - I've answered this a few times before and tested it as well. If after posting a public/members post you go edit your post and put it in draft mode + save it as draft, then you go back and change it to public again. It pops up on top of the blog roll. And typically you can accumulate more comments. However many of us feel that is gaming the system. The only legit reason I would see for doing that is if you added a video and had to go to html side and wanted to save it first on draft. ~Rita

Sep 04, 2009 11:07 AM
Bob Stewart
ActiveRain - Seattle, WA
ActiveRain Ambassador

I think Rita nailed number 3. The developers are aware of it and will have a fix in place at some point. Beware though, doing this on a previously featured post will strip the gold star.

For number 1, no you can not use Google analytics on your internal blog. You can however use getclicky.com or statcounter (I think that's the other one) Search for Brad Andersohn and getclicky as I think he's written about it.

For number 2, your RSS feed is http://activerain.com/blogs/mzavala/rss

You can get your RSS feed on the bottom of the right hand column of your blog. There is a little yellow and blue button that says 'rss | 2.0'

Hope that helps.

Sep 04, 2009 03:25 PM
Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

Bob: Thanks a lot. Have a great weekend!

Sep 04, 2009 04:01 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

Melissa, could you please post instructions on how to do the signature you mentioned above? I have not seen anyone else do this yet. How long did it take to get the 100K points?

Sep 04, 2009 08:07 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Melissa - When I think about blogging, I believe the larger the circle of light, the bigger the perimeter of darkness:-)  I'm going to be watching the comments on this blog and hopefully I'll accumulate more light than darkness.

Sep 04, 2009 11:27 PM
Kate Wheeler
Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor - Murphy, NC
CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale

I'd like to know how you do the signature too Melissa.  it's a nice touch

Sep 05, 2009 06:14 AM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

Make sure you are also looking at your statistics (through your home page) to determine what readers like.  My readers REALLY like the market reports I do.  That will help you figure out (once you get out to some syndication sources) what attracts the readers!

Sep 06, 2009 04:40 AM