Real Estate Blog - SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

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SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

Just because it's there doesn't mean it's beneficial to you. Agent

How many contacts have you received in your e-mail box or by telephone from a company who said that they could "put you on page one of Google"?
How many "social media" sites have you joined only to forget your login/password or can't figure out how to navigate?
How many lead generation sites have you previewed that are full of non-real estate related ads?
How many real estate related web sites/blogs have you reviewed that are so convoluted that you couldn't load a blog post??
How many so called real estate related web sites have you joined only to be quickly bombarded by SPAM?
How many real estate "Guru"s have you read about who promised to triple your business if you just attend this "FREE" seminar. BTW, the books and tapes on the table in the back of the room are not "FREE"!!

How many? Fess up! How many??

DON'T FEEL GUILTY. Just because it's there doesn't mean it's beneficial to you.

Time has value for real estate practitioners and we need to learn what has been and is profitable for our own businesses.

Look at the "social media" sites and determine which of them that appear to be beneficial to your business. If a web site includes a preponderance of non-real estate related pages, posts, etc., it may not be a good use of your time.

Fact is, our real estate practices are all different and a reflection of our own needs and personalities. If you are "on the Internet" to generate business only for yourself, one or two networks/blogs/social platforms or web sites may be sufficient to generate more buyer/seller business than you can handle.

Relo Package My business is generating home buyers for my network of Agents/Brokers. So, I spend a lot more time on the telephone with prospective home buyers, getting relocation packages out (yes, buyers still like to get packages by mail), tweaking web sites, etc. than most agents/brokers. Years ago when I generated business just for myself, I was on the road most days previewing, showing, managing inspections and settlements. Today, I'm at my computer most days working hard developing and updating web sites and blogs, speaking with prospective home buyers and making referrals to real estate agents in my network. Big difference.

If you're working full time and generating a good income, don't worry about what others do.

Success is not always doing what others expect or claim to do.

Success is earning a decent living doing what you do for your own unique business.

ACTIVERAIN IS A TREASURE CHEST. It's probably no secret that I believe ActiveRain to be, in terms of $$$ and time invested, the most cost effective online web site/blog platforms available to real estate practitioners today.

The ease of use is critical for new members. The camaraderie, transparancy and personal outreach to all members is unique to ActiveRain. If you have a question about blogging for your business, just ask. You'll get answers.

ACTIVERAIN SPEAKS GOOGLE! The creators of ActiveRain speak Google so you don't have to! The benefits of the synergy between ActiveRain blog posts and member profiles and Google are unique. ActiveRain makes Google rank so easy, members benefit just by being here. How good is that for your business?

I learned this from my server logs and posted about it back on September 26, 2006.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, Serving Maryland and Northern Virginia Home Buyers.

This post inspired by Martha Brown's post about searching for the perfect social media site.

Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Maryland & Virginia on 10/27/2009 05:42 AM

Comments (109)

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109 Comments on SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

OCT

Good advice Lenn. We are constantly being called or getting emails trying to make us feel we are missing something. A good presence here and a bit of time can make all the difference and not cost an arm and a leg.

I love Activerain. Just in the last couple of weeks, I have learned more about my google rank from fellow members, especially Lenn Harley, the author of this post, and Bob Stewart, than in my 4 years as a REALTOR attending seminars. I can't hit the delete button fast enough when I receive one of those emails Lenn speaks of.

Thanks Lenn!

Paddy. Right you are. One thing for sure. A sales pitch that relies on guilting me will simply get nowhere.

Amy. Good for you. Learn to work ActiveRain and you'll benefit.

Lenn, I always ask these solicitors where they got my number. They usually say some list, or other, but the number they call is the one I have set up for my Internet leads. When I tell them this, they say they can get me ranked higher. I ask if they lok to see where I rank, no clue. They don't like to answer questions.

And, the email solicitations without even a phone number. You've got to be kidding!

Thanks Lenn, I agree totally and emailed off your post to my agents. Have a Great Day!

Okay, I'll fess up. Been there, done a lot of that, but now all our Gurus are here at ActiveRain. Great post to start out the day with Lenn. I appreciate your "no bones about it" style. Time has value for real estate practitioners and we need to learn what has been and is profitable for our own businesses.

This is very timely for me Lenn because I have been thinking a lot about it lately. I joined a lot of networks but like so many others there is simply not enough time for them all if I am going to sell real estate full time. I've had the best year ever and have to assume that if I keep up with active rain and one or two other sites I will be just fine.

Lenn,

I agree there are a lot of perfect widgets out there for the realtor and you will go crazy just looking at them. Forget about taking them out for a test drive and the $$$ it costs with no results. Active Rain has proven to be the place for me for all of the reasons that you have presented.

Gabe. I especially like the solicitors that claim that they "found my web site" on page 78 of Google. "What did you search for?" I ask. HA. Never are they searching for any term remotely related to my business.

#5. Thanks. Spread the word.

Lee and Carol. Thanks. It's a fact. ActiveRain has the "juice".

Barb. Agreed. We are real estate agents and brokers, not professional social media mavens.

Don. Thanks. The simplicity of ActiveRain is one of it's best features. Of course, one can go widget wild, but it isn't necessary and I'm not even sure it's productive. I want my blog to move quickly. Can't do that with a lot of "ups and extras".

Lenn, I will fess up and tell you that I did join a Lead Generating to no where this past year and canceled it within 3 weeks. I will fess up and also tell you I don't know much but I know I love Active Rain. Most people are professional and try to help when I have a question. Trouble is I don't ask enough. If you were me and needed to know how to grow up like Lenn who would you ask for help here on Active Rain?

Great Post by the way.

Lenn, when I get those calls about "we'll put you on page one of Google" I just tell them the truth, we are on page one of Google for a lot of powerful local search terms!

"How many contacts have you received in your e-mail box or by telephone from a company who said that they could "put you on page one of Google"?"

I find these calls very irritating and non-productive. I tried one of these a couple of years ago. Zero response, what a waste of time and money.

Lenn - I am currently in that place where I work for me and conduct all of the interviews, preview properties, schedule showings etc. I feel that I work to hard for my money to "give" it to a lead generation company or internet guru that is doing nothing to earn it. I can create pass thru business on my own or collaborate with another agent to generate it.

We all have our own niches and they grow and change just like our local markets. Learn your own market and embrace it for what it is and the financial stability will come.

Smart post Lenn! This and your own website is the way to make money! I teach at all my events that "You cannot purchase success...it's a planned event!"

Lenn,

You always, always, always on top of it.....my website places above my paying competitors on Google in relevant search terms thanks to AR's google juice - my outside blog and localism posts also rank well and sometimes above my website so I am all over the first page of Google.....

"Time has value" - and may be the single most valuable part of our life. We never get it back, We only spend it once. And certainly family and friends need to be a part of it. So who needs to be on 57 websites at the expense of personal relationships, OR at the expense of actually writing business!! AR is one treasure chest you can bank on.

Lenn, you could speak until you are blue in your face. Some people just wont. And that's totally acceptable too. That just means more for the rest of us who found treasure in this place. AR has tremendously changed the way I do business. Nothing I worked at has paid off this significantly.

Lenn, AR has my vote as well. It's what other sites are trying to copy, but there appears to be something special about AR. It reminds me of the saying,' the sum of the parts are greater than the whole.'

Definitely ActiveRain. It is a new world out there and we all have to be smart, know where our leads are coming from! I have to admit I have made some mistakes, but I have learned from them. ActiveRain is amazing for Google Juice.

Lenn, thanks for a great post. I enjoyed reading the part "Success is earning a decent living doing what you do for your own unique business."

It is easy to be lured away and lose focus from our individual and unique business plans. That's why admire your focus and dedication here on AR. According to you posts totals it looks like you have hardly taken a vacation.

Dear Lenn,

The last few years I have been bombarded by these solicitors. It is a real pain in the neck! I always ask "How did you find me?" To which they say on the inter-net. To which I reply "Then it is obvious that if you found me on the internet then my clients can find me too. Goodbye!"

Betina

I wanna be like you...I seriously enjoy the rainmaking then I do getting in the car anymore.

Absolutely right...you have to do what is right for you and your market. Not all works in every market or is a fit for you personally.

Hi Lenn,

I have had two inquiries in the last few weeks from agents that Googled Transaction Coordinator. At first I was amazed but then the light bulb went on, ActiveRain. You are right you do not have to pay to be on page one of Google just keep playing in the rain.

Sharon

Thanks Lenn. I have officially made AR my second home (after my primary residence here in MD of course). You are so right on with your post, I have found AR to be the treasure chest I have been searching for.

This post really jives well with my experience, Lenn; although I am in the very early stages of building up some equity through Active Rain. The principles you so eloquently outline, however, ring very true. A nice refreshing confirmation, thank you.

Lenn - This is very true. I know other agents are Trulia Pro members here in my office, but I don't feel that I need that. They are not blogging on ActiveRain. For the amount of money they are spending at Trulia, they could be blogging, but then they have a blog on their own website too and that's empty as well. I guess blogging just doesn't fit some agent's ideas of what they should do to generate leads and income.

Lenn - you always put things so clearly and simply, even I can usually understand you. Thanks for this one.

Lenn, thank you for this blog! Sometimes all of this stuff we are "suppose" to be doing just seems to make me do nothing at all and feel that I wil not ever catch up. But, Active Rain has been the best thing for me.

Hi Lenn !

My favorite line in your post is "If you're working full time and generating a good income, don't worry about what others do."

This is extremely valuable advice for many, as there are lots of agents (myself included - ONCE!) who fall for the "I have to do everything that everyone else out there is doing, including getting on the first page of Google so let me call that guy who sent me an email guaranteeing it!!"

You really DONT have to do ANYTHING that anyone else out there is doing if you are successful at your own angle on the business.

I dont get hardly ANY leads from my website, but I get 90% leads from how I work my referral network. Very few agents work the way I do in my area.

I paid for a 6 month 'Get you atop of Google page 1' scam program and didnt get one call and spent $600 ... but I learned the lesson from there....

... and you have summarized a lot of good stuff here.

Great post.

Sheldon

Thanks for the great post! We definitely need a unique web presence to generate successful business, but we should also beware what's a waste of time and what's not.

Lenn:

Thanks again for all you do to HELP the rest of us. It is so true and I also delete those emails as quickly as they come in. I rarely see them on the computer as they get deleted from my blackberry. Have a blessed week and thanks again.

www.TeamLudlow.net

As always you are dead on. . . . Which tools to use depends upon what kind of business we run and where. I have the most sucess with my blog (not on active rain) and Flickr. Like most people I have several accounts on the internet that I don't use. I try a lot of things but not many work all that well for me. I am quick to dump what doesn't work. Flickr is a social network and not for or about real estate. although I don't market my services on flickr and never would I get business because of my participation. The participation is easy and effortless and comes natural. No work involved and very little time.

Lenn:

Thanks for the link to the article back in 2008. Very Helpful.

I find my AR blogs are often near the top of the Google ranks.

Lenn,

Excellent advice, its appreciated! Thanks

Lenn - you continue to inspire me - you are a wealth of information - I am rather relieved to hear you say that you have to spend your time according to what you need. I often feel guilty at night for not spending more time on the social networking sites, but, truth be told, I think I would be SO burnt out if (after a long day of showing houses, etc.) I had to come home and do more networking. So thanks for that relief! I do everything I can and am just hoping that I don't fall short!

So, what you're saying is: Love many . . . trust few . . . always paddle your own canoe.

;-)

Lenn- great stuff... what is beneficial to our business? The rest of the "stuff" out there is irrelevant...

Lenn, I always enjoy your posts. I am working hard to be as proficient on Active Rain as you are. My daughter, Amy Hahn, is learning every day and trying to drag me along. Martha's blog really touched me because I too am an older "boomer". I'm working on a blog that her blog inspired too.

I like the way you give credit to people who inspire you. I also enjoy seeing what the comments of others say. We all seem to be in agreement on this one.

Lenn --- great post ---I have had to struggle a little on AR because my niche is so different from the typical Active Rainer --I'm a broker-in-charge and co-founder of a new franchise --- I think Katerina has helped me to see what I should be doing and where I need to go --- I have just begun to change some of my post --- you are right, we have to "customize"

Mama Liz

Lenn-

As a brand new member to the rain, I am so inspired by all the great comments and advice. Yours in particular! We seem to be trading off spaces on 'Featured' page, so I wanted to say hello and wish you continued success!I thought I was doing really well with 4.000 points until I saw your 800,000!!!!

I have learned more about social integration, blogging, widgets, google voice etc here in AR than anywhere!

Active Rain ROCKS!!!

Thanks Lenn!

It really amazes me that amount of real estate related information that comes to me all the time. It seems as if everyone is trying to make money on real estate and it takes a strong filter to weed out the good from the worthless. Thanks for making this point clearly.

Hi Lenn,

I like the way you put things. clear and concise......

Patricia /Seacoast NH

Lenn, since not all of us are cut out to be a jack of all trades, it's nice to know that even you agree that we do what works for us. Pick the tools that work for you, have a plan and work it.

I love Steve's comment. This has become so real to me. I now think before I do anything because time is the one thing you spend that you can not get back.

Lenn- You are so right, Active Rain is one place where you can start as a newbie and be closing business in no time! And you are also right on that one size does not fit all. You have to do what works for you- but the most important step to take is ACTION. Do something! Katerina

Lenn,

If AR is used properly, that means working at it, it should get any real estate and mortgage pro on the right track to success. The tools are there, and the great community spirit of its members.

I've gotten more useful information from reading Activerain blogs than any seminar I ever paid big bucks to attend. I agree - there's not time to do it all, but I always make sure to spend time on AR.

The ads come in stating they can put you on page one of Google.... mmmm, there are only 10 spots on Google. Seems to me, someone isn't going to make it. Anyway, thanks to the creators and participants for AR.

Lenn......thank you for sharing your expertise and giving great direction to a blogging novice......I'm spending everyday working the system.....10 blogs a week, 10 comments everyday, inviting other agents to join......it's a routine now(28 days today)....activity has increased at open house events due to internet exposure.....it's only 28 days now....I think that's great and I'm aiming for my first 100,000 points....you're a true inspiration and I can't thank you enough.

Hi Lenn. I just recently received a phone call from a supplier which made me laugh considering that I know that their websites do not offer the SEO that Active Rain has. Thanks for posting some of the things that you post because you are not obligated to share what you do share. ~ Lana

June. I was actually getting a lot of business from the Internet before the lead generation companies crawled out from whence they came. Homegain was around, but few others. I laugh when they call me. I'm far ahead of them.

Betty and John. That's exactly what I tell them and then lay the phone on the floor.

Mark. That appears to be the general response.

Laura. I agree. Find what works for you and work it hard.

Jim. Absolutely. Even agents who buy leads don't always know how to sell the leads.

Julie. Considering the variety of members' locations, I suspect that ActiveRain members reign on Google.

Steve. I agree. I don't need the Internet for a personal life. I use it for business.

Loreena. Fine with me. I completely satisfied if no one does what I do.

Chain. That's a fact.

Dick and Dixie. Amazing is the word. It's pure genius.

Rich. If a person is working their niche hard, they'll be tempted to flail around. Never pays.

Betina. I haven't gotten too many lately. Perhaps they passed my name around as a waste of time.

Missy. I love to show prospective home buyers homes and help them make intelligent decision. However, I also love sending buyers to other good agents and brokers who do the same.

Sharon. Yours is a different market. I rely on consumers. Yours is clearly a B to B marketing challenge. However, AR is a perfect staging ground for your business.

Marisa. Indeed. So many "Gurus" seem to believe that everyone should be doing what they do. GEEZ. They don't even do what they do. They try to sell someone else on how to do what they claim they used to do.

Dan. Right you are. It's so easy to get good results here.

Bruce. There's little advantage to longivity on ActiveRain. You can almost hit the ground running with good blog posts.

Christianne. Successful blogging takes consistancy and attention. The ActiveRain platform makes it easy.

Mike. Thanks. Simple minded advice from simple minded Lenn.

Lenn, timing is everything, I just hung up the phone with someone with a heavy accent claiming to be able get me to the top of Google searches but his services were not needed. I am doing it myself with a little help from my friends.

AR provides the platform, training and support to for us to accomplish this ourselves and our only real expense is our time.

Yes mam. We all have to find out what's work best for us and then DO IT!!! AR is an awesome place...for me. But I also no folks that aren't on the internet at all and do tons of business. There is no one size fits all.

Lisa. My pleasure. We help each other.

Teresa. If I were half the photographer you are, I'd spend time on Flickr too.

Ted T. That was a typo. It was 2006. I fixed it.

Micholas. That is by design.

Ron and Alexandra. My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by.

Emily. Just do what you can. It builds exponentially. I start early in the a.m.

Carla. That sounds like a plan.

JB. Absolutely. Don't forget that most of them are just selling a concept. They have no record of success.

Marian. Amy is posting some very thoughtful and well presented information. Martha writes beautiful posts.

Liz. Katerina knows ActiveRain very well. You can't go wrong.

Lesley. You don't need a lot of points for ActiveRain to help your business. The points are incentive for us competitive animals. But, you can generate business from ActiveRain and Google synergy from the beginning. James. They're just trying to make a living. Sadly, they have nothing of value to offer that we can't do for ourselves.

Patricia. Thanks. Simple is my style.

Lora. There are always going to be someone trying to sell us a "better mousetrap".

Katerina. Indeed. Just do it. New members have to start somewhere. But, there is little marketing advantage to a lot of points.

Esko. Indeed they are. I'm not surprised when I hear of the business that loan officers generate from ActiveRain. It's a natural.

Kate. Me too. You don't even have to burn any gasoline.

Jon. I mentioned that to one salesperson one day. I said that if I buy and 9 more buy your services, you folks can shut down.

Barbara. Good for you. That will take you a long way.

Lana. Shhhhh!!

Angelica. Good to hear. Work it and it will work for you.

Sheldon. Few agents work the way I do either and that's just fine with me.

Ilyce. I do believe that a web site and ActiveRain will bring us business. I don't believe it's necessary to be on everything.

Hi Lenn !

My favorite line in your post is "If you're working full time and generating a good income, don't worry about what others do."

You really DONT have to do ANYTHING that anyone else out there is doing if you are successful at your own angle on the business.

I dont get hardly ANY leads from my website, but I get 90% leads from how I work my referral network. Very few agents work the way I do in my area.

I paid for a 6 month 'Get you atop of Google page 1' scam program and didnt get one call and spent $600 ... but I learned the lesson from there....

... and you have summarized a lot of good stuff here.

Great post.

Sheldon

Lenn:

www.TeamLudlow.net

Lisa Ludlow Archer (Team Ludlow-Keller Williams, Charlotte, NC Ballantyne Area )

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11:32am • #32

Barbara Todaro (RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma)

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4:22pm • #50

Bill. You are 100% correct.

Bryant. So do I. It just happens to be my niche and, if folks are here, probably theirs too.

Another great post Lenn. My mom forced me to use this site and I'm very glad she did. I've learned more here than I ever did in real estate school or training in my office. It's a shame I was already a seasoned agent when I found this site. It would have been even more valuable if I had found it early on.

David. ActiveRain was my first blogging adventure. I was lucky.

Hi Lenn. Right on.

Too many of us are trying to copy others. We need to find what works for us!

Thanks for writing,

Ken

You are so right. I love Active Rain as well and have applauded its Free benefits to as many people who will listen.

Lenn, I just came from a convention that talks about social networking and the ones that seem to be most beneficial. You're right about Active Rain. I don't use it enough.

And I thought I was the only one whose email box gets loaded every day with such temptations. 2 years ago I did get sucked in, big mistake but I can look back now and know that I never need to be tempted by these so called offerings again. I have learned this last year to stick to my plan and it is beginning to pay off. Very well written piece.

Thanks for the reminder Lenn. I have been planning my own course, but sometimes when I hear "you must do this or that to succeed" the doubt tries to creep in. I keep a written statement in my planner to remind me why I am doing what I do and to also keep me from getting sidetracked by all that other stuff.

Lenn : As always excellent advice , I really like your blogs.

Thank you Lenn :) Very nice post!

I think we do need to march to our own drummers because there is no right or wrong way to choose what to specialze in or market ourselves or network as a Realtor. This platform takes a touch of techie with a touch of writer's gift.

Lenn, You keep cranking out the best posts. I am learning daily on AR. I am on the fence about social networking. I do love Facebook and "visiting" with friends, but just don't seem to get Twitter. Everyone says I "need" to be on more often than I am, but it doesn't work for me. You are right in saying: Do what works for us!

Why everyone doesn't see the value in Active Rain is beyond me. Active Rain is like an ATM machine for real estate leads. Spits out money for those that work it! (weird analogy, but it works in my mind, lol)

Great post, Lenn. There is an amazing amount of information here... No single coach could compete. I know that it has changed my business...

Hi Lenn...You not only do what you want to do to grow your business, you do it very well.

I had just finished reading Martha's post so when I began reading this I figured her's had given you the idea for this one. Good thinking.

Kate

Hi Lenn -- It's hard to argue with success, as success speaks louder than anything else. Well said!

Lenn,

AR is my go to place for my online marketing and my online learning.

I posted a post in July and get a call on it almost every week, even one from another realtor with a question on my post.

OCT

Oh and you really have to love when you get one of those phone calls about "ranking on Google" and they use the "ActiveRain" line. I tell them... hey, you found me, others will too" click.

Good post -- you always "nail" it ---- if we all were to buy all the gimmicks and the latest $19.95 gizmo or service that is "sure to make us rich" we would all likely go broke.

Active Rain has been good to me and the people such as yourself and others have been a treasure of information and help to find the way in a maize of internet webs and paths... I am finding success with AR but most of all I feel like I have found some really good friends in my peer group and that is pretty exciting... we are a little isolated up here and it is nice to find such talented people willing to share their wealth of knowledge... Viva the Rain! I think we can find all we need right here!

Thank You!

Ken. Thanks. Few would do business as I do but it's exremely effective.

Joshua. ActiveRain has some low cost options too. The "outside blogs" are a phenom.

Kay. I believe that folks often get involved with the other "social networds" because of the ability to talk about their day. It's doesn't bring in business but it's fun and cathartic. ActiveRain will bring in business.

Corinne. Thanks. Keep working it. It will work of you have a good plan.

Stacie. If folks who say "you must to this and that" are charging you for their "system", why aren't they just "doing it" if it's so successful.

Kathy. Thanks. I like writing them.

Lina. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheryl. I am of the opinion that writing doesn't have to be a gift. It can also be an acquired skill. However, it takes practice, just as does any skill.

Elizabeth. You have the same obversations that I have. ActiveRain doesn't take a lot of "figuring out". It is specifically designed to do what we need a real estate network to do.

Lane. I can't say it's changed my business, but it has given what I had much more effectiveness.

Kate. Martha writes very good articles with showing experience and soul. BTW, if I haven't sent you mail, I received the referral check. Thanks.

Chris. You bet. Find your niche and work hard. It works for me.

Christine. Don't you just love it. I do.

Tammy. Me too. Except that I lay the phone on the floor. It will take two or three minutes for them to be able to disconnect.

Bob and Carolin. Indeed. $20 a month times ???? will add up in a year.

Debra. I don't imagine you have the opportunity to "connect" with other agents/brokers that we have around here. Online networks are a great "connection".

Yet another great post Lenn. I brought up the Google benefits and the "first page of google" scenerio in the EPRO workshop I taught in Coeur D'Alene on Monday. I have been absolutely amazed that I post something on AR and within an hour I come back and find it linked on Google.

Jim. Indeed. Google is "ALL OVER" ActiveRain.

I agree, Lenn, with your characterization of ActiveRain as a treasure chest. It is bursting with useful information, creative posts, great photography, friendships, and referral opportunities.

And your blog is one of the shiniest jewels in it!

Cheers,

Robin

Robin. Nice to hear. Thanks.

Lenn, your posts are a constant source of inspiration and motivation to me to learn more about how to do this blogging and other internet stuff. I tend to stay in my comfort zone rather than spend the energy and effort to stay up with these techniques. You make me stretch! I appreciate your help.

"This is a great time to buy a home".

Akron, Ohio

Those guys who call on behalf of google are the worst salespeople. It does you no good to pay much $$$ if your website is horrible and you have no USP...

As always sage advice Lenn! I embrace this part daily:

"Success is not always doing what others expect or claim to do"

Each of us has to define for ourselves (not by the standards of others) what success means to us. It's easy to get caught up in "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality and end up doing nothing because we think we'll never be as good as, great as, make as much as... fill in the blank. Bloom where you're planted and don't waste another minute worrying about the next guy.

Lenn, a golden nugget of advice. I feel that there is an extrordinary amount of people here on AR that claim 'you better do this' in order to get business and it just isn't so. Follow me or google will ignore you! Nonsense. I feel they are so full of themselves, it's not really sharing it's under a different guise. This is a heartfelt message from you to learn what you can from others success stories and apply it to your own unique situation and business. You're a 'learned it thru the trenches' kind of gal.

Thomas. Thanks. Always looking for ways to improve our business.

Ben. They are misrepresenting themselves by using the word Google like they are with Google.

I give them an earfull.

Karen. Indeed. I don't waste one nanosecond worrying about the other guy.

Lyn. Indeed I am. I was "in the treanches" before Google was even online.

Hi Lenn,

How many "social media" sites have you joined only to forget your login/password or can't figure out how to navigate?

You have to get ROBOFORM! Makes life so much easier!

Lenn - Blogging can be all too time consuming but the benefits of AR are so worth it. Time spent here is time well spent.

Lenn the sales pitches I get by phone don't just aim at making me feel guilty, the creeps try to make me feel like a failure. "I saw your listing online but you aren't on page one of Google". I get those same words over the phone several times a week - they must all have the exact same scripts and dialogues card. I get off the phone politely if possible, but sometimes they continue on...and I have to just hang up. Too bad there's no "business to business" do not call list.

Love your advice, as always - it is rock solid.

I'm glad flea hasn't become a protected class in our society Lenn!
I hope you are having a great week,
Paul

Active Rain is the absolute best tool I have and it teaches me how to use the other tools out there.

there are so many companies that prey on us realtors just because. we are dollar signs to them. someone they can lure in with that old 'lead carrot'. after getting burnt a couple of times in the past, hopefully i won't get stung in the future...at least not too much.

Lenn, you are such an asset to Active Rain. I look forward to your posts as they are informative and make my mind think, which is always a good thing.

Lenn, great advice. We get calls from all kinds of real estate marketers. New agents are especially vunerable to all the hype from these types of people... and they just keep on calling....and I just keep on saying, "No".

Boulder City Steve

Yep, I've joined sites that I don't even remember. Active Rain isn't one of them. I am on AR several times a day and it is the first place I come to when I need answers. And out of all of the sites I have joined, AR is the only one that makes my phone ring a ding ding....

I recently purchased a domain name and I received two calls from this one sales guy who used a script where I could tell my name was inserted accordingly. It was so annoying. He even asked me if I intended to be found on google or was I not interested in my site being found in the search engines.

Chrystina. Didn't you just want to punch that jerk in the mouth??? I've gotten the same line from Homes.com. It shows a distinct lack of class.

Steve. New agents are vulnerable. No one in real estate school told them that they would have to generate business.

Debbie. Agreed. Thinking is good.

Bev and Bob. Keep working and you won't be sucked in by them.

Gene. Indeed. AR is a valuable resource.

Paul. Are you lost???

Mary Pope. When they utter that ignorant remark "Do you not want business from your web site or . . . . . " I just lay the phone on the floor.

Carol. We can control it. We can control it. We can . . . .

Keith. I've got all the stuff on my desktop that I want. I have my passwords in a safe place, but I rely a lot of IE. Sometimes they give me too many options.

Lenn,

Staying focused is really important and you hit it right on. Do what is best for you and your customer and things usually have a way of working out.

thanks for the post.

Good information, Lenn. A couple of years ago, I got my arm twisted to purchase all of these zip codes and towns for the exclusive sponsorship of a now-defunct real estate blog that had big plans to go national. Problem was, even though I was the sponsor, some local agents decided that they were going to spam the site and just started putting all sorts of crap content such that any chance of viable readership was lost. I couldn't get my money refunded or back out of my sponsorship, so I just had to let the thing die a miserable death. Once in a while, I still get comments from past clients about how they would google my firm's name and find me smack in the middle of all this trash!

Martin. Those agent, if identity known should lose their license.

Mark. It works for me.

Hi Lenn,

I am very very new to Active Rain and your post and all the comments have convinced me that this is the place to put my social media efforts. I've been spending more time trying to learn how and what and where to post everything and just starting to finally jump in. Any advice on some first steps to help make my presence on Active Rain boost my business?

I would be grateful to any and all suggestions!

Donna

Thanks for the good avice, again, Lenn. There is so much out there and it is easy to loose your focus.

Lenn, You are so right on. I could have written this blog a hundred times with all the people that have tried to sell me something. And then there are the ones that sound more real and you fall for. Some of them turn out ok, but still most of them are a wasste of our time and money.

OCT

Lenn,

I agree in that we certainly can't do it all, and defintely can't do it all well. We need to pick a few and focus on them.

Thanks for the great post!

DeeDee. Agreed. We can't be an expert in all things real estate.

Jinus. Indeed. I trashed three messages this a.m. from investor buyers looking for "instant equity". Good Grief Guys, everyone wants instant equity.

Wayne. Agreed. Stick to what you know.

Donna. I could write a book, but there's no room here. Read a lot of blogs and join in the conversations.

Lenn - what an amazing post and I couldn't agree with you more! Why worry about what everyone else is doing - worry about your clients - your business - what works for some won't work for others - find out what works for you and give it all you've got! ~Anne Marie

Lenn - Some great advise that I will take. I am trying different things and finding what suits me best. Unless the senate also extends the 24 hours in a day, there is not enough time to do everything.

Anne Marie. Indeed. I know what works for me and I work it hard. I don't care what someone else does.

Dianne. It does seem that we need more hours in a day, doesn't it???

Good post Lenn. Where were you last week when I took the bait. Oh well, as least it's only month to month. I won't lose a fortune on it.

NOV

Lenn,

Your post is a breath of fresh air. I got my feet wet with a few other platforms but have decided that AR is the only social networking effort that I am willing to do at this time. AR has proven it's value and has given me a great return on my time invested. I can attribute several sales (large ones) directly to my blogging efforts on AR. I also enjoy the exposure that I can give local businesses in my community. In these tough economic times, I like to help in anyway I can to keep the locals shopping at home.

I used to feel guilty that I'm not doing all the other sites, but had to come to terms with it...there are only so many hours in a day and my husband demands at least a few of them. My business is thriving and growing so I must be doing something right.

NOV

Dennis. I'm sure you won't fall for that line again.

Fran. My choices are limited due to limited time. I choose AR because it's real estate oriented. The rest are not.

NOV

Hi Lenn, You're probably wondering what is going on with a comment on an older post, but I wanted to say thanks for sharing. I follow your posts and comments and respect what you are doing! I'm stilll in AR 101, but try to make it to class every day!

Verlyn. Folks are welcome to drop by any time.

Enjoy and I appreciate the comments.

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