SHOULD ACTIVERAIN PURGE THE MEMBERSHIP? "NO".

Ellie McIntire asks "When will ActiveRain purge it's member list?"

Lenn answers:  HOPEFULLY, NEVER!!

This isn't the first time I've read this suggestion.  In fact, I've bemoaned the fact that there are many members on the roster who have joined but never contributed content.  My disappointment is not because the members are not benefiting from their ActiveRain membership.  My disappointment is that I may be looking for a referral agent and with no content, I can't get a "feel" for the member's real estate practice. 

Members often suggest that ActiveRain purge the member list.  I disagree. 

After all, members who are not contributing content by posting articles may be reading.  In fact, they may be reading and commenting.  On several occasions I've read an interesting comment, clicked to the writer's blog and found no content.  In fact, they may not have completed their profile.  However, they are there in my ActiveRain database.  If they are in my market area, I may subscribe to their blog.  I'm always seeking good local agents or brokers for my network.

BLOGGING IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.  Fine with me.  I'm happy to be one of the small percentage of agents and brokers who do blog.   My reasons for blogging are many and not limited to the "social media" aspect.

However, the ActiveRain database is very important and shouldn't be reduced unless there is a bandwidth problem, in which case, I'd be for adding more bandwidth rather than reducing the membership.

ActiveRain doesn't want to be exclusive.  We want to be inclusive.  NOTE:  ActiveRain is to me, not an "IT", or a "THEY".  ActiveRain is a "WE".

THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.  So what??  Members of the public can become members.  Few do, but being in the real estate industry isn't a necessity to join.

WHAT ARE REALTORS SAYING ABOUT MARKETING TOOLS??

ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING.  The June 2009 REALTOR.ORG survey said:

REALTORS believe that direct mail and blogs are on a par, 8% each, when used for business development.

HOWEVER, REALTORS believe that referrals are a more important source, 83%,  of business. 

ACTIVERAIN IS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR REFERRAL BUSINESS.  INCOMING AND OUTGOING.

THE ACTIVERAIN MEMBERSHIP ROSTER IS A VALUABLE REFERRAL TOOL.  Their ActiveRain blog is an important directory of WHO, WHAT, and WHERE.  When researching agents to add to my REFERRAL NETWORK, I browse the ActiveRain membership.  If there are blog posts, good.  If there are none, I still have a WHO, WHAT and WHERE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT.  Members who do not actively post to their blog are important to us all.  Their ActiveRain blog contributes content.  For folks who do not speak Google, this is an important factor in helping YOUR BLOG rank well, your posts get indexed and consumers seeing your posts on Google.

• DON'T PURGE MY NEXT REFERRAL AGENT.
• DON'T PURGE FUTURE CONTENT.
• DON'T PURGE THE ACTIVERAIN ROSTER.  There's gold among those nuggets.

BUT, BUT, BUT.. . . . .  what about members in the real estate agent/broker categories who are no long licensees????   That is a matter that is not likely to be monitored by ActiveRain.  However, the member who is no longer licensed should amend their profile to avoid misleading the public or other agents about their licensing status.

ADDENDUM:  One never knows who is going to resurect their ActiveRain blog.  I just noticed a post by a good friend Mickey Hayward, a broker to whom I refer buyers looking on the Eastern Shore of MD.  Every once in a while, I go to my P.O. Box and there's a check from Sunset Properties. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.  Serving home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.