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Why Google When You Can Activerain?

Rain Wanna find a good definition or description of "absorption rate"? Don't Google it, Activerain it.

Wanna know how to write a real estate business plan? - Don't Google it, Activerain it.

Wanna know what the word "kaizen" means? - don't Google it, Activerain it.

There is no end to the information you will find on Activerain, is there? That's why I usually check Activerain even before I do a Google search.

Wanna find an agent for your referral in N.C.? Check Activerain first, even before your company directory.

Wanna learn more about SEO (or simply find out what that acronym means)? Do an Activerain search and read, read, read. No need to sign up for that expensive class.

Looking for marketing ideas? - Learn about Postlets, V-flyers, Real Estate Shows, and hundreds of other ideas on Activerain. You'll find other agents sharing the tools they use - some of them are free!

Never written a market study? Get lots of ideas from those posted on Activerain by agents who do them every month (or every week).

Short sales have you frustrated? Find articles and even short sale coaches on Activerain.

Activerain has everything any real estate professional could want to know... and then some. That's why I Activerain (the verb) first when I'm looking for anything real estate. I Google and Yahoo and Bing for other things.

P.S. - Did I mention that you'll make lots of friends around the country on Activerain who share your vision, your goals, your values... and prospective clients will find you online and want to do business with you? It makes you wanna dance in the rain!

P.P.S - This is an unsolicited testimonial. You'll find lots of those on Activerain.

Posted by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate on 10/21/2009 03:09 PM

Comments (86)

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86 Comments on Why Google When You Can Activerain?

OCT

Margaret, this is so true! I am amazed every day by what I learn or what is new in the Industry. Active Rain is like theGoogle for realtors.

Margaret - I blogged on the same thing a couple days ago! I turn to Active Rain instead of Google for my business assistance too! Great minds. :)

Margaret,

Great post. I have started using AR search for a lot of things recently. It is hard to get out of the habit of using Google, it is what I have gone to for so long.

Margaret - I love this. I know that I have used Twitter for this as well. ActiveRain is filled with good, solid information on so many relevant topics for our industry.

There is nothing like AR when it comes to learning different tricks and tips for our industry.

Margaret, This is a great tip. I have caught myself trying to google an Real Estate question, and then I remember, " I should look it up in Active Rain'. I have started doing this, and always get great answers. If I ask a question, I also get great advice! Thanks AR!

90% of my SEO research is done right here on AR! I learn SOOOOOOO much from this community and love it! Thanks, Margaret!

Margaret, Great minds think alike. I just came from Susan's Brown's post. Have been using AR to search for quite awhile. There is nothing like it. And the bonus is meeting another Margaret from Maryland.

Most of the time when we google.. it brings us right back to AR. So do we now say we AR (AyeAre) it?

So true, Margaret!

Margaret, I find myself doing more of this these days too. Why filter out the other search engine data and all the redirects when you can start here and end here with real estate based solutions to your questions.

Hi Margaret~ Is your logo new? Myabe I just hadn't noticed it. I think it looks great. I look up things all of the time in Activerain. It is a fantastic venue for information!

Margaret,

I always turn to AR first. And if I can't find an answer, I just write a blog about it, and within minutes...I have the answer.

Margaret, I am certainly a big fan of the Activerain platform, but I really never thought to use it as a search engine... I'll give it a whirl the next time I'm hunting for something.

Margaret you are so right, I've found myself doing this recently and looks like I will continue. This place is like the wikipedia of real estate!

Margaret - I was just asking about some statistics, didn't find what I needed on Google, but did in Rain Country. Next time I'll start here first.

Michael

Margaret - AMEN !!! My last post was a tribute to everything I have learned here on Activerain. I always start here for REFERRALS! If I am doing research on something the "search" button here works wonders!

Hi Margaret ~ I am often amazed by not only how much I learn here but also by how often I first hear about news events or pop culture here on this site. It's a goldmine for sure.

Liz

Margaret, AR really is a great source for information. You can usually find an answer to your questions or post them here and the AR community is always willing to help.

I've been Active Raining it a lot lately. The best answers to real estate questions are found on Active Rain. Rain on!

It really is incredible how much information is available here. I was at a prudential conference and a non AR member had something pulled up on her IPhone. I said are you a member of AR, she said nope, but It kept coming up when I was searching for something.

I agree AR is a great sounding board for other peer to peer real time info...however, to reach the public you need to cross promote with so many things these days!

Just today Twitter and Google signed a deal so Tweets will show in searches! It's ever changing and non-stop!

Margaret,

I got here in May of 07 and I am still in awe of the knowledge available here. You do a great job providing much of this and I thank you very much!

Margaret, GREAT POINTS. I can't believe I haven't been doing this already!!! I learn so much everyday!!

Margaret - I have always said that Active Rain is a sharing community using the search is another great way to be on the receiving end of that sharing attitude.

Margaret,

You are right on. I have learned so much from Active Rain. What a gracious site.

It is so very true that Active Rain is the go to place for real estate info or advice, connecting with a good agent to send a referral to - & the amount of tech knowledge, including really cool free things is just fantastic!! So glad we have this community and resource available!!

So we need a new name for this - active googel or maybe google rain? So so true - good post!

Yes I agree with all the above comments. AR will answer your question (s) so why Google?!

Patricia/Seacoast NH

ActiveRain might win in some real estate related areas, but for depth and breadt it's still Google. Google's search results include content from AR, as well as hundreds of thousands of agents who are not in the Rain.

I haven't thought of that.

I use google for everything.

Thank you for the new idea.

Margaret..WOW ..you are absolutly right..Could not have said it better myself..:0)

HELPFULHANNAH

Hi Margaret -- Earlier this year I was searching for "buying the listing" on Google and many of the top spots were on AR so I, like you, made the switch when searching for RE related topics to use AR first. Great post and ideas. Applied knowledge is power and I intend to be appropriately armed -- whoever said that quote.

Preaching to the choir!

Margaret, you are awesome, that is a stellar post. I love it, I personally ActiveRain it all the time. :D

Margaret, in terms of real estate knowledge search, Active Rain is GREAT in the search area.

Margaret: There is so much to learn on Active Rain. All you have to do is write a blog and ask for help. It's great!

Can you just imagine the size that this would be if it were in paper and ink format. Print and deliver to every new agent you hire. AR is the RE Encyclopedia!

Active Rain is certainly one of the first places I look for information. We are all in the sme business focusing on the same type of busiess and all the help everyone shares is great!

Jean Richer
Ottawa, ON

I consider AR to be the world's largest and most up to date real estate encyclopedia. I agree 100%.

Margaret...

I always feel so smart at our weekly business meetings because of all of the good information I get from AR! You are so right, this IS the place to start when looking for real estate information!

I do it too. I come to active rain when I have questions about mortgages,legislation, and real estate

Hi Margart. When I have a question about real estate that is one of the things that I will do. For example I did that for business plans to get some ideas. ~ Lana

ActiveRain is a great resource for sure. I always come here to find my answers before going anywhere else. I once asked an agent in my office her opinion on something and she suggest I try ActiveRain. I fount that to be so interesting because although she has an AR profile, she has yet to comment or blog!

Thank you for the plug on using Active Rain to it's fullest potential!

I just logged on to AR to find out more information about negotiating the termite treatment costs between buyer and seller. I was headed for google when I remembered "Hey. I can ActiveRain that question!" Awesome post. Thanks.

I have started to search more often for content on AR especially for RE specific content. There is such a wealth knowledge here, it's amazing!

It is fascinating the wealth of information available here. I have learned so much since I joined.

Margaret:

Thanks for the post. Google has become such a juggernaut, we forget there are other (and better) resources out there. Anyone remember when Google was just a tiny little logo in the corner of Yahoo's search page? "Powered by Google." How things have changed.

Margaret, who needs Wikipedia, when the people who probably wrote the stuff are here? Thanks

Margaret, you are correct. Active Rain is such a great resource. I can't believe how much I have learned about blogging, market info, prospecting, etc. in over a month on AR. I wish I would have been on AR since day 1 of my career. But I am here now and it gets better by the day!

I do look here for referral options before going anywhere else... For the other stuff I have been more inclined to hit Google...

I am amazed by the vast amount of real estate information available on active rain. I also have a home staging business and it is wonderful to connect with others who do homestaging as well.

Hi Margaret! SO true--I used to use Google for anything related to real estate practice and now, it's ALL Active Rain! I love the search feature--however, I always wind up getting carried away with my search and spending WAY too much time having fun in the Rain!

Congrats on the well-deserved feature!

Hi Margaret... ActiveRain is definitely a one-stop reference source that resides at the intersection of people and knowledge. I learn more here than in any RE class I have ever taken.

Yes, Margaret, anything real estate related, I start right here - sometimes read all night, following links, and forgetting to go back and comment - I owe a lot of people a lot of thanks for a lot of info on AR.

Margaret, I almost always learn something on Active Rain from other professionals. It is a great place no matter what the instructor in a recent class I took said about it! Read that post.

Margaret - I love it! Great post.
I have started using Active Rain search for a lot of things recently and learning a lot here from other members. Thank you all.

What a good idea I don't think of searching Active Rain before Google.

OCT

I do Active Raine it first :) Google is second choice, that at the end I do not need. Real estate qustions, ideas, etc. is all here. Google it, Active Rain it, Rain it ...

I agree, for real estate related topics, my first choice is ActiveRain. I love that you can find information on almost any topic, and a variety of opinions on the topic. It's an amazing resource for agents and consumers.

Look at that... 60 more unsolicited testimonials for Activerain! Let's start a movement to turn "Activerain" into a verb as well as a noun. Are you with me?

Vickie McCartney - Yes that is a new logo. When my daughter-in-law Christine joined me, we decided to create a logo that would work for both of us with a change of name under "Team Woda". Our goal is to eventually change roles when her children are a little older and I become HER back-up.

Margaret in Rome made a very good point - When you do a Google search for anything real estate, chances are that an Activerain post will be at the top of results.

And I agree with Debe Maxwell. When you search in Activerain, don't be surprised if you find so much good info that you end up spending a long time reading...

Thanks for your comments!

Margaret - I used to search google for real estate topics or help - no more. AR is the place to go for great real estate related posts and other great articles. You have done a marvelous job here. Congratulations on your feature

Margaret:

It took me awhile to discover and appreciate the search feature on Active Rain. It really is a great source of information on so many topics once your know how to use it.

I also use AR for a lot of searches...and today for referral in Ohio...thanks,

AR really is the best. Thank you SOOOOO much for this informative post. Love it love it love it!

I just tried it yesterday as a result of your post. So streamlined. Awesome. Thanks.

From the very beginning I kept coming back to ActiveRain to get info. All in one place with so many different ideas and opinions. Yup....I activerain search :)

ActiveRain is the 411 for real estate information and "how-to" guides. Simply a great resource with the advantage of meeting some terrific and talented people from all over the country!

I hear you! I've done this several times on topics I wanted to learn up on! But, if the Google Juice is working, you'd be surprised how many Active Rain articles hit too!

Margaret you captured the essence of active rain beautifully! And YOU have been someone I've turned to over the past 18 months of my time here for info... Love Love Love the knowledge base, people and experience here in the rain!

So true this is Margaret. I've come to activerain for many things. You never know what you will find here. Congrats on the feature!

So TRUE!! This is the best resource in the world for active professionals!! All The Best!!

Thanks for the many comments. Who could have imagined what Activerain would become to us when we first joined. I don't know about you, but I had no idea what I was in for!

Active Rain is a must for every realtor. I am an independent agent working out of my house and spending 45 minutes on AR is like being in an office with other realtors exchanging real estate tips etc. I love AR! So I agree with you, why google stuff, when you have everything right here.

There are three reasons why that works:

ActiveRain rocks!
ActiveRain rolls!
ActiveRain rules!

OCT

I hadn't actually thought of it that way, but you are so right! I do it, I search AR first, but I didn't realize that I did. Congrats on the Feature...well deserved.

I guess you could say Activerain has a huuuuuuge fan club. No dissenters in this group!

Absolutely no dissenters at all, Margaret. I was wondering when someone was going to turn AR into a verb.

OCT

The Active Rain search button is on the top of my list as well!

Margaret.. I'm glad you wrote this post. Why some one else hasn't long before this I don't know.. but you nailed it on the head. When looking for anything to do with real estate all you need do is ACTIVERAIN it.

valerie osterhoudt

OCT

Margaret, we must have been on the same wavelength this week in pointing out all the great value in ActiveRain - like you I do so many searches on topics right here and every day without fail I gain some valuable knowledge and ways to look at things - no wonder you're an Ambassador - and a good one at that! ~Anne Marie

OCT

Hi Margaret! I honestly thought that I commented on this post and just popped back over to see what you've been up to and realized that I didn't! I use the AR search function now more than Google! I love know that I'm getting reliable information from members whom I trust. GREAT post and congrats on the feature!

NOV

It's amazing how often AR comes up in Google - both are great sources of information.

NOV

Margaret,

I tried to private message you through activerain but your video on your activerain site kept me from entering those characters to keep out spam.

Anyway, I just sneaked out of the googe sandbox for the search term destin pelican beach resort. It came out on page 14. I may slip back in but right now it is out. Thanks for your advice. I always appreciate everything you say or recommend.

When it gets to page 1... That's when you'll really know it's out, Mike!

NOV

Margaret, Ibelieve you have started the movement to make Activerain a verb. That commentmade me chuckle and then I realized that lately I have been using Activerain to search for info and not Google.

Imagine that!

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