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Who Spilled the Paint?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Compelling Media + Design

Change was in the air this weekend around the ActiveRain playground, and it had nothing to do with the hamsters going on strike.

If you subscribe to Brad Carroll, you may have done a double-take when you went to his blog this weekend. Or at least checked the URL to make sure you hadn't left ActiveRain. Brad found a way to give his blog a totally unique look, made some modifications, and then shared it with the community.

Fast forward a day from discovery, and Brad had turned this process automatic - check out The Active Rain Custom Blog Generator

The ActiveRain community moves fast, and the look and feel of the site and member blogs is changing before our eyes. Here are some of the early adopters:


custom blogs
custom blogs
custom blogs
custom blogs
custom blogs
custom blogs

What do you think of these new developments? Will you be changing the color scheme of your AR personal space?

From the comments so far, this seems to be a popular idea. What's your take?

UPDATE - Here's links to all the blogs featured above:

Brad Carroll - The Original... & Missy Caulk
Doug NewbyNicole Nicolay
Bobby Carroll
Leesa Finley
Marti GaraughtyLane Bailey
Kim Carpenter & Susan Milner
Julie Neerings & Don Rider
Teri Ellis & Cyndee Haydon

UPDATE 2 - See more custom designs in Who Spilled the Paint Too?

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Comments (29)

Nyles Courchesne
Peskin, Courchesne and Allen, P.C. - Springfield, MA
Massachusetts Real Estate Attorney
That looks totally sweet!
Apr 07, 2008 02:39 PM
Gina Kay Landis
Home Experts Realty - Dayton, OH

Wow! i'm going to try this. Not sure how it gets on my site from the Custom Blog Builder though... will play with it and see!

 This is taking  me away from the Kansas/Memphis game - and there's only a 1 point difference!!!!

Apr 07, 2008 02:56 PM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Jason~I love the changes and the availability to customize our blogs more for our own personality.  Now for figuring out how to add the banner at the top. Brad has provided such easy instructions too. Thank you so much for including my blog here and have a fabulous week. 
Apr 07, 2008 04:16 PM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

Audrey - There is a lot more color around AR lately :)

Nyles - loved your video, I guess we're both crossing our fingers right now!

Gina - what a game! But I see you got in on the action http://activerain.com/blogs/ginakaylandis

Julie - My pleasure, but I see the image is already outdated, I'll get your screen again for round two!

 

Apr 08, 2008 08:18 AM
Bob Edwards
Coldwell Banker- The Real Estate Group, Inc. - Appleton, WI
Fox Cities Real Estate Hotline, SFR- Appleton, WI
This looks simplified to the point that I could do it, as soon as I have an extra minute.
Apr 08, 2008 08:54 AM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

I agree Bob - Brad Carroll did an amazing job and even better that he shared this with everyone.

I just posted a second round up of new designs:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/460139/Who-Spilled-the-Paint

Apr 08, 2008 10:34 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS
OH - OH  More homework for Virginia!  I did notice a couple spiffy looking blogs yesterday, thanks, Jason.
Apr 08, 2008 11:50 AM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS
Hi Virginia - I'm picturing a golf course banner...
Apr 08, 2008 03:35 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Jason,

Thanks for the post, I had a lot of fun redesigning my blog page. I especially love seeing everyone else's shinning creativity. Here's my BLOG.

Peace,

Apr 08, 2008 07:16 PM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

Aloha from Halifax Kimo ,

Thanks for subscribing - I'm going to dig into your blog and read more. Love the Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole tune - it sent me to read more about him and his story - it's amazing what can be happening in other parts of the world, and years later it has an affect on you somehow. Thanks for stopping by, see you around AR.

Apr 09, 2008 07:13 AM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Oh yeah! Once I could sit down for a bit and focus on the header and background, I was hooked. This was much easier than I expected. I love seeing all the color and variations in everybody's blog. I love the new header (I think it's new-right?)  Looks great! 
Apr 09, 2008 02:20 PM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

Julie, I think you were one of the pioneers in this customization festival! Good job, you saw the follow up, right? You got the special mention.

 

Apr 11, 2008 11:19 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

'Love your screen shots!  'Makes it easy to see what everyone else has done.  It took longer than I would have liked to figure out the small nuances (like correct photo sizes), but I learned to use picnik with Jeff Turner's help and finally succeeded in creating something consistent with my outside blog site, yet different.

Apr 12, 2008 12:47 AM
Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...
I'd love to make changes like this as well, but haven't taken the time to figure it out. I'm hoping that I can do it because technologically it looks crazy to me!
Apr 12, 2008 01:27 AM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

Hi Lindsey - not sure if you saw this recent development...

http://activerain.com/blogsview/463206/ActiveRain-gives-the-Green

Brad made it even easier for evryone to have fun! Thanks for stopping by - Jason

 

Apr 12, 2008 03:15 AM
Kelly Shoemaker
Coldwell Banker SELECT - Broken Arrow, OK
Realtor Broken Arrow, OK
These are incredible!  I will be making some changes soon!
Apr 12, 2008 03:25 AM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Jason~Thank you again and I really appreciate all your support here. See, this is what I love about this fabulous place. People like you. 
Apr 12, 2008 04:51 PM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate
Reading blogs has become even more exciting now - you never know what the enxt one will look like!  I have to say that all of them I have seen are very tasteful and eyecatching! 
Apr 12, 2008 11:23 PM
Jason Todd
Compelling Media + Design - Halifax, NS

Hi Leesa - you were one of the originals! Quite a movement has begun, and it's been less than a week! Great job on being one of the first to begin the momentum -

Julie - I really appreciate the kind words. I've learned so much from others members - it's my pleasure to feature some of the great work above

Kelly - Good luck with your Mothers Day Walk in support of Breast Cancer Research on May 11 in Tulsa.

AR Members: Read more about the Tulsa Y-Me Walk to Empower and support Kelly in her walk with words of encouragement, or better yet - donate to Breast Cancer Research in your local area

 

Apr 12, 2008 11:35 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thanks for the post. I will bookmark this and try it some day. I will change the colors.
Apr 12, 2008 11:51 PM