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Hawaii Land Rush ....Creating MY OWN Communities

The New Localism has opened new doors for more communities of MY OWN Honolulu County Neighborhoods that will continue to get me google juice.

When I wrote about something that may interest a Hawaii Military Relocation and a Honolulu Hawaii Relocations I posted into Localism entered the State, County and City. Under "neighborhood" it give the option to "Add Neighborhood". This is where the memory bank kicked in from all I've learned on ActiveRain.

MY Community is surely my market niche. The military plays a HUGE part in our community and so do the Hawaii Retiree or Hawaii Job Transfers. Even the people that just want a geographical change move here...to live and own a little of 'paradise'.

So, what better what to network with the Relocations to Hawaii? Yup, online opportunities. Don't ya just love it? Meeting and connecting with incoming or even current residents of our communities will open doors to endless possibilities.

Post To:

Localism.com

State/Province: -- Not State Specific -- Alabama Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Brunswick Newfoundland New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota North West Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Prince Edward Island Quebec Rhode Island Saskatchewan South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas US Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Yukon
County: -- Not County Specific -- Hawaii County Honolulu County Kalawao County Kauai County Maui County
City: -- Not City Specific -- Aiea Barbers Point Camp H M Smith Camp Smith Ewa Beach Fort Shafter Haleiwa Hauula Hickam AFB Honolulu Kaaawa Kahuku Kailua Kaneohe Kapolei Kunia Laie M C B H Kaneohe Bay Mililani Nanakuli Pearl City Pearl Harbor Schofield Barracks TAMC Wahiawa Waialua Waianae Waimanalo Waipahu Wake Island Wheeler Army Airfield
Neighborhood: -- Not Neighborhood Specific -- Launani Valley Melemanu Mililani Mililani Hawaii Military Relocation Mililani Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations Mililani Mauka Waipio Acres Waipio Gentry Add Neighborhood

Post is a Listing

In any case, I knew Hawaii Randy (Prothero) who is a fellow agent in my office, would compete with me for just the city of Mililani so I went one step further.

I created ...and sponsored these neighborhoods:

Mililani Hawaii Military Relocation

Mililani Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations

I also created and sponsored:

Honolulu Hawaii Relocations

So, after sponsoring my neighborhood I created....I had the ability to add descriptions and so forth and in MY Own Community I have ME in there. Okay, so the ego does play a part in all this but I'd rather not fight over Honolulu stuff or Mililani stuff when I have unreal presence for my niche market with all my wonderful Local Area posts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So...be creative and see that it's just another avenue to create just one more search for you and your niche market.

Another way to network within your community.

Create your community...create your own opportunity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. If you didn't have the chance to read Randy's Hawaii Land Rush Post..... here it is: Sponsoring Localism Communities - The Land Rush Hits Hawaii

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate on 08/05/2008 02:46 PM

Comments (63)

honolulu hawaii relocations, mililani hawaii relocation, hawaii military relocation, mililani real estate, honolulu hawaii real estate

Originally posted at: Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations : Hawaii Land Rush ....Creating MY OWN Communities

This post has been included in Hawaii Information Honolulu County, HI Information Mililani, HI Information
Post is included in group: Military Relocations
Post is included in group: e-PRO Internet Technology
Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul
Post is included in group: Localism Success and Accountability Group
Post is included in group: Internet Empowered Consumer

63 Comments on Hawaii Land Rush ....Creating MY OWN Communities

AUG

2008

HI CELESTE!

What a great idea...I dare say...genious! I always say, you gotta stay two steps ahead & you've clearly done that with this!

I'm bookmarking this post & subscribing to your blogs!!

BRAVO!

That is one of the cool things. I just with I could do it on the particular scale i need (county level, not city...)... but I still picked up a few places.

You go Sally! I knew you would get those 'communities'; you are on your way:)

Sally, that was just brilliant! I love the way you think. Very Cool... :-)

Great positive creative thoughts on Localism Sally. You must be coming around. I think its day by day sometimes with your feelings in this area.

Trust Sally to come up with something totally unexpected. Great idea and execution.

WooHoo, That's actually not a bad idea. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how this will affect the integrity of Localism. Now you made me thing again:)

Woo Hoo Sally...

I just don't about this. I'll be curious about what AR upper management has to say about the Communities not actually being Communities. There's been a lot said about that thus far. But then again perhaps this is viable.

Hey...Maybe I could form "TLW's Pool Side Community" :)

TLW...ROAR!

Sally - You are such a wealth of inspiration. Your creative talents never fail to amaze me. Great job!

Here is my take on this..............

There are a couple of ways to look at Localism. One is from a strictly SEO perspective. In this case, I think it is a great idea to create communities based on your niche marketing efforts. I spoke with a gentleman on Monday who intended on creating communities such as "Luxury Homes in XYZ city" and "Foreclosures in XYZ city" and other key word rich communities. Will these get traffic because of searches done on Google......if he creates content and sends it to these communities, I bet they will.

Will those communities fall into the vision of Localism as a place to connect with people in your community? I don't know if they will. Something like "Green Living in Seattle" as a community may serve to be a place that those in Seattle interested in living a green life do come to engage one and other and create discussions that they are interested in.

So the other way to look at it is, will the communities I create serve as a place that people will want to engage each other. There are a lot of great ideas out there, and I think that creating communities that are specific to your niche will ultimately benefit you. We are already seeing people creating communities that are very niche specific. As the dust settles, you can pretty much guarantee that we will be highlighting some of the great ones that really draw from the best of both (SEO plays and niche community engagement) worlds.

Hi Sally-that is an awesome idea. I purchased a community..right at the entrance of one of our offices. Now lets see if I start posting on Localism.

Yvette: I don't know about genius....but I do know that my community is military and residents all working together CLOSELY.

Lane: Good luck

Katerina: Well, let's see how this pans out :)

Carolyn: We;ll see if everyone else thinks its cool :)

Gary: This is the only way I'd do it...otherwise....community sites I'm already on. No substance to those other ones though.

Fred: Well, it worked for me.

BB: Integrity of Localism? You mean this isn't a positive?

TLW: Oh...if you lived here you would be dead wrong about the military and relocations NOT being communities. Do you realize how diverse these islands are? The majority of our population consists of all ethnicities from all over the world. MILITARY included. You know how I write anyway. I don't gear anything strictly business and I write about other businessess areas, local sites etc.

Very interesting Bob. This certainly opens up a whole new level of "communities". So what you are saying is that a community can actually be a "interest", it doesn't have to be a physical community? I think I like it!!!

Good job WooHoo!!!!!

Woo-Hoo: WOO HOO...you are indeed a genius!!! I really mean it. I was totally shut out of my area...until I read this! Thank you, my friend. I just created two of my fav's: Lake Arrowhead Lake Front Properties & Cedar Ridge Estate (I love this area!!!). I couldn't be happier. THANKS

WooHoo, I was using "integrity" not as a moral thingie but as a "wholeness" thingie. For example, "Making sure listing information is entered properly maintains the integrity of the MLS". I was just trying to think this through. My initial understanding of Localism was that communities would be physical locations. The communities that you have created have broken down down this physical barrier. You have opened up a whole new way of looking at Localism AND I like it. I just wasn't sure what the guys would think. Now that Bob has chimed in it is clear that this is a direction that does not affect the integrity of Localism in a negative way.

Woo Hoo...

I was referring to the ongoing discussions about what constitutes a Community.

This is a wonderful idea and it has opened an entirely new train of thought not to mention all the creative juice I have flowing through my veins right now :)

Glad to see it's been Rain Stamped :)

TLW...ROAR!

That was a great idea. Now you have to post to it to be sure there is good content for consumers to go to.

BB: Wonderful ...I love it. Yup...this is what is going to create OUR interest.

Kat: Oh, good...here we go!

BB: Oh, sorry. I was getting defensive again ... :) I am happy. THIS is what changed my whole tune around....something for all......the geographical thing was kind of boring to me. :)

TLW: Okay. I'm so glad ...I read yours and thought...that wasn't me...but knew for the past week what I was going to do. Me too....in fact, it was in Bob's post and comment thread that made it REAL clear.....at least in this mind :)

Randy: Durrrrrrr.... Wait until you see what's in store :)

I guess I'm the only one that thinks this is a bad idea and that AR should take a strong stance on deleting such new categories. There is a reason is says "neighborhood", they want you to write about a geographic area, not some meta-physical state of mind. This is not clever and it's not even good seo, it's just gaming the system. If everyone does this than the neighborhood category becomes a big jumbled mess and it does the public no good whatsoever because they can't find the information they're looking for through all the "innovative ideas" people are coming up with. You can achieve the exact same results by following the guidelines that are currently in place, simply post your relocation posts in the highest geographic location that you serve. I hope AR does something about this very soon.

Oops... HI MIDORI! Cool! Let her rip!

BOB: And your take is what got me going....but Steph started me on that roll. And it takes but a couple of phone calls to brain storm...to get those creative juices flowing and create a community for not just our communities....but for THIS grand community as well. Thank you!

P.S. to TLW...that community is within your community and it could just very well attract all your neighbors...lol!

Daniel: Maybe you should read Bob (above you) IS a ActiveRain. And as you can see...it is not only just geographical. We as a community on ActiveRain have worked hard to build this community and with creating our market niche's it creates a whole new outlook for EVERYONE.

So...if you like...go buy up all the geographical areas....that's up to you.

And...what system are we gaming? I am sponsoring my own communities along with another geographical. And if you look at the geographical for Hawaii ...you'll see who is trying to game the system with copy/pasted mls listings and stats straight from the mls.

Anyway, here's Bob..... :)

Bob Stewart, Community Evangelist

As ActiveRain's "Chief" community builder, Bob is spends his day helping to grow and maintain a vibrant community of real estate professionals. He has been actively involved as a member of ActiveRain from the very beginning and has a wealth of real estate knowledge having worked for several years as the COO of Brio Realty.

Sally - YOU, my friend, are: CLEVER, SMART, WITTY, A GREAT WRITER and a GREAT PRESENCE IN OUR AR COMMUNITY! Thank you for hsaring this great technique!

Tina in Virginia

Sally Jo, you're brilliant! What a perfect niche to work with- cheers to success!!!

I like it - congrats on getting the "places" you wanted.

Congrats on your ingenuity Sally. Thanks so much for sharing this idea with us.

Tina: It's not that...it's 'catching on' to what they were trying to tell me :)

Laurie: Not me! Okay...brilliant for keeping an open mind to what was going to be available.

Georgina: How could I not want the communities I created :)

Bob: Oh...is it ingenuity to understand concepts? :) :) You're welcome...now get to it!

Sally I guess in the end you found away to get the communities you wanted. But you got to watch out for that guy with the beard, he is sneaky .......... LOL

Hi Sally...This worked out just great for both you and Randy. You each got what you wanted. That's the great thing about Active Rain. We all receive what we need and want from it.

Lucky us.

Kate

Sally - thanks for the great information and I bookmarked your post. I got two of the cities I wanted and I am excited about posting great information.

George: Isn't that guy sneaky? He even got featured for his competing with me!

Kathleen: Yes we do Kate! How are you?

Sharon: Great....did you get it...about MAKING your own communities?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone: Bob Stewart will be writing a post describing the possibilities about the innovative communities....so stay tuned!

Well hello my witty, smart, clever friend that also happens to PAY ATTENTION to what had been written. I know I also purchased something the same day....Banning Downtown Art District......

Apparently you did your due diligence and followed the guidelines we were given for communities.....and were prepared to sponsor them .....Way to go. And I am ecstatic that Kat also got hers...I just knew she would once she figured out the "neighborhood she wanted" :)

Now everyone needs to remember that we have to have content for these communities...and it would fit the vision of Localism as I understand it if the community can also utilize the "community"....at least that's my understanding!!!

Sally what makes your communites so great is they are exactly what you have been doing all along. One of mine is and one isn't. But I made a commitment to do something with it, and today I was out doing an Interview with one of the Gallery Owners in my new Art District....for content....... LOL :)

Kathy: Too funny. Now that comment I appreciated..... PAY ATTENTION.... Yup...I made em...and I'm paying to sponsor them...I thought that's how it would work?

I'm committed ...and will continue on.... gee, what made some people all high and mighty is beyond me.

AUG

2008

Sally, I got so excited by the relocation community idea that I had to go create mine before I came back here to comment. Truthfully, I rolled my eyes when Jon was talking about apartment buildings and such being viable communities, but the more I play with the idea in my head, the more I see socio-economic groups and special interest (like relocation) being very viable communties, which I am more thatn willing to take a chance on sponsoring. I'm on the bandwagon and drinking the kool aid with you!

Michelle: Thanks goodness some are catching on! Good for you...and watch what we can help make the Localism Community....just like we did here.....WooHoo!

Maybe Bob can explain all this better than I did. All I know is EVERYONE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE!

This IS NOT just a geographical thing...it's a geographical topical thing. Did that sound right :)

Brilliant Sally! I'm so glad I subscribe to your blogs! Thanks

Sally, how interesting! I read Bob's post and must say there is a lot to be considered but not a lot to loose in trying it out and seeing what works and doesn't! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Hey Sally, :) I'm glad that you got your communities. I think they will do well for you.

And, IMO, of course it is a place for people to engage because what do people want to do when relocating? Learn about the area and talk to locals. Awesome. :)

What about the legal aspect of claiming communities; those neighborhoods are owned by builders or HOA's. Must we have written authorization to blog about them? On the surface, I would say yes.

Sally - you are miles ahead of the masses you have been posting for your niche for a long time now it's there and it is yours. (you not only read what is posted you read between the lines ... you went inside the heads of the AR Gurus and saw their dreams and created the reality of those dreams)

Thanks Christina! But I have to say that most of that credit goes to Steph and Bob for getting me thinking. :)

Diane: And you need to read all the comments to see where the key lies. :)

Stephanie: Of course they do. And anyone that cuts these ideas out is not being open minded about the possibilities.

Stephen: I blogged (before this even came about) about the community in which I live, about communities around my neighborhood...about my island, about restaurants and gave info on shopping centers and a few stats besides. You mean you haven't???? We are NOT buying rights to these communities...we are sponsoring them and giving our opinion.....just like we do on Real Estate, Mortgages and anything related to what we do. If you are not able to give info about communities...how do you sell real estate?

Good morning Sally!!

Rob here from Kansas saying this blog deserves to be featured!!

Great thinking!! Here are a couple more I have for you to consider (Look at Localism Communities Lawrence Kansas for my full list of community names and feel free to add any of them in your blog that you want):

For Sale By Owner

Expired Listings

I figure let them post their FSBO on the page that I sponsor and when the buyers see it they will contact me plus for helping them they might give me first shot at the listing when they don't get it SOLD themselves.

Expireds need our love too so when they see that we have put their house info up as an expired listing to market it and we take them a flyer with the link, they also may want to list with us when we show them everything we can do for them.

Have a great day Sally!

Rob

Why wouldn't this idea get the ActiveRain stamp of approval, it represents more income. I am sure when calculating the original Localism business model the number of existing communities was used and now by allowing any and all communities regardless, you have given AR this great new income stream.

I think one concern should be, how diluted certain existing market areas or "real" communities will become. Also without any kind of check sum in place, as Sally suggests just add your new community, this could become a very dangerous precedent to set with people just making them up as they go.

Granted you have achieved your goal by scoring another community, but will it make sense to the general public when they select / search for what they deem to be their real community and possibly miss the one that you have just created for convenience on ActiveRain. Are you going to have to place your blog post in more then one community to insure you get proper coverage or readership in all the areas it really should have been in the first place?

As the TLW (Roar) suggests are we soon going to have "Pool Side" communities. I like to think of my own street as a little community.....but where does it stop? Do then have north, south, east and west sides of existing communities so small they should not warrant it?

I am sure the initial reaction to this comment from most including Sally will be "how negative" but if you want an example of how diluted information can get on ActiveRain, just take a look at the number of similar membership "Groups" already exist, just one persons effort to be a little more "creative" then the nextg, not to mention the number of similar topic blog posts and then tell me we don't have a concern.

Another consideration AR should have is, in the future when these nifty community ideas don't pan out and the sponsorship is dropped by it's creator will that Localism page now sit idle possibly doing more damage then good to some of the real communities surrounding it?

Dear Anonymous...

I don't see your comment as negative. You've raised legit concerns that should be taken into consideration by all, myself included.

I to am concerned about diluting Localism before it even has a chance to hit Main Street U.S.A. We all need to be concerned about that.

Woo Hoo Sally...

Discussing these things out in the open this way is one of the reasons AR has come to be what it is today. We're all entitled to have concerns and opinions. This is a wonderful post for these concerns to be addressed. Please don't delete it. There will always be a certain amount of perceived negativity. But it's not always negative. We do not have the power of voice inflection to back up our words :)

TLW...ROAR!

TLW: Oh...I wasn't going to delete it.... all I see is a closed minded opinion with no room to even consider anything but. I was one to not agree with the NEW Localism ...in the beginning....until I saw the possibilities and of course I believe there needs to be a grip on the whole thing anyway. For one, I had told Bob about our 'cities' in Honolulu County. Someone added in a few bases as Cities.....which is not correct. They could be communities under neighborhoods but Military Bases are communities within cities....i.e. Schofiled is in Wahiawa. Not only that....gaming is when they put Schofield....and add another one that says Schofield Barracks.

Anyway, thanks for popping by again and to remind me that there is room for discussion....if both sides are approachable. :)

Anonymous:

I agree with the fact that creating communities and not even putting anything in them (we no longer get points for adding communities anyway) is mute.

I also agree that making up any old thing just for the heck of it is mute as well.

One thing I do agree with is that the majority of us needed that "looking outside of the box" (for a place to call home for our specific niche markets within our communites)

Your concerns are just as valid as mine.

I also believe that creating them and not sponsoring (paying to sponsor) is also an option. We all are top neighbors for the amount of content we post. For the length of time I've been contributing QUALITY content for my local area I'm pretty much all over the place anyway.

I chose to create, sponsor (pay to sponsor) and submit posts into MY communities I created.....and another community within a city as well.

Military Relocations is a huge community in MANY states and the military has a high volume of bringing in income to our communities. There were people who entered military bases as cities. I griped about that. There were people who entered the Bases with extra words and created another city out of it. Nope...didn't agree with that either.

We all have legitimate gripes, concerns and opinions...where do we cross that fine line between that and ...............?

I am supporting my communities and I am hoping that everyone who is creating their own is doing the same.

Did you buy into sponsorship?

Rob: Thanks Rob! i know a lot of us who WRITE local area posts to begin with do have opinions too. I know for me....I felt good knowing that it is not (and way before I said anything) a closed discussion and the AR founders and staff put their heads together to expand our limited outlook on the 'geographical only' thing as well.

Some like the idea of sponsoring a city and then a community within a city. We are looking at all angles to support our communities...and in our case...we are 5 minutes from two bases, centrally located to MANY bases and surely there is room for targeting the communties we want to network with.

Isn't this the whole purpose?

Oh, sorry Rob...I was still continuuing from my comment above.

Irks me with closed minded people (like I was when this started LOL)

Sally,

First I want to say that I think your quality of posts are great, I'm worried about the next person who isn't as original as you and copies your idea and then puts useless information in an all new category that never needed to be created. People see the title and go there but are dissappointed with the quality and are off to another site without even trying another "community".

I guess one of the problems I'm trying to get my head around is how "relocations" is a niche? Aren't all real estate agents in the business of relocations? I don't know anyone that only works with local clients that looking to move across the street. 99.9% of people looking on localism are probably relocating, othewise why would they be looking for information about an area that if they lived there they would already know.

Assuming that it is a niche, why does AR have to accomodate your niche when they've already created a system that is based on geographic areas, which makes the most sense, because that's how most people generally decide where they want to live. Your information could have been posted under Hawaii or Honolulu or a neighborhood that you specialize, there was no need for an additional category, just like there was no need for the "Schofield Barracks" neighborhood as you pointed out.

To me, it doesn't matter whether or not you support the community as much as if it is needed and whether or not it could cause confusion and drive away customers. I'm looking forward to Rob's article and AR's response to the matter and think that you've opened up a discussion that's showed both positive and negative sides of the coin.

Daniel: I don't see this as causing confusion as much as I see it creating more specialized niches for consumers. As far as the 'Next Person' is concerned, we have that problem now, and it will always be a problem. Sally's niche is 'Military' relocations, and from my experience, that's a whole different ballgame than your standard residential relocation. That's the value of her creating it as a specialized niche community on Localism.

Daniel:

I totally agree with that and i am posting to address those concerns.

It's not just "relocations" It's in Millilani under neighborhood for Mililani Mililtary Relocations...I'm addressing that as well.

I noticed in your McClellan area that McClellan is spelled McClellan and then Mc Clellan...and then under neighborhood mcclellan. I guess I'm having a problem with all the geographical hiccups too....but AR is taking care...

It's not that Schofield didn't have a need. Schofield had to be under Communities...as it IS NOT a city.

There is only one way to see if it drives others away....trial and error or trial and triumph! One thing is for certain...we won't have much of anything to start without our ActiveRain members contributing a lot of their qualitiy content on local areas....it's dwindling....

Stay tuned...thanks for coming back to shed light in a different 'tone'.

Everyone:

UPDATE HERE>>>>> More on the Land Rush ....Creating YOUR OWN Communities

Let's all get some positive input to make this work...and address concerns with an open discussion....thanks.

"Sometimes ...we step into another person's shoes.... and it gives us the ability to see the things that we cannot".

Dear Anonymous/Dave: I would agree that some degree of dilution may occur, in some of the more popular/competitive areas, but ultimately, those that contain the most valuable relevant content will rule the day. This idea doesn't gain our 'Stamp of Approval' because it results in more revenue, but because it's a creative use of this feature.

Just to chime in with Rich and Sally.......Besides, AR approves the initial content for each community and if it doesn't measure up, the sponsor's information is withheld until it meets AR's requirements (two non-commerical links, one commercial link, not blatant advertising or the community won't have readers, etc.). I don't think what Sally has done is anywhere near dilution but if anything is one of the finest examples of a community intro and blog on her military relocation niche community. She is going to attract a lot of new clients through this community of hers; just watch and see. I wish I could come with as good of content as what she has done for her chosen communities.

Rob in Kansas

For the record I am Anonymous. Made the same mistake I have made a couple of times already, linking direct to the topic from the ActiveRain Email broadcast without loggin in first, sorry about that. You would think I would learn by now.

A couple of real quick comments. I agree with Military Transfers a unique market as I mortgage a number of Canadian Military moving to the Base in Angus a small community right outside Barrie, ON. Not sure if any number of these transfers would benefit from all the time an effort needed to maintain their own community as they are coming anyway, they already have their orders and would only benefit if they knew either ActiveRain or Localism existed.

The other is unfortunately the Canadian side of the ActiveRain fence does not operate is the same fashion as the U.S. side. Not as many members, markets or the same commitment from a number of Canadian participants as you have on the American side.

With that said I can see how it may happen that with our very few still "active" AR Canadian members are going to split our limited markets we have now and as suggested "dilute" the market place in an effort to be that Community Sponsor.

Regardless like the TLW suggests only time will tell and Sally I do hope that all the time, trouble and expense to maintain these "niche" communities works out for you.

P.S. For the record I was set on July 31st at noon sharp to pay the frieght and sponsor my market aren but the rules changes and Ontario was bumped from the opening day. Unfortunately tomorrow when the gate does open I will be attending an industry function and unless it is still avaiable Friday morning I am out of luck.

P.P.S. a creative use of feature it will generate more revenue because that is what Localism is all about. Another opportunity of assisting ActiveRain Members to generate more leads which in turn makes ActiveRain even stronger in their efforts and make more money which is ok to admit because we all have to pay the bills at the end of the day.

Dave "Anonymous" Yeoman

Rich...hmmm...earlier I would have retorted something else. Thanks.

Hi Rob! Now that's quite a compliment. Thanks so much. :) Also, I think ActiveRain does well in their critiquing content over there....sometime we can help too and send them a note or two if something is real junk and they can decide what to do with it.

Dave: No one dilutes anything. You see....it doesn't matter if people are posting straight to just the state (where everything goes down the dashboard quite quickly if people are posting 10 market and stats or just one picture and calling it a post) or to their communities. You don't even need to sponsor anything and if you keep postiing to that community you're going to be all over the place anyway. A fellow agent in my office bought Mililani. Okay, I'm all over there anyway. So I went into the community of Mililani and created my mililani military relocations. We're right down the street from two bases and there are about 25 active bases/installations on our one island alone.

Believe me...my niche market is all over the internet anyway. Take a look....type into google Hawaii Military Relocations or Hawaii Relocations. How about Mililani Condos (haven't done that one though :) How about Mililani Hawaii Military Relocations? That IS my market and always will be. I have the knowledge, the experience (as a military dependent throughout most of my life) for military relocations...and I certainly have the experience and knowledge of my area....oh, yeah.

Expense? Believe me....for the year and a half on ActiveRain....the expense is minimal for me to give back after all they've spent to maintain ME. lol!

AUG

2008

Please Note: I have logged in this time before making a comment.

With all due respect Sally and all those that are looking to create these new communities. That is all fine that you can Google something like your example "Hawaii Military Relocations" but understand that you already know that exact search phrase to generate that top listing result but how does the general public or for example a military man anywhere else in the world know that phrase to get the the same search results.

Similar to a lot of seach engine companies that "guarantee" top ten search results, the result only comes if the person searching for the information types in the exact phrase or words you have paid to sponsor have been concentrating your efforts on.

I would be more concerned how these extra communities you are sponsoring (paying for) will lift your search results with generic search terms like "real estate in Hawaii" or "listings in Denver" or in my case "mortgage ontario" where my site bounces from position 8 to 12 depending on the day.

An prefect example of this is if you Google "Free Mortgage Reports" I end up number one, why because I also own the site www.FreeMortgageRepots.ca. Now all I have to do it get everyone that is surfing for a mortgage in Canada to know those search words rather then use the word "mortgage" Another example of this is if you Google "Ontario Mortgage Team" you guessed it I am listed number one but interesting enough my ActiveRain info appears either 4th or 5th. My point is you may control the name of the community and that community name will appear in the top list on the search engines but you still have to get your prospects to type that same phrase.

Another suggestion would be to only promote "Localism" as a search word for your prospects then at least they would have your community to select from the drop down menu when they type in the actual city they are interested. Anyone ever tried that, search for just "Localism"

Regardless I wish all those that wish to go to this extra effort all the best in their endevours. A closing comment if I may. Beware that just because your blog gets featured in a group, other members on ActiveRain praise you for your efforts to inform, everyone enjoys your comments and the pictures of your pets, in the AR World you have thousands of points and now you feel you have locked up the any number of community combinations in your market area unless the public, your potential prospects can find YOU out of the (i.e.) 1,486,354 other search results for THEIR search phrase it's all commentary.

P.S. Sally I might suggest you check out your new communities using the Localism web access route because when I did that search earlier the formatting on your new community pages were way off almost running off the page. The Localism page for Mililani on it's own seems ok and it might just be my computer but I would check how those others look.

Warmest regards, DAVE

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the great ideas!!

I just added two more communities.... Listings in Lawrence and Real Estate in Lawrence that I can sponsor too!! This should allow Localism to bring me to number one position for the general public to find me!

I really appreciate your creative thoughts!

Rob in Kansas

Dave: Believe me.... it doesn't have to be the whole slew of words....how about hawaii military move? Try that...or Mililani condos...try that. I don't just rely on AR either.... I made sure my website (and what I've learned right here on AR) has all the keywords tags and titles I need...oh, how about my outside blogs? How about using just portions of the words? I do believe I don't bank just on these FEW I sponsor on Localism now. Bottom line: I am MOSTLY supporting the network I have remained loyal to and BELIEVE in and am doing what I believe in. That in itself is far more rewarding that going back and forth ....when we can agree to disagree....which I am doing with you now...

Good Morning Rob....glad you're finding use...and if I know you...you have a lot that can put in those communities.

You see gang.....the vision of Localism is not in a closed box. It can change and progress and learn by trial and error.....or hey...I believe by trial and triumph. Yup...and that is what I believe success is....starting from the inside out....just as Localism is....from the inside (beta) and soon out....

WE as a community who have bonded and grown together throughout this process of becoming a wonderful network thus far have realized that OUR community is a part of Localism as well. WE are a business just like everyone in the community on Localism (who will be joining too) are going to be. We need not be excluded....and aren't anyway .....from the vision of giving our expert opinions on neighborhoods and areas of expertise. Without knowing our area....how else would we sell Real Estate? Without areas of expertise.....how would we form our own niche in this world?

Darn good coffee this am :) :) Got me going .... at 5:59am

You all have a great day!

Dang this is a lot to read......and some pretty heated opinions....I have to digest them first then will come back....

Sally -- I know that you will be very successful in your communities. I guess I am not as saavy as I would like and I am not sure how one goes about "creating a niche community." If you could explain this a bit more, it would be appreciated.

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