They don't realize the amount of information and the great people in the business that they are missing out on!

I think they go into it with good intentions but it is like a diet...when you see what is involved it may be easier to avoid it.

Do they dissapear after this is no activity?

If I had to guess, they've heard that blogging is the next big source of business, so they want to be there. But like so many areas, it's not a magic bullet unless you do the work.  WORK... oh no, I don't have time for that, I'm to busy whining about how bad the  market is.  :)

I think most people who join do not realize how beneficial it can be if you get really involved in it.  It's not till then that you realize what it has to offer

Thomas,

Many members, agents and mortgage originators and others, evidently believe that just by joining will give them the marketing boost they were looking for. It takes more than that, though. A member has to participate, blog etc., to get the benefits.

I think a significant number of people join and then just stop by to read the post without writing or commenting. (lurkers)

Thomas - There are probably a plethora of reasons for this but I truly believe they don't fully realize the great power this forum can have on their web presence.

I talked with a fellow agent just the other day who joined active rain, wrote a few posts, then stopped.  She doesn't like to write, its a huge chore.  For me writing is a stress reliever and my preferred method of communication whenever possible.  If it was a chore, hard work, and something I dreaded, I would not stick with it either.

Thomas, I think Active Rain either becomes a habit or it doesn't.  There really isn't any way to just dip your toe into Active Rain once in a while.  You're either in it or you're not.  This place can be pretty overwhelming to a newcomer.  Also, I think blogging comes naturally to some people and is much more difficult for others.

Gail I think you might have hit it right on the head. I have found some people in my area that joined did a few blogs then stoped.