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reBlogging: Whoops, there it is!!

Last night, with little fanfare, we launched a concept on ActiveRain called 'reBlog'. In fact, there was such little fanfare I didn't even know it was live until I woke up, reached over, grabbed my iPhone and started reading my emails. (yes, I am addicted to my iPhone, my job, my family and golf). This feature was meant to be tested and have some bugs worked out, but it accidentally slipped through to the live servers. In the first few hours, there were some components that were just not right. We are fixing those right now and the next time you see the 'reBlog' button, things will be in much better working order. Not to mention, we got some GREAT feedback right out of the gate. Sometimes being caught off guard can be a blessing in disguise.

reBlogging on ActiveRain:

According to reBlog.org:

"What is a reBlog?

A reBlog facilitates the process of filtering and republishing relevant content from many other Blogs. reBloggers subscribe to their favorite blogs, preview the content, and select their favorite posts. These posts are automatically published through their favorite blogging software."

This is a feature that will be available for members who have an ActiveRain Outside Blog. When you 'reBlog' an article, the post will be sent to your ActiveRain outside blog and not to your internal ActiveRain blog. Minimal points will be awarded when you reBlog an article. There will be a weekly cap on the amount. And reBlogging for points isn't going to provide your readers with a very valuable experience anyway. However, if your blog post is reBlogged by someone else, you will get 25 points every time up to a maximum of 500 points per post.

Every member will have the option of deciding whether or not they want their content to be available for reBlog. In your 'my settings' page, there will be an ability to opt in or opt out of the reBlog platform. If you choose to opt in, then your posts will automatically be included for reBlog. However, you will be able to opt-out on a post by post basis. If you choose to opt-out, then on each post you will be able to opt-in on a post by post basis. then you will not be able to opt-in on a post by post basis.

When you post a blog and make it available to reBlog, then a little reBlog icon will appear on the post on ActiveRain to any member who is logged in. If someone chooses to reBlog your post, they simply click on the reBlog button and they have the ability to write an introduction to the post. They may choose to write an intro or not, but once they reBlog the post, it sends that post only to their ActiveRain Outside Blog. The post is not reBlogged on their ActiveRain blog or Localism.

Member's only posts will not be available for reBlogging

Duplicate content issue: Any time someone reBlogs your post, there will be a link back to your original blog post. If you fed the post to your outside blog, the link from the reBlogged post will be a link to the original post on your outside blog. If you didn't send it to your outside blog, and the post went to Localism, the link back to the original will be a link to the post on Localism. If you only published the post to your ActiveRain blog, then the link back to the original post will be a link to your ActiveRain blog. Matt Cutts, the Google webmaster on SEO spells out that content syndication is OK if you make it clear to google who the original author was. reBlogging on AR does this by linking back to the original source.

The benefits of reBlogging someone elses post:

According to reBlog.org:

"Why should you reBlog?

reBlogs are useful to individuals who want to maintain a weblog but prefer curating content to writing original posts. They can also enable organizations to tap the contributions of their employees, members, and communities-at-large in order to easily redistribute relevant content."

Successful blogging is all about informing your reader. Over and over you will hear that business blogging is not about you, IT IS ABOUT THE CONSUMER. Providing relevant informative content should be your goal. reBlogging gives you the opportunity to bring the best content to the reader of your ActiveRain Outside Blog. Not everyone can be an expert in everything. However, in the halls of ActiveRain we have experts in just about anything real estate related. Being able to utilize the expertise of other members to inform your readers and your clients will be beneficial for everyone, especially your clients.

Think of this scenario: Little Jimmy Loan Officer is an expert on FHA. He blogs his little heart out about FHA. You just got done taking a client out for the day and they just told you that they don't have the 10% they originally thought they had, they only have 5% down. You think FHA is the way to for them and you want them to read up on FHA mortgages. You tell them to go check out your blog later tonight when they get home. You know that Little Jimmy has the best stuff on the web about FHA mortgages in his AR blog. So you jump in and grab two or three posts Jimmy has written and you add a little message to your client at the top........now your client is on your blog, reading the best info out there from LIttle Jimmy Loan officer about FHA mortgages. Not only does your client appreciate the fact that you are finding the best info on the web about FHA mortgages and delivering it to them, they associate you with Little Jimmy Loan Officer, the expert on FHA.

This could play out for information about staging, home inspections, the escrow process, or even information from a local competitor about market conditions. Delivering solid content to your readers should be the goal. You shouldn't have to know everything about everything......but your readers should be able to have that information at their fingertips......on your blog.

Would I reBlog a blog post written by a competitor in my market? Yes! If it was good information that my clientele would be interested in. Real Estate 2.0 is about client centric thinking. Your clients don't want to work with you because you are the source of original information, but because you are the source of good information that they need when they need it.

The benefits of allowing other's to reblog your posts:

In case you haven't figured this out, the name of the game is DISTRIBUTION!!! How wide of a net can you cast with the content you provide. It's the reason many blog here, so that google will pick you up and your reach will be wider. reBlogging gives the person who is an expert on certain topics an ability to have a much wider reach.

If you are a loan officer, stager, inspector, or anyone who works with agents, THIS IS A NO BRAINER. A great post by someone about FHA mortgages could be reBlogged by 1000 agents. if you don't see the power in that, then I don't know what to tell you.

From a real estate agent perspective: just imagine the power of having a hot new listing reBlogged by all of your local competitors, and don't forget about the SEO power of the backlinks you'll earn. Or imagine writing a post about negotiating contracts. If a couple hundred people picked up the post, you could instantly become a recognized expert on the subject (and get a few hundred backlinks to your outside blog).

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ:

Some people will never buy into this and that's fine. Those that do will soon see their reach expand much further than they could hope for on their own. If you don't want your blogs reBlogged, simply go to your 'my settings' page when the feature is turned on and turn it off. Initially, all members have their global setting set to opt-in. However, all past posts will be set by default to opt-out of reBlogging regardless of your global setting, however you can go back and retroactively make them available on a post-by-post basis.

Once the feature is live (again) you can go and change your setting to opt-out. You will also have the ability to opt-out on a post by post basis if your global setting is set to opt-in. In the same way, if your global setting is set to opt-out, you can opt-in on a post by post basis.

Do you care what I'm doing and thinking? (I can not for the life of me imagine why) If you do, you can find me on some of these places........but remember, if you are offended by anything you see or hear, I didn't force you to follow me!!:

Posted by Bob Stewart - ActiveRain on 08/09/2008 04:07 PM

Comments (183)

reblog

Originally posted at: jonwashburn: reBlogging: Whoops, there it is!!

183 Comments on reBlogging: Whoops, there it is!!

AUG

2008

Bob you guys made everyone crazy and they forgot all the outrage over buying land in Localism. Good plan.

Bob, Thanks as I mentioned earlier this would have caused less drama on a Saturday morning. People here or anywhere in life, just need a few explanations of the why! and the vision behind a change.

Actually, I would like to be able to send some reblogs to localism, when you get a minute can you explain why not? Since market reports, and things to do in certain area's are relevant to a consumer, why should we re cover and area or event, when we can reblog it, give credit to the original author and be done?

Lizette,

Our programming team is running on all cylinders now and they are cranking out cool stuff. Although this wasn't planned to launch for a while, it slipped out and now we have to run with it.

We hadn't launched anything innovative for a while prior to the new Localism and people got too comfortable. We plan on pushing the envelope quite a bit in the coming months.

Not sure how I feel about this yet. If my content is reblogged, how prominent is the link back to me? I would also like to get some kind of notification every time someone reblogs one of my posts. Suppose they write an introduction that is contradictory to my message, unflattering, or claims ownership of the content. Do I have any control to stop that particular reblog once it has happened?

This sounds really exciting and is starting to make more sense to me now. I was one of the confused ones earlier this morning. We really should learn to trust you guys a little more, shouldn't we.

Thanks for the explanations and the opt out option sounds great as well as giving points back to the original author of each re-posted post!

Keep on pushing the envelope...it is what makes you guys so great!

First of all I would like to hijack this post, a bit, and point everyone to my blog to watch a reBlogging video that was slightly too inappropriate to post at the bottom of Bob's post.

Now for Missy, We don't want reBlogs to go to Localism because ideally they are already there. There is no reason to have the same post show up more than one time in the same community. However, your comment begs another question that we will answer at another time: "Should we allow users to direct a single post to multiple communities on Localism?

Excellent Bob!! I think I am going to like reblogging. My only obstacle was the "opt out" ability and now that I know it will be there I'm good to go.

Folks need to look at this as giving your article the possibility of going "viral". Just imagine if you hit one out of the park and it got picked up by bloggers all over the world?

Good job AR!!!

Widow Maker...

I am going to do what you do. Park, read and return. Maybe I'll bring some penicillin with me. It may help with that whole going viral thing :)

TLW...ROAR!

Thanks Jon, here is something to consider, if you post on something in Ann Arbor it may apply to other micro communities as well. So we should be able to drop down a menu and post it to more than one or 2.

Example: I do market reports once a month for Washtenaw County.

NO one can buy Washtenaw County.

But, I want THAT market report each month to go ALL The communities I bought because it applies to all of communities in Washtenaw County. Since localism is about hyper local blogging I would want it out to Saline, Manchester, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Scio etc....

Ok not on topic but wanted to respond. Maybe I'll post on it.

Love the reBlog feature! Can't wait to include it in my blogging. I also love this statement

"Should we allow users to direct a single post to multiple communities on Localism?

I vote yes :)

I like it> I will opt for re- blogging. I am going there next to allow it

Just one more thought - this is an amazing way to network with others in your area. You can reBlog your lender, your title/escrow, your stagers as long as they have an AR account. Sort of turns your AR outside blog into a blog with several professional authors - how cool is that!

Bob - I'm glad to see this explanation and hopefully people are calmed down now.

My vote: Yes please on directing a single post to multiple communities!

Reblogging I am confused on. Parking here and there and everywhere to figure it out. I think giving points for reblogging is not good if someone is reblogging someone's info. I think it would be good if points were given to original author. I think the system still can be gamed by people making reciprocal reblogging pacts with each other.

I also agree with John Novak on how prominent the attributes will be.

Love the opt out option.

(Edited to add) Could we have an option to see where we have been reblogged and remove it if we don't approve the location? Can we have the option to approve the reblog prior to it even being seen on the site?

Those are just my 2 cents from what I read. I am sure my mind will be changed before it's official release :)

John,

The link will be bolded and prominently displayed at the top of the reBlogged content.

We are working on an email notification for everytime a post is reblogged - expect that in a week or so. In addition to that we are making the reBlog counter (inside the icon) clickable and that too will display all of the places the post was reBlogged and what was written about it.

The open and honest conversation happening in the introduction section of the reBlog is out of the control of the original blogger. That is just part of the deal. But in reality this unflattering dialogue can happen just as easily if you do not participate in reBlogging.

Once a post is reBlogged, it is out of your control.

I think I get it. It makes sense to me. I'm all for better SEO, and being more knowledgeable for my clients.

These parameters are better than I originally though they would be. I can see the value as long as the original is prominently displayed. I think I will probably opt in.

As for more than one community, my answer is definitely yes.

This is such an easy one for me. NO to reblogging.

Bob/Jon- one suggestion I had was can you include the profile pic with the bolded link at the top? That would help make the original persons post stand out more...I like the concept and the idea.

Once a post is reBlogged, it is out of your control.

Okay, maybe I'm confused, but this is ringing ALL sorts of LOUD copyright infringement bells with me. Are you saying that by posting on AR, we are now (and retroactively) automatically granting permission to republish our copyrighted content (which last I heard, specifically from you, I believe, was still our property) anywhere someone else might wish?

I'd like an answer to this one ASAP, as I might want to just delete all of my material forthwith, as I have, and had, NO intent of handing over the copyright to my material to others.

RainMaker (Jonathan)...

That's exactly what I'd like to see. I (we) would like to know where the reBlogs wind up. It's really important for us to know. The idea of losing control of our content doesn't do much for me. I'd also love to see an "Opt Out Per Post". In essence on each post the Members write they can have a choice as to whether or not they want to see it reBlogged. For instance...I wouldn't want our competitors reBlogging our Market Reports. We don't put them up for our competitors use...They're put are up for the Consumer in our market. Yah. I probably sound selfish. But business is business. I think. Maybe I still need to get my head around this. I'm having trouble with the control thing. Hey. Maybe I'm just a lovely control freak :)

TLW...ROAR!

Tricia, did you read any of this post and comments? Anything about the opt-out portion?

Tricia,

Please read the post again. You must have missed the part about you being able to opt out. Like you said, it's your content and if you do not like the idea of it being distributed, you don't have to participate.

Let me ask you a question......what if we had an agreeement with the LA Times, or your local newspaper to distribute your content to their site......would that be OK?

Hey LCF... Lovely control freak, aren't we all I little?

Tricia, Read the link...it is all about SEO, no one is stealing your content. If they like your post and reblog it, then you get credit. Like trackbacks.

Sorry for answering for you all.

Went back and re-read it. Didn't make me any happier.

So, basically, you've co-opted copyright UNLESS WE SAY NO. That's not how copyright law works, you know - you really DO have to ask permission FIRST. (Wonder what Lenn thinks about this, given that that's exactly the attitude that those stealing her maps appear to have - "it's posted on the internet so it's ours to use unless you tell us not to".) It's as bad as spammers who say that because you can opt out, it's not spam (sorry, opt-out is spam no matter what - the only not-spam is opt in).

Not happy about this, and will be opting out, for that reason. It's a bit like locking the barn door after the horse is out, though, due to the default being "in", not "out".

How about that one change, making the default "out", not "in"? any possibility of that?

If someone really does think that a blog post by someone else is particularly useful, there's always a link to it, and always has been. This seems to be pandering to those who don't want to create their own material and, until now, were penalized for stealing that of others.

Bob, I tried and did re-blog as a test one of my early post which I feel as more importance today than when I wrote it last year. The more I think about re-blog the more I can see the helpfulness in distribution of a post. I would like the opt out per post option, no points apply to the re poster, possible points for the original poster and a link back to the author of the original re-blog. I am interested just need to see the next version.

wow, I'd say no to re-blogging.

I'm looking for the downside... And the only downside I can find is if it isn't clear that it is my content. But, it would be easier for someone to steal it wit ha copy/paste than to re-blog it and then mess with the code...

Am I missing a downside?

Bob, You make a compelling argument. I'm all for consumer centric and transparancy. The opt out option solves my concerns. What about an option to only block direct competitors like google ad sense has. I still draw the line on direct competitors in my territory :)

It would be great to repost older posts that don't show up on the new localism in hyper local neighborhoods.

Hey Bob, Does REBlog have something to do with when we have written a post a long time ago and we want to write about it again?

;0) JK.

Bob,

As one lost Active Rainer, doesn't this diminish and dilute further the credibility of information on the internet...And like someone previously commented, what about copyright...to me this sounds like someone opting to adopt a 'virtual stuttering' problem...JMHO, Thanks, Fran

P.S. I for one don't consider blogging a game...and I don't want 'followers'...I want 'partners'...!

Hey Bob - reBlogging: Whoops, there it is!! Whoops - they're gone again... was that an oops - cat's out too soon??

Raleigh Realtor – Pamela St. Peter

Travis and Fran,

Travis, as a mortgage guy this is a huge opportunity for you, same for you Fran in title.

If either of you were to write a great post about Mortgage or Title and a couple hundred agents picked up your post to their outside blogs to share with their readers.....you just got tons more exposure. Even if only ten people picked it up and ran it on their outside blog (with full credit and a link back to your post) it's additional exposure. Who benefits? The agent who reblogged it, because they are providing solid content for their reader........the reader, because they are being delivered solid content about mortgages or title, and you because more people are reading your content. I don't see why you would not want your content reaching as wide of an audience as possible.........but I guess that's why we give you the ability to opt out.

Bob~ I am not too sure about this. I will have to think on it for a while...... Vickie

Bob, I can immediately see the value in being able to utilize others information. We don't necessarily need to use the guy down the street anyway. We can use people and posts from our current network of contacts to help build strength in many different directions. Cool plan. Thanks,

Later in the rain~Deb

thanks bob. donno 'bout this yet. still focused on localism. am getting "unexpected errors" right now trying to post. hope that works itself out before day ends. an, the foolishness of waiting to week end to post all at once.

best

thanks for listening, Bob. but like some of the others posted above me - - I'm still unsure if I'm totally on board yet.

Why does the system keep kicking me out?

Bob- I appreciate your explanation and see where it might be beneficial to all parties when the re-blogged content is picked up by a different type of service provider.

However, if I spend the time doing the research and produce a market report or highlight a community attribute or promote an upcoming event and that information is re-blogged by a competing REALTOR®, the reader is not likely to call me, They're going to be impressed that the re-blogger is providing the information.

I need to think about this.

We don't want reBlogs to go to Localism because ideally they are already there

Bob, I disagree with this. Since only the last 6 months of localism posts are included in the new localism, wouldn't reblogging be an easy way for us to update a post that still has value? And, if we are voting on allowing posts to go to more than one community, mine is a resounding YES!

Just another thing for me to research, analyze, and figure out... I took two weeks off for a vacation this summer and the whole "outside blog" thing began. Is there a crash course for the blogging-challenged?

Lisa,

Every post sent to Localism is there....only the last six months of posts have been populated on the city and community pages. You could just as easily take the post and update it by placing it in a new blog post.........

Kristina,

Check Brad Andersohn's blog and look for 'outside blogs' on his tags on the right hand side of his blog. He has a great outside blog tutorial.

Marilyn,

I would encourage you to think about it. It would be foolish to rush to a decision one way or the other without putting some good thought to the opportunities and the potential drawbacks.

Doreen,

Jorgen is working on that. Sorry

Thanks for the updates/clarification, Bob. I think it might have made sense to post this before the launch. Seems like letting people know in advance would help avoid some of the drama, adn it makes it seem as if things are not being done in a planful way. I know it "slipped out" but that makes one wonder how things are being managed, or not as the case may be (pardon me, but my corporate days are showing in terms of rolling out programs in small and large companies).

New innovations are always a challenge, and very exciting for the users. If used properly it sounds like this can be a really good thing. Since I wrote my initial comments on a couple of posts, I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable after reading this , but not there yet. Hopefully there won't be alot of issues with this new functionality. Starting this up along with Localism seems like a lot to manage effectively.

We look forward to more informaiton sharing and getting the bugs fixed as they arise. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Jeff

I messed up this morning trying to repost a Members Only post. I used reBlog not knowing better - though I should have.

It resubmitted the post to the Outside blog. It was my own post and it was member's only and the reblog went also to Localism and to the AR blog.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/632806/Short-Sale-Mania-Be

Now I have two posts on the same subject - the original post and the reblog. I was able to remove the reBlog post from the Outside Blog.

This morning I did not know what the reBlog thing was. After reading your post, I understand the idea and like it very much.

The Member's Only restriction did not work in my case. I am not sure if it is meant that someone can reblog their own post. It does not make sense to me, given your explanation above. Also, the reblog was able to post to all blog outlets.

My experience.

Thanks,

Richard

Bob,

Thanks for the explanation...makes sense, but I still reserve my opinion after I learn more...there's still the copyright issue...and the lack of transparency in Active Rain's handling of this matter...you can plan a war or you can let one break out!!! LOL, Thanks, Fran

Fran,

Sorry, I'm confused......"Lack of transparency in ActiveRain's handling of this matter".......what does that mean? Was that a joke?

On the copyright issue: This is from our terms of service:

"Although you retain any proprietary rights that you may have in and to your Content, once you post your Content to the Site, you hereby grant ActiveRain, its affiliated companies, and their respective successors and assigns, a worldwide, non-exclusive, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers) right and license, but not the obligation, to post, use, copy, publish, publicly display, exhibit, promote, transmit, frame, package,and repackage your Content, or any portion thereof, and to publish your name in connection with your Content, in all languages, via the ActiveRain Community and all distribution channels promoted by ActiveRain through the Site."

So everyone has agreed to allow us the right to distribute their content. Now, we will give you another chance to allow us to distribute the content through other member's outside blogs. There is no copyright issue. By blogging here, you permit us to GIVE YOU THE WIDEST REACH possible. That's what we do :-)

Anyone is free to opt out and not have their content distributed. That's totally OK with us :-)

Jeff Dowler,

You are 100% correct. It would have been a GREAT!!!!! idea to have this post come out before the feature went live. I am also 100% sure that you will NEVER here anyone at ActiveRain claim that management is our strong suit. :-)

Bob, if you arrange for the default to be opt in, I suspect that would take care of any copyright issues handily.

Otherwise, my opinion stands. (I went to see if I could opt out right away, but see nothing there as yet. I'm going to be less than pleased if I happen to be away from the computer for a few hours right about the time this activates again.)

Still waiting to hear what Lenn has to say about this, but maybe she's busy talking to her attorneys? ;-)

Bob - sorry I'm late to your post, I've been over at my own post trying to catch up. I'm renaming my post, "Now Ya See It, Now Ya Don't!! lol~ or maybe "NO Posting at 2:00" :-))

Thanks for breaking this down the way you did, I'm off to check out Matt's post again. I see a huge opportunity here, and I really am stoked about the reblog.

Did you like how I got everyone all ruffled up this morning? :-O Sorry Bob, that was never my intention. I see other ways to use the reblog that haven't yet been mentioned on any post or comment, but I'll save that for a later post to be reblogged by others, (I'd only hope it could be that good.)

I liked the counter that was in the reblog button, mine had already said 12 and I started getting really excited. It's all about exposure and that simple number could drive more traffic and create more interest to your post. Imagine coming across a post that had been reblogged 20,30,40 times, now that would really get your attention. You'd want to read it and see why. Goodstuff...I do see where everyone can benefit from this, but I also believe we're doing the right thing by having the opt-out option.

I put a link to your post here (from my post on Reblog) for those who wanted more of the technical details and overall concept of reblogging. Thanks Bob, nice work :-)

Bob, In a way we have been doing this from the beginning by redirecting our readers to someone else's post, but now the other person's whole post will show without having to click on a link.

On a different note: Why aren't some of my post not appearing on the new localism? I mean I have posted articles designed for the communities I've purchased, however when I go to those communities only my old posts show up!!!!

Bob,

The transparency comment was not a joke! Your explanation to me here in this post should have been unnecessary had Active Rain forewarned or given a preliminary heads up about this feature!!! What's the secrecy about this reblogging...we're supposed to be a community and we're all adults...that's what I meant about transparency or lack thereof!!!

Having said that, the more I read, the more I feel comfortable with this...Thanks!!!

Thanks, Fran

bob.....you all move so fast and it is so hard to keep up with you! this is a definately a bookmark and come back and read.

The reBlog only brings over the original post, with no comments, correct? If the original post is revised or updated, is the reBlog updated as well?

Bob,

Whoops there it is??? Lol- time travel is a strange thing.

On Reblog, question: Why allow people to write an introduction on a post that is reblog'd.

If someone wanted to syndicate your posts, couldn't they pull a feed if you registerd your blog on feedburner? I am confused.

I am also confused about pulling other people's posts onto your blog. I wouldn't mind someone adding a feed like feedburner, or writing and then linking to a post of mine, these are all pretty commonplace moves.

Reblogging with a hodgepodge of differnent writer's posts, just not sure I understand.

And I mean that sincerely, so please just try to help me along:-)

Shoot, you step away from the fire and you still smell the smoke:-) And yes, that was some sort of symbolic joke.

My head is a tad dizzy and I have yet to fight Brock Lesnar tonight. Go Brock!

The concept sounds intriguing, not my cup of tea, but intriguing. Then again, getting more potential exposure to your market area has its benefits. Actually, I think this would be very beneficial to consumers... which is who we should be looking out for in the first place. As with any tool, I'm sure there will be issues with its usage.

And work on your management, Stewart;-)

Bob you guys stirred up the ActiveRain nest and the features have been flying. But I know you guys have all under control ............ LOL

Tricia,

I trust you saw Lenn's post on her blog about reBlogging?

Fran,

It wasn't meant to be a secret.....it really did slip out to the production servers unintentionally. One of our programmers checked in some code and it was a miscommunication with the programmer that pushed the update to the servers last night. We have done nothing but been upfront about anything and everything for the last two years and one mistake has you acting as if we were trying to hide something........sorry.

The funny thing is, on Jon's post showing the "New new Localism" design......the reblog button is on the mock up and not one person noticed it or saw it. We really did intend to let everyone know before the thing was launched.

My initial reaction - I love it! I recently talked to Scott Webb a mortgage guru I met here on AR. He was telling me of a few new programs he has to offer. I would love for him to post about those and let me "re-blog" the information for my readers. He's in KS; I'm in MO. We wouldn't normally touch the same client base so this could be huge for both of us.

John Novak brought up another good point about the comments. For example, I don't allow outside comments cuz there are just too many anonymous internet trolls and spammers and not enough hours in the day to deal with them. I don't mind dissenting opinions but I do mind spammers and trolls with brains the size of peas.

Another thing that caught my eye:

The reason why I have a little problem with that is because when I use syndication sources for listings via let's say vflyer or realbird and they syndicate and publish to let's say zillow or trulia and then I am subject to their terms and conditions which they can publish in 5 million other areas and I have seen my listing contact information VANISH by the time it goes down the pipeline.

So I can copyscape my stuff (which you know I do) and find it syndicated somewhere minus any attributes to myself they can just come back with "well read the AR TOS".

Doncha think?

Are you going to require your syndication (reblog) sources to keep the attributes even if their TOS doesn't have that in there?

Just deep thoughts on a Sat :)

Thanks for referring me to Lenn's blog, Bob. I hadn't gotten to it yet - thought surely she'd comment here. I'm, frankly, surprised at the 180 she's done regarding copyright there.

From what I gather, it is possible at this point in time to reblog another's content, but it is not possible YET to opt out. Is that correct? I read all of the comment here and I see that I am not the only one who can not figure out how to opt out.

The issue of transparency is a serious one, as is the issue of copyright infringement or more appropriately, since your disclaimer is so broad, what rights bloggers ACTUALLY have on AR as far as their content is concerned.

It seems like the management team, as well intended as it might be, may have the notion that because people agree to AR's terms, that that is some kind of carte blanche approval for every management decision.

Just speaking for myself, AR was probably my first foray into blogging, and I am learning as I go along. I may have inadvertently agreed to something that I did not realize the long term effects of. It is obvious that the original content that was produced by bloggers gave AR its power, but now that AR has the power, it appears that a mistake I have seen happen again and again may be taking place and that is letting the power go to the head of management.

AR management is not a democracy, yet there is this AR cultural impression that it is and I think that that is where there is some discomfort amongst members like myself who are now seeing that we are being looked at as mere cogs in the wheel . . . it is almost as if our impressions and concern have little merit and that we are supposed to be grateful to AR for providing us with this forum and all of the slick bells and whistles.

While the forum is cool, no one would have used it at all if it didn't seem as if it were a benefit to agents with a special talent for writing and communication.

I think the issue that was raised about transparency is very valid. I also think that managmenet that doesn't value its clients is not going to stay on top, long term. We are AR clients, yet you don't really get that feeling.

I would like to know if the reblog opt out capability is functional and I am just missing it.

Thanks

Never status quo around here:) I love the AR think tank!

I can't think any more today. that was too much to absorb when I am still trying to figure out all the other changes going on. You said we can opt out.... wait a while... listen to the Bon Jovi and sleep on it. AJ

Renee,

No one can take your content and redistribute it.....only us and only with your permission. If someone takes the content and strips off the links back to your blog, then that isn't reBlogging, that's plagiarism. Those TOS don't give anyone else the right to do anything with your content......

Tricia,

I'm not surprised. There is no copyright issue. You don't have to particpate and if you do, you are given full credit. It would be exactly the same as if we were to feed your content (with your permission.......we will always ask for your permission) to your local newspaper and they were to put your content on their site and credit you as the author. Hundreds of newspapers do this everyday with content distributed by the AP and other news sources.

Deb,

The reblog feature is not live yet. When it is, you will see a little reblog feature in the corner of any blog posts that are eligible.....assuming that you are opted in to the feature. At that same time, you will have the ability to opt out.

We do not believe you agreeing to our terms of service is a carte blanche approval.....as such, you have the option of not participating in the reBlog concept. You can take it or leave it and we are fine with either decision that you make.

I'm sorry that you see us letting power go to our head "again and again". We are only trying to be innovative and bring a great product to our members. I'll tell you a little story...........when we first launched, the site was just an index of agents. About two months later we launched blogging........guess what people said........"Why are you launching a blogging platform?, Agents aren't going to blog about their business". Had we listened to that then, we wouldn't be here today. We believe in what we are doing, and it pains me to know that you don't think we value the input of our members. Everything here has been built with the members interests in mind. If you knew what we have sacrificed to be where we are now, I don't think you would feel the way you do, I really don't.

I just went to "MY Settings" and did not see an Opt Out flag. aj

AJ,

It will be there when the feature goes live tonight........Old posts will not be included for reBlog and when you post your next post, there will be an obvious component that allows you to opt-out......or you can go directly to your 'my settings' after it launches.

No tripple dog here........

(Yes, I realize you people have no idea what I'm talking about)

I just want to say that if anyone wants to Re-Blog any of my posts about home staging, please feel free (only if you say nice things about me in the introductory comments, though:o)). I'll be opting in. If my competitors Re-Blog my posts, it will put my name and information in front of my competitors' subscribers, clients and sphere of influence. That doesn't sound like such a bad thing.

I still haven't made up my mind abou this. Parking here so I can read others' thoughts...bigay

Triple dog! RUFF RUFF!!!!!!!

Bob, I came in earlier and should have parked...but figured I let it sort itself out....it all made sense to me...already know how I can use it to help my clients.....when you guys provide the vision....I usually see the application....thanks for such a good explanation of the the application!

Bob: I believe you are sincere and well-intentioned and I am sorry if you took my comments as an insult. I just think you could avoid some heartache and grief if you allowed members to be in on some of the major innovations and then make your decisions, once you have heard from members. That just seems more respectful and responsive to me.

However this is your ball game, so just "take what you like and leave the rest."

Bob: When I said I have seen the mistake of power going to management's head "again and again," I was speaking of my experience during my career in business, I was not making an attack on you or your team.

Bob - Great new feature - Thanks! As I commented on Lenn's post, so many times I have said, 'I wish I had written that'.

Some info on AR posts are universal - would fit into any location.

I have already emailed one of my favorite AR bloggers to ask his permission for me to reblog one of his posts. This will be good for me, a lender talking about loans on my brand new outside blog. Like a guest speaker. BTW - my email spellchecker didn't know the word 'reblog', I love adding new words.

I don't mind that the feature slipped in early - I love surprises!

Gosh, this is ALL new to me---another thing to figure out.

I guess I will allow some blogs to be reblogged but some I think I will keep keep just for me . Thanks for offering a new tool.

Bob,

Thank you for the explanation. You really opened my eyes up to the power of this thing. It sounds like it has excellent potential.

Guys, I know we all have our opinions (myself included) but how many companies can you call or type to the some of the head people on a Saturday at 8:40 PST? These guys work hard and it can be a thankless job. We don't know how much they have sacrificed...lets show a little faith.

There is a degree of brilliance here that won't be understood by most unti this 'mechanism' is adopted by a (relatively small) critical mass...but it will be.

Jessica,

Thank you. I appreciate the comment.

Jeff,

Yes, it will get to that critical mass and the people that were involved early will be the first to see the benefit. The 'sit back and see' crowd will still be able to jump in at that point and benefit as well. Everyone can win, some will just win sooner :-)

Bogart (hahahahhaaaaa)

I would be interested to see the age group of your ActiveRain demographics. My guess is that the "older demographic" is not embacing this as fast as the "younger demographic" has. The lesson to be learned here is that the largest majority of the multi-millionaires that invested in Microsoft in the very beginning put in very little money but were under the age of 30. Look where they are all at now. Technology and the power of the internet will benefit all of us if we just give it a chance. My motto has always been "Don't question what you can't explain and don't try to explain what you question."

Who Moved My Cheese! Hah! Relax people, change is good, AR has the best interest at heart for us and we'll look back 4 weeks from now and laugh at some of the comments some people are making regarding reblogging.

Gail - you may be right - but in my case, no. I think I am in the "older demographic", and I have already picked out a few posts to reblog! I may be old, but I am not slow!

Bob - btw - what is with the graphic words? Sometimes I have to type the graphic, sometimes not. Always logged in.

I've already learned my lesson from Localism :)

So.....ReBlog me lol!

I like that ides...it goes to my outside ActiveRain blog....that's cool...I paid for the darn domain name...might as well make use of it...and like Jon's video....show me people are reading I guess...right?

Oh, well...sounds good...and know you guys sometime get your tongue twisted trying to explain to thousands of people with all different thinking.

if anything...no one's reblog is going to Localism...so no gaming there. No one is getting extra reblog points for reblogging themselves over and over...

Reblog on. :)

AUG

2008

thanks for taking the time for clarifying everything! I am seeing this as a positive thing just so you know :) I just want clarity!

Hi Bob,

I did understand that, I guess I just didn't articulate my questions well enough. Not sure I will be that able to do that now as I am very close to shutting down for the night. I think I have been able to anser my own questions though. Thank you for the information in this post and the update on your new feature for A/R.

Syndication is obviously a great thing:-)

Bob: It's making my head spin.... I kinda understand what you are describing, but not in its entirety. I have alot of information to digest. I dont doubt that it's a great tool. I just have to learn, one bit at a time.

I think at first thought I like this reblogging thing. I will consider it a bit more. I like the idea of email notification of reblogging.

OK I think I "got" about 60% of what I just read. I'll be looking for the member blogs that are sure to follow to get more clarification.

Well do you think you could get the email feature to work on the AR Outsideblog?

Dang, by the time I read every comment it is now after 1am so the reblog thing has probably already been re-released:) I do think when too many changes occur in such a short time, that people don't have a chance to embrace the first one, let alone the second.

I am going to go back and read the TOS....

UPDATE from Sat. evening. This comment is from a post written last evening after several hours of tossing it around. Yes, the later it gets in the evening the longer it takes. Then I had a "EUREKA" moment. The original explanation and the name of the process is misguiding. This is simply about syndication.

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

I've been studying reBlog. I THINK IT COULD BE AWESOME.

On reflection, I believe that the title is misleading. It is a "reBlog". It is also a controlled syndication. Perhaps a title more akin to syndication than "re" anything would be helpful. "Re" denotes copying and that isn't necessarily what happens with a reBlog. It is a republish but not without controls and it shouldn't be without NOTICE so that there is no question that the blog on which the reBlog is posted is not the original writing of that blog owner.

I will admit that when I thought about the members who use CopyScape, I got a real chuckle. Syndication has always been a problem for CopyScape.

I do believe that anything reBlogged should have a NOTICE at the top of the article similar to the one on Google images.

EXAMPLE:

See full-size image.

www.frederick-real-estate.com/images/frederic...
500 x 534 - 65k
Image may be scaled down and subject to copyright.

See full-size image.

www.homes-montgomery-county-maryland.com/imag...
600 x 497 - 79k
Image may be scaled down and subject to copyright.

It's the nature of the Internet to link and as long as the reBlog has links back to the original article, that is a very large benefit to the original writer. Consumers love to follow links. If they find interesting content on a blog, any blog, they will follow a link. However, the best link chaser on the Internet is Google. The reBlog would give us a natural Google link from the attribution and from the internal links. That can't possibly hurt anything.

As long as these reBlogs are going to be on Outside blogs, I believe that the syndication benefits would be very powerful.

One of these days, I'll write about the power of Outside Blogs.

I had the lightbulb moment!

If I want to write a market report about my area and prove how real estate is local, it would be helpful to point out via one of Missys market reports that even though we are less than 50 miles away geographically the market is so vastly different.

Likewise I could add a market report from Gary White to show what things look like 100 miles away and all within the same state.

Missy and Gary would get the ever lovin' Google juice and consumers would be able to see that the statement "real estate is local" is true.

Eureka!

I'm blonde, I'm slow, but this could be fabulous!

Edited: I just realized this will work well for others but not for me (yet) because I don't have the outside AR blog. And it can't be used for Localism. (Wouldn't that be a good win/win? It would drive more traffic to the new Localism.)

I have a post that I started writing about this earlier this week... the word "curating" did not come to mind, I was thinking of it more as newsclipping or scrap booking. It was funny to see Re-Blog pop up on Saturday. I tried it... on a post I did NOT want on my outside blog, so I edited it. Then I reblogged Brad's blog and did the same thing. Now I have two comment threads without posts.... that's OK.

The hysteria is sort of funny. If you take a lot of the "WHAT IF'S" the ways people came up with how Re-Blog could be used by evil people for evil and applied those to blogging, web 2.0, social media in general we should just go back and not do anything because people COULD use our content wrong.

I would love to have my content ReBlogged responsibly. It's a great way to carry on a conversation. I totally got how it would work in our Outside blogs. No lenders are blogging in my market, no stagers are blogging but if they were I could see reblogging their stuff responsibly, adding value for my readers.

I look forward to it being re-released with out bugs.

Brilliant Idea Brad (AR). This will benefit our outside blogs in a big way! Thanks again! (I'm doing the happy dance over here in TN )

LOL I think I can understand this, as long as I don't try too hard.

As long as they (the reBlogger) can not edit my content once they reBLOG it I'm okay with it.

I think.

I have to admit.....all of this info makes my head hurt. I just can't keep up with "the latest" and "the greatest"....

Back in May Jon asked the question How can ActiveRain be more than itself? with many suggestions coming from us here in the peanut gallery. I see this as another one of AR's answers to some of those suggestions.

The morphing from within continues

Maybe if it was called "syndication" it wouldn't freak people out like "ReBlogging" seems to be doing. "reblog" does kinda have a connotation of copying/copyright problems.

It is syndication, and thats been happening a long time. AR just made it easy and simple.

If I were so inclined (which of course I am not) I could go copy any post from any person, verbatim. Or worse, I could chamge just enough so you'd likely never find out I did it.

ReBlogging won't enable somone to cheat any more than the "copy" and "paste" commands do.

Anyone who reads this post will understand and not object. As a matter of fact, anyone, everyone, reblog my posts. All of them!!!

Bob,

I like the re-blogging....

My answer to the question you asked Tricia (way up the line) is yes, re-blogg me to the LA Times... As long as my work is shown as my work and un-modified (other than possibly truncated) I'm fine with it...

I also understand the opinions of the folks that would prefer the default to be changed to be "opt-out" rather than opt-ed in. You shouldn't have to go change a setting to keep your information private. I think it would go over better for people to be enticed in to the re-blogging. It would be slower at first, but would pick-up momentum because people hate to be left-out of stuff... (Almost as much as they hate being dragged-in)

Just a thought, but I'm staying in and looking forward to seeing my stuff published in the Seattle Times, Skagit Valley Herald or even that silly L.A. Times you mentioned to Tricia. - Perhaps I'll make the even higher honor/ego boost of having an Active Rain 'Featured Post' someday...

HI BOB!

It sounds like a powerful plan to me. I look forward to seeing the results!

Have a wonderful week!

Just had an example of exactly what I was talking about as regards "opt out".

Read a blog by someone who was asking what this reblogging was, since they saw the option to "reblog this post" and wanted to know what it was.

So, ran over to my settings (that I checked last night just before going to bed and saw nothing) and saw that, for however many hours, who knows? the setting had been there, checked, without my knowledge or consent, to allow others to reblog my posts.

So, my rights as copyright owner were co-opted by Active Rain for however many hours it took me to find out about it and change it. And I'm someone who's been involved in the discussion - how about the thousands of copyright owners who have blogged to AR but who don't know about this yet?

Maybe a good idea if everyone is informed up front and has the option to opt in. Bad implementation, in my opinion.

So funny, seems even in my haze last night, many members were thinking along the same lines as I was. Yes, I think syndication is a better term here. And syndication is a very powerful tool.

Bob, Jon, and Brad.... I just tried to reblog this post, because another realtor had asked me to.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/632723/FHA-Loans-FHA-Mortgages

I clicked the box and saved it... there is no re-blog tag up in the right hand corner... I need some help with this, if you all can look into this.

And I also agree with John Novak's original comment. Losing control of what someone might write in the begining scares me a little. But I do love that you will add the notification feature... because i would love to know each time.

Overall, you guys always seem to amaze.... no matter if we agree with this or not... I am still on the fence a tad... why? because when I blog, I go after a national audience, not just a local audience.

PS.... I did a re-blog yesterday of one of my own blogs, before you turned it off. It doesn't show up under my blogs, but still shows up in the groups that i placed it in. but when you click on it, only the comments show up. Can we turn that one back on? why are just the comments showing up?

jeff belonger

bookmarked

"So, my rights as copyright owner were co-opted by Active Rain for however many hours it took me to find out about it and change it."

Tricia, That isn't quite accurate. There are essentially two controls for reblogging. One is a found in your "My Settings" page and was checked by default when the new service was launched. The second control is found on each post that you publish. We set every prior blog post as "opt out" on the blog level so that even though your global settings have been set to opt-in none of your individual blogs were available for reblogging.

Before you post your first blog, now that the reblogging option is available, you will be presented with a dialog box that lets you know that the default global settings for this and future blog posts are going to be opt-in unless you turn your global setting to off in your My Settings page.

This is all very confusing, but the short answer is that none of your posts or any other members posts have been opted into the reblogging network without their prior notification.

Below is a picture of the opt-in notification dialog box:

Bug report: We found a few bugs last night after we deployed the reblogging feature. I believe they should all be fixed today. I wouldn't try to use the feature until tomorrow, as it will likely be somewhat frustrating until the bugs are fixed.

Rebecca, I wouldn't be opposed to rename the button: "syndicate". Let me run it by my team on Monday. Hope if we do the change it won't confuse people too much.

Would we be notified (like a ping or trackback) of the re-posting? I've had this happen to me on my another website and when I visit the trackback, it's a different website w/ my article w/ a link at the bottom of the page back to my site. Yes?

My initial concern is that I'm in a small market and wouldn't want competitors using my content, even w/ a link back. People don't pay attention to the link backs. They see the website header, agent photo and contact info.

Bob - Before I read your comment above, I tried reblog on my new outside blog - worked great!

I was surprised that I didn't get to Title and Tag it - would help with SEO in my area. Maybe I should have put a link to one of my 1st time buyer posts that come up on first page Google.

Thanks! Great feature. I will be watching to see if it comes up in a search.

http://mesquitenvrealestateblog.com/post/634625/First-time-buyer-credit

re: Colleen's "My initial concern is that I'm in a small market and wouldn't want competitors using my content, even w/ a link back" hope cross talk is OK here... small market, big market does reBlogging a competitor make sense. Would YOU do it to someone?

John Novak challenged me with this scenario on a post I have about reBlogging (I am pro reBlogging)

"I'm still thinking through the reBlog concept. For example, let's say that another agent in Ohio owned BuyPolarisHomes.com, and reBlogged all of your Polaris content with an intro like "These are exciting times in Polaris! Just take a look at all of the new development! To find out more about Polaris residential or commercial real estate, give me a call any time at ..."

Your article is on your competitor's outside blog with their branding, their contact info, etc. Sure you get attribution and a backlink, but how many consumers will really understand that you are the author and will contact you for more info instead of your competitor?

I think reBlogging is best across industries (putting a lender's or stager's content on a real estate agent's blog) or across geographic boundaries, such as a Las Vegas agent reBlogging a great post from a Columbus agent about pricing your home correctly. For me it's a decision to be made on a post-by-post basis."

I would think common sense would dictate that competitors would not reBlog one anothers content if they know what is good for them.... I don't think just because you have a tool that would allow you to You have to... It is not good business to reBlog a competitors post but reblogging others in the industry, stagers, lenders locally is good.

Wow! I just searched-'first time buyer credit mesquite nv' - My Reblog is # 2 , first page! #1 is a previous post of mine.

Under search 'first time buyer credit' - Richard's original post is #5.

'home loan mesquite nv' #4

First page for lots of long tails - maybe I didn't need tags.

Score!!!!

little hard to understand, but I'll pick it up soon

Bob- Amazing, Brilliant! Absolutely viral! This is HUGE for online distribution and link backs. Can you imagine the strength you can gain, improving your pagerank on your outside blog! WOW! This is something that we use in online marketing through article marketing and directories.

I love this and WOW for SEO!

Now, you just are forcing me to go and set up my outside blog! I am so busy on AR that I have not been able to do so, I am just going to have to step it up so I don't miss out on more awesome google juice.

This is a NO BRAINER! Katerina

This is great! I've been wanting an easy way to share some of the great things I read here!

Bob... Jonathan and any other AR god..... question. What if I update or change a post of mine... and prior to this, it was re-blogged. Will it carry over to the re-blog post also? thanks

jeff belonger

I would be so excited if someone actually wanted to reblog some of my content!!! One option that might be helpful and allay some people's concerns would be an option to "confirm" the reblog. Like on LinkedIn or Facebook, when someone wants to "link" to you, you have to confirm/accept that link. So if someone chooses to "reblog" or "syndicate" your content, an email could be sent to you showing their intro and it would be subject to your approval.

To me, reblogging is similar to when people use social bookmarks to direct others to information that deem valuable. So if someone wants to do that for me and it's going to provide me with some link love, I'm all for it and don't see any problems...just possibilities. I'm still in the dark ages with understanding most of this stuff, but right now I'm thinking "Ignorance is Bliss."

Wait a minute! I can't keep up with the old features yet, and now something new to learn about! I hope someone gets that 'brain plug-in' on the market soon, so I don't have to read all of this stuff to learn it!

Seems awesome to me as long as it is made VERY clear who the original author is. Genius thinking Bob!

what in the world have I gotten myself into? I didn't know anything about online search engines, SEO, blogging, google juice (thanks alot Katerina!LOL)Mixpo and FlipVideo! Now you guys throw in reblogging??!! My goodness! My head is going to explode!! Is there anyone out there who can help me write good content fro my area? I don't believe anyone would want to reblog any of my stuff.

Another new tool / toy .. I can see how this will be a great service to my readers. Thank you Acitve Rain

Maureen, I think you misunderstood my point. Obviously if the competitor is willing to give credit for the post, he/she wouldn't use it. BUT..you and I both know this doesn't always happen. Maybe I'm just a little late to the party here and need to catch up.

whoa another interesting concept that makes sense...you guys just keep coming up with new ideas...thanks...now all i have ot do is find the time to keep up with all this.

Can the blog be broken up and not used in its entirety?

I would mine it if the whole blg was taken.

Richard

Jonathan - early in the comments you talked about multiple communities - how about multiple counties? I serve five of them.

Looks like an interesting concept, comments make it even more interesting, or clear, but it is late and there are so many comments, so leaving it for tomorrow to read one by one

AUG

2008

You can always be counted on for an excellent explanation, Jonathan. I'm starting to get it...

This is very interesting and I am sure that once the dust settles, everyone can take a more objective look at this. Thanks for taking the time to explain this concept and its possible benefits.

This sound a little like rss feeding, without someone having to set it up. I am still not sure exactly how it works, does it link all active rain peope to my AR page? How do I set up another Agent's post on my AR page?

I am glad I came back and read this one again. I saw the re-blog icons in the corner of a few posts and thought they were re-blogged without naming the original writer. I was skipping them for that reason.

Bob - I got this comment from John Novak on my reblog post. John has a good point - I hadn't looked at it that way. I replied back that maybe AR could put a frame around the author's post so that we could add 'the bottom line'. Or I should not reblog a post with such a prominent bottom logo, with the buttons and all.

What do you think?

Hi Viriginia - Even with your intro and the one-line credit, it's still unclear that this is someone else's content on your blog. I think we're understanding the reBlog process because we're actively looking for it, but will an occasional visitor get it? As a consumer, I would expect to see something about buying homes in Mesquite if I clicked on 'Purchase' instead of being taken to Richard's website.

08/11/2008 12:37 PM

by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller

The current attribution says: via (author)

We are working on an attribution that is MUCH more prominent and includes a full header that separates the notes and the post and includes the original authors picture.

Bob - Excellent solution - I passed it around. It amazes me how quick you guys are - I didn't even realize it was a problem, and you are 'fixing it.'

I just noticed a #1 on the reblog arrow on my Hurricane post. That means it has been reblogged one time?

Virginia,

Yes, that means it has been reBlogged once. We are also working on a way that you can click on that icon and it will show you who reBlogged it, where it was reblogged to and what the lead in notes were that were placed on the reBlog by the person who reBlogged it.

Bob - Great, I will pass this on, too. This gets better and better!

Thanks!!!

This sounds wonderful. Thanks for adding a other great tool to the utility belt!

I cant read all these comments... but I loved the advise to Tricia.... and go ahead and post my blogs to the Washington Post anytime you want...

AUG

2008

Bob: It sounds like you have come up with just about every solution in advance for any questions anyone might have. Way to go... very nicely done !

I have a gray and white sign in the right hand corner of several blogs lately saying "reblog" Does this mean someone is using my blog or does AR think I got my material from some where else?

If the blog that you've reBlogged is edited, it changes in your reBlog doesn't it? Las night I reBlogged a lender in Ohio, a short entry. This morning there are about five links at the bottom of the post that were not there when I reBlogged the entry.

BUT what if the rebloger's opening comments are negative or in direct contrast to your topic or opinion. Your close or direct competition could very well use your blog against you in their marketing efforts and you may not get a chance to do your Paris Hilton rebuttal.

Just a thought. Maybe not a good one but a thought just the same.

Now here is my question: I have yet had time to check but is the reblog feature available only on new blogs or should I be running to change the default on all my old ones.

Lisa,

the 'reBlog' button means your post is eligible for others to reBlog. If you would like to opt out, you can do so on the 'my settings' page globablly or on each post as you publish it individually. If someone has reBlogged your post, a number will appear in the reBlog icon. If it's been reBlogged 10 times, that number would be a 10 :-)

Maureen,

I didn't think that after you reBlogged the post it could be updated and affect your reBlogged post. I will have to double check with Jorgen.

Dave,

It's only on new blogs. You can go back individually and edit old posts and check the 'reBlog' button to make the old ones eligible. We are working on an easy interface to allow people to go back and make old posts eligible en masse, instead of one at a time.

On the first question.....yes, it is possible that someone could attempt to debate you through a reBlog, just as they could attempt to debate you by taking snippets of what you wrote and taking them out of context. At least in this case, the whole article you wrote is there to be judged and not just a snippet taken out of context.

I think the original author should be able to edit and add to their post - it's only fair. It's gotta be a 2-way street.

Do we have any way of finding out where the reblogs go yet?

I think it's a wonderful idea and I love what you have to say about how from someone else's blog you can seem like an expert, but you are right there will be those that wont buy into it.

I am complemented that Missy said she wanted to reblog one of my posts. But did I do the wrong thing by also sending it to Localism? I understand the benefit of reBlog but should I have not done that and if not ... why? That seems to be my ?. thanks

It ain't about points, placement, outside or re-blogging.

It's about content. It's about the information the consumer wants. And the consumer is king, not the re-bloggers.

Steve

Obeoman

AUG

2008

The point is Steven, that only those posts which have some "meat" will get re-blogged because you are right the content is worth repeating.

Widow Maker...

The reBlog button on Jonathan's post did not slip by the Cat's Eye :)

TLW...ROAR!

"Should we allow users to direct a single post to multiple communities on Localism?

This will be a feature that gets abused mainly to fill content in people's community pages for which they are too lazy to add content themselves, furthermore, this could create spam. On the flipside, we do see some good that can come out of this in terms of being able to promote an event which spans several communities all at once. But therein lies the problem, promoting things on localism. Advertisers would go nuts with these features. If it gets implemented it would need to have a cap. Those are just our thoughts.

As far as reblogging goes. I think it's safe to assume that this feature will be used for both good and bad as well. Non-realtors, but those in the market should be exctatic right now, but realtors, not so much. This is because many realtors or organizations already post other realtors listings on their search sites and ofcourse keep the relink text as small or unrecognizable as possible so the consumer chooses them instead. For that reason, i think reblogging could directly harm realtors. But, i definetely see the good in allowing people to reblog old featured posts that may have been forgotten about which are still relevant.

Google has always maintained that duplicate content on the web does not help ones seo, but reblogging, where one has the ability to add their own title description to the reblog (eg. "this is a reblog test") should pan out differently. I personally have seen many benefits to posting on Active Rain and SEO so to have that content available elsewhere broading exposure is definetely a plus.

I hope you guys work out the kinks but it's definetely an envelope pushing feature one which i'm glad presented itself here not elsewhere first.

AUG

2008

Great glazed donuts... I am parked... under the bus... again. Damn, I can't leave town for a day without you fellows changing thing around. So far I think I'm liking it though.

Thanks for the simple easy to read explanation. I have been outdoors a lot this summer and have not kept up with the rain!

I think that anytime you can spread one of your post to other links and sites it is a good thing. And the fact that if someone reblogs it, it links back to me, ALLLLL GOOOODDDD

That was a rather long explanation of a reblog, so much so that I really didn't get it all. But more so how does one do a reblog?

AUG

2008

Okay........so I finally get around to posting another blog.....wrote all the current market conditions, etc....and came to this new feature. Wow! I think that's a great idea so I click on "My Settings" link to allow re-blogging and POOF!! my writing disappeared! GRRRRRRRR! Is this a bug?

AUG

2008

Hey Bob, I am going to go back to John's question. Jonathan replied to it and said the post is out of our control after it is being reblogged. I think this is a big mistake. If someone is using my content in a way I don't like I should retain control and be able to revoke that reblog or that user. This would also solve the problem of your competition reblogging your local information.

I don't want to do the work to run numbers on my market and have someone else reblog them. Yet some articles are OK. Second Can they edit the text of my blog once they reblog it. This could also be a big problem because people may think I said something I didn't if they don't follow the link back.

SEP

2008

This is very powerful - (and a compliment to you if you are reblogged)

SEP

2008

Hi Bob. Thanks for writing.

I have actually been reblogged and didn't know what it meant!

Ken

SEP

2008

I read [almost] every comment here and I didn't see a single person mention that "reblogging" is already happening with your RSS feeds.

There are many platforms that allow anyone to syndicate any content for any purpose without any consequences, notification, or control by the author. Google Gadgets, Widgetbox, and hundreds of syndications tools make it very easy to utilize any RSS-based content for any purpose or any site desired. RSS-specific search engines, aggregators, and personal newsreading tools are able to use your content and earn revenues with adjacent ads - yet no one is complaining about these use cases. More specifically, none of you are placing terms of use or copyright notices in any of your RSS feeds. Not a single one of the more than 108,000 RSS feeds coming from AR blogs include a the RSS specified <copyright> tag.

Given this reality, why is everyone beating up AR for streamlining what is already possible and happening pervasively across the Internet with your content?

I also did not see a single mention of Creative Commons - a clear strategy that helps content producers mark how their content may be re-used. It seems to me that the members of AR might want to take a close look at the Creative Commons content licensing model, and the AR folks should simply integrate the CC model so that content owners can explicitly indicate the terms of use of their writings without any additional effort.

And while we're on the subject of RSS - all 108,000+ RSS feeds on AR still do not validate - I reported this more than a year ago and many times since.

Wow, Bill...... Very powerful and forthright information. I immediately checked it out and integrated the CC Model on a previous post. I am a former computer specialist (way back, we're talking COBOL, jcl, etc....) but have found a whole new learning curve with information provided by brilliant minds like yours - thanks so much!

Carolyn,

Happy to help - and thanks for your kind comments.

Cheers! --bf

JAN

Bob,

I am an AR newbie and one of my post (my first one on AR) has been reblogged 3 times. How can we see the members that have reblogged one of our posts? Thanks and happy New Year!

JAN

Gerry use Search (http://activerain.com/search) and search the title.

Diane Bell, Donald Bradbury and Roland Woodworth reblogged your post.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/817992/Visit-a-New-Town-Virtually-Thanks-to-Localism

http://activerain.com/blogsview/817902/Visit-a-New-Town-Virtually-Thanks-to-Localism

http://activerain.com/blogsview/817609/Visit-a-New-Town-Virtually-Thanks-to-Localism

I put quotes around your title and searched blogs. Welcome to AR.

Maureen,

Thank you for answering my question and for the welcome.

JAN

Dear Bob,

One quick question that I have not seen yet. How many Re-Blogs can you post in a week? Do re-Blogs count toward your ten regular blogs allowed per week? Thanks in advance.

Betina

JAN

Bob, I hope you are ; listening, respond today. I am a bit upset. I found a local licensee using snippets of my blogs on her web site without any acknowledgement of who the author/blogger is, or where she found the blog. Further, one cannot click on the snippet to get any more information or to finish reading the blog. seems a bit weird.

See for yourself:

I feel violated. I know I am not the best, most popular blogger--but I work hard at what I do. My time IS part of my marketing expense. So, this experienced agent doesn't have to work at blogging and can spend her time doing something else to generate revenue and use my blog time without acknowleging me in any way.

SORRY, I am ranting. At first I thought it was because I hit the reblog button. But, after reading this blog by you, I don't think you ever intended a reblog as a license to plagiarize any blogger.

PS: Has your donation button worked well for you?

PS: Thank you for your call and follow up.

FEB

I really like this feature to bring in content that our readers will enjoy and this is an excellent post!

MAR

I am trying to learn more about reblogging. For some reason I have set to reblog in both my settings and in my blog, but it still does not work. Am I doing something wrong? I have sent some feedback to active rain and have yet to recieve a response. It is a great feature and I would love to utilize it.

MAR

Great post! Gerry's question and Maureen's answer (above) clued me in on the question I came here looking for answers to. What cool Rain! Thanks Bob.

MAY

This is very cool and it is always amazing to me when folks are willing to bring ideas to the table that benefit the entire community! Thanks for your generosity!

THE LARGENT TEAM

SEP

Reblog . . . did you say that it meant Grizzly bear scat in some aborigonal tongue?? Well what do we Newbies know, anyhow ?? --- Can't wait to try it.

Shep

OCT

Bob - I have a question. Can I re-blog a blog for the purpose of adding some information or to state a different opinion? Thanks in Advance!

Satar,

Yes. I would encourage you to remember the Realtor Code of Ethics and the ActiveRain community guidelines in doing so. ActiveRain does encourage dissenting opinions and feel that continually challenging and examining the status quo is essential to the evolution of the real estate community.

I will caution you this. Don't continually go after the same person and challenge every one of their posts or I will think you have a bone to pick.

Of course and understood. Trust me, it is always about the topic of discussion and never about the author. I will also maintain a high standard of professionalism as well. I usually leave comments on the blog in order to voice my opinions, but in some situations, it is not possible or a new blog is needed. Thanks Bob.

NOV

OK I actually have a question that I don't think was brought up.

I've only recently become active on Active Rain. I am using the FREE membership option so this may be my problem but I'm not sure.

You mentioned in the original post that your blog would not be eligible for Re-blogging if it was posted to Members Only. My only options are Members only and Associates only. I don't have a whole bunch of associates so I selected Members only as my best chance of getting it to readers. However, at the end of my blog it does ask the question, Allow others to re-blog your post, with a check box. Does this mean it is eligible for re-blogging or not?

Ken,

Unfortunately, the post will not be eligible unless you upgrade your account and allow the posts to be made public.

NOV

I'm a newbie but I see the potential for allowing a reblog. Thanks.

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