Home > Blogs > Angie Vandenbergh > Crye-Leike Blogger

New Active Rain Feature: Referrals

By Angie Vandenbergh

Services for Real Estate Pros with Crye-Leike, Realtors

July 24, 2007 01:07 AM

I'm not sure when this was released, but I just noticed it on the toolbar this morning.

Referrals section of active rain.

It's got to be new, because I only see one referral so far. Click on it. Check it out. Also notice that it's provided free for now, but there will be a charge for this in the future. Guess this is the beginning of how Active Rain plans to make money :)

referrals

Enjoy checking it out. I look forward to everyone's thoughts about it and how it ends up working out.

Comments(20)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Angie. You beat me to it. I noticed it on the header early this a.m. I've been waiting for this feature.

I don't believe this is an income source. There is nothing in the system for a percentage or any type of fee for ActiveRain.

We'll see. If they do make money from this feature, fine with me.

Jul 24, 2007 01:13 AM

Bill Gassett

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Angie - thanks for pointing this out.

Jul 24, 2007 01:13 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

Lenn, Look at the bottom of the referrals welcome page.... they state "At a later date the service will include a flat monthly subscription fee". So they are planning on charging for it eventually. Just free right now. I guess to let everyone try it out and see how it actually works.

Jul 24, 2007 01:17 AM

Jeannette Neerpat

CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL

e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

The fee is going to be $20 a month. Pretty cheap, I think.

Jul 24, 2007 01:29 AM

New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor

RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, Real Estate - Morristown, NJ

I just noticed it today as well.

Jul 24, 2007 01:33 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

Hi Jeannette - How do you know it's going to be $20/month?

Jul 24, 2007 01:36 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

Just saw the update. The Rain posted the official press release and it says the price

ActiveRain Launches Nationwide Referral Exchange

Jul 24, 2007 01:37 AM

Frank Rubi

Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA

FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Angie, thanks for the heads up. My questions too how does anyone know the cost will be $20. This is for a referral of business cost is OK. This may be a cash generator for AR.

Jul 24, 2007 01:46 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

$20 Price is posted in active rain's press release about the feature.

Jul 24, 2007 01:51 AM

Jeannette Neerpat

CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL

e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Yeah right after you posted AR posted the release with information stating price and when they planned on charging. Its free til the end of the year.

Jul 24, 2007 02:36 AM

Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Although I will forever go down in the books as being the first to post a real residential referral on the new system... (Woo Hoo!)

Two problems I see so far (we're 38 minutes in)

It's not built for mortgage leads
It's not (yet) built to stop a listing lead (http://activerain.com/action/lead_referrals/show_referral/5)

"4 Bedroom 2 Bath - 2203 sq. ft. built in 2002
1/3 Acre lot with inground pool and RV parking.
Granite & Stainless kitchen. Virtual tour and details posted on my profile.
Move in ready."

Leads are people, not listings.

Soylent Green is people too (but that's a different movie)

Jul 24, 2007 02:38 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

I don't see a place to see how many people have inquired about a referral and/or when it is not available anymore. Mike, please post here what happens with your 'person' lead :) Will you have to remove the referral when you've given it out or do you have some kind of success button for when you give it out etc.

Jul 24, 2007 02:47 AM

Vicki Bishop GRI - Alabama Real Estate

Coldwell Banker United Realtors® - Bay Minette, AL

Thanks Angie for pointing that i didnt even notice it.

Jul 24, 2007 04:07 AM

Daniel Bates

MCVL Realty - McClellanville, SC

McClellanville and Awendaw, SC

Yes, this will be a valuable tool to agents on AR if they themselves don't abuse and spam it with useless leads. You should only be posting if you have a client that has asked you to find them an agent, not the thousands of others reasons that I can only imagine people on here will be posting. I wish the AR gods the best of luck in sorting out the bull crap and keeping the posts tidy and too the point.

Jul 24, 2007 08:32 AM

Kim Dean

www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX

Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner

I also checked out this feature. At first I thought it was just for agents searching for an agent to refer their business to. But then I checked it out later tonight and what it appears to be is agents posting their personal info, saying "I'll take care of your referrals in XYZ city - send them to me!" I'm confused...

I think this has the potential to be a great thing, I just don't think the AR community is clear on what it is or how to use it.

Jul 24, 2007 04:19 PM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

Guess will just have to wait for everyone to start writing blogs about it.... Actually I saw a comment from Matt Heaton (on the AR press release post) that there would be a post coming soon with more info about it. I have not seen that post yet, but maybe that will make some of these things clearer.

Jul 25, 2007 12:54 AM

British Homes Group

British Homes Group - Kissimmee, FL

Great..really useful tool to know..will have to check it out.

Jul 25, 2007 04:43 AM

Alice Benjamin

Bernadette Interiors Design Studio - Las Cruces, NM

Angie-

Have you come across an updated press release?

Nov 26, 2007 09:12 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

Hi Alice, I posted this quite a while back. I have not seen any recent press releases from AR about this... but all of the information is available in the referrals section here. Thanks.

Nov 26, 2007 09:14 AM