Sliding Into Finish September Cloudburst and the Lessons I Learned

Wow I feel like I am sliding into home plate.  September 2013 is the first month I have completed a Cloudburst challenge and what a challenge it has been.  When I looked at the requirements, I figured I can do this.  I had started a few other Cloudbursts but never managed to complete them. I was actually far from completion.   So this month, I said I WILL DO THIS!  I am so close, I paused on Sunday to reflect.  

I have learned a lot:

·        How short or how quickly a month can pass

·        Videos make great posts and posting on YouTube makes for easy posting and great SEO.  It also let me combine two contests!

·       Take an idea and treat it like a fire starter.  One idea about my clothes line lead to three posts and I still have a forth.

o       Ode to My Clothes Line

o       Monitoring Your Electric Usage

o       Electric Clothes Dryer – Big Energy Draw

·       Be prepared.  I didn't expect the ActiveRain Editor to change.  When I couldn't get photos to load, I just rolled with it and posted.  I had a deadline after all!

·        Motivate yourself.  No one in my office blogs.  I'm the loner.  The Office Admin was my sounding board and my encourager along with the great comments from fellow ActiveRainers

·        Have some fun and take a chance.  On a Friday I posted "Balls Out" which was what I was feeling like knowing that I had only a few more days before the deadline and several posts to get done.  

·        Keep a note pad for tracking ideas on.  Don't think you will remember that great idea you had while driving to the office or around town.  

·        Short and sweet and to the point is a good thing.  Break up long topics.

·        You do know something and chances are someone will read what you write and it will help someone.  It may also be reposted!  I wrote about the Appraisals in the buying process and Will Nesbit reposted it.

·        You may start it for points, but you will finish it for the challenge.  The points for me were simply a means to improve my ranking and I have gone up several positions in the state rankings!  But it ended up helping me as a Realtor and blogger.

·        Always have your phone in hand and take photos.  Later you will think that would be a great post, but the photo op is gone.

Thank you ActiveRain for the Cloudbursts and I am looking forward to the next one.  I still have points to obtain to climb up the state rankings!