I just received this comment in an email and thought it would be good to answer it to the community as a whole:

"We would be very interested in sponsoring the communities we've focused on (listed communities removed) - of course we'd love to have "x city" too but not sure we can "buy enough communities" to get there.

I'm happy you guys are going to make some $$$ - selfishly I hope we still end up with a presence on localism too."

I have heard this sentiment more than a few times over the last few weeks and it needs to be known that the sponsorship portion of Localism represents (much) less than 5% of the total content on Localism.  I think sponsoring a community will provide that member with a benefit, but other members of that community may still develop a major (free) presence as well.

If I was an agent I would sponsor a few of my most important communities or small cities. If I couldn't afford to sponsor them right now I would not be stressed about it as there are plenty of other opportunities to gain a presence on Localism.
 
Post is included in group: The New Localism

14 Comments on What happens if someone else sponsors your community on Localism?

JUL
27
2008

I still think this concepts is one that hasn't worked for others and takes away from the great draw that with hard work you can earn enough points to be the top person. That is one of the things that made AR a purple cow and now I think this buying an experts spot is upsetting the people who have contributed the most to AR.

11:07pm • #1
283,567 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I kind of have to agree with Ross...As I said before, there are certain people who write constantly about the local area's.  I for one do not have the time.  I blog at night to relax...I'm too tired to look at statistics and make graph's and so on. During the day...I'm with customers...not complaining about that though!  If you are a full time agent and don't have someone else to pay the bills...like me...I'm out there working everyday...rarely have time to write some of the fantastic articles other's have time to write... I read them...they're good, however. Ross makes a good point.

11:13pm • #2

Ross, You bring up a very important concern that I have put much thought into. The Top Neighbors section is still 100% free and can only be earned by contributing quality content to the site. This is same for the pictures area, and the collaborative blog area  (which is the most important part of the site), and of course your own profile section.

The sponsorship position still requires that contributors write high quality content, as our editor will be reviewing these posts as well.

11:14pm • #3
597,242 Points 111 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Jon: Nice that people can't just buy up the whole place and post ...junk. Believe it or not..your simple posts are giving more clarity to this whole Localism thing. Is this a year at a time (but pay monthly?) How does that work?

11:28pm • #4
190,254 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Jon, Thank you for commenting on this issue for the community. There has been so many different post regarding this matter that I had no idea what I should do.

11:54pm • #5
JUL
28
2008
644,348 Points 104 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Jon- I already see the vultures circling around- I see in our county where there is one company, no photo of any agent, all the agents are listed on the blog and they are taking one photo of each subdivision, and writing an about that neighborhood, one paragraph post, thus by the sheer volume of their posts, ( that are much to be desired), all over the county they are doing this, and that makes them the top neighbor for the county and many of the cities.  The ones who are blogging and have been here for a long time are not the top neighbors and yet they have contributed great localism content. I know they are just waiting to buy them all up. This is exactly what many are concerned about.

Then in my town, I am the only blogger, so the algorithms pull up a guy that I flagged for plageurism and copy and pastes a year ago so much he finally left my town on AR and went to another town in the county. So because he wrote a post about a listing he had in our town, he now shows up as a top neighbor.

I am sure the system needs tweaking as all new products do. We just hired a buyers agent and I am trying to encourage her to write content there so perhaps we can have some one next to me as top neighbor that actually did something.

1:01am • #6
833,148 Points 213 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

I don't have any comments.  I'm still under the bus.

5:46am • #7
570,482 Points 95 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Jon, when can we buy ? I need to know as I have appointments this week to schedule around to be at home when it opens up. Also I dont' show up as a top neighbor, yet  I have the most posts in Saline, can one of you look into it? Thanks !

6:26am • #8
404,423 Points 72 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Jonathan...

Standing by with my checkbook with the complete understanding that I'm investing in our Companies future :)

P.S. This should be featured before the deadline too.

TLW...ROAR!

7:14am • #9
5 Featured Posts

I think that it's great that someone who wants to write about the local community and local market conditions can still get exposure.  The person who wants to spend the most money may not know JACK about their market!  I like the format. 

8:20am • #10
404,423 Points 72 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Maybe it's just me...

But I give the Consumer some credit for being able to spot phony. There are some things you can't fake. One of those things is knowledge in relation to "Market Conditions".

If you've ever asked someone who is reading a script a question...You probably know what I'm referring to. They can't answer the question, they try to wing it and come off sounding phony :)

Today's Consumer is not stupid ya know :)

TLW...ROAR!

10:22am • #11
JUL
31
2008
2 Featured Posts

Jon, thanks for the explanation. With the way the platform is set, it can provide nonbloggers great exposure although all they ever did is pay the monthly fee while the 'slaves' blog on. Don't know how to say it but sounds like 'freeloading' to me.

2:47am • #12
473,702 Points 50 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I do think that this sponsorship thing - which is good revenue for Active Rain, but all of us Rainers are really taking this too seriously. I havent purchased anything. The community I plan to buy is probably taken up. But good thing is that I will continue to post good content and take a change that I will be the one that gets the call.

4:24pm • #13
226,895 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

continuing on from Rich's list. This is a fun exercise, and hope it leads to answers to our questions. Otherwise am calling Don Rich. Always good to talk to him anyway.

best

4:41pm • #14

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Jonathan Washburn

Seattle, WA

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