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If I were a Newbie

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with RICOASTALLIVING.COM

What to do on Active Rain Okay, I have been here on Active Rain for a long time. I am not one of the top bloggers, nor one of the non bloggers. I guess I am kind of in the middle. 

When I first started..in 2006, there weren't many people here and there were changes constantly as Active Rain started growing and attracting different people across the country. The original founders of Active Rain are gone and a lot of the original bloggers are very quiet!

This was my quote originally about Active Rain and I still agree!

However, over the course of the years, Active Rain has morphed into something that is so useful for people in the Real Estate and mortgage industry, that it tends to be even more confusing than when it first started.

I am finally (after 4 years!!!!!) going to make my goal of 200,000 points. I am a late starter, but I always get to the finish line. I thought I would use this time as a plea to all here on Active Rain.  (I used to plea all the time, but finally gave up)

For the sake of not only Active Rain, yourselves and anyone who wants to come here and learn, blog, take their business to the next level, or just lurk....Please keep the newbie group clear of listings and localism style posts.

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UPDATED DUE TO COMMENTS   CONTINUE TO POST TO LOCALISM, JUST DON'T PUT THEM IN THE NEWBIE GROUP SO THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR OTHER TYPES OF POSTS...(BTW, THIS TYPE OF FONT IS CONSIDERED YELLING:)  

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I like to go in and feature a post so someone can find it. It takes about four pages of browsing to even find a post that is possibly relevant!   I hate complaining about this because it makes me feel like a mother talking to her children...and they are not listening!!

Okay, that's all I wanted to say besides the fact that Active Rain has actually done a lot for me as a person. I probably could be a better blogger with a little practice, but I am seriously very busy with my Clients that I suspect I would have never figured out how to get if not for Active Rain.   I may not be a super Real Estate power, but my boutique Brokerage in Warwick Rhode Island (Stonehurst Realty) is holding its own and I fully expect it to grow and fourish as the economy changes.

I know this sounds repetitive as I read this from many of you, I am very honored to have gotten acquainted with many of you (and you all know who you are:). You are now my friends, in my life, sharing my days, as I share yours. I have to thank Active Rain for this also!

 

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Opinions are of Karen Hurst, Broker/Owner of Stonehurst Realty only. For a free consultation, visit me at Stonehurstrealty.com and find out if this is your time to buy or sell!

Click on  to find me and decide.

If you are looking to sell, we can provide you with the latest stats for the market value of your home.

We specialize in bayside communities in all of Rhode Island

Contact me at Oceanstatehomes@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

Want to be a Rainmaker?

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Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Congratulations on reaching 200,000 points Karen. I'm not here as much as I used to be but still love to come and hang around every now and then.

Feb 06, 2010 04:38 AM
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

What has changed along with the growth of AR since 2006 is the increased importance of Google ranking !!!

Feb 06, 2010 11:25 AM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy and Mornen there Karen

Congrats  to reachen the 200,000 milestone, and over to boot.

I sure would like to see the Newbie group go back to being only posts for helpping and for Newbie folks introducing them selves. I do my best to go through all the pages of the group fine any new members that I may have missed giving a welcome to.

Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections

Feb 07, 2010 01:58 AM
Mark Montross
Catamount Realty Group - Burlington, VT
Listing and Buyer Specialist

Congratulations on200k. I just hit 15k so I have a long way to go to catch up!

Feb 07, 2010 02:16 AM
Craig Snead
Quality Home Investments, LLC / Dearborn Heights, MI - Dearborn Heights, MI
Real Estate Investor

Karen, Congratulations on your points. Thank you for the post. We all need "MOM" to show up once in a while and keep us in line. Being a newbie, I like reading the posts in the newbie group.

Feb 07, 2010 05:24 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Monica, I know, I havent seen a post from you for quite awhile! thanks for stopping by, though, I feel like I hardly ever see you.

Michael, that may be true, but in all honesty, I was a the top of google for two years and now I am not.

Dale, I know you do that, I see your comments to newbies all the time and I think that is wonderful, but you remember how tough it was deleting posts and how angry people got:) I am hoping a gentle reminder here and there will help.

Mark, Good for you! And again, it really isn't the points. I have two posts that I did in 2007. Each was a hyperlocal post. Whenever anyone googles either of those two places, to this day. they end up on my site and from there go to my other blogs or websites.  That's really all it takes.

Craig:)  Okay and as a MOM, I will keep my mouth shut for the next few months:)

Feb 07, 2010 07:41 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson
Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR
The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Karen ~ Congrats on the 200K points.  As for posting localism posts to the Newbies group, I never knew there was a rule, and I have been on AR for a couple of years.  I have certainly been guilty of that myself.  Whenever I read other posts that are specific to a local region, it gives me ideas for blogging about the same in my area.  Good ideas are infectious on Active Rain.

Feb 08, 2010 03:14 PM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Karen - congrats!  Thank you for founding the Newbie Group - a fact that is lost to some since you've been here for a number of years.

I agree that AR is a positive force in our industry if only we'd use it more and often!  :)

Feb 09, 2010 07:44 AM
Ann Sabbagh
Seacoast Mortgage Corporation, RI (20021119LB & 20031576LL), MA (MC2107) & CT - Pawtucket, RI
President, Sr. Loan Officer

Karen,  Congratulations on the milestone!  When it comes to aging, the milestones are not so great, unless one is speaking of wine.  When it comes to milestones on AR, it is truly a success story and an accomplishment. It is a testimony to YOU for your dedication and to writing blogs that add to the knowledge base of others and KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Thank you for inspiring all of us underneath you, especially here in Rhode Island!

Feb 09, 2010 10:23 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Melinda,Originally we had "rules and guidelines" along the sidebar of the newbie group. (and moderators, just like the other groups) It just didn't work. People got upset if a post was removed and many just didn't understand the reasoning behind the group. I haven't removed a post in at least a year.  So don't worry about it.

Yolanda, So true, I feel like I hardly know anyone here anymore. Making newer friends now:)

Ann, You are embarrassing me!  I can't wait to meet you in person!  I feel like I finally found someone who knows the answers and if not, then where to get them and that's an important trait to me.

Feb 09, 2010 12:48 PM
Beena Shah
Keller Williams Realty-Hoover - Birmingham, AL

karen,

Congratulations on 200k. your blog is very encouraging. I know these points don't mean a whole lot but I can see the benefit of being able to read blogs such as yours and get inspired to blog for networking and knowledge sake.

I really have gotten hooked on this web site. I have invited a few folks too. I hope they all find articles of some use and take advantage of this tremendous brain storming that happens from other professionals from our own industry.

Thanks,

Beena

 

Feb 09, 2010 02:03 PM
Jennie Moore
Hilton Head Area Properties, LLC - Bluffton, SC

Karen... most people that are new to the A/R don't know or understand about blogging...what to blog... how to check the boxes and what means what on the localism page, where it should go, how to put a listing on here and etc...  I am a newbee... have posted several localism's that i thought people would like to read, and have about 3600 points... I don't understand what to do to get more points..  I hate to write and ask, it makes you really feel dumb...  so, how do we learn what to do, where to send it to, is a post the same as a blog, and so on...  we have received no benefit from A/R as of yet to my knowledge, except the friendship of the people answering some of my question a while back..  I have not been able to just sit and read and read, like I would like to...  I need to know more about the groups, rules and how to do different things, a post my listings too.... could you please help... thanks....

Feb 10, 2010 04:40 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Hi Beena, Thankyou! I personally think that this site actually expanded more due to the way the Real Estate market progressed. The timing of this site was perfect!  Be careful getting addicted!!!:)

Jennie, please do not feel too stupid to ask!! As I have mentioned, most people do not understand this site when they first come here and to be totally honest, I have seen people leave for the very same reason. Yes, it takes a little time to learn it all, but no one knows it all and it keeps changing.   Here is a post by Brad Andersohn (who has just about every post anyone needs to read) to get you started....then use the FAQ/Help group for different things you want to know.   If you are posting to localism you are already ahead of the game.

Groups...were started to combine certain interests. Some of the groups are kept very subject oriented due to a lot of volunteer hard work by their founders and moderators.

Because its such a daunting task many groups just tend to expand into all kinds of things. You do not have to join groups if you do not want to. It does not make your posts show up better...however, by joining a group that interests you, you may be able to contribute to it or learn something. Keep in mind there are loads of things to do here and you cannot possibly do them all!!

The very best way to find out things, like how to get more points is to do a search here at AR which I believe is at the top of every page.

Email me if you have more questions. I don't mind at all, people email me all the time")

If you are writing for your clients, direct your posts (each time you write something on your blog:) to the Localism part.   Writing to other members can also be done in a post.

Feb 10, 2010 05:35 AM
Gerry Michaels
Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA
GettysburgGerry Social Meida

200,000  points that is wonderful, I hope to be a member in that club some day, I am currently pushing on 100,000. I just love the learning experience that AR offers it's members

Feb 10, 2010 07:24 AM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains

Karen: I remember "back in the day" before Active Rain started growing leaps and bounds.  It's a great site but once it started evolving so quickly, I just couldn't keep up and give my business the attention it required and deserved.  I really fell behind and am still behind on so many changes.  The best I can do these days, is comment when I can and post once in awhile.  I've definitely noticed that being away hurts me in the rankings but something just had to give.  I hardly get any comments now when I write a blog but it just can't be helped.  The changes were coming so fast, which is a testament to how much hard work the active rain gods put into this site to make it better and better.  Now Facebook has changed their site and geez! :-)  Still, it's good to see folks like you who were among the first of my new friends that I made "back in the day".

Congrats on 200,000 !  That is quite an accomplishment given everything else that eats up time.  I remember being excited when I got 1000 points. 

Feb 12, 2010 12:19 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Gerry, I agree completely! The learning has far outweighed everything for me!

Hi Donna, Yes, back in the day when we used to chat here and there. It's amazing how much time goes by. I fully understand what you are saying, and yes, being away, does hurt your rankings. I know that first hand! Unless you work for AR, I don't know how anyone could keep up with every single change. I am hoping, though the the simple concept of blogging for business and learning as we go does not change.   Although I sincerely miss "back in the day"

Feb 12, 2010 06:13 AM
Anonymous
Paul Padgett

Thanks Karen for your insight. Many times things become cluttered and skewed by agenda items from others who want to capitalize on their exposure for which this area was prohibited. I am really new and became a rainmaker last night. I'm ready to take my business to the next level and I'm willing to let active rain show me how. Thanks for your help.

See you at the top.

Paul

Feb 26, 2010 02:23 PM
#33
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Hi Paul, I like things simple and sometimes they get a little too complicated. Good luck on your new Rainmaker status! 

Feb 27, 2010 11:47 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

hi karen, i'm a newbie & i'm so glad you clarified what should NOT be posted to newbies & i've been at fault-how can you help one another out if there is so much stuff to filter through...since you're in RI i've been following your posts & they're very good.  I just wanted to add another dimension in blogging which i find i love as much as real estate...oh, oh! 

Congrats on your points!  hope to stay in touch with you.

Apr 08, 2010 11:08 PM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Hi Ginny, thankyou! I am going to send you an email:)

Apr 09, 2010 05:00 AM