Top 3 AR Tools

The only thing that could provide a return within 3 months would be to make sure the profile is complete and catch someone's attention for a referral. Everything else is time dependent

1.  Blog

2.  Educate yourself through AR University

3.  Educate yourself by reading other's blogs and learning from them

I have not had any dollar results in way more than 3 months of very active blogging. But what I have gained:

1. Honing my blogging skills and getting into a regular rhythm. (1 blog a day and 10 comments)

2. Blogging to my outside blog which is a different "niche" than my regular address.

3. Have taken the opportunity to learn more about my fellow activerainers, where they are from, and who they are as people.

 

 

 

AR Universiry

Blogging

Commenting

Contests are fun too!

I firmly believe expecting any return in 3 months is unrealistic.  It takes time to build a real estate business. In addition to spending time daily in AR blogging and commenting to establish relationships, one should also learn as much as they can here in the Rain while doing things such as holding open homes and door knocking.  Those techniques still work. 

I think my three center around interaction. Creating Comments, hosting Webinars or Hangouts, and Calling other AR Members.

In the course of three months, I made what I think will be a lifetime friendship. In the course of three months from a local post, I received recognition from members of our city government on doing a great job of promoting my city. In the course of three months, a listing was noticed and received an offer that was accepted and closed escrow. In the course of three months and building my online presence, I both gave a referral and received one. Both closed escrow. The whole idea about learning to blog, how to make your posts noticed with good title and content, gives you an opportunity to experience the above and much more. Blogging is not an event, it is a process. Daily is best but you get out what you put in plus interest. If I were giving advise, the single most important thing is to write a compelling and articulate profile complete with photo and testimonials. Be sure to identify other experience and interests you have. When someone first reads a post they will often decide after reading your profile if they will connect with you. The second most important thing is to learn how to write and add a photo or a graphic which adds interest and eye appeal to your posts. The third most important thing you can do is reach out to others. Make contact with the Ambassadors and seek help and advise as you need it. Make it fun the first few weeks and before long ActiveRain will be like family and you will become an integral part. Take advantage of the classes, the stored tutorials and enjoy. Don't stress trying to do more than you can handle but build your blogging experience as a daily routine.

I would have to say to take the first three months, it would be -

1. Read, read, read to educate yourself.

2. Start blogging to begin to find your voice.

3. Build relationships - those will become referrals down the road!

Wow, So many great answers! My thoughts are: 1. READ - Other people's posts, all comments on your own blog and on others. 2. BLOG - Daily! 3. DO - Everything! Activerain University, attend Raincamp, participate in contests,build relationships, connect with others regularly and consistently, join groups, read the AR FAQs and use search

It's a difficult question to answer - still will try my best...

1. Relationship with other AR members

2. Learning from experts.....and

3. Whenever possible, sharing knowledge with others.

1.  I think it's most important to learn SEO by watching the ARU videos (and reading blogs about SEO).  This will make you much more productive.

2.  Read/comment/observe blogs that seem to be doing well, so you can learn better and become an integrated member.

3.  Blog, blog, blog.  Dive in and then improve.

1. Blogging about hyper-local information

2, Use KEY wors in your titles and comments.

3. Ask any and all questions you have about real estate (prospecting, working with buyers and/or sellers, marketing, systems to be successful, time management, etc...) in here.  You will get answers.

Hyper local blog posts.

Get a website and learn about SEO

Get out and meet people!

1.  The blogging platform itself

2.  Associations

3.  The points system for motivation

I'm not going to just say blog - that's to be expected.  It's how or what - that's the question for ROI!

1)  You have to get your name out there for your area so how are you going to do that?  Be specific & get things that people want to read about in your market.  I mean like 'Schaumburg IL real estate' as an example.  Work to get your name in front of everybody looking to do anything in that general parameter.

Answer questions that buyers or sellers might have?

Why should they call you?

Why are you different from other agents?  (Blogging makes you different already).

2)  How you answer those questions will get you referrals from other agents here on AR that like how you do business or enjoy your value principles.  You are selling 'YOU' all the time! 

3)  AR is the quickest way to show up in Google.  

4) If I have a question ABOUT ANYTHING, I go pop it into the AR search section & up comes everyone's ideas & solutions.  I've learned how to do everything that way!  I learned the tough way before all these great AR classes.

5)  Sharing with others what I know or what I find out to make their business easier or keep them out of the sandtrap of life!  Hey, we need all the help we can get!

 

Understanding that Active Rain is a long term investment of enormous value, I recommend the following to those who are new to this enriching platform:

1. Take advantage of Active Rain University, so that you have a basic understanding about how the system works. Bob Stewart's webinars are a great way to get started.  If you have questions, call Bob.

2.  Begin posting as soon as you get your wings from Active Rain University.  Let your personality and interests shine through your choice of topics and your written voice. Above all, be yourself!  Active Rain is a friendly place!

3.  Read and comment on the posts of other members with comments of value. One of the many reasons to comment is to bond with others in the Rain and form lasting relationships. If you are inspired, give an Active Rain member a call!  Think of this community as an extremely large extended family and you will flourish in the Rain!

Excellent question for the newbies as well as old timers:  In my opinion:

1.  Read posts and comment - helps you make friends while learning

2.  Post and read the comments of other members that you get, then respond  (add them Associates... this would be #4 but we only go up to 3 in this post!)

3.  ActiveRain University, and then read more post to see other apply what you got from ActiveRain U. (learn and apply)

This should have been at least a 5 point question.  So I'll stop at 3.

 

3 Most Important Activities To Take Away The Time Spent Daily At AR :

1) Follow, check the front page new yet to be deployed Question Of The Day and drive through quick add your two cents. To glean from the other sage advice of commenter experiences, opinions. To skillfully apply to your own real estate market what you copy, modify. Questions to pop in, come back to and see more developing thread answers as your busy day unfolds. Check daily to quick like a bunny see today's special menu question on the AR front page. Make it a habit like air, water, love, food, shelter. Do or die important. With NASCAR pit stop the clock is ticking awareness. To peel, spin out, get back out on the real estate round and round track.

2) Spend more time in the areas you are weakest, that need beefing up and get after school help with implementing. Don't hang out only at AR water coolers of your favorite subjects that you enjoy. Bone up in the AR groups you are behind on to add new tools to the utility belt you wear. The one with the blue and gold R on the buckle. And marketing ray gun in one holster. A real video camera, other mobile device in the other.

3) Blog about property listings, area events daily. Take time to add images that are SEO tagged correctly, with video embeds, map inserts, more time than a hit and run reblog. Do your own work on the property listings, community happenings you are some kind of glad to tell the world about.. to win more round trip tickets to real estate closings. To expand your market from local to the World is your oyster. List, market, sell (repeat). Real estate is a sport, a passionate master that your in, or your out. Not something to one foot in the door, fence straddle. Your buyers, sellers, properties, communities deserve better than inconsistent, luke warm marketing.

 

 

It really is amazing how much I'm enjoying AR!  For me, the hyper-local component is so helpful to ranking in the search engines.  I think re-purposing the blog posts across other media is helpful as well (Trulia, your own website).  The third is reading about the issues others are facing.

I recieved my first referral in three months without blogging any. But I also found a program for expireds in the first three months that added a lot of business to my bottom line.