My Favorite Things... We all share our favorite things about Active Rain

Hi Sheri - found this post via Twitter - GOOD JOB on the social networking!! So - for me, the power of ActiveRain is HUGE! What I like about it is that you're able to let your clients know that you are part of the LARGEST online community of Realtors - when you blog and feature their listing - you're reaching out to over 200,000 agents across North America - this. is. huge. A big added value!!

Also - the support and sense of community is amazing!

*The point system kind of rocks too... it gives you that extra motivation to get out there and socialize with like minded REALTORS.

I LOVE ACTIVERAIN!!

As of now, no outside blog - and just blogging on ActiveRain. May be, soon I will think of Trulia, Zillow and Wordpress blogs - as Barbara Todero suggests, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I have found this a great experience.  I have not done too much with WP.  I know it would be good for me to work on that next.  I agree with what has been said above about the AR experience.

Sheri, in a nutshell, these are a few things I love about AR: Google Juice, tech tips, ease of use, staying current on what's going on the real estate world and last but not least...the PEOPLE! :)

I don't use WP, but I know I SHOULD...and I will...soon! :)

I use both but i get lots of great industry information here..the ability to get advice and learn whats new in the industry.

My wordpress is just for marketing purposes....

Sheri, I have both AR and Wordpress.  I use one specifically for clients and one catches everything else.  I do like the WP platform a little better, but it's apples and oranges.  I'd love to see your final results when you get your production finished. 

I have several blogs in different websites. .not one gets even close about relationships and learning than ActiveRain . . .but you have to be careful because of the time. . 

2 hours in ActiveRain per day is 10 hours per week. 

in one month that is 40 hours. .

40 hours is a FULL TIME job for someone working a WHOLE WEEK. .

One week's worth  of a full time job in ActiveRain?. . you better be getting PAID SOMEHOW !

Blogging on Wordpress is like howling at the moon, it satisfies a need but did anyone else hear you? Blogging on ActiveRain is like trying to make a speech in a crowded room. Those around you (subscribers) will hear your speech and maybe comment, and there may be others just passing by at the right time, that will stop because it sparks an interest. Then there's the rest (Internet consumer) that might be looking for something specific, and come across your speech, and maybe make the first move to reach out.

Everything Debe Maxwell said, I would say ditto.

The community and the learning we get here is invaluable.

If I had it to do over, I would make my outside AR blog about Saline, not Ann Arbor.

I would tag my posts differently, not so many.

Sheri, ActiveRain is a great way to learn from your peers. Members willingly share their experiences on a non competitive basis. the Google Juice also has it all over a Wordpress blog.

My colleague Fernando in his summer cubicle #26 does good math...I will add that you do get educated, work-out your blogging legs and a good chuckle now and then. ActiveRain is ActiveGain....Its all good Sheri

What I like to do is to exploit the google juice of AR to get more traffic on my wordpress through hyperlinking. 

Hi Sheri,  Apples and oranges really.  Both have morphed into a specialized marketing tool and both can be a tremendous asset if you commit to the effort. 

Hi Sheri - I started with an external blog using Wordpress, but then migrated the blog over to Drupal for greater functionality (Wordpress was pretty limited five years ago).  I have two Drupal blogs - one is a community blog (where I advertise my listings and my business on the sidebar, I am the #1 listing agent in this community so there is a business purpose to it), and the second is for my non-profit organization (nothing to do with my business at all).  I recently started a Wordpress blog using Genesis and AgentPress (as you know, because you were kind enough to offer to help me with it) and that one will be focused on real estate. 

In terms of ActiveRain, I have an external blog, two Localism blogs (but only keep one of of them updated, frankly), and unlike Debe, I do like to write Members Only posts from time-to-time.  I come to AR to learn, stay-up-to-date on technology, and socialize with others in my field.  I do get great SEO on my AR posts, so yes, it is a waste in that sense to do Members Only posts, but I can't resist.

This is a great topic. It's always fun to read what others have to say about this venue.

Hi Gail!  I do write Members Only posts--not too often but, I do as well.  I meant that if you're not a Rainmaker, your posts are not public posts and I prefer to post publicly--for the Google juice!

And, I agree with Missy--if I'd been smarter in the beginning, I would have DEFINITLY tagged differently!!  (Fewer AND differently!)

I have both a RainMaker acct and an outside WP blog.

My biggest AR regret is that I didn't join sooner. I'll be paying $59/month once my two almost-free months are up and it will take a few more months of aggressive blogging before my monthly pricing starts to drop. I am here primarily for the community, and the google juice. I learn something new every single day and am in AWE of the level of professionalism and talent.

Most of my AR posts are directed at the AR Community. Most of my WP articles are directed at consumers.

In the long run, the google juice flowing from AR to my WP blog will help elevate it in the SERPs.

I love AR. I have a WP I am not treating it right and will start to do that.  I blog to the consumers mostly here on AR.  Glad I found this network - love all you all!  Please make sure we get an update on this excellent research.