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Will Google+ replace ActiveRain?

By
Real Estate Agent with HER Realtors

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You've been hearing a lot about what Google+ will replace

Facebook or Google+ 

Twitter or Google+

I saw this on Google+ yesterday.  

Will Google+ replace ActiveRain?

 Erik Goldhar ActiveRain Google+

Erik is an AR member,  a vendor.  Not very active....

I reshared the question on Google+ and got a couple of comments from Fred Carver and Wayne Harriman. 

My comment was "probably not." What do you think? Is it the main blogging platform? Aren't there lots of people now who blogged on AR who are on their own blog on WP.org or somewhere else now...

My point is, is ActiveRain bigger than all the individual real estate agents blogs across the US and Canada?  How would you even measure that?  Google+ seems to me to be a great place to share content.  Not necessarily the place I want to create content...

Maureen McCabe about ActiveRain and Google+

I know if you don't know or care about Google+ or Facebook or Twitter but love ActiveRain you may be concerned Google+ could replace ActiveRain. 

Twitter did not replace ActiveRain...  Facebook did not replace ActiveRain.  Why would Google+ replace ActiveRain?  

Give me your email address if you'd like a Google+ invite.  Don't worry it is not going to snuff out ActiveRain... I don't think it will anyway...  I actually think Google+ could make ActiveRain stronger...  but what do I know?  

Edited 11/1/2012 to add the logo up top. A new conversation on Google+ Tony Gilbert started a converation about ActiveRain members finally noticing Google+  Bill Gasset is a frequent commenter patting himself on the back in the comments on Google+  Did you just notice Google+ ?

 

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Comments (90)

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

The thing with ActiveRain is that it started out organically . . . the platform was set, and open to all those in the real estate business.  It grew over time.  Google+ is an "announced" ploy.  As Charita #46 says, a "frenzy" for the moment.  It's kinda fun, I'm having a hard time with the STUPID interface on my Windows XP, and in Internet Explorer . . . pains in the butt.  But it won't replace AR. 

Jul 21, 2011 06:39 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Maureen,  Interesting post and comment thread !   Seems like the AR regulars are pretty loyal.   I guess there is always room for another quality portal.

Jul 21, 2011 07:27 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Bryan..."If you could created branded domains with Google+ (instead of just circles) then it might be able to take over."  I am sure it will morph into way more.   Or way less.  Google Wave... I am so glad I did not waste any time on it.

Jennifer Welcome to AR and blogging.  Get used to people predicting the Next ActiveRain or what trend in social media is going to make AR obsolete. 

Carla I like Google+ best on Chrome.  I think Tech Savy Agent / Chris Smith? was the one who recommended that.  I had tried Chrome before and went back to mainly using Firefox but I put Chrome on my notebook a couple of days ago and really like it for Google+ and really I could get used to it. 

Listening to the Google+ webinar I got sucked into Empire Avenue, now there is something I could get addicted to....

thanks all for the comments.

 

Jul 21, 2011 07:35 AM
Rudy Bachraty
Director, Communications & Partner Strategies, WellcomeMat - Fort Collins, CO

Nope. It's a different animal.

Jul 21, 2011 08:31 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Thanks Rudy!   Have I ever told you I invited Rudy to ActiveRain?  Joe too but Joe would never join.  Joe would comment though.

Jul 21, 2011 08:36 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Maureen:

I don't have Google +, but would love to try it.  Can you send an invitation to me at evelyn@evelynkennedy.com or should I use my google address:  evelynkennedy8@gmail.com.  I don't think it will replace ActiveRain.  We are a very loyal lot for the most part. 

Jul 21, 2011 09:32 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Gary and Evelyn you probably want to edit your addresses out of your comments so you won't get spammed.  Or can the spammers figure them out? 

Coming at you Evelyn!  I am going to use the gmail address. 

Everyone I have sent an invite to today has signed in.... or at least that is how it looks to me....

There is a delay in getting vanity URLs from Google for our profiles because of spamming?  I don't really understand that...  not much of a a delay, the site has only been up a month.  We had vanity urls on Facebook in 2009?  or 2010?  Not sure when I joined Facebook.

The Google+ is a personal profile

Jul 21, 2011 10:01 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I don't think G+ will replace AR but is just another option if you wish. Personally I'm not getting all the hysteria about it. Everytime Google does anything there's a frenzy then it just dies away ......

Jul 21, 2011 10:44 AM
Rob Kittle
Kittle Real Estate - Fort Collins, CO
"We Specialize, You Benefit!" -Kittle Real Estate

As of Now, I don;t think this will happen they are very different social media platform, though we still have to see what will happen in the future. But ActiveRain is a special and unique blog site only for Real Estate Professionals.

Jul 21, 2011 10:52 AM
David Mordue - NMLS 120640 Wells Fargo - Kennewick (509) 736-2618
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - Kennewick, WA

I don't see google+ focusing as many likeminded people and all of their similar content in the way that AR does.  Creating groups and forums of this sort certainly may be something that google branches out into in the future.  who knows...

Jul 21, 2011 11:42 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Hey Maureen what a great thought provoking blog post. I am glad to see it resonated so well. I find it interesting how people see things differently.

I do not see Google+ replacing LinkedIn, I see potentially waking up Facebook and then they will make improvements or steal ideas from Google+ and incorporate into their own ideas. My take all this will just augment and spread our posts to more people, which I find as a good thing.

Jul 21, 2011 02:09 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

 Well hello Maureen and I re-posted/ reblogged this great story this morning, and I am glad I did! When it comes to new things within the Internet some people get really strange like it's a new craze, like Twitter just to name one. I have two accounts on Twitter and I was on Tweetdeck, etc. personally I can't stand it, I don't care to read about members washing their dogs or goofy crap like this. I do have my other networks connected to Twitter, but I never roll over there.

 Now if I was to write a post about a cell phone that you could leave in your home or car and just carry a voice activated devise ear piece that does everything, everyone would want one ... "By the way they already have them in Japan"

 of all these comment above I have to say I like this one the best ...

 

367,849 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

To me, Google + is in the frenzy stage.  So much so that I don't care to even indulge at the moment.  At this point, it's very overwhelming and I feel as if I'm being bombarded with Google +.

 
 
10:06am • #46

 

 

Jul 21, 2011 04:09 PM
Michael Dagner
Brokers Guild Classic - Denver, CO
Your Denver Homes Realty Expert

Hi Maureen,

Not likely in my opinion.  If activerain goes by the wayside it'll likely happen because they failed to evolve.  The tech world changes so rapidly though, so hard to predict.  What I thought was going to remain popular, has already begun to fade.  Will get on the bandwagon with G+ once its out of beta.   

Jul 21, 2011 04:57 PM
Hrisco & Associates
Hrisco & Associates - Roanoke, TX
Roanoke Homes for Sale - Roanoke Neighborhoods

Hi Maureen, thanks for the post, here is my gmail for the Google+ invite....I appreciate it:  jhrisco@gmail.com

Jul 21, 2011 08:01 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Again thanks to everyone for the comments.

Lyn and Rob  seems like other than Erik and one member who commented on Erik's post on Google+ we all see it as not a threat to ActiveRain.   The agent who commented on Erik's post who thinks it will hurt AR sounds like sour grapes to me.  He writes about how "AR done him wrong."  

I think there is a pattern of people who fail at AR or who feel like "AR done 'em wrong."  who seem to be able to see an end for AR.  Or wish for an end to AR. 

I may have found my next blog post title on this subject  thanks to an AR member's comment on Erik's post: 

"only to those who do not understand how SEO works will stick around for the comradery."

will probably boil it down to something like "AR: Only the stupid will stick around for the comradery"

From a guru who is a member here.

David I kind of think especially in a huge system like Google+ you let the members form their own groups. In this case circles.  Everyone I have joined from here goes in my ActiveRain circle... most go in my RE.net circle too. I think Google+ just extends what you are doing elsewhere.  

Endre   Thanks.  I hope Google+ is a hit, the combination of social and search without a big learning curve appeals to me.

Vegas Bob  I loved Twitter.  I am not sure why but it has started to bore me within the past few months.  I have a bunch of Twitter accounts.  Three of my blogs feed to Twitter accounts that have followers although I interact very little.  I seldom even visit them.  My @Mo@ColumbusOH I interact some but not as much as a few months ago,  I am not real sure why.

Michael  You make me wornder what you thought was going to remain popular that is fading. 

John Invite sent to you. 

I just read through the comments to be  sure I did not miss anything.

Anyone who needs an invite just ask.

One thing to remember Google+ is for real people... not for businesses.  We are obviously not just sharing recipes and talking politics but I am not sure there are agents sharing their listings one after the other  as some do here, on FB, Twiitter. Not sure what would happen then.  Business pages will be introduced later.

 

Jul 22, 2011 12:18 AM
Fred Strickroot
Fred Strickroot - HomeNet - Tampa Bay Area - 727-478-8997 - Trinity, FL
Tampa Bay Area Homes For Sale

Erik,

Great question, I responded on G+ as well.

I am a relatively new ActiveRain member. I joined for the networking and to get acclimated to blogging, which I had not been doing previously. ActiveRain has been around for awhile, and I do not think that Google+ will be able to replace the unique environment that exists in ActiveRain. I would like to add that you cannot find a better group of people than the staff and membership at ActiveRain. They are welcoming and always eager to show others the ropes. The caliber of professionalism in ActiveRain is out of this world. I highly recommend ActiveRain to anyone in the real estate industry.

 

 

Jul 23, 2011 04:39 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Maureen, I agree with you.. I believe it will make it stronger.  I cannot imagine why someone would think it will replace AR.. Nicely done.

Jul 24, 2011 02:13 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Thanks Fred and Judi,

Google+ is not for businesses. Now.   They expelled a number of notable businesses the other day.  Eventually it will be for businesses in some way.  I wonder how they would handle it if a real estate agent started spewing listings?  That can be irritating for many people.  I suppose if you had a circle of people who just LOVED random home listings spewed at them it would be OK.  Only time will tell.  I hope Erik is wrong and it does not replace ActiveRain. 

 

Jul 25, 2011 12:13 AM
Sandy Colburn
Big Water, UT
Lake Powell Real Estate - Homes - Acreage

Maureen,

I'd love to have an invite to google+ and thank you for the post with good info.

sandycolburn@gmail.com

Jul 30, 2011 08:13 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Sent it.

 

Jul 31, 2011 12:12 AM