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Active Rain As Big Brother? The Points Debate

Reblogger
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

For the second time this evening, I'm agreeing with what Karen has written.

I agree completely that what makes Active Rain so special is the "personality factor." Agents (and copywriters, stagers, inspectors, etc.) are all real people, and that "real" side is what draws other people to us.

This isn't broken, so let's not fix it.

Original content by Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner BRE# 01494165

 

I read a featured post today by Bryan Robertson where he was advocating changing the points system of Active Rain to award points to only certain blog posts. Those which he considered to be real estate related.

I'm burning up!

I'm sorry Bryan....and I really do have a great deal of respect and affection for you...but you are exactly wrong. I believe what sets Active Rain apart from other "real estate sites" are the more personal posts. Whenever someone wants to find a real estate professional in another part of the country, I always suggest they get on Active Rain and read about the agents in their area. See who they connect with, who appeals to them.

A sequence of market reports and listings is just plain boring.

Consumers don't care which agent can create the prettiest graphs, they care about who they can identify with....who they believe can understand them and their needs, and then act on this information. Not one of my clients from Active Rain have come from a market report or basic listing post. They have all mentioned the personal posts.

The Route 66 Road Trips (they always wanted to do that)
The Pepperdine Law School Graduation Post (they had a daughter who graduated from there)
Our Local Election Results (they couldn't find it anywhere else)
A Restaurant Review (they were looking for an address online)

These are just a few which come to mind. And what about the referrals which come from other agents because they have gotten to "know" me? My personality in my posts....both personal and professional....create a bond with other Active Rain members and referrals follow.

If you want to award points based on the business the posts create....then sure. If you want to change the entire personality of Active Rain.....well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure of the benefit anymore. I hope things don't change....right now, it's working.

 Karen Fiddler
Broker/Associate
The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate
Lic # 01494165

www.SearchForOrangeCountyHomes.com

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Comments (14)

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

I will have to read his post, but I agree with  you. They can post elsewhere for strictly market reports - or just do that here and ignore the rest of us.

Aug 26, 2011 06:32 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Marte, thanks for re-blogging Karen's post.  I missed it first time around.

   I agree with Karen - let Bloggers blog!

Aug 26, 2011 06:36 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Marte what a great re-blog I am surprised this went under my radar, thank you for bringing it to our attention, I am heading over there to comment as well...

Aug 26, 2011 06:39 PM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

Marte, you have hit the nail on the head 100%. People buy and deal with people they relate to or feel comfortable with. If you have a choice, what would you do? Of course pick the one with some personal connection. Great repost. 

Aug 26, 2011 06:40 PM
Pam Hills
Innovative Artistry - Kendall, FL
ASP/IAHSP- Stager Miami, FL, Creative Minds Innovatively At Work

Dear Marte - I just subscribed to both of your blogs because of your two posts this evening....  I can see it either way, but for me if it is that restricted to not have the other articles such as ethics, art, "life", then it would be okay, but I would just 'opt' out...  I love the rain!  I love Seattle & Vancouver (even though I am from Florida), but it would no longer be my fit. 

THANK YOU SOOOO Much for posting these & looking out for us!!  I read both of them tonight.  xoxo  pam

Aug 26, 2011 06:40 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Michelle - Right. Nobody HAS to let their personality show.

Fred - Yes, and besides that, we don't need to start having debates over which posts are really about real estate.

Endre - Good idea. I caught it because I was sitting here searching through my subscriptions and the title grabbed me.

Scott - That's what I believe. And I think it's more important than ever today - trust is a big issue and it's hard to trust someone when you know nothing about their personality.

 

Aug 26, 2011 06:47 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Pam - Thanks! I love it here too. When new agents ask me what to do to build their business, one of the things I tell them is to get here and read and write. They can learn so much about how to conduct business successfully from reading both the blog posts and the comments.

And then - they can show the world who they really are by writing their own posts.

Aug 26, 2011 06:51 PM
Patty Clark
Morningside Homes, LLC 720-231-5200 - Denver, CO
Helping Families Move with Care

It's always been a debate on what to post. Do we want to show our knowledge and experience as agents in that we know what we are doing to help people find the home of their dreams.?  Or are we restaurant critics, social directors with current events in the area.  I don't know.  If I were looking for an attorney, for instance, would I care that he went hiking or can cook a good steak?  No, I want to know that he is qualified to help me and his past clients are happy. 

Market reports..does anyone really care?  There has to be a way to write about real estate and still be personable.  I do love all the misc. blogs, however. Some are so funny it takes a while to quit laughing.  I would miss that.. Real estate is really funny at times and the stories are priceless.

Aug 26, 2011 06:56 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247
 

I do not think they should change the way we get points at this point in the game.

Aug 26, 2011 07:03 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Chris and Patty - You pose a good question. I think that along with knowing he was qualified, I would want to know that an attorney was the kind of person who would care about the outcome.

But real estate is different, and often more personal. I think it matters to people that you know your area and can give them good advice on things beyond the legal and technical. Maybe not about cooking a good steak - but about knowing where to buy a good steak - or even where to find a good dog groomer.

I think sharing the stories - the trials and tribulations - helps everyone.

Tim - I agree. It's not that the points really make a difference, but they're fun. They give us a little challenge and a little something to work toward.

Aug 26, 2011 07:59 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Hi Marte...thanks for the reblog and extra exposure. I was pretty upset by the thought of changes, and frankly a bit of support it seemed to get from the beginning, but I can see it's been tempered (pun intended) as the comments continued on Bryan's post. I was concerned at first.

Aug 27, 2011 04:59 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Hi Karen - I think if the AR gods did a poll they'd find that most agree with you. But, as Bryan said in his post, it doesn't hurt to share and discuss ideas. I like the fact that most of us can disagree without flinging personal insults. (I guess it proves we aren't politicians?)

Aug 27, 2011 05:24 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Marte:  Bryan's original post was over the edge... and every time he commented back to comments on his post that disagreed with him... he drove his little wagon further and further over the edge.  In some of his responses... he really chose to attack some folks... and was very heavy-handed... in my opinion.

He just didn't "get it."

Karen wrote a great rebuttal... very well written.  Thanks for re-blogging it.

Have a great week !

Aug 29, 2011 06:36 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Karen Ann - Maybe Bryan is a little more into rules and regulations than I am. And maybe he just doesn't understand that people want to know more about who we are when we aren't working.

Aug 29, 2011 07:03 PM