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Strategic Commenting For Knowledge And Friends Part II

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with The Real Estate Investment Institute 1retiredsage

As I said in Part I, Strategic Commenting For Knowledge And Friends to get the most out of your Active Rain experience! Like any gathering of like mined people physical or virtual what you'll get out of participating depends on what you're looking for and how much effort you're willing to put into it.

Commenting is crossing the room, sticking out your hand and saying "Hello I'm..."

Commenting and answering comments is how you make friends! Unlike posting where the best you can hope for is to collect fans.

Commenting is how you ask questions.

Commenting is how you add value to the blog!  Blogs get better as more people interact with the blogger. The best example was by my friend Brian Brady from 11-17-2006 it's still growing almost 4 years later! A Realtor's Guide to "PMI & Short Sales"

What started out as a good blog became a great blog, because allot of people participated! Neither Brian or I could have pulled this off alone. None of this was planed, all communication on this subject was in the comments.

When to comment. Comment as soon as possible after a blog is posted. The early comments and the latest comments are the ones most read. You can't get bumped into obscurity if you're at the top! But, don't let coming in late deter you! You'll be the latest comment for at least a little while.

Be sure to check the box to be notified of additional comments. You don't have to comment to be keep up to date on a growing blog.

(Most commentors and many more readers are notified every time a new comment is added!)

What to say? Any thing you sincerely feel! Even the most naive question/remark is welcome if politely ask.

Should you debate a blog?  Yes, if and only if you respect the blogger! Two things happen when you debate. One like every comment your name is now associated with the blogger's! It's the blogger's audience you can win over the readers if you can't win over the blogger!

Only debate your friends!

Short comments?Short comments are acceptable, only if you're known to the blogger and their readers! I've several friends that post allot of photos, they and their readers know me, a simple "WOW!" is offen sufficient.

Answering comments. You should always answer questions! When practical answer all comments! Some prefer one comment answering many comments. I prefer to answer individually, but each comment triggers a notice to other commentors and to some readers this can be annoying to some.

Deleting comments.It's a blogger's responcibilty to police his blog! Read: The Nobility of Arrogance

Lastly! Subscribe to bloggers you like or learn from. You can expand your reading by tracing fellow commentors that say thing you learn from or agree with. Making friends a few words at a time requires many post, many comments all respectful!

Use the "search" feature to find subjects you're interested in.

Now as soon as you've scribed to my bloggs, say hello and then go make some new friends!

Posted by

Bill

William J Archambault Jr

The Real Estate Investment Institute

wja@reii.org      Cell 832-259-7078,      Houston 832-582-8415,       Las vegas 702-516-1569

     http://www.reii.org  Back Cover One House At A Time http:www//reii.orghttp://www.flippingforfunandprofit.info/ http://www.billarchambault.com   

From my past: GRI 1975, FLI 1974, Catalyst from a client 1974 an agent that makes things happen, REII, The Real Estate Investment Institute 1995.

http://www.reii.org

©William J Archambault Jr   ©The Real Estate Investment Institute   ©REII

Comments (20)

Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Excellent, so was part !.

 

Sep 26, 2010 11:59 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Thanks Missy.

You're one of those who opinions I value.

It started with one comment on one bolg.

Bill

Sep 26, 2010 12:20 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Valerie,

Congratulations on Don't flush away a sale!

I should have talked about the "suggestion" button, but left it for another day.

I'm glad you liked my offering.

Bill

Sep 26, 2010 02:08 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Bill, I agree that the best place to comment is at the beginning or be towards the bottom.  I don't I enough time to read every comment on every blog, so I usually look at the first couple of comments, and the last couple of comment be for I leave a comment of my own.

Sep 26, 2010 02:39 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

George,

Me too.

I read all comments on my bloggs, but on bloggs I've commented on the late ones after my comment are most likely. I do watch for commentors I know.

Bill

Sep 26, 2010 03:17 PM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

I think reciprocity is key in blogging.  Many times, I've read blogs with loads of comments but the author is nowhere. 

Bill, what's the fun in debating only friends?

Sep 26, 2010 05:48 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Yolanda,

Before I said to "Only debate your friends!"

I explained:

"Should you debate a blog?  Yes, if and only if you respect the blogger! Two things happen when you debate. One like every comment your name is now associated with the blogger's! It's the blogger's audience you can win over the readers if you can't win over the blogger!"

The bloger is in control! If they are not respectful, if you can't be respectful you can't win. More importantly you/no one can learn! All you can do is validate the blogger by your association with them.

Bill

Sep 26, 2010 05:58 PM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

I think everyone that is disenfranchised with the new look of active rain should read this series instead of bothering the people who are taking the top spots.

I have been religiously practicing this type of comraderie for YEARS and now I have been accused of doing things to "game the system".  I have been doing it to network and gain respect with my peers nationwide and NOT go game the system here.

Not only should this be practiced on AR but it should carry throughout the entire blogosphere and with social networking!  Looking forward to the rest of your series.

Sep 27, 2010 07:24 AM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Bill - This should be practiced on Active RAIN - WE MEET MANY FRIENDS HERE IN THE RAIN - friends that we have never met but know more about them through their posts and rantings - some more than others -

Sep 27, 2010 07:31 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Renee,

People generally find what they seek. The disenfranchised expected a panacea, a magic pill, a cure for all their problems. Well they came to the right place! But, they didn't expect to have to work for it!

Every thing you could possibly want or need is here, but you have to search for it!

I'm involved with several bloggers at the top, I don't think any of us (I'm not even near the top.) Are ever bothered by polite people with sincere questions. People do have to understand the difference between a quick question and professional consulting!

I learned "this type of comraderie" by spending 5 days a month with Chapter # 1 of The Farm and Land Institute and the Michigan CCIM Marketing Group for 10 years. We brained stormed together and if that wasn't sufficient we worked together and shared fees all for the good of our fiduciaries!

Bill

Sep 27, 2010 08:19 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Nicholas,

We could be a great example of friends we'd never meet any other way, I don't think I'll ever visit PA.

A better example would be Renee and I! We've never met, but for most of her time in Las Vegas I was the best and most reasonably priced source of mortgage money! Until AR we'd never heard of each other, I was one of a hundred or so mortgage brokers with only a very small sales staff and she was one of 15,000 REALTORS.

We do make friends and we do get to know some much better than others, but that's true in all walks of life.

Bill

Sep 27, 2010 08:28 AM
Roger Johnson
Hickory, NC

All I can say is Amen, Brother!  I sure hope more people read this and follow the great advice.  I see no point in commenting on a post from a writer that never responds to comments.

Sep 27, 2010 10:32 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Roger,

I'm Commenting! 

I'm Commenting!

We need discussions.

We learn from discussions much better than lectures.

Bill

 

Sep 27, 2010 12:28 PM
Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I resent the 'good blog' comments because it does not seem as if the writer was paying attention. By the way, getting to know you through your writing has been a pleasure.

Sep 30, 2010 01:04 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Melissa,

I'll try to remember that. I do write "Good Blog" et. al. but only when I'm know by the writer. Often there is nothing that needs added, but you very much want to acknowledge the blog. I'll try to come up with something else.

Strangers saying such things are only looking for 25 points.

Maybe: Et tu Brute?

Bill

Sep 30, 2010 01:13 PM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Bill - I like the idea of policing your blog.  If there is inappropriate material, think about deleting it.  Not meaning controversial, just ugly stuff.  Good ideas in your article.

Oct 01, 2010 11:42 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Thanks Wendy!

Bill

Oct 01, 2010 12:05 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Bill, I saw Part III, so I figured that I missed Part II, so I rolled back. I agree with you for the most part. I noticed that you would avoid commenting earlier, than I would...  I know your position on validating a blogger. You may be right, my inertia often takes me further

I think this should be helpful to those who are confused with comments, but really, commenting is a rather simple act of communicating, and should not be confusing.

I am afraid deviation from that simplicity is usually not naive...

Oct 01, 2010 03:02 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Jon,

You got it!

I'd also never alow one commentor to attack another. Debate yes, but name calling never!

Bill

Oct 01, 2010 03:12 PM