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The "NEW" ActiveRain Blog Customizer - Version 2.0

By Brad Andersohn

Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

September 30, 2008 05:47 AM

YEAH! The "NEW" AR Blog Customizer was released over the weekend, and is now up and running. Thanks to Brad Carroll over at Dakno, the AR Blog Customizer was birthed a few months ago, and added to the network allowing members to customize the headers and backgrounds of their Blogs. In fact, it was such a hit, we ended up taking too much space on Brad's company server.

So, we have had to move all the data and information over to our own ActiveRain servers. You may have noticed that if you were using the 1.0 version, you would get a "temporarily unavailable" message. Not any more, you will no longer have to go to ActiveRainCustomizer.com.

The ActiveRain Blog Customizer:

5 EASY STEPS:

1. Go to your "My Home" page and you'll see the "CUSTOMIZE" Blog link:

2. Click "Browse" to find and select your Blog Background Image on your Computer

Your current Background Image will be displayed - We added a "NEW" delete option
(Your Background Image will "Tile" if too small, "Cut-off" if too large - you'll need to just experiment)

3. Select your Custom Colors to match your Design and Blogs' Personality

4. Next, Import Your Header or Customized Image

(Best Header/Banner Size is 950w x 125h)

You can create custom headers and images easily at Picnic.com,

or by using your own photo or image editing software.

5. Click "Save Changes" and you're DONE!

REMINDER: You no longer have to go to ActiveRainCustomizer.com
YOU CAN REMOVE THE SCRIPT FROM YOUR BLOG DESCRIPTION BOX NOW >>>>>

The "NEW" AR Blog Customizer is very easy to use, and very stable. No more logging in or passwords. You can now make modifications and changes to your Blog as regularly as you like. You WILL need to be logged into ActiveRain in order to use the New 2.0 Customizer. Thanks for your patience while we made these upgrades and changes, I know many members will be excited about this post and the new customizer.

I know where you're going next... LOL~

HUGE Kudos to Jorgen Hahn, VP of product development, who has been working non-stop these past couple weeks to get this completed. Please take a moment to thank him, you have no idea what he goes through on a daily basis just dealing with technical issues and staff like me. (ha-ha) It can be a thankless job at times, and I truly appreciate all his hard work and efforts keeping the "Rain" up and running "Raining!"

BTW - As an added bonus today, you'll notice Jorgen also cleaned up all of our "Tag" clouds by creating a pull down menu on your side bar. This keeps our Blogs neat, clean and tidy. Wasn't sure if anyone noticed this new feature, I think it looks and works great! Thanks Jorgen.

Here are the Details regarding the "TAGS" and "SEO" for the curious. :-)

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M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)

NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ

Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS

The header size doesn't seem to work for me. Wahhh. Is there a conversion I am missing?

Jul 03, 2010 07:14 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Tina - yes, the sidebar of the blogs can be edited with widgest and imges etc by going to the settings link and adding the appropriate html codes there.

M. Suzi - the header image must be exactly 930x130 or you will get an error message.

Jul 03, 2010 12:36 PM

M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)

NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ

Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS

Thanks. This may sound like an imbecile--is it pixels, the px? By the way, do you know how to change the header in a blogspot blog? (Couldn't help asking)

Jul 06, 2010 07:58 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

M. Suzi - it is px. Regarding Blogspot headers, you'll need to use the CSS or HTML formating depending on which theme you have chosen.

Jul 06, 2010 08:13 AM

Donna Cox

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Rand Realty - Nyack, NY

Did ActiveRain change its blog settings? I went to post a new Blog today and the only visibility options I am being offered are : Drafts, Members Only or Associates Only. Public is not an option. Also, when I check the localism box, it used to give me the drop down box for the region, city, etc. I'm not getting that now. What am I doing wrong? It's only been a couple of months since my last post and the whole process seems different. Help would be appreciated!!!

Jul 24, 2010 03:05 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Donna - The public posts and Localism options will only appear if you're a rainmaker member, all the other options are still the same. If you want to become a rainmaker, just click on the link and you're in. http://arpromo.com/rainmakerdiscount

Jul 24, 2010 03:46 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Donna, I took the liberty to look at your post, and it has been approximately 94 days since your last post on April 20, 2010. Your new post is dated today, July 24, 2010. Active Rain implemented a new policy semi-recently that said that if it has been more than ninety days since your last blog post... your "Rainmaker" membership may lapse.

I am not fully sure of how it works, this may have something to do with it. Either Bob Stewart or Brad put out a post on the change in policy, and those who were grandfathered or grandmothered. You probably need to find that for reverence.

Sorry to butt in here, but I thought I might be able to help. :)

Jul 24, 2010 04:14 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Donna - Karen is correct.

After checking your AR Blog just now, it shows you joined AR before the new policy and rainmaker plan kicked in so you were automatically grandfathered in. The AR CEO said any grandfathered members of AR would be Free rainmakers for life so I have reinstated your rainmaker membership.

Make sure you post something today so that the system will not reset back thinking you are no longer active. You will need to post something at least every quarter (90 days) or the system will reset your status back. It's an automated process that was setup by the AR programmer.

(I suggest posting 2-3 times a week for the best results)

If you need any additional help or have any questions, my email and number are over on the sidebar, don't hesitate to contact me anytime.

Jul 24, 2010 04:28 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Donna - Karen is correct.

(I suggest posting 2-3 times a week for the best results)

If you need any additional help or have any questions, my email and number are over on the sidebar, don't hesitate to contact me anytime.

Jul 24, 2010 04:28 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Donna - Karen is correct.

(I suggest posting 2-3 times a week for the best results)

If you need any additional help or have any questions, my email and number are over on the sidebar, don't hesitate to contact me anytime.

Jul 24, 2010 04:28 AM

Jane Becker

Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge - Worcester, MA

CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI

When it's easy to follow, and eay to use, I'm there. Thanks for the instructions

Aug 01, 2010 07:17 AM

Lynne Pope

eXp realty, MFA,Hermosa Beach,Redondo Beach,South Bay - Los Angeles, CA

"Out of the Blue" solutions for perfect homes

you keep me running along....gallop apace my merry footed steed!

Thanks so much

Lynne pope

Aug 18, 2010 06:48 PM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Lynne - I always love getting your comments, you make me feel so worthy and important!! <BIG SMILE>

Aug 19, 2010 05:12 AM

Dennis Martin, J.D.

Real Estate One Charlevoix - Charlevoix, MI

Thank you! I could not figure this out. (What can I say?)

Sep 04, 2010 11:33 AM

Patti Lyles

Century 21 Showcase, REALTORS® - Santa Cruz, CA

DIVORCE, SHORT SALE, FORECLOSURE SPECIALIST

Can I get bonus points for customizing my Active Rain blog?

Sep 08, 2010 11:32 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Patti - that's not a bad idea! We should have a contest for the "Best" and "Worst" looking customized AR Blogs. Bonus points would be awarded to all entries but extra points to the two winners as voted by the AR membership. Maybe you should run that idea by the AR staff at support@activerain.com??? :-))

Sep 09, 2010 04:49 AM

Carol Gifford

Creative Edge Home Staging - Madison, WI

Madison and Dane Cty. WI

As I've been reading others blogs I was always wondering how they created such interesting backgrounds and now I know. Better yet, I think it actually possible for me to figure this out!! Thanks.

Jun 04, 2011 03:53 PM

Monica Atherton

eXp Realty - Georgetown, TX

Your Georgetown Real Estate Gal

This was great info. I uploaded my logo found that it wouldn't fit. I went to Picnik, resized and reuploaded. YAY!!! Thanks! :)

Jul 05, 2011 06:25 AM

Roberta (Bobye) Chasey

Chasey Realty Inc. - Holmes Beach, FL

GRI,ePRO,SRES,SFR

Thanks so MUCH for the help. Can't wait to fully customize my profile!

Jul 12, 2011 07:28 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hey Roberta - having the ability to customize your profile and make it unique will help you stand out above the crowd. Good luck and have fun!! :-)

Jul 12, 2011 08:10 AM