"I don't feel comfortable about committing to ActiveRain, or any other platform that I don't own. What if ActiveRain gets bought by Google or they change the price or terms?"

First off, thank you Harj Gill for bringing up this issue and addressing it in your own blog post today. I'd like to echo your statements, and add some of my own.

"With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are in the midst of the worst housing recessions in history. The actual job of selling real estate in today's market is extremely difficult. When I sold real estate in the late 90's and early part of this decade I viewed my job as 90% marketing to get the clients, and 10% actually representing my clients. Listings sold themselves, oftentimes just hours after they were put on the market. Buyer clients were in such a frenzy they nearly always bought on the first tour, and getting a deal closed was always a cinch. No money? No credit? No job? No problem! Now it seems that with the complications brought by REO's and short sales, the real work starts after the buyer finds the home they want. 

However, there are silver linings. One of which is the marketing revolution that blogging has brought to the industry. This is a unique time; a gold rush of sorts. A motivated real estate professional can sign up for ActiveRain at noon, write their first blog post by 1pm, and have a top ranked article on Google by 1:15pm. The reach, authority, and power afforded by this medium is immense, and yet, the percentage of RainMakers taking advantage of this opportunity is very small when compared to the number of professionals in the industry.

We know the site works; I'm constantly hearing success stories that blow my mind. ActiveRain has changed lives, and saved careers. 

Yet, we don't know what the future may bring. Today, ActiveRain is Google's golden child, but who knows what will happen tomorrow. Today, ActiveRain costs $39 per month for RainMaker access. Might we change our mind and start charging $199 for the same service tomorrow? Does it matter? 

"If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is." 

In a few years everything will change in this business, just like everything is different today than it was three years ago. Today ActiveRain represents a golden arrow for you business. Use it up. Squeeze every last drop of success from it that you can. 

I never think of the future. It comes soon enough." ~Albert Einstein

 
Star Posted by Jon Washburn on 07/14/2010 02:19 PM   Comments (67)   ActiveRain in the ActiveRain Channel   activerain  
Originally posted at: jonwashburn: Forever is composed of nows.
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67 Comments on Forever is composed of nows.

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
15
2010
269,988 Points 7 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Jonathan,

Looking over the rough sentiments of the group, I would say, number one, AR is great, and has helped me meet many great people and share my ideas and learn new ones. I would like to see you be able to earn a free membership since content which is time and knowledge is the key to AR's success. Maybe so many points earns you a free account which makes people blog more. Maybe so many featured posts if you want to measure quality. I would like to see the premium pay and the ability to go from free member only to free full. I also can't post from my droid which is annoying. We want Widget!..:]

On the other side. I feel the concern of things changing. Most companies start off free and then start charging which makes people feel uneasy. The content and community built the success and then when it comes time to monetize people may feel betrayed. There are models that can reward people who contribute and monetize, it just takes ideas.... by the way what does it take to go ambassador? and heck I got ideas all day long for AR, you should hire me :]
1:41am • #49
1,423,603 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

The value of Activerain for my career is very important, I would hate that one day I wake up and it's gone.. .I experienced a little sample of that during the proxy error days. 

Although I don't have control over what can happen in the future, I have control and so others what could they do if Activerian changes dramatically.

I really appreciate Activerain everyday and I have deep respect for you guys.. just know that any decisions you make will affect all of us and we are hoping that those decisions are on line with your strength. ...all your members
7:24am • #50
874,820 Points 154 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jon, you should know by now that when you post here, all you are gonna get 95% of the time is atta boys. I haven't read the post (yet) that inspired this one, but I have been following along in the midst of the wedding the posts on former members blogs and facebook updates.

I will tell you as I have told many others...that have left...or don't blog here anymore..."I would not have known YOU or become friends with you if not for Activerain, I would not have learned about SEO, and technology without the open, and honest bloggers sharing all their knowledge here.

One of my closest friends has been with 2 start up companies...one of which eventually sold for millions. She hated it when it grew, the closeness was gone...but every busiiness is built to grow and eventually be sold.

Regardless, I have a few idea's to make AR sustainable in the future, but will not post them here for all the world to see.

My son, Matthew...you met at the wedding just was licensed in Nashville, I got him all set up with a Dakno blog, (wp.org), web-site and of course an AR blog.

He called me the other night to tell me, his post on AR about a new listing got a google alert in a few minutes, he was thrilled. So enough said.
8:20am • #51
128,198 Points Attended Rain Camp

Thanks for the reminder to get back to blogging!
10:38am • #52
683,429 Points 83 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jonathan`

I have some idea about AR and sustainability, too...especially having to do with the role of Ambassadors...but I will, like Missy, not post them here...even though they are Great Ideas =)

10:41am • #53
905,602 Points 93 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

First off, excellent job Jonathan calming and addressing the fears noted by some of the AR community.

You hit the nail on the head by saying no one knows what the future may bring.

However, with that in mind, everyone on here should be taking advantage of the resources afforded by ActiveRain to its members.

Will it last? Again, no one knows.

But I can attest to the fact that my involvement with ActiveRain has grown my business dramatically, taught me more about SEO, blogging, social media than any class I've ever taken, and, probably most importantly, provided me with a network of agents across the country who I've given and received referrals from and who I now call friend.

I recently sent in two success stories (pictures of check in hand included!) of deals that closed as a direct result of my participation on ActiveRain......and I have more to come!

Keep up the great work guys! And, thank you!
10:44am • #54
105,928 Points 4 Featured Posts Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I have several real estate blogs. One self hosted built into my real estate site and some that are outside platforms such as Active Rain. Of those outside platforms AR clearly stands out as the best and as they say - "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
10:46am • #55
569,544 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Jonathon,  This is a very good read and comment thread !  Sometimes we agents can overthink things until we become stuck in the process ( been there, done a lot of that ! ) .
11:07am • #56

AR has done nothing but good things for me! As a newer agent my online presence is continually growing... and for $39/ mo... WOW! It's a no brainer!
11:19am • #57
639,271 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jon, it is good to see you around more these days!  I'm one that believes learn and grow ~ don't and die...  IF I hadn't taken Dick Betts suggestion a few years ago to join AR I wouldn't have met some very interesting, smart, and talented agents whom I can now call friends.  I wouldn't have stayed ahead of the moves RE has taken nor learned how to stay alive in this business while many of my colleagues are having a very hard time.

Thank you and everyone at AR for keeping this a superior networking community!
11:55am • #58
1,024,215 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I was not sure what Active Rain was charging these days as I am grandfathered in on some things and have some promotional stuff going on with some other.  I would keep it at those prices, as I know the value, but I am not sure I would try it at those prices.
12:10pm • #59
237,734 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jonathan, I SO agree with your post.  I really didn't even know what AR was when I signed up, but now I'm a true believer.  I wish I had the time and the extra funds to set up a Wordpress blog.  Maybe with the extra income I'm making as the result of clients who found me through my Active Rain blog, I'll soon be able to do that.  

I consider ActiveRain to be my ongoing continuing education.  I learn more on this site than from all my CE classes and advanced designation courses combined.  Add to that wonderful benefit the extra exposure I get from my AR blogs, and I'm a true believer.  I just need more hours in the day!  Can you help me with that?
12:33pm • #60
199,373 Points 4 Featured Posts

My comment was long enough for a post - so here it is:  Active Rain Is Just One Tool In My Internet Marketing Arsenal
2:50pm • #62
587,638 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I don't see the risk. What if it did disappear? Everything you've gained so far would not be lost.

As for your posts, why not keep all of them backed up on your computer, so you could pull them out and post them somewhere else if you wanted to?
6:03pm • #63
122,426 Points Hit Router Called Shot Master

Good post Jonathan.  We can waste all our todays worrying about what might happen tomorrow or regretting what happened yesterday.  Seize the day!
7:50pm • #64
JUL
18
2010
162,130 Points 4 Featured Posts

Great thoughts and blog.

Concise well delivered information and slant on the issues.
2:59pm • #65
JUL
19
2010

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift - that's why its called the present...

Sonya R Nevins (Star Realty, LLC) Waterbury, CT
3:12pm • #66
JUL
24
2010
878,969 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

The easiest solution to this is to have both. Everyone should have both to create synergy, SEO ect. It just makes good business sense!
8:08am • #67
1,002,481 Points 43 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Now works for me--I always try to make the most out of today and deal with tomorrow when it arrives.
9:43am • #68
JUL
25
2010
357,924 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Living in the now... I like it. I for one do not want to be a prisoner of the past. I cherish tradition, I honor the past, but I am in these times regardless if I look backward or forward. I love the adventure and one of the things I appreciate about Active Rain is the sharing. I have the opportunity everyday to talk to people about their world and I get to share mine. I appreciate the fact that AR is not an agreement fest, it's a conversation. Nice post... thanks.
3:46pm • #69

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