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I FINALLY Gots Me a Purdy Puddle... in the Rain

The ONLY problem I have EVER had about Active Rain was it is UGLY. YUP UGLY and I have not been afraid to let the Rain Gods (Matt Heaton and Johnathon Washburn) know how I felt.

But there is a saying, "you only get to complain if you are willing to provide a solution." So not only did I register a complaint, I also tried my best to get them over to the "pretty side". I sent them mock-up ideas JUST to get this site LOOKING better.

But the AR guys could only move so fast on all the improvements they were providing us. I could no longer wait. To be honest, the reason I went OUTSIDE Active Rain to start my second blog (Home Staging; Rants & Ravings) is because I am in the "first Impression" business. Much like an advertising agency or an architectural firm or landscaper... I knew that HOW I looked in my blogging media was as important as what I had to say.

But I did not give up on Acitve Rain I knew that when they finally did work on the "pretty," they would do it right, as they have done with so much here. VICTORY! You guys did it.

Active Rain has given us all a FREE and very easy tool to make our blogs look great. Now it does have a few quirks and glitches that need to be addressed. But I did play with it this morning... and I just wanted to say that it only took me about 3 1/2 hours time to do what you see. You might say I now "staged" my blog.

Which leads me RIGHT into the real reason I am writing this post. For all of you who think your blogs can compete soley on what you have to say... then you really need NOT to alter ANY anything visual about your blog here. BUT if you want your "property" to stand out a little bit more, because let's face it... WHAT you have to say isn't the only think that is important when you are selling your message to your readers, then I am sure you will take the time to visually "package" your message.

I don't care if you are "staging" a blog or staging a property that is for sale... visual impressions matter! I hope you all have as much fun purdy-ing up your puddle in the Rain, as I did mine.

Thanks again to the AR guys!

PS: For more information check out this post by Brad Carroll. ActiveRain gives the "Green Light" on Customizing - ActiveRainCustomizer.com His company devevloped the tool that gives us this purdy ability.

Posted by Craig Schiller on 04/11/2008 03:09 PM

Comments (30)

home staging, activerain, blogging, marketing, effective marketing, first impressions

Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Online Marketing - Tips, Advice, Wisdom

30 Comments on I FINALLY Gots Me a Purdy Puddle... in the Rain

Very good...I am impressed.

04/11/2008 03:14 PM

by Chuck "Loans made easy" Christensen

Craig, I had mine staged a few days ago. I LOVE it! It really adds a whole different feel to the site. I'm always pleasantly surprised when I click on a blog and see it looking real good....as yours does. Well done.

04/11/2008 03:18 PM

by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

Very Nice design, the best I have seen so far. Good Job

04/11/2008 03:18 PM

by Spokane Real Estate - Ross Quintana (Team Quintana Real Estate - MJ McAdams Realty Lic#3015)

I love the look of this blog -- maybe because it looks like it has a chocolate background and I looove chocolate....O.K., my mouth's watering now...

04/11/2008 03:19 PM

by Lanette Branch (RE/MAX 1st Advantage Realty, Inc.)

Yesireee...you sure have a purdy blog here, Craig! I "staged" mine, but I can't say it was fun, not when I had to redo it ten times, until I got it right! Ah, the downside of being anal retentive!

04/11/2008 03:23 PM

by Elaine Manes IRIS~Colorado Stager ~ A Wonderful Space, LLC (A Wonderful Space, LLC)

Craig,

Your blog looks awesome! How do I do that to mine????

04/11/2008 03:33 PM

by John Karadsheh, ABR, CRS ~ REALTOR® Mesa, Arizona - Las Sendas Real Estate (Russ Lyon Realty Company ~ Mesa, Arizona )

Craig - that looks great!

Now you'll have to change that link over on the right. This is the prettier blog.

I may work a little more on my header image this weekend.

04/11/2008 03:34 PM

by Mike Mueller (Patagonia Finance)

Yup, it's real purty - I got me a cement (pronounced "see-ment") pond! And, of ocurse, I still have more work to do! Julie

04/11/2008 03:52 PM

by Julia Maher, Staging Fairfield County Connecticut CT (Nestings)

Craig,

I figured out how to do it! I can't wait to start playing around with it!

04/11/2008 03:54 PM

by John Karadsheh, ABR, CRS ~ REALTOR® Mesa, Arizona - Las Sendas Real Estate (Russ Lyon Realty Company ~ Mesa, Arizona )

Craig - I've done about 5 so far, can't seem to settle on a look. Yours is FANTASTIC!!!

04/11/2008 07:54 PM

by Maureen Henry - Rockland Home Staging (www.rocklandhomestaging.com)

Craig - Your blog looks great !

04/11/2008 08:12 PM

by Maria Mastrolonardo - Naperville Illinois Real Estate (RE/MAX of Naperville)

OK, so HOW do you do this???? I've been looking around and have seen a few blogs get the update, but I can't seem to find the link. HELP!

04/11/2008 08:19 PM

by Connie Tebyani, Platinum Home Staging Serving Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Platinum Home Staging, Inc.)

I've been noticing more and more blogs with this great personalize look. How do, where do, I find out about it? How do I keep missing this type of information? Is there a group that I should belong to?

Yours is great Craig..love it! I'm so happy that someone finally posted about this. Thanks.

04/11/2008 08:22 PM

by Ginger Foust- Dream Interior Redesign & Staging (Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust)

OOPS... like daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

HERE IS THE LINK: http://www.activeraincustomizer.com/

You have to sign up for it as it is developed and offered thru another company. But it is a FREE tool.

04/11/2008 11:12 PM

by Craig Schiller (REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.)

Thanks Craig. I will look into it today.

04/12/2008 08:11 AM

by Ginger Foust- Dream Interior Redesign & Staging (Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust)

Well, it never ceases to amaze me at how stupid I feel after attempting this techno stuff. I went into the customizer, and I thought that I did everything that it told me to do, including copying the code snippet (whatever) into my blog description under my settings AND nothing is different. Do I contact Brad for help?

BTW for others that want to see Brad Carrolls blog on this it's activerain.com/blogsview/463206/ActiveRain-gives-the-Green

04/12/2008 08:48 AM

by Ginger Foust- Dream Interior Redesign & Staging (Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust)

Wow - thank you for sharing these resources. As an AR newbie I am reveiwing all of these posts and someday soon hope to sit down, figure it out, and implement some of these ideas.

04/12/2008 08:53 AM

by Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager (Ross Designs, LLC)

I agree visual impressions do matter. You only have one chance to make a good first impression.

04/12/2008 09:23 AM

by Matthew Zgonc, REALTOR® for Modesto, CA (ERA Village One Real Estate)

GINGER... how DUMB am I.

THANKS AGAIN... I am gonna ad that link to the general body of this post.

04/12/2008 09:42 AM

by Craig Schiller (REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.)

No problem Craig. BTW, I guess that my purdy new blog is up. I wouldn't have known except for Elaine commenting.

04/12/2008 10:04 AM

by Ginger Foust- Dream Interior Redesign & Staging (Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust)

Hey...

We do have the same color. Speaks volumes...Yes?

Love your take on first impressions...Can we say "Misty" :)

TLW...ROAR!

04/12/2008 05:17 PM

by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's Wife... (Co-Owner Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.)

Thanks Craig, I used this today. I appreciate you sharing this!

04/12/2008 09:22 PM

by Patty Hill, BS, ASP, IAHSP www.stageitnow.net (www.StageItNow.net www.TheStagingMart.com)

Craig~ I totally remember that post from a year or so ago, trying to get AR's homepage "staged" You've done such a great job with marketing...oh and blogging and staging too:)

04/12/2008 11:20 PM

by Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com)

Laura... I totally forgot that I wrote that blog.

THANKS for reminding me.

04/13/2008 12:14 AM

by Craig Schiller (REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.)

Purdy and staged. AHHHH it feels just right. Thanks for the nudge to the AR gods...IT worked.

04/13/2008 01:10 AM

by Terrylynn Fisher StagersLIST.com Buy Stage Sell (Diablo Realty)

Craig - Beautiful design....I love it and I'm going to get me one. Thanks for the post.

Brian

04/13/2008 01:24 AM

by Brian Sharpe Tucson EcoBroker® (Tierra Antigua Realty)

Wow, awesome, Craig. I had to check it out after I saw your comment on my post. By the way, love your shadow, your photo and your classy-looking widgets!

04/13/2008 06:35 AM

by Margaret Woda, Maryland REALTOR (RE/MAX VISION)

I love what you've done.

You are much more patient than I...with 2 small children vying for my attention and having to log back in every time I saved changes...I gave up till I have some time.

Now I have a better idea just how much time!

04/13/2008 08:13 AM

by Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager (2 Hounds Design + Home Staging)

When I do find time to set something up ...I'll be surprised if i look any better than I do now...I doubt it...I always look so dam good even without all the bells and whistles...then attention wouldn't be on the new template....just me!

04/14/2008 07:37 AM

by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)

Thanks for the inclusion. Now my posts all look like a mini-web page.

Lenn

04/14/2008 09:49 AM

by Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Real Estate

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