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Your Blog Might Rank High on Active Rain...

...but does it smell like Crappie?

Lately I have been getting back into blogging and have noticed a lot of crappie blogs have taken over some high positions in states. Once again, the quest for points and the desire to be #1 has put a lot of terrible blogs at the top of the food chain on Active Rain.

I give them the benefit of the doubt and check them out. I mean, they have to be writing something good to get so high so quickly, right? But alas, upon clicking on their blog, I am transported to the common place of boring blogs about how they caught a really large Crappie on such and such lake and felt the need to write about it here on a Real Estate network. They don't even give me the courtesy of a photo of the smelly fish(but I do get a whiff of it by just reading their crappie blog post).

You would think with the amount of articles written on Active Rain about how to write a great blog post, people would take the time to read them. But I guess some are just too busy worrying about catching the next big one and passing them up on the list.

Active Rain has now become a place of clutter. Where are my stagers?Can you write a blog post about how to declutter AR? Or maybe how to spruce up crappie blog posts with photos?

I mean really, it is well proven that quality blog posts can create business for those of us that are really using it as a platform, so why waste your time writing a hundred thousand AR points about nothing? I could smell the stinkiness coming from your blog, and if I can, then so can the consumer reading along. The sad thing I see is some of these posts going to Localism and stinking up that site too.

Now, now...before you get all upset and decree that I should not be taking this out on the Crappie, take the time to fish around AR and see what you find.

Disclaimer: No fish were harmed in the writing of this article. If you can't see the dry humor or sarcasm in this post, then I cannot help you, but there is an underlying truth to the Crappie invading Active Rain. Beware the Crappie!

Posted by Jennifer Kirby, the Luxury Agent on 08/17/2008 10:39 PM

Comments (56)

fun stuff, active rain, blogging

Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Blogging Etiquette 101
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56 Comments on Your Blog Might Rank High on Active Rain...

AUG

2008

Love the photo and the blog even better. I am amazed at some of the stuffed crappie that is posted. I'd mention a few of the topics but will refrain... it gets me all wound up!

Totaly agree, Jennifer. In fact I've seen some bloggers who have posted the same material multiple times to get more points. Quantity is fine, but quality should count, too. (I flagged you for a feature).

You are probably going to catch some crap for this post! Good job!

I agree...enough said...

In his novel Changing Places, David Lodge describes a literary parlor game called "Humiliations" in which participants confess, one by one, titles of books they've never read. The genius of the game is that each player gains a point for each fellow player who's read the book-in other words, the more accomplished the reader, the lower his or her score. Lodge's winner is an American professor who, in a rousing display of one-downmanship, finally announces that he's never read Hamlet.

Great topic and common in my area as well. I always preach content is more important than points. Funny as I starting moving up the ranks and gaining on a certain individual in my area he wakes up and starts spewing garbage blogs just to maintain a cushion.

Im sure he isnt getting the leads and calls off his blogs like I am. Its all about content. Points on AR arent that important to me, Im ranked well in my area, its the internet presence and articles that generate leads for me.

I do see some members posting the same content over and over and over again, just for points. De clutter, indeed!

You've got to remember that even though AR is a real estate based social networking group, each one of us has his or her own blog within the system and if talking about fishing, which I would never, is something they want to blog about, by all means... BUT, they should NOT have it under the "professional" tab.

Debbie- I have honestly taken a break from blogging the last few months because I have been so busy with buyers. I was really disappointed when I came back this last week and saw some of the stuff on AR.

Peter- yep, see that too, and have even flagged a few...but nothing was ever done so I stopped flagging them as duplicates. Thanks for the feature flag. :)

Amanda - you could be right, but the truth is hard to swallow some time. I was in a humorous mood tonight.

Karen - such few words, but to the point! :)

Claudia - how clever! Guess the same could be said about some point fishermen here on AR.

Mike- LOL! Yes, I have had a few of those chase after me as well. But I no longer care about where I fall in my state. All that matters is that I am getting real business from my multiple blogs. Active Rain is great to socialize, but the main bulk of business is coming from my three outside blogs.

Richard- I would LOVE to see a stager here on Active Rain write a post about how to declutter a blog, with before and after shots as well. :)

Donna - I am not saying that people should not write about fishing, politics, etc, but they should at least write more about real estate than about fishing. Writing about your location is great, but telling me about the hot dog you ate at the baseball game, without telling me how this information benefits me or the place you live in, is just crappie. Don't get me started on the blogs that have "word of the day" posts ten times in a row. They could at least spruce them up a bit with a photo of a flower so it doesn't look sooooo boring.

And like you say, these posts should not go in the Professional category either, or into Localism. Post them in a group about fishing.

Crappie posts are in the eye of the reader. Not everyone enjoys reading about the same thing. And not everyone is on the same level of writing skills as others. Just my not so humble opinion.

I think balance is the key. I would rather read about fishing than to see listing after listing. I guess you get what you give, right? If they are giving crappie they probably are getting crappie.

HI JENNIFER!

Your right. There are some posts that I have no desire to read. But, that doesn't mean that someone else may not enjoy or benefit from those. I just keep moving & leave no comments. Those that I enjoy (such as this one), I leave my two cents & keep moving! I liked your presentation...I was able to see the humor:o)

Have a great week,

I've given up with flagging or reporting posts or photos. It doesn't seem to matter.

When AR lets someone post about a PortaPotty and put it on Localism about an area it is out of control!

Boy - do I hear you on this one. It's important that one's voice comes through on their blog, but it's a fine line. I know specifically of some agents that rank high but do little, or no business. Subsequently, the posts are often not related to real estate in specific ways but just content to gather points and position.

I have to believe, or hope, that consumers and fellow AR members recognize the difference when they read it.

Jennifer-there are a lot of things that other bloggers do that don't make sense to me. But they make look at my blogs and think the same thing. This weekend I had FOUR email contacts from my blog and two phone calls. So I'll just keep doing my thing and try to ignore the white noise coming from other bloggers in my area.

This is hilarious, Jennifer! Posts about nothing... sounds like a Seinfeld episode! JB Brookman

I agree. I've read, enjoyed, and even commented on some of the off real estate topic blogs so, in part, I am to blame for supporting such posts. Being relatively new to the site, I thought that these postings were just part of what you get here.

In my opinion, just my opinion, I believe a platform such as this should strive to be an area where all things real estate related are discussed since this is the premise, strength, and value of this platform.

I personally joined this network to introduce our residential real estate company to other companies and to interact on a business level as we are diligently working to build an on-line presence. My wish was to learn from others and to hopefully offer beneficial information, services, or help to others.

Information outside of being related to real estate simply dilutes the value of such a platform reducing the benefit for all involved who make a living relying upon networking as real estate professionals.

I continue to fish because there is a lot of great information and opportunity here!

I understand....I spent some time creating an original blog. It was cut and pasted into another AR blog. I have flagged it numerous time but it doesn't seem to matter. I have heard about other's that were not original and theirs was pulled. I even gave them the http to confirm. Active Rain did nothing as it was not on their agenda. Go figure!

I love Seinfeld! Anyway, haven't been blogging as long as most of you but make every attempt to maintain quality. Works for me.

AUG

2008

Jennifer, I, for one, think this is a great post! AND so right on!! ;-) You go girl!!!

As I have said many times and, in fact, just today, there are always those who are only about the points! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the point system; however, cannot believe some of the crappy posts. I think AR should have a CR symbol that we can add to those posts. ;-) Just kidding. ;-)

I am not a member of Active Rain and have hesitated becoming one exactly because of what you posted. I agree with you. I see Active Rain as being a popularity contest. It seems as if it is all about who is the biggest, the best, etc. and I frankly don't think I want to be a part of that. It all sounds like a lot of politics to me...I have not been convinced to join although I have been asked to on a couple of occasions. There are some blogs I read. However, even in the high ranking blogs I see errors, grammatical mistakes, posts that don't say anything etc. Many of the bloggers have stopped blogging. It all sounds like a lot of work for nothing...maybe I'm wrong and only an outsider not seeing the value within.

Well, I think I may be one of the bloggers you are talking about. Competition makes one stronger, and I'm the only agent in my town actively blogging. I even blog about fishing! I can say, local readers comment on my blog, and my latest posts certainly helped notify the public of my big move.

I don't blog for the real estate industry. I blog for business. It works, too. If someone started chasing me on a local level I'd probably kick it up a notch but between opening a brokerage and the most successful year of my career, it isn't happening soon.

Jennifer,

Welcome to the wonderful world of a points-rewarded real estate website, where you can read the most inane (seems like there oughtta be an "s" in that word somewhere!!) blogs one could possibly ever hope to find!

You can write about your Grandmother's birthday and get points. You can write about how to win at poker at your Uncle Buck's house on Tuesday nights and get points. You can write about whether your hybrid car gets better gas mileage than your old one and get points.

And then...you can BUY yourself as many city/neighborhood sponsorships as you want without ANY competition whatsoever simply because you've amassed a zillion points as an inane blogger. Oh brother. Just so I don't get the obligatory and ubiquitous "You're accusing us all of doing that.", let me clarify.

I am NOT accusing any of the hard-working real estate bloggers of anything, ok? But the recent "Land Rush" rewarded boatloads of "some deserving"....and "some undeserving"...agents by giving them "first right of refusal" for area sponsorships. How nauseating. 200,000 points..you get first dibs. It doesn't matter whether you actually ARE an expert in your community...here ya go. Take your pick. Buy 'em up so as to prevent the REAL experts from having any access to them whatsoever. If you have 100,000 points, you get second dibs. And if there are any left over...then those of you who have only amassed 22,014 points of quality, expert and actual real estate advice...can take whatever slim pickins are left.

I watched as the 200k point earners bought 20 or more sponsorships, all the while acknowledging that some were going to be used as recruiting tools in their offices, some were being reserved for their friends...and some were being "secured' before they even knew whether they wanted them or not.

Ludicrous...and a complete disservice to the consumer.

However, the poetic justice for that kind of thing will become painfully evident soon enough. The consumer will come to realize that these kinds of sites offer some pearls of wisom...and um...many "not-so-pearls" of wisdom. But as we fodder up the place...and it becomes increasingly more diificult for the consumer to find the real estate answers they're looking for, they'll simply get their answers somewhere else. Perhaps from a site which doesn't allow the BS posts to occupy so much valuable space.

If I were "just" a consumer...I'd find the majority of what I read here laughable. As an industry, we should be embarrassed that we contribute so much dribble to a site like this. We copy and paste our "You go girl" comments for points. We can't spell or articulate our thoughts very well. We defend our right to charge $30,000 to sell a home when the seller is facing foreclosure...and we teach SEO to each other ad nauseum. But present a REAL real estate related topic...something that could actually benefit a buyer or seller...and you'll find very few comments.

That seems strange to me for some reason.

Tonight...I was looking for a couple posts to read...and perhaps comment on. Couldn't find any (except this one). I'm sorta not interested in commenting on the Olympics right now. Not very interested in learning about how many parades are in New Brunswick this week...and if you want to write an inspirational "I thank God for every day I'm alive" kind of post....there HAS to be a better place to put those than on a REAL ESTATE ORIENTED WEBSITE!!!

My four and a half cents,

Dave

JENNIFER - While I think that having all posts being real estate related would start to get boring, I agree that there is a lot of Crappie in the Active Rain waters. Lately, it seems that the Crappies are so abundant that it's hard to catch any other kinds of fish. I've been here for a year and a couple of weeks, and I can tell you that things have deteriorated rapidly. This used to be one of the most informative places to be. I imagine that it still can be, but wading through the filler to get to the substance has become tiresome.

Jennifer, I agree with you and much of what David Daniels posted above.

But ActiveRain serves different purposes for different people. Some just use it for SEO purposes and could care less if anyone ever actually read one of their posts. Some use it for entertainment.

I guess there is an opportunity here for someone to go out and create the real estate blogging site that they believe would be so much better than this "crappie" one we call ActiveRain. Sometimes what we see as crappie is gold in the eye of someone else.

Jennifer, I have been wanting to write a post related to this, but now I don't have to. I don't mind post about a little bit of everything. Like Adam said, I think all real estate would be a bit stale. However, I wonder about the folks that just post random listings ( I know they are not their own listings- from another broker as a matter of fact) and never participate in what AR is all about. So, they post, post, post, market statistics and the like, but no commenting and building relationships. Isn't that what AR is really about?

Jennifer - I thought this post was right on the money and at the same time histerical - Great Job! Whats the matter are you getting tired of reading about Nana's awesome chocolate fudge recipe - LOL.

I am here for improving my business and getting internet leads so I blog about Real Estate - What a crazy idea!

I am so glad you posted this! There seem to be hundreds of "BULK POSTS" and I wonder if folks really do not care about content and only about racking up points!

Mary- yes, crappie posts are in the eye of the reader, but even the newest blogger can look at a blog full of junk and no what it is. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.

Paul - balance is the key. If they want to write about their fishing trip, then go ahead, but please put some photos at least, and then mingle it with other posts about your area, market updates, and subjects that engage the reader.

Yvette - I have been told I have a very dry sense of humor so I often wonder if something that I find funny will be funny to others. I hope others also got a good laugh...not everything needs to be serious here on AR.

Susan - yes, I have also stopped flagging posts...nothing was ever done as far as I could tell.

Linsey- I think the consumer can tell the difference. If they don't see any value in the crappie posts, they will never come back. There are plenty of people out there that don't sell any real estate but are avid bloggers. The problem usually arises when they give advice but have no experience to back up the advice.

Cindy- that is all that matters. Do what works for you to bring in business. I blog about historic homes, but some might find that boring. However, I do get business and inquiries from people interested in the subject. But I at least try to make the posts interesting with photos and history.

JB - glad you got a laugh. Of course, there are those that would consider this a crappie post....still cannot believe it got featured. Maybe it was the humor....

Roger - and that is the sad thing about a network getting so large. It always get diluted with non-relevant content and people have to fish through the junk to get to the good stuff.

Pam- your story is an old one here on AR, I only hope that they read this and understand how frustrating it is for us that don't abuse the system, to see others constantly abuse it with no fear of retribution.

Debbie - just remember it is all about quality, not quantity...or points for that matter.

Terri- LOL! a CR symbol...now that is really funny! Love it!

Betty- you help make my point. There is a lot of junk on here. I have been on AR since January 2007. Earlier this year I had to step away from AR because I was disgusted with some political things that happened, and I just didn't want to be a part of the network. I think I was gone for some two months. I could see the place was going down hill a little. Since I have been on here so long, I know who the good bloggers are, so I can find them. But for some one new, like yourself, I cannot imagine how hard it is to sift through the crap. I cannot beg for you to join because I agree with your frustration. Maybe the best thing for you is to create your own outside blog and start there. I have three separate from AR and I get a lot of business from them.

I agree with Yvette - your concern/complaint is the same concern/complaint that has been expressed since about the first week AR went live. It's always been directed back to: these are our blogs, we can write what we want on them. We each have a different focus and a different type of client/prospect. Writing about fishing is actually something very popular for my area (although I don't do enough of it). Writing about fishing in your blog probably doesn't appeal to you or your clients/prospects. Like Yvette said - we need to simply not read it and move on to another blog.

I agree with you that it should be quality and not quantity. I have seen some others blogs (not necessarily even AR) that have ranked pretty high as well.

Hi Jennifer

I may be one of those crappie bloggers but the good news is I have no points. I am so far behind the curve, I may never catch up. However I won't stop trying. The thing about me is I love the business. I learn everytime I'm listening. I do what I say and I say what I do. I know there is room for me and my wife. There are so many life experiences to help others get over the negativism. I must stop. I'll start to preach

Kieran

I for one am in the Mortgage field, but you can right just so many posts about mortgages. I like to post about life and the experiences one goes thru to get to where we are today. I like to have a few localism posts as well to assist future buyers. But sometimes, we need to step out of the box and read something other than what we do day in and day out.

Almost like coming home and reading a good book...

Some are definitely better than others. I really enjoyed your disclaimer at the bottom. Great sense of humor.

Hi Jennifer,

Very creative indeed! You are an inspiration to those of us who love to write but who may not necessarily write the best received posts. We don't know what the secret is for sure but now and then we get noticed on AR but not by the public. They may be reading but nobody is commenting. Does sort of make you wonder if it's a waste of time.

Jennifer: there for a second I thought there was a typo.. LOL...... Great post !

AUG

2008

Jennifer - Great to see you posting and featured - lol - I am still amazed at someone locally that rights jokes all the time - or someone who slaps up a photo with 50 words - if only they really understood the opportunities they've squandered - well done girl!!

I have heard several members complain about the quality and content of some members posts. My attitude is let them go, if they want their clients to read that.

That's what happens when you rank things by points.

I wish more people would read this blog. I am relatively new and spend much more time reading trying to learn and have to weed through many many blogs that were just written for points. Its pretty obvious. I have tried my hand at a couple and it was due to mostly having to express myself at the moment. Thanks for saying what some of us are thinking.

Jennifer,

I log on to learn about technology and real estate. I do try to visit the Newbie section daily because that is where many questions, I had not thought to ask, are presented. I am finding, more often than not, posts are totally devoted to your topic- "poor quality post written by others". There are many poor quality post that are also given points. Do we have the power to change the system and establish guidelines for posts or will we continue to add the problem by writing redundant posts on quality control? On any given day, take time to count the number of posts that only vent on the quality of post written by others. It has become the most frequent topic of post. I am sure you are correct. Maybe this is your point and you should start an organized program to get the individuals in charge to start counting the number of post.

Jennifer, you should receive in the mail in the near future the Lawsuti papers concerning the distasteful way you have portrayed the crappie. We here at the Crappie Protection Agency have had enough, Why can't you say something about our cousin, the cat fish. He sits around all day and bottom feeds! No, You have to talk about how "crappie" things are. Well, enough is enough, see you in court!

If I can join in....I grow tired of seeing people climb the point ladder by just posting their listings. I don't mind the listings, but show me some personality too!

custom image

I think content is more important than volume. Relax, those "Crappie" bloggers will run out of juice. BTW- I liked the fish photo!

Betina

You are exactly right Jennifer, too much need to post for points has watered down the quality of the blogs in AR. I hope your post hits a nerve and starts a change, good luck!

I agree that there are some that are just writing for the sake of writing, but then again there are many blogging with great information and helpful advice. Overall, I feel the good way outweighs the bad. With that said, I am one of those that chooses to blog only when I feel I have something that will be beneficial to someone else.

Jennifer

Very interesting post and responses as well. I like AR as it offers a blogging platform, and functions as a forum for multiple topics, and yes some non real estate related. I like that because you get to meet people within your industry and interact on various levels. Being some what new to the site I have been fortunate enough to receive contacts that are workable. That said, one of those contacts at our listing appointment, stated that I was highly rated on the site for my area. I was honest with her and told her that the points are awarded for blogging...not for knowledge of the profession, so it can be misleading to the consumer. She thanked me for my honesty and stated she liked how I presented myself. I asked her about the non real estate posts, she said she enjoyed them especially. So back to the Points issue, perhaps points should be awarded only for post regarding, real estate and personnel development, to include technology post, or anything related to the industry. Non real estate posts help provide the consumer with an inner view of our personality, and thats important. In professions such as sales, a rapport has to be established, they got to like you, and be comfortable with your personality...not just your professional knowledge, if not they will find someone else. jmho

AUG

2008

I looked at the recent post of who the top two in each state are. Lots of people are MIA. I went back based on this post to look for some crappie bloggers and found a few at the top in their states.

I have been accused of blogging for points by two members in my state. When I posted market reports very early, back in 2006 another Ohio member protested so vigorously he was temporarily suspended from AR for his tactics. There was a place on ActiveRain for market reports, I used it to speak to consumers, via market reports. A horrible thing on a real estate network?

I was never a fan of the points on ActiveRain but I think they are ingenious now. It is individual choice if we want to write good content for readers or throw up garbage for points or spammy splog garbage for the search engines. I have no problem reading off topic posts on ActiveRain and I don't really care what points anyone is awarded for what they choose to write about.

I am disappointed that Localism will NOT be edited for quality. I wonder if it will be a free for all with spammy posts tossed up for Google juice. I would rather see an off topic post than sloggy stuff personally.

SEP

2008

Jennifer - if someone can't write about anything interesting, at least they could post some wonderful photos. I enjoy your posts because they have both content and photos. Welcome back to Active Rain!

Jennifer - LOL, that was great. I just presume the crappy blogs do not get a lot of comments and what not. I would think that even one with a lot of points will not last... at least I would hope so : )

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