This is a post that will helpfully shed some light on the massive amount of information available on Active Rain as well as help each of us as we weed through the maze of ideas, of tips, hints, and people that we are introduced to on Active Rain. I'm sharing just "some" of the amazing stuff I've learned and am still learning on this wonderful meeting place. Hopefully, you will share anything else that I haven't covered that is especially meaningful or helpful to you. I've only come up with 40, so see if some of you can come up with more.
My kuddos to Active Rain and to all of the wonderfully talented, knowledgeable and gentle people here who are willing to share, share, share. I've learned so much and will still continue to learn. I actually posted a blog on my own individual site about the need for staging - also learned from this venue. Just some things I've learned:
1. I've learned what an Avatar is and how to design a new "me" with http://www.meez.com/
2. I've learned about http://www.vflyers.com/ and about http://www.postlets.com/ both of which allow me to put together a really cool flyer to post online including Craig's List.
3. I've learned more ideas of posting cool information about communities, about personal stuff, as well as a virtual tour on http://www.realestateshows.com/
4. I've learned that if I am planning to get at least 200 points for a post, I need to have 50 words - didn't know that until after I posted one with less
5. I've learned that I need at least 10 words to get my 25 points for responding to a comment
6. I've learned that when someone does comment on my post, that the polite thing to do is to acknowledge their comment and thank them for stopping by
7. I've learned there is lots of uninteresting posts (probably many of mine included)
8. I've learned about other parts of the country via posts displaying community and state information for Localism
9. I've learned that there is an "edit" button on my comments so that if there's something else I want to say, I can edit it there instead of writing another comment (thanks to Brad Andersohn)
10. I'm still learning how to put photos into my blogs, and recently into comments, albeit at the "early" stages of learning since I haven't figured out how to line them up nicely
11. I've learned that if you want 200 points for each post, you can only post ten per week
12. I've learned that if you write good content and get lots of comments, your 200 points can increase substantially
13. I've learned that I can't read everything that is posted
14. I've learned that Active Rain can be very time consuming and somewhat addictive
15. I've learned that there are lots of great people who will take time to help out newbies and those that don't know how
16. I've learned that if I want to know how to do something, it's probably somewhere on AR
17. I've learned to subscribe to those individuals whose posts I particularly enjoy
18. I've learned to bookmark for future reference those posts with oodles of information
19. I've learned to rate those posts that are particularly special
20. I've learned to select groups that fit my particular preferences and to read what the group is about so I don't mistakenly post an inappropriate blog in that group
21. I've learned to delete my comments from my list every day because I've bookmarked my favorites
22. I've learned it's not nice to put a link in a comment directing the reader to my website (I didn't do that, but I read that it's not nice)
23. I've learned that it does matter what information you put into your profile
24. I've learned that "whatever" I post on Active Rain will be read by consumers as well as real estate professionals
25. I've learned how to place a Grazr widget on my blog - thanks to the great instructions of Jeff Turner http://activerain.com/blogsview/96624/Add-Your-Other-Blogs
26. I've learned that when I add an associate, I make a nice comment
27. I've learned that it takes a LOT of time to learn stuff and get to know who your favorites are
28. I've learned to watch for newbies, welcome them aboard and to dig around on the old posts by my favorite bloggers
29. I've learned how little I know
30. I haven't yet learned where to find all of those pictures - other than the photographs taken by the blogger - to emphasize a point or create some interest or highlight a topic
31. I've learned what a love link is from Brad Andersohn 
32. I've learned more about Localism from great people. Do not post it in the groups. Post it in your state, city, county, community. Click on Localism, choose, and then post it there.
33. I've learned that you can post your listing, but you won't get points.
34. I've learned that things change on Active Rain and not to get upset
35. I've learned that you can only post to five groups
36. I've learned to put plenty of white space in your blogs or else we don't read them
37. I've learned that many people bold their stuff, but haven't figured out why yet
38. I've learned that negativism is definitely OUT and positive is absolutely IN
39. There's more, believe me, but I wanted to give some of you a head's up.
40. I've learned that uploading a picture/clipart is a challenge and won't accept a wmf but only a jpg or gif
Okay, that's 40. Anyone want to add one of their favorites to this list?
41. Brad shared http://www.glittermaker.com/ which allowed me to put my Lady In Red on my blog. Thanks Brad :-)
42. Angie Vandenbergh added: "I've learned that all the people blogging on this site are not just people trapped in my computer. They are real and out there in the world." Thanks Angie. That's what's called a link love or love link......I think. :-)
43. As of today no points for non-original jokes with less than 50 words of original content. Really, no joking! :-)
44. Joanne Hanson suggested the "search" button to find articles on specific items such as grazr, etc. as well as search for a topic or a person. Great addition Joanne, thanks.
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