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What's The Secret To Invites...Why Dont People Listen To Me????

By Clint Miller

Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Pipeline, Inc.

February 19, 2008 02:05 AM

Alright....Ive had it. By the time I write this, Im going to be looking like this guy here....
Why? Why? I can not for the life of me understand why only 3 of the people that I have invited to ActiveRain have accepted the invitation and built a profile. And, I work with over 3,500 agents all across the country and in Canada. (So, its not like I dont have a pool to choose from.)

What does it take to get people to understand that this simple little social network will advance thier business in so many ways??? I have learned more in the last 3 months about agents, the internet, and local markets across this great land of ours than I have learned my entire 4 year career with www.recr.com. And that is primarly due to blogging and reading and commenting on other blogs. But, the neat trick with it is that my website ranking has gone up, my natural search on Google puts me with 7 pages in the top 10, and all of that with out spending a dime! My blogs have lead to sales. My relationships I have developed online have lead to sales. Im making money by doing this...and it doesnt cost me a thing but a little time!

What do I have to do....? Show you in person??? Just take the time to accept the invitation, build a profile, blog a bit...if its not for you, get out. But, how will you ever know if it will work for you or not if you dont freaking try it????

Ok, I think Im better now...If you have any tips or tricks you could pass along, please let me know.

If you would like additional information about RECR and how we can increase your bottom line, please call Clint at 800-977-7058.

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Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Thanks Clint. I looked it up on google myself and saw the "google, I mean golden thread". Ingenious. Active Rain and the brains with-in bring blogging and google to life. Who cares if some (read invitees) don't get it. As long as we do we have had a winning day. As for my granddaughter, thats a different story. She will get it, after all I AM her grandmother! Thanks for being one of the Rain Brains

Feb 19, 2008 10:36 AM

Cameron Wilson

Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA

The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Clint, I'm pretty new here and already gotten some business plus all the other benefits but none of the folks I've invited have joined.That does not bother me at all as I have shared many times with others the things I do to get business and most of them never implement it for themselves.The old 80/20 rule.

Feb 19, 2008 10:56 AM

Joe Jackson

Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Columbus, OH

Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert

I also have invited 40+ and only had 4 join .Blogging just has not caught on yet, just like it took a while for people to get " email"

Feb 19, 2008 11:33 AM

Susan Ann Mohart

REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS, RJ SMITH REALTY - Wallkill, NY

I say keep trying. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I joined Active Rain. The people in my office were crazy about it. They invited me and I am really glad they did. I post ads, chat with new people and get great ideas from around the country. If at first they don't accept, try, try again!!

Feb 19, 2008 12:00 PM

Kelley Eling

Fathom Realty Group - Sonoma, CA

Realtor Extraordinaire

I have learned that the tech trainer at our company uses me (my website, my myspace page, LinkedIn, ActiveRain, etc.) as an example of how to create an online presence for agents within our company. I have never attended the training because I already have an online presence, so I am not sure the entire context of what he is presenting.

What I have found is that even though all these people attend these trainings, they don't do anything about it. They are, in fact, even a little uncomfortable bringing it up to me or asking me about it. They spend literally thousands of dollars on websites that cannot be found. They don't understand, and they are afraid to admit that they don't understand.

Not only that, it seems like they think that blogging is a dirty word, something that only teenagers do. Like all us bloggers are out in the soccer field smoking pot or something.

That, in a nut shell, is my opinion why people don't accept your invitation.

It's kind of entertaining really.

Feb 19, 2008 12:08 PM

Melissa Marro

Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL

Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

I completely agree! I have sent so many to other stagers in my area (some with my company, some with others), agents I work with, etc..... they just don't seem to get it. I just don't understant why! I explain my success with AR, they know it works, but they just keep saying, "I'll have to get around to it." and then they never do.... .ugh....

Feb 19, 2008 12:11 PM

Gary Bolen

McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA

CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

We've got 45 agents or so in our office. Some use our outside blog for our stats, and send their clients to it. Some bring their clients to our seminars. They all see us get leads and clients off our blogs. But not one yet is doing it. It's too much work is what we hear most.

cheers

Feb 19, 2008 01:16 PM

John Novak

Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV

Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Hi Clint - You can lead an agent to ActiveRain, but you can't make 'em blog! I think we're getting so big that if people can't see a benefit immediately, they either get frustrated or intimidated and move on to something else. It takes a certain personality type and skill set to really take to blogging.

Feb 19, 2008 02:12 PM

David Soto - Illinois Home Loans & Mortgages

Illinois Home Loans & Mortgage Refinance - Chicago, IL

yeah i have the same problem sent out invites and explain to them that it is to their benifit to join and network for a variety of reason

Feb 19, 2008 04:41 PM

Cheryl Powell - The Powell Team

Southern Homes of The Carolinas - The Powell Team - Harrisburg, NC

Concord,Harrisburg & Charlotte NC Area Real Estate

Hehe, love the clip art... it's perfect! It is frustrating to all of us who try to share our love of ActiveRain with others. If you check the ActiveRain membership for the people who you invited, I'll bet that you'll find many of them are members now. People go directly to ActiveRain instead of clicking through from your invitation. Also, ActiveRain continues to email them directly after your invitation is ignored. I've found this to be the case in several instances.

Feb 19, 2008 05:21 PM

Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239

Real Estate One - Commerce, MI

Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

If they don't want to take advantage of this great site. Don't worry about it. It too have invited many people but they haven't done it yet either.

Feb 19, 2008 11:06 PM

Monica Bourgeau

Portland, OR

Business Coaching

Some people just don't get it, work with the ones who do.

Feb 19, 2008 11:46 PM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Terry -- And I truly believe that its the commitment to the continuation of the program that people fall down on...

Christy -- Yes, some are slower than others...Good thing we just take the ball and run with it. :-)

Lisa and Robert -- Hey Bob...You are correct about the horse and water. Im not looking to drown anyone...I just want them to taste how sweet the water from the Rain really is...

Mike -- Im a net guy myself...I guess its a bit of an assumption on my behalf that everyone should be as well.

Lane -- Thats where Im at now, Lane...Either you are going to try it or you wont. All I can do is set up the table...you have to take the opportunity to sit down and eat.

Wayne -- Im with you there.

Martha -- Im not sure I qualify as a RainBrain yet...but Im working on it. Thanks!

Cameron -- That is a perfect example of the situation, actually. 80/20 proves itself to be true yet again!

Joe -- Blogging itself has been around for a long time...its the blogging for BUSINESS that has yet to take a really good hold.

Susan -- Not sure how I would feel about someone spamming me to join a social networking site...I guess I just want to avoid being "that guy". :-)

Kelley -- LOL @ Bloggers on a soccer field blazing a doobie...I think you have a good point, Kelley. No one wants to admit that there are people out there that are smarter than they are...especially when they are paying someone else to achieve results that never happen. Good point.

Melissa -- And they probably never will...But, like it has been mentioned before, less competition on AR isnt really a bad thing, is it? :-)

Gary -- Too much work? If I dedicate an hour of my day to AR, I have spent a long time on AR. :-) Thats not much work to me...especially considering the benefits that I have recieved from it. If it wasnt for the fact that I work with 3,500 agents and get roughly 2,000 new referrals every day that need distributed, Id spend more and more time on here. AR is a bit of a drug in that way...lol

John -- That is sooo true. It actually took me a month or so to really get the feel for this thing. Dont get me wrong, Im sure glad I did...I just like to spread the wealth a bit when I come across something that works to well.

David -- Yup...and I guess its a common problem. Im glad, in a way....I was starting to think I was an invitational failure. :-)

Cheryl -- Hmmmmmm...Yet another thing Im going to have to inquire about...thanks, Cheryl!

Russ -- Yeah, like we have all stated, this is obviously a common problem. It's amazing to me people with a relatively high IQ can see something with so much power and recognize the benefits that result directly from it...and they dont take advantage of the opportunity. Completely irrational to me....

Feb 19, 2008 11:49 PM

Bob Haywood

McGraw Realtors - Owasso, OK

BobHaywood.com

As goofy as it might sound, what you're running into is fairly typical. Of the many invites I've sent out, I've only had a couple who responded and accepted. The bell curve pic below is an attempt to show how people respond to new ideas. Notice that there are some early adopters. These would be people who accept your invitation and get on board. Then you hit the pragmatists. This group is much bigger. They are harder to convince of something. Many will respond, but only later after something has really caught on (think IPODS). Then there's the conservatives. I think you can tell by the image how long they might take to act. We won't even talk about the laggards.

Not everybody accepts the bell curve idea in regards to how people respond to new products and ideas, but it makes sense to me. It also is used to predict the lifecycle of new products in the market.

After I learned about the bell curve idea my attitude changed towards those who do not accept my invitations. It's okay. I wish they would come along for the ride. I'd love to have them in Active Rain, but I can't twist their arms and I won't. Instead, I'll just keep looking for those people who are early adopters and who see the advantages of being proactive on the web.

Feb 20, 2008 12:12 AM

Larry DeGroat

Realty Professionals, Inc. - Searcy, AR

ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GRI in Searcy

I have just started and I am looking for the results! I believe it will work!

Feb 20, 2008 12:19 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Bob -- You and I are in the same boat now. Id love to have them on board...but, Im not going to do it for them or force them to do it. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Or, get run over by the tidal wave that is AR. :-)

Larry -- It will work! But, you have to be diligent about it. Stay on it. You will see results eventually.

Feb 20, 2008 12:25 AM

Paula Hartwick

Royal LePage Gale Real Estate - Kanata, ON

I tried referring this site to my colleague by doing the "invite others to join" link. I didn't work the first time, so I tried one of her other email addresses. Still nothing. So she went to ActiveRain.com and joined after I told her all the benefits, etc. As it turns out, the email I had sent went in her junk email folder both times.

Feb 20, 2008 12:34 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Paula -- Yeah, depending on how the spam filter is set up, that can happen. One thing I have decided to do from now on is using the optional web link and emailing them myself rather than sending the invite email through the system. Im 1 for 1 doing that. So, thats the route Im taking from now on. I figure that way, at least they will ask me about it and I can inform them rather than simply deleting a random email from ActiveRain

Feb 20, 2008 12:37 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Im up to 3 people that have signed up that I invited. I give up. More for me anyway.

May 02, 2008 01:22 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

UPDATE -- I am now up to 8 people. I even went so far as to include a link to sign up on AR on the signature of my email. lol

Oct 22, 2008 12:34 AM

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