I Have a Different Viewpoint About ActiveRain Points and I am Proud of It !
I see many members rushing to accumulate points with post after post of not much interest and not many or in some case any comments. My personal opinion about ActiveRain is that I love the experience. I like it that many people comment on my posts and we can learn from each other. I like it that I am building a quality readership of interested members but also building long term friendships. I feel rich with friendships here in the Rain, people I can count on for advise, teaching me new things and me sharing my skills with them.
I am in no rush to just accumulate points, I would rather have a few less and have the relationship. But both is really nice. I faithfully log in to ActiveRain several times a day and evening to comment while I may post a blog only a few times a week. But I make a strong effort to make the post worthwhile. If is in the Photoblogging category, I especially want to provide things of interest and I leave the post up long enough so others may enjoy the effort.
I care very much about each person that takes the time to comment and I try to make the posts interesting and always try to give it my best effort. Why bother filling up space and time with just getting any old post up because you feel the need to add points for the week. Do it because you have something to share or to offer others a posting that may be of interest, entertaining or informative. That is in my opinion on how we help each other the most. By sharing things of value. And I know consumers will always be attracted to things of interest and value.
I recognize the true competitive spirit in striving for position within our membership and I would never discourage that. But for me, I am taking my time and enjoying the journey. Don't think for a minute that I am complacent about ActiveRain. It has become a very significant part of my daily life, I have invested a lot of time and effort and would help anyone at anytime any way I can. I am just different in how fast that my posts needs to be done. Consistent, steady and build with as much quality as one can. These posts last indefinitely and I want my on-line reputation to be about something of value to others.
When I started ActiveRain before I began building enduring friendships, I probably went about it much the same way as those racing to the top. If you don't build quality along the way with readers and friendships that can endure for a lifetime, what's the rush. I don't need a title, I have had plenty in life. I am going for the quality of the experience and enjoying everything and everyone along the way.
Perhaps as I have grown older, I realize that it is people and quality of relationships that I seek out most from the ActiveRain network. I am guessing that many if not most of the readers attracted to my posts feel similar.
In the end, what is the payoff for all the special care and effort. Out of the approx. 230,000 members, I rank 44th in subscribers to my blog. Here is a link to the Top Subscribed To Members. It says to me, build it right and they will come.
Being a photoblogger, my post would not be complete without at least one photo. Enjoy!
Bee Bathing in Pollen
Click On Photo Below If You Enjoy My Blog
Thank You !
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89 Comments on I Have a Different Viewpoint About ActiveRain Points and I am Proud of It!
William, very interesting post. I have only been in AR for about 4 months. It didn't take long to notice that some blog post were not worth reading and were only there for points. I have also noticed that the featured blogs are always from the same members. How does a new or improved blogger ever get noticed by the other members.
After clicking on your list of Top Subscribed I thought of something even worse. What if people reading your post took that list as a suggestion of what to read. They would be in a real rut- never getting to read anything new or different.
I deleted my subscription to one on your list after noticing the last post was 06/16/2010. Real Estate Website Design Blog is a subject that changes rapidly and old info becomes worthless very quickly.
I agree.....in the broad sense...but I can afford to, I'm at the top of my city and 2nd in my county (so I get the exposure). That is my purpose for the points, I want visibility. But the way to get points is to enjoy myself and those I interact with. I have the luxury of playing in the rain now.
Hi William. Last year was my first year in the Rain, and I had one goal in mind, and that was to get into the Top Ten in my major city. While, I not only accomplished that, but I am presently at No. 3 in my city, and it was the points that got me there, but I have made some great lasting friendships along the way that I wouldn't trade for anything.
I have "Built it, and They are Coming". Now, my focus like you in on posting more quality blogs for all my followers. I was amazed to also see that I had become No. 12 most subscribed in the state of Texas, and that means more than accumulating all those points.
I have never really thought about the points (oh, yeah that's the story and I'm sticking with it) ;). There are searches in Google that will land you on an AR page and if you are the high point person in your area you will be shown first - so points do have some value. Of course I am competitive and so it is a game I play with myself. Oh, that and a couple of others. I wonder what would happen if points all went away. How many people would still be around?
I have seen posts not worth the time it took for me to click on & out of! Your words certainly capture my feelings as well.
Beautiful photo!!
Thanks!
Hi Sharon, Thank you so much, birds of a feather, we are! :-)
Woo Hoo, Right back at ya! You know, I haven' told you in a long time how very special you are to me. Life has been made so much more interesting since I joined Activerain. The friendships, the guidance, the remarkable amount of information we have shared. We have all had our ups and downs but once those connections are made, we are hooked for life. My greatest wish for the new members as well as for the seasoned members is that they can have a friendship like we enjoy. We always know that the other is there, just a phone call away. In all my life's treasures, you are right there Sally.
Hi Michael, That was a wonderful comment and you expressed it so much better than I. You are one of the very special members that when you make comment, you say a lot. Always so complimentary and encouraging. I went over to your blog and didn't realize I had not subscribed. Now done. I am so grateful for your comments Michael.
William, you have a very healthy additude towards points, which in the long run will be beneficial for you!
William-You've summed up a lot of our feelings about ActiveRain and points. I was on AR for several months until I realized there were points involved. I never count how many comments i make in a day, or how many posts I reblog. For me, just like you, it's about the community and the relationships. Now that said, I also understand that for many the points may mean lowering their monthly fee here or not having a fee at all. I can't speak to that since I was grandfathered in but I hope that they realize the biggest benefit of being on ActiveRain.
Good evening William, you are 100% correct. And I get discouraged when someone flies up the leaderboard posting nonsense. So I don't watch any more. Just do my own thing.
Hello William, We rarely look at our points and we know we are in the minority for this. We've read many times how a member is trying to be #1 in their area, and how competitive they are, but we never strived for that. We are here each day and never count the comments we make either. We try to visit as many "friends" as we can and meet new ones. We do write about community profiles, listings and sold reaching out to consumers, but also like the networking along the way. As you point out, we too are in no rush to accumulate points, and do appreciate the comments we receive from other members!
As you say, what's all the hurry? I will soon be overtaken by someone that only posts 30 MLS listings a week & will have a higher point score than I. Do I care? Yes, in a way but they have no readers & I'm sure do not get the same results out of AR that I do.
Hi William, I always enjoy your photos and your blogs, this photo in particular with the extreme closeup on something that we seldom take the time to examine closely, slowly and calmly.
Good morning, William. I always enjoy your posts and your photographs. Personally, I think some consideration should be given to the elimination of the current points system. The current system encourages the posting of material that is not interesting and too many of the comments are without meaning.
I am going to re-blog your post.
William, that was stated so eloquently ! I"m with you, quality before quanity, and everything else will follow. And ditto on the photoblogging. To me, no post is complete without good photography. And to me, good photography doesn't need editing. I love what you do for and with ActiveRain.
You make a wonderful point, William! The friendships we have developed through the years here cannot be measured in points!
Have a wonderful weekend.
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