Your Active Rain Profile - Your Masterpiece!

Are you getting the most from your Active Rain Profile?   Does it have the same information or content as your website?  Did you cut and paste like many of us I know did?  Is it a "Wall Of Words?"  Here's an opportunity to make your AR Profile even "BETTER" than your website.  You should put as much attention and love into your profile page as you do your posts, maybe more.  Are you updating it with fresh content weekly, monthly or never at all?  The truth is, the profile is the first place we all start as "New" members!  The problem is, when we are new, we don't really quite know or understand how to set up our profile's to be in our best interests.  I know what you're thinking, let's see if I'm right...

It's time to come around full circle, where we started, and maximize an area we may have all forgotten about.  We get caught up in learning so much here, and trying to navigate our way around, I think we just simply forget.  Your profile is YOU!  It should be Inter-Active and not just static like a website.  You should always be trying to put new and relative information there.  In order to help you create the "Ultimate Profile" on Active Rain, I have done some extensive research over the past 2 weeks.   Here are some ideas and tools you may be able to use for your profile page.

Take a look at some of these other profiles.   I have, and think you should too.  I suggest you don't stop here.  Go See what others have done, and how they are using their profile page to maximize the value to their viewers and clients.  Is your page all that it can be?   Is it focused with rich and informative content about your area?  Do you have links, graphics, maps and interactive widgets?  What about MLS links, searches and Virtual Tours?  The list could go on and on.

Profiles from Other Members:

Karen George - AZ Home Loans 

Bryant Tutas, Broker-REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc 

Sarah Cooper, Realtor, Hurricane, WV 

Colleen Kulikowski Florida Realtor 

Kristal Kraft ~ Denver Real Estate 

Downtown Long Beach Condos Long Beach Real Estate, Laurie Manny 

Lenn Harley, Homefinders 

Renee Burrows - Las Vegas NV Real Estate 

Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate 

Craig Schiller (Real Estaging) 

Mariana Wagner ~ Colorado Springs REALTOR® 

Gilbert Arizona Real Estate - Candace Robinson 

Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate 

Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate 

Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers 

Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings 

Nick M -Realtor®-Appraiser in West Palm- South Florida Real Estate Appraiser 

Midori Miller- Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Training 

Maureen Henry - Rockland Home Staging 

and there are so many more...but some need some love and attention...LOL! :-)

Once you go and update or modify your profile page, be sure to keep checking and back and updating it.  DON'T forget about it.  As your market changes and you change, so should your profile.  You want to keep it updated and fresh.  What kinds of things can you do to spice it up a bit?  Here's just a couple things I noticed when looking at other profiles, and I looked at hundreds...   

Give it color, add photos, create useful links, the design and look are important and simple is the key.  Put some animation, but not too much.  Don't be afraid to erase what you've done, it's OK!  I think this might be a factor as to why we don't update them more often.  Don't just cut, copy and paste from your website. Why duplicate?  Be Creative and Realistic.  Don't laugh, but Here's my Profile, I have been working on it a bit, but it still has quite a ways to go!!         

PART ONE:

This part is simple to complete, however, I often get asked, can I select more than one "Primary Market?"  You only get one, but you can still sell Real Estate or do loans, or provide your services anywhere in the Country or World if you choose.  I also do not suggest setting up 2 or 3 profiles in multiple areas.  That has never worked for anyone on AR including myself.  I tried it in the beginning, and it was a nightmare!  TRUST ME, JUST DON'T DO IT!

PART TWO:

There are three of these sections below available on your profile page.  This is like having 3 Blogs on one page!  The hardest part for most members is the HTML section.  Here are 3 tips regarding HTML.  1. Learn It   2. Use it   3.  Love it!  I am no HTML expert, but I have learned a lot from other members.  If you want to see any page on the net in HTML format, here's how.  Using Firefox: Go up to "View" and select "Page Source".  Using Explorer: Go up to "Page" and select "View Source."  HTML code can be copied from one place and pasted into another, the same as you would a widget or stat counter. 

1. What exactly is HTML  2. HTML School   3. HTML Goodies, the Ultimate HTML Resource  4. HTML Code Tutorial  I have learned so much from these sites, the first time I turned text "RED" I opened that bottle of saved Merlot to CELEBRATE!! LOL!  Don't laugh, you will too!  There are even HTML Forums that will help you on-line and answer your questions for FREE!  (that is if I can't)  These are some great sites to get you started!  Here's a couple more if you want to create banners and buttons etc.

Finally, create time and have patience building your Profile on Active Rain.   See it through the eyes of your viewers, or customers.  Think of what they want to see, and what they will find to be of value.  Make your profile your "Best Blog" ever!  It's always going to be a work in progress, so don't give up or get frustrated.  Pay off comes in the long run, guaranteed!  We should always autograph our work with the best quality possible!  After all, this is YOUR "Profile!"  Shouldn't it really be your Ultimate Masterpiece?  :-)

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