Very well written and informative Lola.  I think the point you making money on ones own content is starting to come to reality with sites and blogs that are now encouraging people to put relevant Google AdSense on their site.  In the past this would have been a big no no but now many sites, such as blogspot make it easy for someone to get paid by advertising Google AdSense on your blog/website.

Kansas City Real Estate

You gave me something to think about, very well written by the way.  I think it will be a good idea to stay ahead of the curve of technology. 

Need to get squidward from Sponge Bob Square Pants to join as well.  I see your squid and it looks pretty similar.  Anyway, this technology may be the answer for a lot of people, but it seems way beyond me....

Hi Michael, thanks for your comment.  When we understand the impact of the entire world coming online, it will become obvious how far reaching and powerful this is.  It is now possible to connect to almost every single small village on the African and Asian continents...even those which don't have the amenities we associate with modern life.  Everyone craves connection...that's the key here.

Glad you dropped by and enjoyed the post Bob.

Larry, thanks for stopping by.  I've learned that for myself, with a lot of this new stuff...if it doesn't make sense at the time, I simply leave it alone.  Sometimes, much later...it clicks...then it's easy to move on.  If it doesn't, I don't worry about it.

Lola, I'm going to bookmark this to read when I'm not tired. I wa just invited to Qaissia but did nothing more than set it up.  There are so many different sites it gets very confusing.

Sounds to me like a Google penalty in the making. It's only a matter of time. I don't know what it is with Google, that they seem to make it extremely difficult to keep our sites and blogs at the top of the list. 

 Hi Lola, I love how you think. It's been a very long day for me so my comment will be short.

 I've been a techie since 1984 and I'm still coming to terms with all the new "stuff" that pops up each week. Info overload. The value of limited time and attention. Nite...

Lola- I also like how you think.....however I just don't have the time or energy to do the extra Profiles....I have to figure out how to get the most for my time, just as the consumer wants the most for theirs.

Lola, I just signed up after getting and an email about Qassia from Jeff Dower.  I was wonderfing about the $'s and what it all means in the end.  I have not yet signed up for Squidoo.  Do you post unique articles on these sites or do you double post?  Do these help your own blog rankings?  So many questions!

Marchal, this stuff can be confusing.  I'm learning to simply bypass stuff that strikes me that way.  Sometimes, I connect with it later...like with Twitter...and sometimes, I don't, which is absolutely OK.  I am interested in sites that are syndicating content in various ways & perhaps that is one of the reasons that Qassia is something I'm willing to investigate a little further.

Lisa, your comment brings up a very important question. When I posted my first bit of "intel" aka intelligence on a local bookstore, the kind of backlink which was created as far as I can understand is a link which is relating my short article to a recommendation in my local area...not necessarily an inappropriate connection.  I'm not an SEO guru, but I did note that Jeff Turner has signed up...that made me feel a little more comfortable. :)

Marti, thanks for stopping by to read and comment.  I feel like this last year has been a very steep learning curve with this "tech stuff."  In 1984, I was certain I didn't want anything to do with computers. Unbelievable...but true! :)

Kathy, I'd wholeheartedly agree about the time issue.  I also think it's important to look at the value proposition that each of these new sites offers. Value can mean  a lot of things including: establishing an online presence or brand, networking and connecting with others and/or building a business and making money.

I blog on Active Rain because I appreciate the knowledge, networking and SEO.  It's been worth my time...that's Valuable to me.  E-Zines is a publishing network; something which I'm exploring.  Facebook...well, that's a toss up right now; don't spend much time there. 

Linked In...is a professional network and does extremely well for my SEO rankings...once again Valuable. It also takes very little of my time, but has consistently enhanced my professional associations.  Squidoo...well, the jury is still out, but it's content based so like Qassia, it's worth a little exploration.  I think we each have to figure out what we want from our efforts & make judgements on that basis.

Diane...so many goodquestions! My understanding of Qaissia dollars is that they are derivative form of payment which translates into real money...the convertor was not something I could decipher from their website.  They work through Google AdSense and the money is transferred through that route as opposed to from Qaissia directly.  My guess it that it is likely not a lot of money, especially at the beginning, but it does represent some payment for effort & it is definitely indicative of where the Web is heading with reference to Relevance & Meaning...two traits which are far more illusive than mere data. 

About Squidoo...the modules make it quite easy to customize your lens without much hassle.  You can also simply download your blogging content...you don't even have to cut and paste if you don't want to.  The site is heavily weighted towards geographical identification...an excellent thing if you're in real estate! :)

Lola, of course I signed up yesterday, I'm in a wait and see mode. I sign up for most of them and just let them play out. Remember when zing was the thing, then naymz, then cre8buzz. Oh my.........

Thanks so much Lola!

Hi Missy, thanks for stopping by.  I have a different approach to my participation online.  I don't sign up for most of the stuff I'm invited to or hear about.  I try to participate in what seems to resonate and make sense for me and what I'd like to accomplish.  Don't always succeed...but that's my aim.

Diane, you're welcome.  Best Wishes. :)

Lola - great post! Indeed it is difficult to stay on top with the search engines - constantly changing things and adding rules -

Lola, I need time to digest your blog so will bookmark and read and reread.

Lola

Great article! Thanks for sharing. I am all for getting paid for my content but, I am having difficulty just keeping up with Active Rain which by the way is helping me to grab up some business.

Prospecting is the name of the game and there needs to be a balance between blogging and chasing down business.

Lola- Your answer back to my comment about finding the value of our efforts online is something I have been exploring after my first few months of doing this social networking.  I like Active Rain....I can laugh, be serious, learn something or offer something......it's all up to me and what I want at that particular moment when I log in.  I decide what is most valuable to me at any given time, and it may or may not be business related; at that moment.

However, regardless of what I wanted when I logged in, I try to keep in mind that the time I spend on these sites has to fill a need....business, or social, and try to make my investment worthwhile :)

Hi Bill & Barbara Jo...I've given up trying to keep up with what the search engines are doing, but I do try to focus my writing on things that I think are important to me and would be helpful and of assistance to those I serve.

Russ...thanks for stopping by to read and comment.  It is a lot to digest. :)

Absolutely Kathy, my biggest challenge has been in keeping things in balance and investing wisely.  It has definitely been a significant and important asset to my business and professional life.  And then...the people I've met; just can't think of any other forum that I have had exposure to until now which has created so many vital connections.  I think there's a part of me that wants every investment in the Web 2.0 world to be as useful as AR has been...that may be dreaming, but oh well. :)

A great thought provoking post. I have bookmarked it and will check out the links later.

Interesting, thanks for all of the great links as well.

Thank you very much for all the great stuff!  I'm on Qaissia, etc., etc., and you've reminded me to finish my Squidoo.  So much to do on-line.  Have a great day!

Hi Gita, Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.  I think you will find both links enlightening.

Thank you so much for the information.  I think that the more technology that a realtor use the more informed they are for the clients that we work with.  Let's face it 80 to 90% of buyer start their home search on the internet, so we must be their to guide them through the process.

Hi Lola:  This sounds interesting and surprisingly easy. I checked out your homepage and am going to set up an account and post about random things that I know about.  I like that. 

Hey Lola,

Yes the big expand will then cause overcrowding of information and drown the ears and minds as competition for attention increases. Crazy beast

Lola- Understood, and it never hurts to dream.....who knows when todays dream becomes tomorrow's reality :) :)