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Advertising referral with Active Rain

By Susan Trombley

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Trombley Real Estate

March 11, 2008 04:30 PM

I am amazed how Active Rain is used.

Does anyone want to take a guess at how many people are signed up with AR that have never blogged? i am afraid to take a guess at this number and I do not know how to go about it.

But what I can tell you is, that many are signed up and only use AR to get referrals for their area.

Is this the right way to use AR?

I believe when you sign up with AR to use the benifits you should blog, comment and then after you get some many point then you can use the referrals.

Just to sign up and use the referrals just does not seem right. What about those who work very hard to get their name out there?

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Brian Schulman

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA

Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Susan, I have no problem with members who don't blog. I would rather not slog through poorly written articles. In the final analysis, members who don't blog have a better chance of getting referrals than if they weren't here at all - but they won't do nearly as well as those who have established a blogging presence.

Mar 11, 2008 04:37 PM

Megan McGonigal

Integrity Real Estate - Northeast, MD

CRP - Cecil County, MD & Harford County, MD Real Estate

It does'nt bother me either.

Mar 11, 2008 04:42 PM

Gary Bolen

McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA

CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

Susan - unfortunately there are many who have not gotten yet how much fun AR is. When they do, all the good stuff then starts to come.

cheers

Mar 11, 2008 04:42 PM

Lynda Eisenmann

Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA

Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Susan,

Good point, but I think this is true in so many things, not just here. You've got to be an active participant to get the most benefit.

Mar 11, 2008 04:47 PM

Rob Muller

ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA

Cherokee County Real Estate

if they think that just because they have a profile they are going to get those referrals they will be very dissapointed

Mar 11, 2008 04:56 PM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Susan,
I'm not one to throw stones, I think about those other networks I signed onto and never did anything. (Shame on me!)

Mar 11, 2008 11:54 PM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

Brian, you are correct, being in the loop will help. I was just stating facts and not taking sides. I was bring awareness to others whom may not know.

Megan - what can I say, this is an awareness blog

Gary - Yes, it is unfortunate that those who do not blog get the fun out of blogging. Now I see why the online number has really never gone up as the sign up continues to rise.

Lynda - I agree

Rob - exactly, they will call and email until you answer them. I do not give the first person to call me necessary the referral. I will do a screening first for my clients I owe them that and I want to get to know these people and what better way than to read their blogs.

Cynthia - I am not throwing stones as I am making other aware of what I have found. I do believe the honor system does work and being diligent at it.

Mar 12, 2008 02:11 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Susan, I read a blog the other day that actually stated the number of members that blog regularly, and it was a fairly small number. Hopefully those members that are inactive and yet are receiving business because of AR will realize that they could get even more business if they blogged.

Mar 12, 2008 07:59 AM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

George -

I also believe that same thing. I was talking to an agent in Austin, TX, whom said that she signed up with Active Rain but pays someone else to do her blogs. How sad is that?

There are all types out there. I just wish others would see it as you do!

Mar 12, 2008 10:02 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Susan - I would assume that clients as well as agents would look at/for blog posts before deciding to use an agent.

Mar 12, 2008 01:11 PM

Tracy Riba

HomeTowne Realty, Johnston County NC - Clayton, NC

Residential & Commercial NC Real Estate Broker

I think you get a good sence for an agent services and knowledge of the area by their blog. I would feel more comfortable sending my clients to someone that I can read about than someone I can't. At least I'll know if they are tech friendly.

Mar 13, 2008 05:13 AM

Diane Aurit

LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC

Lake Norman Real Estate

It is very unfortunate that so many members of AR are essentially inactive but as others have said, I think it is their loss. Our referrals come because someone reads our blogs and gets to know us...if they go to an agent and find nothing I think they will be smart enough to move on to someone else. I do wonder though, how many truly active member we have.

Mar 13, 2008 08:48 AM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

Sharon - Yes I do hope so too. I am trying to make others aware if they already did not know this was happening.

Tracy - Exactly I totally agree with you.

Diane - It is their loss that I agree with you on. They just want benefits and not the work that goes with the benefits.

Mar 13, 2008 11:30 AM

Suzi Enders

North Star Real Estate - Paradise, CA

Paradise California Realtor

I agree...and I expect to become a very active member of activerain instead of just a referral grabber.

Mar 25, 2008 10:45 AM

Eleanor Thorne

Equity Resources - Cary, NC

Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

Susan - I might have miscounted... but apparently RENTAL RAP signed up 37 times with different locations today on AR. Think they are just trying to get Google Juice??? I think it's kinda like SPAM!

Mar 30, 2008 10:08 AM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

Suzi - I look forward to commenting on your blog site.

Eleanor - Dang it is out there, you can see everyone hurting and trying anything. They are just throwing it out there and if it sticks attitude then great and they take it.

Mar 30, 2008 10:16 AM

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Susan Trombley

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