Home : Blogs : Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager : Active Brads Blog

New Members - Video Explanations - Social Media, Blogging & MORE!

There are so many things to learn once you join ActiveRain. How to create links, add photos, use HTML, don't spam or hijack, add video etc., not to mention Channels, ReBlogging, Outside Blogs, Localism and the Referral Network just to name a few. It's no wonder some of our new members and visitors get a bit overwhelmed in the beginning.

In this post, I am hoping to help YOU understand some of the concepts of what these things are, and why they are here, before you dive head first into ActiveRain's Social Networking and Blogging Forum. Then there is all the other stuff you can learn about here. RSS, Wiki's, Twitter, Flickr and so on. You will frequently see and hear many of these words and terms in your Journey here on AR.

No matter where you are in the process of learning all this stuff, there will be something below that you may need or want to know more about. I am using "Video Explanations" as a resourse to try and explain many areas of Social Media, Networking, and Blogging etc. It's "Plain English" and in simple, easy to understand terms.

These are some Commoncraft Videos and others created to share the following insights with you. I hope this will help our newer members get a better understanding of why and how to use Social Networking, WEB 2.0, Activerain, and other social media platforms to their benefit. My goal: To create the desire and reason for you to "Get Started" in your efforts here.

Social Media & Networking

What is Social Media - What is it really all about? - SEE VIDEO

What is Social Networking - Do I need to to be doing this? - SEE VIDEO

What is a BLOG - What's the BIG DEAL? - SEE VIDEO

Over 50 Million Blogs - How Do I keep Up? What is RSS? - SEE VIDEO

Web Search Strategies and Why "Keywords" are important - SEE VIDEO

Micro-Blogging - Real Time Updates and Marketing on Twitter - SEE VIDEO

Social Sharing & Collaboration

Social Bookmarking - Why not just use my browser? - SEE VIDEO

Using and Sharing Documents - Will this work on a Blog? - SEE VIDEO

My Gads - A Sharing tool For the Real Estate Industry - SEE VIDEO

Social Photo Sharing - What is the benefit of that? - SEE VIDEO

Tools and Tech Stuff

Google Maps on your Phone - Will this help my Business? - SEE VIDEO

Should I be Podcasting - Who is this for and why? - SEE VIDEO

Wiki Wiki - What is a Wiki? - SEE VIDEO

PR Web - Are you getting your news releases out? - SEE VIDEO

So Why Should I be on ActiveRain? - SEE VIDEO

Now that you have a better idea of what type of information is available here and what the new Social Media and Marketing WEB 2.0 Platform is all about, be sure to check out the "Getting Started" link here on AR so you can jump right into the "Rain" and start getting your feet wet!

Here's Some More How -To Post's For New Members - Wishing you all the best in your WEB 2.0 Journey.

Feel free to check out my ActiveRain Outside Blog Too, You'll find more posts like this there. :-)

"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount

Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 09/27/2008 01:00 AM

Comments (96)

Social Networking Ideas in the ActiveRain Channel

social media, social networking, helpfaq, how to

Originally posted at: Real Estate 2.0 Technology : New Members - Video Explanations - Social Media, Blogging & MORE!

Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Services for Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: Real Estate Technology
Post is included in group: HELP/FAQ (Read 'Purpose Statement' Carefully!)
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies

96 Comments on New Members - Video Explanations - Social Media, Blogging & MORE!

SEP

2008

Hey Brad - This is so helpful. I have emailed it to someone and am bookmarking it as well. Thank yooooouuu.. Also how was the concert??? My husband and I are so jealous you got to see all 3 - he remembers long ago going to the US Festival in CA in the desert ( still has the raggy t shirt) Tons of bands and lot's of fun. I hope the kiddos liked it ... also check out my post Now That is Active - Ity - you should find it amusing :-) Ciao

Thanks Brad, great information, I bookmarked it to get back to the things I haven't gotten to yet.

All the best!

Thanks Brad - I think I have my class material now. Keep sending them though, I may have to teach another one .

Brad, thank you. I am sending an email link to the newbies in Club Chaos. Very useful information, indeed. Enjoy your evening. Regards, C. :-)

Brad- What about an even more beginners guide. Like a guide to making a huge impact from the start?

SEO 101

How to write an effective blog post

How to get your noob voice heard over all that noise (how beginners can still be effective bloggers)

What groups to join

How to reach a wide audience by joining groups.

Just some ideas or things I wish I would have been told.

Or STOP dont create an account just yet! Read this guide first!

Shannon - concert was awesome. Kids loved it, detailed post coming soon... :-) BTW - I remember the US Festival, but I didn't get to go. :-(

Kevin - you most likely know all this stuff by now, but it was even a good refresher for me. After all the emails I received these past couple months from new members, I felt this would be an easy post to send to those who ask for this info on a regular basis. :-)

My gosh, wow, definitely going to bookmark this one!

Larry - I did this just for you!! :-))) Actually, I really did have you in mind when I was putting this together. It should really help others who aren't familiar with Social Networking, Blogging, and ActiveRain. :-)

Eau Claire - If you click on the link in the last paragraph of this post that says "GETTING STARTED" you'll see many of those topics covered. You can also click on my name below this comment and see ALL the how to posts I have written. Hope that helps. :-)

Where were you a year ago we know we need to do these things but the time will only allow so much we are on the track but it is quite a task.

C - I hope this doesn't create too much Chaos for your members in "Club Chaos!" LOL~ Thanks, and you have a fantastic evening and weekend. :-) BTW - Loved your last video post, you are getting really good at those now.

Brad and Angela - you're welcome back here anytime, I hope the bookmarking does just that. Enjoy! :-)

Brad, I need a vacation just to study all of my bookmarks....Thanks for all the great stuff!

Ginger

Terry - a year ago? I was trying to figure all this stuff out myself! LOL... I would have saved a ton of time had I known much of this back then. Hopefully this will save some of the new members from going through what many of us here did. "The School of "Rain Storms!" Many of these videos answer questions I get everyday in my email, this just seemed like a great way to get it all out there at once. :-)

I hope it inspires some of our new members to start in and understand why they need to.

I guess when I first started I just wasnt sure where to go. I know many people helped me I just wonder if there is a clearer way to get them all started.

WHAT IS SO MUCH FUN AND WORKS LIKE MAGIC? Active Rain and Social Networking - SEE BRAD'S BLOG

Eau Claire- there is already.... it's the "getting started" link. Did you check it out yet? Enjoy! :-)

Mara - you are too funny, of course I clicked on your link above, and when the page loaded, I started cracking up REALLY hard. Thanks you funny person you. That really was some cool MAGIC! :-))

If you really like these Video tutorials, check out my post on "10 Tips for Selecting a Great Domain Name" for your Blog or website. :-) It's from the CEO and FOUNDER of GoDaddy.com, Bob Parsons.

Brad, you are amazing! My head is spinning! I have to come back and read all this but sometimes it is overwhelming.

Thanks for the info I need it since I am a newbie!!!!!!!

Hey Brad, thanks for this reference post. I will be sure to bookmark it for future reference. Take care!

This is worse than the Tilt a Whirl at the county fair. Just when you think you have your feet back under you another post comes along and reminds you that you are still spinning. Thanks Brad another great post to bookmark.

Brad, once again you have provided such valuable information for newbies and veterans who need a refresher. There's always something to be learned and especially when you stop by to your blog. I am bookmarking and will be visiting the articles as I feel there's still so much for me to learn. I think this will be very helpful to the newbies because I have many visit my blog or I see their questions out there and I do my best to help them out and most often direct them to Active Brad and Marti's blog as well - this is nice that they have it all in one place. I don't even think I can attempt to read this tonight - my brain hurts and this will make it hurt more. LOL Thanks Brad! ~ Anne Marie

Look how things change!!! Before this post would of been all filled with links to blog posts now this post is just filled with videos, step up in the blogosphere! :)

Brad - what an excellent collection of educational videos. I am bookmarking this for future classes I teach in technology and real estate. Even us slightly more experienced folks can learn a few things here. You ARE the video guru.

Jeff

All I can say is thank goodness I started blogging now instead of next year or the year after! And also that you guys are cutting edge to bring us up to speed. I used to feel like the agents in my office who weren't email savvy were dinosaurs and now I'm realizing anyone who isn't up with web 2.0 is and that is 99.9% of the agents in my office!

Kudos to you for yet another bookmark, Brad. Ginger, I need that vacation also and Cindy, my head has been spinning for several months now :)

SEP

2008

hey Mr B, what a comprehensive resource, the "new kids" really have it good here. ;-) Have a great weekend Brad!

Brad, I absolutely love commoncraft...the way Lee makes his videos so simple is wonderful...whenever I teach on blogs, I start by showing that video.

Brad - I think you got it all here - are you trying to make it easy or something? What is the sport in that?

Brad, I came back here this morning to watch the rest of these videos. I just love them! What a fun and easy way to learn, especially for "visual learners" like me. I think this style of teaching could reform our whole educational system... Thanks for putting this all together. It's like watching cartoons while quickly absorbing a concept. Fun, highly effective, and f-a-s-t!

Useful stuff, Brad. You need to get some sleep, though! Posted at 1:00 a.m., and I see you're on the system now. I hope that's just because you forgot to log out, and you're fast asleep at 4:20 PT!

Mike in Tucson

Brad thanks for a one stop shop choice here on active rain. If anyone needs a refresher course, including me, I know where to send them.

Brad - This is a great resource! I am bookmarking it to come back to later. Thank you! :)

Brad,

I am trying to get my office online with AR. It is difficult to get them moving forward - part of the reason is that it is so new and so much.

This will help, and will help me as well.

Thanks,

Richard

This is great, Brad. I bookmarked it to send to newbies. Why don't you start a group here, called Brad's AR TIPS. Then we could have all your posts in one spot, like hubba bubba club? Now when I read Jeff, I know where I can find them altogether?

Wow, all video all the time....I'm impressed! This puts all of the past "how to's ", well, how do I say this nicely...in the dust?

Way to go Brad! Send them into information overload! LOL. If they click on just one link they'll be way ahead of the game =)

Brad, I am so glad that you and Rich are prolific in all of the posts you write providing information that we can actually use. I have been making some great progress at Active rain and now have other agents asking to sign up and learn more. I get them started and the first thing I tell them is to subscribe to the blogs by you and Rich. Thanks again

I am also really interested in the video aspect because in school many many years ago, I studied film making, of course being fluent in Fellini and all of the other 'experimental" film makers...(which of course is why I am now a real estate broker) does not help when using video in active rain so I am looking forward to more info! Thanks -RL

The vidoes were very cute ans simple explanations, you sure have a ton of hits on Youtube, good work

Brad - I will be watching for the post on the concert. Not sure how much my husband remembers of the US festival but funny you remember it...

thanks for all the videos, i bookmarked and hope to come backto see them all.

chris

Hey Brad - I love Diane's comment, and that's about what this new post of yours does. I love the videos - they show so much better what it might take forever to put into written words. And I've got this one bookmarked so I can learn from it, too. Two years here and still plenty to learn!

Do you travel to teach courses on this? That's a serious question, just so you know...

Ann

Brad! Thank you for taking the time to list all of these resources. I've read some of the attache posts, used some and am scratching my head and learning about others. Summer reading through Christmas break... feels just like school.

Brad-Awesome post. As a newbie this is appreciated so much. It is very overwhelming knowing where to start but this will be a HUGE help. You can get lost here in the rain if you don't find some kind of structured learning habits to maximize the benefits of this wonderful place called AR. I definitely got to work on that. Thanks to you, I learned how to bookmark a post but now need to go back thru and read all the bookmarked posts. Thank you for all you do here on AR. You can see why I made you part of the friends post I just did. I appreciated the comment. You look great with the shades by the way . One last thing, I read your post about taking your Mom to the Petrified Forest for her birthday. That was truly a very special thing you did for her. I laughed about the part that as you were filming her she figured you were going to post it. That was so adorable. It's great that you two have such a special and close relationship.

Great videos. Now i'll be forced to watch them for the next couple hours. Btw: you can see our draft posts huh :)

I like Missy's suggestion for a group called BRAD'S AR TIPS. Or it could be shortened to: BAT-man (you do have a cape, right?) LOL

Thanks Brad. Greatly appreciated and always look forward to your post. Have a good day.

Brad, I just noticed in the comments about the US festival in San Bernadino...My brother and I attended and it was a Hunter Thompson scene the entire time...Great music and a strange plot on heavy metal day to rush Ozzy Osbourne screaming
"Remember the Alamo" that fortunately did not materialize...

Brad,

As always, very informative. I need to take a close look at the pr post about news releases.

Brad,

Well done I must say. You're really helping everyone that is stuggling to move in the right direction. I used to take my camera everywhere and now I take my camera and flip video. I've taught a few tech newbies in my office and they are suprised at how easy it is..

SEP

2008

Missy and Mara - How's This?

No need to join or find another group, I put all these posts in the "Newbie Starter Kit!" Even sorted em out for ya! :-)))

OMG!!!!!!! Unbelieveable!!! Brad, you ARE a RAIN god! And as always, RAIN is free! You've changed the ways of doing business forever... for every Newbie now you give them the promised land... no wandering for days on end, bumping around in circles on the blososphere, ...WHAT A FEAST! (I bow down to you, magnificent king of RAIN...

Brad - we have to get out of our comfort box and try new things. You've provided some great links.

I see that Rich is going to be at the CyberProfessionals meeting in Orlando in November - can you come, too?

Mara - you are too funny, no bowing down please, I might get a complex! LOL~ Are you the one who posted the wizard? He's squishing Sharons comment right off the page. haha (Sorry Sharon) :-)

Sharon - I do plan on being there, I hope to make it to the CyberProfessionals meeting as well. Really looking forward to seeing you again. Hey wait a minute, I thought I was staying with you at the keys?!? (Big Smile) :-)

Ann Cummings - give me a ring and let's see what we can put together for you and the folks in your area. I am available to travel most weeks, just need a couple weeks advanced notice. It would be an honor to come out your way. I'll wait to hear from you. Thanks. :-))

Pat - thanks for the great comment, my Mom is a vey special lady, she really enjoyed her Birthday at the forest. I think that was obvious from the photos and video. Next, she wants to go to the Safari in Santa Rosa. That will have to wait till after the NAR event in Florida. Thank you so much for your kind words and comment. Made my night! :-)

SEP

2008

Hey Brad,

I Just wrote a post about you. Please take the time to check it out the link is:

ARCHIE LOGO

http://activerain.com/blogsview/714194/The-ARchie-Awards-have

Thanks,

Marlene

Marlene - what a great idea...the ARchie Awards, thanks for the great post! I also left you a comment there. Have a great week. :-)

Thanks Brad! Great info for us newbies. Trying to take in all I can and the best use of this terrific media. Still learning, and enjoying every minute of it!

Debi

I'm bookmarking this to go over later ... TONS of the best stuff (as always!) pippa

SEP

2008

Nice blog or refresh for all parties. Have a great week.

Brad - definately one of the best advantages about joining the Rain is having access to someone like you. Being a newbie to both the Rain as well as blogging and social networking, if I ever have a question and/or concern about what I'm doing or what I'm looking for, I can always ask you and get the straight dope.

wonderfully helpful - many thanks - I'm about 2 weeks on AR - absolutely love it !!

Donne - that was a very nice comment and appreciated more than you know. You know my door is always open to you or any member that needs help.

.....but I have to tell you, I don't do any straight dope! hahaha!! :-)

Steve - welcome to AR and your new on-line Journey/Adventure. Enjoy the networking and community.

OCT

2008

Hi Brad, perhaps I am jumping the gun on asking this questions since I have not been through all of the helpful videos that you have. However, I thought you could direct me to where I need to go (since all the info is a bit overwhelming). I purchased a neighborhood on Localism but it just doesn't look right. My blogs are not direct to it and I would also like to have neighborhood specific blogs that simply show up on this site. Do you have directions somewhere to make this happen or can you recommend which videos I should be watching for this? Thanks, Angela

Angela - there are no specific videos on this, but by selecting the Localism pull-down option when you post on AR, you can select State, County, City and neighborhood. This will allow for your posts to hopefully show up in those areas. Contact me if this does not make sense or if you need additional help. Thanks. :-)

OCT

2008

Great service oriented post.

Segmented, bite-sized, clear.

Liked the PRWeb bit most, its a piece I've been working on for a while.

Thanks.

Thanks for the great post. Every time I read one of yours , I get some great information to help me understand more.

OCT

2008

Brad, I always learn so much from you and I apprecitate all the information. I have one problem I can't seem to figure out. I have done a market trend report in word. I have added color to it. I have copied and pasted and it does not down load the color in the blog. I see where a lot of people have colored text and blocks and I don't know how to do this. If you could help me out I would greatly apprecitate it.

OCT

2008

Brad,

Thanks for this information. Question: Where do the blogs we do on active rain go?

OCT

2008

Vickie - to add color to text there are different ways to do this. Most use the html code which looks like this:

<font color="blue"> and the end tag would look like </font color="Blue>

Word copy and paste can actually cause other issues as it contains code sometimes that is not compatible with the WYSIWYG or HTML format on AR. Katerina Gassett uses a program called NVU to do some of her posts that include colored and enhanced fonts, you might want to check that out as well. I recommend straight clean HTML for what you're trying to do. I hope this helps. :-)

Sheila - they go right here on AR. They will show up on your "My Blog" page. The link is located in the upper left hand side of your screen when you're on the "My Home" page. You should take a look at the "Getting Started" link on the Main Page of ActiveRain, it will help you get up and running here. :-)

NOV

Thanks for your Knowledge. I am new to Active rain and want to use video as much as possible.

Hi Brad,

I love the logic and organization of your presentations. You make it easy to learn and remember the information because it is lined up in sequence as to how you need to learn the information. As a teacher in my previous career, this is a difficult concept for people to learn when making presentations. Thank you.

NOV

Benjamin - let me know if you need any help at all. :-)

Derenda - thank you so much. That was a very kind and complimenting comment, I really appreciate that. :-)

DEC

Thanks for the info. Very helpful to gain access to these videos.

DEC

Brad, I apperciate all your help. Thanks and keep it up!

DEC

Awesome info. Thanks.

Jenny

JAN

Great Site! Do you have something on localism? I don't seem to be able to navigate to the spot that tells you how!!

Thanks,

Cindy

JAN

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the incredible info.

I'd appreciate any feedback you can provide on this new tool called the Blog Comment Assistant for Real Estate:
http://www.domaindrivers.com/BlogCommentAssistant/BlogCommentAssistant.html

What an amazing post. I'm going to need to sub-catagorize my bookmarkers (nice idea, no?)

Where WERE you last year dahling?!! What great information for newbies Brad--all while you're living it up in New York!! What a life!

Debe in Charlotte

Cindy - I do, there are a bunch of tutorials on my AR profile page. You can find Localism info there. :-)

Debe - I missed it last year, didn't join the staff until March this year, but sure loving it now!!! :-)

Great new post for beginers.

Brad: What a great collection of videos. I have looked at some of them, and will try and finished the rest of them tomorrow. Thanks for collecting them, and then sharing them. Take care...

Brad - I just want Dr. Frankenstein to hook my brain up to yours and transfer all the information. What a lot---a LOT of information. When will you be coming to Indy?

JAN

Brad - I wish I had seen all this information all together in one spot when I just started out. I just goet back from your video on social bookmarking, a concept that I never really understood until now.