Active Rain Blogs - Finding What You Need

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Active Rain Blogs - Finding What You Need - The Ultimate Search!

Here's a "community tip" you may not be aware of regarding how to "SEARCH" Blogs. Active Rain is a huge wealth of members, knowledge and resources! There are so many Blog topics, ideas, instructions, do's and don'ts, opinions and posts of information, it really can be over-whelming. This post will show you how to maximize the "Search" options that are available to you on Active Rain.

When you click on the "SEARCH" feature from the menu bar above, you'll have 3 options and choices to search from. Profiles, Blogs, and Blog Comments. When you're searching Blogs, it ONLY searches for posts that contain the word or words somewhere within a post? It is NOT searching "keywords" or "Tags" as you may have thought.

I tried searching for a post I had written some time ago, and I use the words "Realtor Blues." I never found it in the hundreds of pages returned. That's because it pulled up every post on Active Rain that contained the word "Realtor" and the word "Blues." Be careful if you are searching for phrases, or multiple words together.

Let's say you are searching for "FSBO", it will actually find every post that contains the word or letters FSBO in it, but if you searched "For Sale By Owner" it will pull up every post that has any portion of all four of those words. I tried this on many searches, and had the same results every time.

What do you do if you wanted to find "Multiple Word Searches" or "Phrases" in a Blog post on Active Rain? For example: Open Houses, Short Sales, Buyers Needed, Activerain Help etc? You may get back a ton of posts that aren't really what you are looking for. I know I did....

I have a "New" way for you to "Search" Active Rain, and it works by searching "Keywords" placed in the "Tags" box at the bottom of each authors post. You'll love this! Try these two exercises, and see.

STEP 1: Click on the "Search" option in the menu bar at the top of this page. Open the pull-down box and change it from "Profiles" to "Blogs".

STEP 2: In the blank box just below it, type in the words "Realtor Blues" then click search. You'll see hundreds of post's that come up.

Unfortunately, you will not find the post I'm referring to unless you're willing to sift through hundreds of other posts.

ONLY 1 STEP: This time, go up to the address bar in your browser, and type this: http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/realtor blues press enter or click go, and watch what happens.

This will pull up ONLY the posts that have "Realtor Blues" in the "tags" for that post. Now you have TWO ways that you can search what you're looking for here on Active Rain, and they are both entirely different from each other. If you are looking for specific posts with multiple words or phrases, and you want to narrow down your search results, then I suggest using this search process. It's faster and it's a more targeted "Search!"

Just remember this URL: http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/ and then type in anything you want after tags/ This is a great new way to search Active Rain Blogs. VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Remember that Active Rain converts all "Keywords" or "Tags" to lower case. Always use lower case when searching with this method.

Now, try searching some of your posts this way, and see why having the right "keywords" in your "Tags" is so important. As the membership here grows, so will the posts! That could make it even more difficult to find what you're looking for here. Personally, this is the only way I like to search Active Rain Blogs anymore.

I know this is just a "SEARCH" tool, but it should save you some time and frustration! After all, aren't we always searching for something? LOL! I hope it helps you with your "Searches" as much as it's helped me!

Tutorials | Training | Mobile | Widgets

"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"

Posted by Brad Andersohn on 10/28/2007 07:13 PM

Comments (186)

Searching Active Rain Blogs in the ActiveRain Channel

activerain community support, search tool, instructions, searching blogs, making a difference, help, faq

Originally posted at: The Official ActiveRain Guide: Active Rain Blogs - Finding What You Need - The Ultimate Search!

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Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Almost Anything Goes
Post is included in group: HELP/FAQ (Read 'Purpose Statement' Carefully!)
Post is included in group: Out Of The Box!
Post is included in group: Realtors®

186 Comments on Active Rain Blogs - Finding What You Need - The Ultimate Search!

OCT

2007

Hi Brad, that was fantastic and it works very easily. Many thanks for sharing and for illustrating so beautifully, even I could follow it,lol. I just got through commenting on a new person's 1st post about using the search for anything she needs. I will be sharing this and advising she subscribe to your great informational posts that are "Right ON" . Many thanks again Brad, you are so very much appreciated.

William - I don't think many of our members know there is an "alternate" way to search Blog posts! I have had much greater success using this way to search Blogs. If you try and search the words "activerain help" you'll be shocked at what you find when doing it both ways! Thanks for your comment, I hope others see it to be as useful and as easy as you did. The key is to remember the correct URL:

Active Rain URL Search by Keywords or Tags

Brad,

Excellent post! Thanks for sharing your great search ideas. The visual charts are extremely helpful and very easy to understand. This definitely saves alot of time when doing the search when AR members use the search options you described above.

Dave

Thanks again Brad. This is a post I will bookmark and use to regularly.

Thanks Brad. Very helpful and a good reminder to think about what tags we use when writing our posts!

Aren't your tags the same as your keywords?

Hey Bradda Its Gary from Maui. I like your posts very helpful in learning something new each time.

Thank yo very much for great information. i may not have to bookmark as much , now that I know how easy it is to find posts.

Brad you're such a geek. (I say that with the utmost respect). This is great!

Holy cow Brad. This is amazing! I've used the search button before but it didn't sort things by date. I just tried the url line search and what I was looking for came up immediately! Thanks so much!

Another post confirming why I subscribe to your blog, Brad.

Thanks for the "fine-tuning" information.

I am trying to use the Search function a little more, and this is a great tool.

My friend, you never cease to amaze me with the wealth of information that you keep providing! Much appreciated.

Hey Brad - you continue to show us all kinds of great tips that most of us would never discover on our own, and this is another one of those cool things you keep sharing with us.

I've done searches the 'old' way, and found it quite cumbersome when it would pull up everything but what I wanted. And now with your post, I can now fight exactly what I'm looking for!!

Thank YOU!!
Ann

What a concept! I have maybe used the search twice since being here. Good to know how to use it if the notion hits me! You need to be out playing some music instead of sitting here searching on the rain! Rock on.....

Brad, I keep saying it but it's true..."You Da Man." Thanks for another great tip. It would be nice if AR developed a more friendly search feature. I like you simpe method better than AR's. Maybe they are reading and will improve the search feature.

Brad, I had no idea there was an alternative search method - every time you post, I learn something not only new but extremely useful as well. Have I told you before that you ROCK?

Thank YOU! This is a real time saver when looking for a specific post. As always - wonderful information.

Brad, Excellent post! Thanks for sharing your great search ideas. The visual charts are extremely helpful and very easy to understand. This definitely saves alot of time when doing the search when AR members use the search options you described above.

Dave - Sometimes putting the visual stuff in helps make the text more understandable. Also, some of the newer members might not be familiar with these areas of AR. Thanks for your comment, I hope this will help you when searching any topics or ideas that you need to find info for here on AR. :-)

Dionne - this is one you won't have to bookmark, just remember that when you need to search for information about a topic, subject or idea, the URL is http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/ and then whatever you want to find. I just did one that looked like this: http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/making a difference and look what came up. You gotta love being able to search this way. Thanks Dionne, hope all is well! :-)

Brad, I always learn something reading your blogs. Thanks for another valuable tip!

Brad - great suggestion on how to search more effectively. The visuals are especially - how do you find the time to do all this? The standard search, at times, is very frustrating. Are you sure you are not working for AR behind the scenes?

Jeff

Brad you are a genius. i was searching for something the other day and I had the frustrating experience of sorting through hundreds of posts using the first search method. This will definitely make life easier.

Ginger - that was kind of the "Hidden Gem" here. Leave it to you to find it! :-) Thanks again for the wonderful card you sent. I hope you got my voice mail message. I'd love to get together before the holiday, that would be great. We are having our first "RealRain Network" meeting on Nov. 5th, in Walnut Creek, CA. Maybe we should do one for Marin too! B-)

another great opportunity to learn something new. I am so glad I have subscribed to your blog!

Georgina - Yes. Keywords are the same as Tags. Some networks call them "keywords" and some refer to them as "Tags." Just wanted to make sure readers know they are one in the same. Great question, thanks for your comment. :-)

Brad, thanks had not used the search criteria for tags like that. You are such a teacher

Gary - thanks!! I was looking for all the posts regarding "San Diego Fires" and this way of of searching found only the 15 or so that were relative to what I needed to know. When I used the AR Search, I got back hundreds of posts that were NOT relative to what I needed. Try both ways and you'll see what I mean. Aloha my friend! :-)

Gita - this will actually help you find those posts that you've bookmarked much easier, as long as the writer has put the correct "tags" in their post! Glad this will help you in the future. :-)

Maggie - I know I am earning a reputation as "The Geek" but I can't resist helping others where I see that I can. There are so many other things I will be posting about soon, I just have to get these out of the way while they're on my mind. Too many ideas to share, not enough time to get them all posted! :-)

Holy cow Brad. This is amazing! I've used the search button before but it didn't sort things by date. I just tried the url line search and what I was looking for came up immediately! Thanks so much!

Kris - I'm glad you had the chance to experience this first hand. It really is a better way to search. It will save you time, frustration, and get you more o what you're looking for when searching AR Blogs. Thanks for taking the time to comment and to confirm that this "Search" really does work better. :-)

Mike - thanks for subscribing to my Blog, I think you'll find that of the two search options I mentioned, the URL search will be much more refined than the "Common Search" used here on Active Rain. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Brad - could not be better timing. My last post is about catchy titles. I usually try to research if anyone has already written about it. So, I search the old way for "title" and get every title guy/girl on AR. Not useful -I tried a few other searches and gave up. Your way would have probably produced the results I was looking for. Thanks.

David - thanks! I got your email and didn't forget about you guys. I'll do the research and get back to you asap. I have to take my boys to the skateboard park right now and shoot some video. As soon as I return, I'll get right on it. Thanks for your kind and ALWAYS welcomed comment!! :-)

Brad, Fantastic-Thanks! I've been an AR member only since 10/12 and found several of your posts helpful. This is one of the things that has frustrated me & once again you've given me a solution. Thanks Again

Brad -- Good idea .... I think I can build on it ... Suppose I remember that a particular member wrote a post about something ... I could add the member's blog name to the URL .... like this example using Sarah Cooper http://activerain.com/blogs/sarahcooper/tags ... Interesting.... But it doesn't help unless the blog auther used the particular "thing" I'm remembering in their tags.....

Very cool, Brad! I use the "search" feature frequently and this short cut will definitely help. Thanks!

Brad, I have found that tags have proven very handy even when I want to go back and correct or add to something I have written in the past in my own blogs.

Brad, There are people here on AR suggesting "cleaning up" your tags, maybe into 4 or 5 only. Your post puts the lie to the benefit of that policy. Good information.

Bill Roberts

Brad Wow! Now I know why I have subscribed to your blog! This is really an informative article. Thanks for taking the time to do a first class job!!!

Brad, I'm a newbie and everywhere i look I see you and your great posts, with such clearcut direction on what and how to find or do so many things.

WOW and thanks---what a great resourse you are!!!

Hey Brad - you continue to show us all kinds of great tips that most of us would never discover on our own, and this is another one of those cool things you keep sharing with us.

I've done searches the 'old' way, and found it quite cumbersome when it would pull up everything but what I wanted. And now with your post, I can now fight exactly what I'm looking for!! Thank YOU!!

Ann - thanks, I won't always be doing instructional posts, but right now, i hope many will benefit from my little contributions here. Thanks for being so appreciative. I think it's cute that in your hurry to comment, you used the phrase , "I can now fight exactly what I'm looking for!!"...I had to laugh, but I know what you meant! LOL! Thanks Ann, you're the best!! PS. Choose your battles wisely!! hahaha!! :-)

Lizette - you need to search more. Just think of anything you want to know more about....there has to be something, then try my search method. You can learn anything out here!! Everyone has written about something that we need to know more about. I know you are one of the smartest people out there so most of us are in search or your writings! :-) Make sure you add strong and relative "tags" so we can find your Blog when we need to!!! Try searching this way when you do it the next time, or at least compare, I think you'll be pleased.

The music is already going, and well I will add. Both my sons are now wanting to be more involved. I'll keep ya in the loop on that as things begin to un-rock...I mean roll! LOL! :-)

Thanks for the Search tips Brad. I find too many people don't put enough of the right keywords in the Tag Cloud.

Dan - No! You Da Man!! :-) This post was not meant to dis-respect the built in search feature that AR Gods have in place for us, I know they are always working to improve the network and this might be an area they are already working on. There are so many things that we as members can do to help them, your comment is exactly how we do that.

My search method is just a way to have options for those who need or can benefit from them. It's hard to make improvements on things we don't know about. Like you, I am still learning new things here everyday too. I'm sure AR will see this post and your comment, maybe they'll consider this to be an area for improvement as well.

Till then, happy searching my friend! :-)

Brad, I had no idea there was an alternative search method - every time you post, I learn something not only new but extremely useful as well. Have I told you before that you ROCK?

Lisa - I had no idea either, but when I figure these things out, as you can see, I do like to share. This is just good kharma in my book! Glad you are enjoying my posts and finding them useful and beneficial. As far as rocking goes, how did you know I play guitar?!?!? LOL! Thanks Lisa, I really appreciate that! :-)

Carol - that's probably the most profound comment you could make. If it saves you time and decreases stress, it has to be a good thing! Glad you see the value in searching this way. It really is great knowledge to have. :-)

David - and I always learn something new from all your comments too. Thanks for taking the time to make them, I really do appreciate it! :-)

Jeff - the time it takes to put this information into an understandable post is the hardest and longest. I know what I want to say, but writing it down, and the editing process really takes the longest. You should see my drafts Jeff, they make MY HEAD SPIN! haha!

I am not working behind the scenes for AR, (should I be?) I just saw Jonathan here on MyBlogLog, should I ask him when is payday? LOL! (Just kidding Jonathan) Thanks Jeff, hope you're doing ok now that the worst of the fires are over down there. B-)

Howdy, Brad! This was just in time since I am searching for a Home Staging article I read awhile back!

Texas sized Thank You! Kathy

Kotambu - glad you found this post. Hopefully it will make your future searches here less cumbersome and stressful. I know when I used to use the standard search tool here, I'd have to sift through so many posts and often times, I wouldn't find exactly what I was looking for. You should see the "Open Houses" post I did a couple months back. That mutha took me hours to compile. Wish I had my own knowledge back then! Hahaha! :-)

Gail - I am so glad and honored you have subscribed to my Blog as well. Thanks for the comment, I really do hope this will be valuable to your searches here in the future. I love it! :-)

Missy - I am really the student here! :-) When you search using the AR Search feature, it is still very useful, I guess it just depends on what you're looking for. If it's a single word search, it might even be the best one to use. Many of my searches require multiple words or phrases, an this is the only way I have found that works. Just thought I'd share it with others in case they didn't know about it. It really does work very well.

I hope you'll try it and see the difference it will make in your next search. Thanks for commenting here, I am soooooo behind on commenting on others blogs, I am going to have to quit writing for a MONTH just to get caught up with my reciprocations. :-)

Faina - I would be curious to find out if searching this way will get you the results you're looking for. You have to remember that it is important that members use the tags and keywords more effectively. Hopefully if they read this post, members will be more conscientious in selecting proper keywords for their posts. This is a crucial piece of the puzzle for my search idea to really work. Let me know after you do a few searches this way how you like it. It works really well for me, and it does save me a lot of time looking at non-related posts. Thanks Faina. :-)

Good tip, but it assumes the post was tagged correctly to begin with!

Brad - you are a fund of knowledge!

Lynnette - you're so welcome. With the first couple weeks under your belt here, you are off to a great start. Remember, this search option assumes that the writer is using keywords as their tags that you are searching for. Though it may eliminate many who don't use tags properly, it will certainly reduce the posts that do not pertain to your specific search.

Example: If I write about California Schools, and I don't put those two words into my tags, you will not find my post by searching this way! Hopefully by me writing this today, it will create a heightened awareness that we ALL need to be aware of what words we put in the "tags" box.

You can still always use the traditional AR search feature, just be prepared to have to do some sifting! Thanks for your comment, and Welcome to AR, we're glad you're here! B-)

Cheryl - that is an EXCELLENT addition and build to this post! I never thought of searching that way by a particular blogger! YOU ARE THE BOMB!!!! This is the kind of synergy I love to get going here on AR. I think I shall add your comment to my post, but I will need your permission first! Let me know if you mind me adding this? I will give you lot's of link love too! :-) I'd hate to see something as good as your comment get lost in this post, it is such a great idea. We could use this to search our own blogs. Some bloggers here have over 300 posts, what a great tool for them too! Let me know, thanks Cheryl...YOU ROCK!! :-)

Joddie - glad you found this to be helpful, it is just another way to search and not meant to replace the search option built into AR. They really are two different searches entirely. Thanks for commenting, always appreciate it.

Brian, that's a great point. With all the tag words running down the side of our Blogs, it makes it pretty simple for us to search our own posts for things we want to find. I use that too, pretty often in fact. But for other readers and searchers, I think this will help give them more options to finding OUR posts too. Keywords are definately "KEY"!! LOL! Thanks for taking the time to comment, enjoy the rest of your weekend. :-)

Bill - are you trying to make my little help post a controversial one? LOL! Just kidding!

I think there is a fine line between too many and not enough. When you see people that use tags like "And, If, But, How, Why, Because, Yes, No, Chair, Car, House, Cat, Mouse etc., then I would have to agree with those who say reduce your tags.

It's obvious the one's who are trying to monopolize the system. I also think that limiting yourself to only 4 or 5 really depends on the post and it's content. Maybe a grey area for some, but I feel pretty confident in my opinion. (of course) LOL!

I say if the shoe fits, wear it! Thanks Bill, great comment and it may spark some great dialogs here. Thanks my friend! :-)

Joeann - thank you so much, I'm very grateful for your comment and for you subscribing to my blog here on AR. I think that in itself is one of the greatest silent compliments you can pay another member. It is my goal to always provide content that helps someone, even if it's just one person, then I have accomplished my goal. Helping people is really one of the greatest joys there is in life. Thanks again Joeann, it means a lot to me! :-)

Jim - if these posts are helping you, then it won't be long before you stop considering yourself a newbie. I'm glad you are getting value from these posts and I only ask that you "pay it forward" to other AR members and newbies in any way that you can. It's like paying the bridge toll for the car behind you, the gift just keeps on giving. That's what makes Active Rain such an Active place. Thanks, and if you ever need anything, you know where my Blog lives!! :-)

Gary - i find that is true, I also find that some put toooo many! LOL! Thanks for the comment! :-)

Brad,
This latest series of post should be an official "ActiveRain Help Guide". What's next in the series?

Howdy, Brad! This was just in time since I am searching for a Home Staging article I read awhile back!

Texas sized Thank You! Kathy

Kathy - Awesome!! And a CALIFORNIA SIZED "YOUR WELCOME" in return!! (A Big Smile Too!!)

Good tip, but it assumes the post was tagged correctly to begin with!

Ann - you are 100% correct, let's hope that others read this post and your comment, and begin to take seriously the "tags" and "keywords" for their posts! That's what nice about the AR search feature, you can have the best of both worlds! Gotta Love it!! Thanks for your comment, let's pass it on to all the others! :-)

Brad - Wow you must have had some "Deep Domain" thoughts to come up with the keyword tag URLs. Great useful post again Brad.

Maureen - ok ya got me....what the heck is a fund of knowledge? Sorry for my stupidity, but I have never heard that term before. It has the word "Fund" in it so you really got my attention! LOL! :-) Thanks, hope you're having an awesome weekend!

Hi Brad,

Thanks for this one. You are absolutely right - we are always searching for something and this should save us something we all never have enough of and that's TIME!

This is a real time saver when looking for a specific post. Thanks for the "Fantastic" information.

Brad, This latest series of post should be an official "ActiveRain Help Guide". What's next in the series?

David - you crack me up my friend! Did you search the words "Activerain Help Guide" ???? Maybe I should be "tagging" these posts that way! LOL! Thanks David....what's next from me will remain a surprise. When I know, you'll know! B-) You and Kristin enjoy your weekend! I'm headed for the yard to start the BBQ for dinner tonight. Mmmmmmm.... B-)

Too cool. I've been using the search feature, but I didn't know about how to search tag clouds. Had to bookmark this one!

Brad I have noticed this search issue also..Very frustrating.

i thought AR changed the search system, but could be just because there are so many more mebers now?

It used to be a cinch finding posts

Ginger

Brad

I learned something new today. Thanks does this alternative search technique work for othersites also?

Unless your post gets featured it does drop off pretty fast and difficult to get much input. I posted a Fall Foliage Photo Challenge but I don't think many people even saw it. Oh well. Maybe someone will search Fall foliage in the future and find it.

Wow, you have just saved me a ton of time going thru posts to try the one I was looking for. Thanks for the post!!

Brad, had to pop-in to see what you were coming up with...for those that searching it's good information. Always such a helpful guy!

Everything you write is always relevant to me since I just spent a lot of time looking for a blog, but gave up since the search tool didn't work the way I wanted it to. You read my mind!

Hey...that was pretty simple for the new member to do their searching around and it should prove beneficial to all anyway!

Excellent post. Thank you for this tip! I wondered why I couldn't find my post when I looked for it!

Brad, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I can't believe how much I've learned from your posts!

Just wanted to jump in and say thanks, I've been finding the search feature to be pretty frustrating.

Brad,

I bookmarked this post because I know I will NEVER remember the link. You do a great job.

Thanks,

Ryan - they were VERY DEEP DOMAIN thoughts!! :-) Thanks for noticing!

Lisa & Robert - I do hope this search option will save you time when you are in "Search" of the pursuit of happiness....and trying to find that specific Blog Post that will give you all the answers you're looking for. Amen!

Sorry...just watched Bruce Almighty with the kids! :-)

Mohamed - glad to hear you were impressed with this one. It really will save you some time and it is a great alternative to AR's built in search option. Thanks!

As always you are a wealth of knowledge! I too was searching the other day for something and eventually gave up with all the results I got back. I just searched using your way, and voila..the results I was looking for. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Kristen - your comment makes this post, and all the time and effort that went into it worth while. It's very rewarding to get comments like yours! Thanks you, Thanks You, THANK YOU! :-)

Marlene, thanks! You won't need to bookmark this one, just type in the URL: http://activerain.com/blogs/bandersohn/tags and you'll find everything I ever posted here! Or just click here!

Thanks for always commenting on my blog so faithfully, you are too cool! Have a blessed week! :-)

Ginger - the search option in AR is still a great tool, it really depends what you're looking for. If you are searching for another AR member, there is no better tool. If you are searching for posts with a single word in them like "quandong" (one of the security graphic words), then the internal search works great, but if you're looking for "How To Avoid Foreclosure" then try my search method. They all serve their purpose, I'm not sure that 55,000 members will impact your search as long as you know where to go to find what you're looking for. Have a great week, happy blogging and happy searching! :-)

Rebecca - these search options are only applicable to AR searches. Depending on how other social networks are set up (LinkedIn, FaceBook, MySpace etc,) I'm sure they are all different. I wrote this strictly for AR members who want to get the most out of their searches here. :-)

Carol - what is featured? just kidding! You're right, it does drop off the Blog Dashboard pretty quickly, there are so many members now and they are all writing so many posts! I'll come join your challenge, and I hope you get more that will too. It can be frustrating sometimes when you don't get the response you'd like from a post, but never give up! A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins! I have to go look through my photos to see which one I'll enter! Thanks Carol. :-)

Hi Brad: This is a great tip. I was searching to see if anyone had written on a topic and I was lost! I am glad to have this tool. It actually WORKS! Thanks for letting us in on this secret.

Carrie - that was the purpose of this post, glad it worked for you. Thanks!!

Gena - always glad to see you. This is my third post in a row you've commented, man do I owe you big time. Howzabout I come up to Sac and buy you breakfast one morning or lunch? Do you plan to have any AR get togethers in the near future? Sure would love to catch up from our last meeting in SF. Thanks Gena! :-)

Everything you write is always relevant to me since I just spent a lot of time looking for a blog, but gave up since the search tool didn't work the way I wanted it to. You read my mind!

Judy - let me know if this way of searching works better for you? Hope you find the Blog you're looking for. Also, thanks for adding me, I really appreciate that! :-) BTW - I am a mind reader! LOL! hahaha!!

Sally - it really is a pretty simple search and it will benefit anyone that knows it's available and understands how to use it. Searching profiles is best to still use the AR search feature. Thanks for the pop-by! :-)

Donna - try searching for it this way or use your keywords on the side of your Blog. Let me know if you do find it, here to help if you need. Thanks for commenting, Ciao!

Debbie - happy to do it, I hope when I stop writing instructional posts, you'll still come by to visit! LOL! Wait till you see my next one, it will be my "Grand and Final Finale" :-)

Just wanted to jump in and say thanks, I've been finding the search feature to be pretty frustrating.

Lisa - have no fear...the escrow guy is here! hahaha!

1. Use the AR seach for member Profiles

2. Use the AR search for Blog Comments

3. Use My Search when 1 & 2 get you frustrated!! LOL!

That should make life much simpler for you now! Thanks for taking the time to comment and release some of that frustration. Many of us have felt your pain, so now we're doing our best to help any we can! Thanks! :-)

Fran - bookmarked or not, I just want to say thanks for always coming by to comment. If you do want to remember the URL, you can bookmark it in your Internet Browser, and you'll free up some of you AR Bookmark space! Hope you have a great week! :-)

Hi Brad: This is a great tip. I was searching to see if anyone had written on a topic and I was lost! I am glad to have this tool. It actually WORKS! Thanks for letting us in on this secret.

Joan - did you ever doubt me for even a second? LOL! Of course it works!! Glad you now have a tool that will help you in your searches here on AR...My new nick name is now Broogle, The Search Engine Guy! haha! :-)

OCT

2007

Brad, I can't believe that you wrote this post. I had just been wondering how to do a keyword search and was getting frustrated by the lack of relevant results. Thank you!

Brad - What a team player you are! I never thought to look up the tags. This helped me a bunch! Thanks!

Gail - that is very cool, they say timing is everything. I have been down that road and felt the same frustrations. I'm not one to accept things just the way they are. I am always looking for better ways and ideas in everything in life. Glad I found a way tat will help us both and others too! :-)

Linda - sure happy to hear that! Tags is not a common thought of way to search, maybe now it will be, the more who read this post, the better their search options will be as members and posts increase here. Thanks for stopping by, have a great week! :-)

You "HOPE" that people find this useful??? Ha - You silly man. Didn't you know that YOU are the RAIN GOD! I'd bow to you if it wasn't against my religion!

Seriously Brad..... I don't know how or where you come up with all of these treasures but I am thoroughly impressed!

Nancy - I guess when you're here commenting and writing as much as I have been lately, you can't help but learn a ton of this stuff...and it's against my religion not to share!! I don't want you to just be impressed, I want you to use this stuff to better your experience on AR and hopefully grow your business because of it. It's very nice of you to say that you consider these posts to be "treasure," you've made my day! Thanks Nancy! :-)

Awesome Blog! Thanks for sharing some tips for us, and I have ran into the same situation for searching!

Scot - thanks, I think we have all run into the search dilemma, and most of us just don't have the time to try and figure out any other way. Fortunately, this time I needed to. Thanks Scot! :-)

Great job. Brad I was planning to welcome the search feature back but I would not have done such a great job as you. Thanks.

Rosemary - you should still do your post, don't let any other post ever prevent you from writing it your way! Our voices and readers are different, your readers need to hear it from you! :-)

Brad, thanks so much for sharing...I have found the "search" AR very ineffective but clearly there is a way to make it work better and you figured it out!

Thanks for the great tip Brad. I had given up using the search because it retrieved too many results. This should help greatly.

Your posts are always informative. Thanks for sharing.

Wow Brad! Another amazing blog with great information. You were born to blog. :)

Brad...always good to visit your blog. This is helpful information to provide an additional dimension for searching. It can be really frustrating to try to search for articles sometimes. Thanks a lot. :)

Another incredible post. We wish we were as good as you!!!! Thanks again for teaching us something new!!! There is nothing more frustrating than trying to find a specific topic and searching through hundreds of posts! You make our lives so much easier here in the RAIN!!

Brad - I wished you wrote thiis post thursday instead of yesterday. I had a hard time looking for an old post on commercial property or real estate 101. To cut a long story short,I must've searched for over an hour and a half and I didn't find it until I went into my Blog comments and I found it there. But next time,I would find it much easier and quicker because you of. Thanks sir. Great post as usual.

What a helpful post!

I will keep searching for more blogs from you! Feel free to send me any other helpful advice. The more the better.

OCT

2007

Diane - this way will work in most cases, it depends if the author puts the right keywords in he "tags" box!

Joe -this really should make a big difference, I just used it for my next post and it's working great!!! :-)

Bob and Carolyn - Not always!! LOL! You're welcome, thanks for stopping by! :-)

Pamela - thanks! Didn't Bruce Springsteen do a song with that title? LOL! :-)

Lola - sometimes it is difficult, now we have a couple other ways to search. Just trying to mix it up a bit here! :-)

Rick and Lynn - making life easier for us is the name of the game. Working harder to make it easier for others is ok too right? LOL! Thanks for a great compliment, I appreciate that....here comes one last post!!!! :-)

Brad - I wished you wrote this post thursday instead of yesterday. I had a hard time looking for an old post on commercial property or real estate 101. To cut a long story short,I must've searched for over an hour and a half and I didn't find it until I went into my Blog comments and I found it there. But next time,I would find it much easier and quicker because you of. Thanks sir. Great post as usual.

Lanre - sorry I was late getting this post up for ya! WOW, an hour and a half, that's way too long, I would have given up after 10 minutes. Good for you Lanre, you are a very determined and focused individual, thanks for sharing, that's why I don't mind sharing either! :-)

Dawn - feel free to rummage around through my posts, there are about 20 others that are help or instructional. Make yourself at home and let me know if you need anything at all! :-)

Brad, I have never tried using the SEARCH yet. Thanks for the knowledge. I will have to browse around on it.

Brad,
How was the BBQ? Next time we are in CA, maybe you could BBQ for us!!

Brad, that was so simple and so many newbies need to know this. With thousands of great posts here it's difficult to know which ones to check out first. Best of luck and keep doing what you do.

Thanks Brad. You just made my life easier. I was searching for something and couldn't find it, I admit it, I got tired of looking after many "wrong" results. And then I did what you suggested and BAM I got it.

Thanks again.

I should have thought about it, but, alas, I didn't. Great post. Thanks for the tip.

OCT

2007

Chris - when you need it, you'll be happy tohave some alternatives! Thanks for commenting! :-)

David - the BBQ was great! Next time you're in CA., we are definitely going out on the town. BBQ included! :-)

Vincent - there are thousands of great posts here, that's one of the things that makes AR so great! If all we did was read for 10 days straight, we'd be the smartest RE Professionals in the World! LOL!! :-)

Glad you found what you were looking for, including this post! You should log in to AR before commenting, or at least put or sign your name. Just FYI...reminds me of the commercial on TV where the kid says to the camera,"I don't know you, but I love you!! " LOL! Thanks for commenting, and for now, I'll just refer to you as the "Mystery Person" or "My Secret Subscriber" or maybe even.....nah nah nah! Ciao! :-)

Jon, hope you can use it one day! thanks!! :-)

This is awesome. I was just looking for something and could not find it no matter what. Then I went to see - most active blogs - and this popped up. And Bam, I did a search and there it was. Thanks a million.

Brian - that's awesome!! This has been one of my more active posts but to have it come up under "most active blogs" is pretty exciting, thanks for sharing that my friend! :-)

Thank you so much...You just saved me lots of time!!!!

Brad! Long time no see! Thanks for the simple explanation. You guys at First American ROCK!

I just wonder why AR can't create a search by keyword. How many people will find this post? For all the effort that we put into creating keywords, the search for them should be an integral part of the AR process.

NOV

2007

You are just an amazingly helpful guy! This is great info!!

Casie - thank you. Saving time is great, now let me help you earn more points here. When you comment, and you don't login first, you are losing 25 points for every comment you make on someones post. Not that points are the only important thing, but you might as well get them since you can. Just an FYI for ya! :-)

Diana - WOW! It is so great to hear from you. Thanks for popping by to say hi, I hope you are doing well. I still have your wonderful letter from years ago on my profile page under the testimonials section. One of my absolute favorites. Tell Steve Hi for me, I'd love to get together sometime before the Holidays to catch up and share some Holiday Cheer! :-)

Gail - I'm sure AR is working on all sorts of improvements for the new face lift coming in November. Keyword searches are an integral part of the AR process, and I know that the TEAM behind the scenes here is always looking for ways to improve and better our network. Sometimes growing pains are the only process in which we can learn and determine what is the next step for improvement. Until then, I think this has been a pretty successful platform for members like you and I to share and grow our knowledge of social networking, blogging, SEO and HTML and so much more. Wait to see what AR comes up with next and I think we'll both be pleasantly surprised. Great comment, it's very much heard and appreciated. :-)

Elizabeth - thanks! You are too kind!! :-)

Brad - As always another informative post - have you figured out how to search for multiple key words.

a search for http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/sea of red - the full key word phrase turned up my post while a similiar search for http://activerain.com/blogs/tags/sea - just one of the words from the phrase 'sea of red"did not turn up my post.

It's a shame that putting the key words in italics (e.g. " ") doesn't work on Active Rain like it does for a Google Search. I would think that such a refinement would be pretty easy but would make a world of difference in our search results. W

NOV

2007

Kathy - thanks! You can use the AR built in search or the tags URL, depends on what you need. If you use the AR search for the Word "Foreclosure" you will get every post on AR that has the word in it. If you only want posts where the word "foreclosure" was used as a keyword, or tag, then you would use the URL search. This goes for multiple word searches as well.

If you search "Little Green Houses for you and me" You probably won't find any with the URL search, but if you type those words into the AR search, you'll get back a billion posts. That one might be better left to Google! LOL!

It won't be so complicated once AR upgrades or enhances the network. They are always improving it! :-)

Great point Will, not to sure if many even know what the " " do in a Google Search. That's why we're here to help! :-)

Thank you for the information ...very helpful for me - being a novice. How did Martha put it: IT'S A GOOD THING!!!

Thomas - it's a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L Thing!! :-)

Thanks for this tutorial, Brad. I was actually running a search this morning to follow up on a comment, and I had the same problem. This new way works great! Thanks again.

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Brad -It is always good to visit your site. You are absolutely right. I need to dedicate a day or more to my site. It needs some work but I don't know how to do it. But I am going to use your post as a manual because I am not computer literate. I am clueless when it comes to stuff like HTML. Thanks for sharing some great information. I am going to work hard to make my page look much better. Great post.

NOV

2007

Brian - glad this worked out for you, the AR search has it's purpose too, I just like the other better for the things I search on AR. Thanks for the comment. :-)

Lanre - no worries my friend, there is plenty of help and support out here in the "rain". Good luck with your page, and all your blogging here, I wish you all the very best!! :-)

Thanks once again......you are the best......and this really works.

duane hosek in the black hills of south dakota

Duane - if it works in the black hills of south dakota, then I am totally fulfilled and satisfied!! LOL! Glad to hear that my friend! :-)

Hello again Brad,

Your everywhere on www.activerain.com with your blogs filled with information about so many different areas. It's like a seminar. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

Jim - I'm really only in one spot, but I guess my posts are getting around! Thanks for joining my seminars! hahaha!! :-)

Thanks so much for the great info. As a new member this is going to be really healpful!

Heather - thanks, I hope this will help you along a bit. Welcome to the "rain." I'm sure you'll love it here!

it should save you some time and frustration!

No kidding. Thanks for the tip.

NOV

2007

No Sweat San Diego - glad you agree! You're Welcome!! :-)

Yeah, I guess that's pretty good- NOT- It's G-R-E-A-T! You are awesome Brad- Ive seen you around here quite a bit... other places too I think. You are my first subscription ever- CLICK!!

Kim - I'm honored to be your first! LOL! Seriously, that is a great compliment and I appreciate it very much! I think it's G-R-E-A-T!!!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and thanks again! :-)

NOV

2007

An incredible post that is full useful information. You're great!

NOV

2007

Jan - you're the best! Thanks! :-)

I've been "lost in the rain" a few times, but this will help. Thanks from a newbie!

Norma - looks like you found an umbrella to keep you dry while lost in the rain! LOL! :-) Thank you!

What Brad with all the information that you give us.. we should be paying you..... Great stuff.. Thanks for sharing......

Donna - the best way to pay me is just how you are...really great comments!! And of course you can open your title and escrows with First American in your area! (Huge Smile) Thanks for your kind comment, I appreciate that!

NOV

2007

<a href="http://www.trulia.com>Trulia is cool.</a>

Bill - trulia is cool, but what does that have to do with searching Active Rain for relative content...just curious? Is there something I'm missing here? LOL! Thanks for the HTML href though, most unique comment in this post for sure! hahaha! :-)

NOV

2007

Someone needed to see all the posts today on AR, that showed a members first transaction or success from AR. I used the search feature on AR and the URL search and was blown away by all the success stories here. There's even a group formed called "Why I Love Active Rain", WOW, this was really cool. If you don't believe that business comes from blogging, you better read some of these other members stories. :-)

NOV

2007

Now there's yet a new way to search AR for specific items, topics, groups etc. Watch for my upcoming post! :-)

NOV

2007

Diane - you will find that searching AR for some of the things we discussed today, that it is best to use the URL search and not the internal AR search function. Try them both and you'll see what I mean! :-)

DEC

2007

Brad...thanks for showing us a better way to search. This could be a real time saver.

Kathleen

DEC

2007

Kathleen - this alternate way of searching AR has proven to be useful to many other members and to myself. We have a group that meets monthly, and this very topic came up. Anytime you have to search multiple words, I suggest the URL search instead of the internal AR search. It really will save you time sifting through hundreds of posts that might not be relevant to what you're truly searching for.

Let's face it, with this many members and all their posts, the information is available in abundance, but how do you narrow it down to a specific need? I think this is the best way for now. Thanks! :-)

JUL

2008

Awesome tip Brad! Thank you!! I've been very frustrated lately trying to use the Search feature and not finding what I'm looking for. This is great! I'll definitely use this instead now...

Jen Judd

Thanks for the tip Brad... again! We may just get the hang of AR with your persistent postings and patience for the newbies.

JUL

2008

Jennifer - this will save you some time, reduce your stress, and help you find more of what you're looking for while searching around on the rain. :-)

AJ and Jodee - you will get the hang of it with YOUR persistence and patience.

JAN

2010

Hi Brad,

Always Best job. Excellent posts. Great ideas.

Best -Sash

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Brad Andersohn

Fairfield, CA

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Zillow - Outreach Manager

Address: I am always Mobile, but right now I'm in, Fairfield, CA, 94534

Office Phone: Zillow.com

Cell Phone: (707) 646-1876

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