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Why I Gave My Activerain Signature a Makeover

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

monster signature on Activerain

In case you haven't noticed, brevity doesn't come easily to me in blogging.  Maybe that's why I didn't realize that my automated signature on Activerain was growing out of control:

A copyright notice, disclosure, ad for my iPhone real estate app, photo, logo, contact info a la business card, cute little link buttons, even white space...  

If my posts were any shorter, the signature surely would have eaten them alive!

A re-blog is the worst, with the original author's signature AND mine under that.  I had to ask myself, ""Is all this advertising on each blog post necessary?" Most of the information is already in the right sidebar...

 

Since Activerain added the option of automated signatures, they're like belly buttons: Everybody has one.  They come in all sizes and shapes and I'm certainly not qualified to judge any but my own.  And my signature was turning every blog post into a monster display ad.

Most of us would agree that consumers turn to blogs for information, without advertising, so I recently gave my blog signature another makeover.  It must have been the umpteenth time since I joined Activerain in 2006.  My goals, this time, were to minimize the signature and provide only concise contact information.

Thank you, Activerain, for making it so easy to change our signatures on every post with a few clicks. I'll probably update it again before long...

 

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (28)

Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Margaret,

It looks streamlined, and I like it!  Now I've got to take a look at mine...

Mike in Tucson

Feb 23, 2011 03:00 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

I've seen some that are longer than the posts they follow.  Mine is due for a makeover as well.  Thanks for the reminder.

Feb 23, 2011 03:37 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

I love the "I love Maryland" image ... I think it shows how much you love where you live and work.

Feb 23, 2011 04:33 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Margaret ~ Thanks for the wakeup call ~ I suppose I should update our signature ~ 

We love your "I Love Maryland"

Feb 23, 2011 04:37 AM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

 I am not fond of the signatures that seem to take about 6 inches of vertical space on the page so I really  like the size of your signature - it's very proportional and still lets your post shine instead of "taking over" the whole thing as you say ....!

Feb 23, 2011 05:09 AM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

P.S.  I love. love, love  the monster graphic!  I think it says it all!

Feb 23, 2011 05:10 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Margaret.. I love it !! I need to get the cobwebs or ice out of my brain and update mine too !!! Iy is FABULOUS!

HelpfulHannah

Feb 23, 2011 05:37 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

Nice signature! I just wrote a post about this two days ago...I am hunting around trying to find just the right signature plate for me.

About half of what I saw needed updating or a signature plate was missing altogether!

Feb 23, 2011 07:44 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Margaret,

I go with the cut and past footer for each post. The auto signature is nice but it changes every single post you've ever written every time you change it. :)

Steve

Feb 23, 2011 08:01 AM
Broker Patty Da Silva Da Silva
Green Realty Properties® - 954-667-7253 - Cooper City, FL
Top Listing Broker

Margaret, you wrote in part "automated signatures, they're like belly buttons", that is so funny and true.

Love your new signature, it is informative and not too long. :)

Feb 23, 2011 10:50 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Hi, everybody... 'just got back from a long day, and I'm excited to read your comments.  I've got some emails and calls to return and will come back to acknowledge comments later tonight or in the morning.  Thanks again!

Feb 23, 2011 11:39 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

I really like the redo with the state and the heart...It's great and to the point.  Less is more...now if only I could take my own advice.....

Feb 23, 2011 01:11 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Emily - I'm always re-doing my signature, it seems, but this really goes back to what I was doing before the automated signature was made available.  And frankly, I got more client business then from Activerain than I do now.

Steven - Sometimes!  I really do think some of the signatures are out of control, but that is the author's choice. 

Michelle - I'll have to check it out!

Glenn - I accept your nomination!

Keith - I've tweaked and primped my signature and created those pretty little buttons... but I'm going through a minimalist stage now, and I'm happy with it (for the moment).  LOL.

Feb 23, 2011 01:26 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Pamela, you and Lee don't do anything that isn't totally professional, so I'm sure yours is fine.

Maureen - as someone mentioned earlier, sometimes less is more.  I don't remember yours without looking again, but I'm sure it's very professional looking.

Holly - Thank you!  By the way, I just sent you an email about a possible referral.

Mike - I love your little logo.  How'd you do that?

Cindy - There are a few that really do fit the concept of "monster signature" - but hey... the author likes it.

Feb 23, 2011 01:31 PM
Rodney Mason, VP of Mtg Lending
Guaranteed Rate NMLS# 2611 - Atlanta, GA
AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,FL,GA,IN,MI,MS,NC,NV,SC,TN,TX,VA,WA

I change my email signature from time to time.  At least AR makes it easy to do.

Feb 23, 2011 02:28 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Cynthia - I found a site with the state in black or gray silhouette, and used another image (available for t-shirts, mugs, etc.) to inspire the text.  When I have time, I may change the lettering a little...

Frank & Karen - When I first started using it, it was because another Activerainer informed me it wasn't appropriate.  I think of that every time I look at his monster signature now.  If he can change, so can I!

Brenda - I found the image on iclipart.com

Hannah - I'm so glad the sound disappeared from your blog.  Now I can visit it at night when the household is asleep.  LOL.

Sussie - I'll look for that post today.  Great minds think alike.

 

 

Feb 23, 2011 10:41 PM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate

Margaret - It is always a good idea to review things like this often, make sure they are still focused and meeting their intended need to produce results.

Feb 24, 2011 01:45 AM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Margaret - It is a great time to update my signature in the next few weeks.

Feb 24, 2011 02:26 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Steve, I actually see that as an advantage, having changed companies in October 2008.  I still haven't updated all the individual cut/paste signatures of posts written over the course of 2 years.

Patty - That's what I was going for, so I'm glad you agree.

Ruth Marie - Thank you!

Rodney - That's a big help, isn't it.

Steve - I'll ignore things like this for months, and then I get on a roll...

Marc - As Steve mentioned, it's always a good idea to look at things like this periodically.

Feb 24, 2011 12:51 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Margaret.. I agree.. I love the new signature of yours. Regarding the reblogging and added signatures.. that doesn't bother me as much any more.. but I do understand what you are saying.

jeff belonger

Feb 24, 2011 03:59 PM