User12507_16_t Jeff Turner
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polldaddy.com imageI've been searching for a good polling widget for a long time and I think I finally found one.

PollDady.com is the best implementation of polling software I've seen for blogs. I've tested 6 or 7 others over the past few months, each time with some degree of dissatisfaction. Either they would not post easily to the sidebar or they forced you to go to their website to view the results. We all go to a lot of trouble to get people to visit our blog posts. The last thing we need is to install something that forces them to leave!

PollDaddy.com does not. You can view the results right here on this page, without being taken to their site. There are also 14 different templates for their polls and changing the template dynamically changes the look on your site. You don't need to copy a new version of the code to see the new look. That's a major plus.  

So, after a quick test in private, I decided to do a public test here on ActiveRain... with a question I'm dying to know the answer to:

How much time do you spend per day on ActiveRain?

This is an anonymous poll, so don't be afraid to tell the truth. No one is going to point fingers and say, "Holy crap, how do you get any real work done?" If you're like me, you have a significant other who already asks that question.

So, take the poll over in my sidebar >>>

I have taken this poll down from my sidebar. Here is the link.
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=27460

And if you have been looking for a good polling widget, go check out PollDaddy.com.

:: 

Technical note: The sidebar widget being used for this poll uses their "Javascript Method" for posting the poll. This is their preferred method. They also have a "Flash Method" that uses an embed code. As you can see, the Javascript version works great here on ActiveRain. However, neither of those methods are supported in the body of a blog on ActiveRain.  

 
Posted by Jeff Turner on 04/08/2007 11:53 PM   Comments (53)   polldaddy, polling  

53 Comments on How Much Time Do You Spend On ActiveRain? A PollDaddy Poll

Jeff- I too have wondered how much time my fellow ActiveRainers spend here each day. I will have to check back in a few days to see the results.

04/08/2007 11:55 PM by Debi Braulik (Tacoma Real Estate) (Keller Williams Realty)

I am not sure it took my answer ans nothing seemed to change until I hit the comment - great idea - I too wonder - will come back to see the results.

 

04/08/2007 11:58 PM by Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers, Broker (RE/MAX Sunset Realty La Pine)

Jeff T.. too much time :)   but not really.. its toning down a bit. life is getting in the way . haha

so again, the techmaster brings a new tool to the techie dude.  i'm the latter, btw :)  later gator..

04/09/2007 12:01 AM by Nick M -Realtor®-Appraiser in West Palm- South Florida Real Estate Appraiser (Certified Residential Appraiser- West Palm Beach Real Estate)

Great tool.  Note to Rainers: I had to reload page to view results after I voted.  I'll be back tose reults agin in a few days ;)

04/09/2007 12:01 AM by Michelle DeRepentigny, *Associate Broker/Broker * Athens, GA (ERA Classic City Realty)

Debi... yeah. I'm sure the sample won't be large enough to be statistically significant, but it will be interesting none the less. 

Thesa, vote again. If you've already voted and it counted, it won't count it again. I have it set to only allow one vote per computer.

04/09/2007 12:01 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Nick... I almost put a "too much time" option, but I thought that would attract too many replies. :)

Michelle... you may want to see if it actually took your vote. I was making changes immediately after I posted, so it may have had some impact. I didn't expect such a fast response! :) 

04/09/2007 12:04 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

you always find the coolest gadgets ever!  Are you one of those gadget people that always have the latest phone, the latest laptop?..the latest baby monitor? or does this only apply to cool technical stuff that's not really physical? 

04/09/2007 12:05 AM by Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate (Majestic Properties)

Too much time, but looking forward to the results.

04/09/2007 12:08 AM by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Your Washington Co. Real Estate Expert) (Kastings & Associates)

Ines, if you saw my phone, or the tv in my house, you'd know the answer to that question. My phone is scary old and we refuse to replace our tv until it falls apart. I'm not joking, no remotes work with our tv and the front panel that controls the volume and changes channels is falling off. But I've got a brand new Mac Pro to type these posts with! :) 

04/09/2007 12:09 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

I don't know if I would want to know the time I spend on the Rain. Somedays seems like all day, then I go a few days without, but always spend more time when I log than I intend to, just another Rain-addict.

04/09/2007 12:09 AM by Michael Jordan (Tarbell, REALTORS)

Michael, my bet is that someone at AR could tell each of us exactly how long we're logged in each day based on session data. That's just my guess. :)

04/09/2007 12:13 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Jeff, will you be leading up the support groups for those of us that might go over 3 hours a day?  Kinda like an ARA (Active Rain Anonymous)?  Maybe a 12 step program. 

Its hard knowing exactly how much time I really spend on it.  I usually have at least a dozen windows open.  Again, back the real reason... the polling widget... Jeff keeping us up on the latest buzz... thanks!

04/09/2007 12:18 AM by Bob Carney Licensed MD/PA Real Estate Agent (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.)

I just booked 50 rooms in the AR wing of the Betty Ford Clinic.  First come First served!!!

04/09/2007 12:21 AM by Laurie Manny, Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Condos (Main Street Realtors Long Beach California)

Book me Laurie, book me.

04/09/2007 12:55 AM by Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker (First Choice Equity Group Inc.)

2 rooms down

04/09/2007 01:25 AM by Laurie Manny, Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Condos (Main Street Realtors Long Beach California)

I too have wondered how long other active rain members spend on this site....I would love to know the average time....Hope to see the results posted.

04/09/2007 01:29 AM by Bruce Edgerly (Ogunquit Sunrise Properties)

We're going to have to come up with a nickname like "Toolman" Turner. Polldaddy, Flickr, Twitter, Jott, Library Thing ... you've brought some really neat gadgets into the Rain!

04/09/2007 01:34 AM by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

Interesting question.  I suspect some of the folks who build communities galore in localism spend lots of time.  Those who just post and blog, my guess somewhere in the 30-60 minute range.

04/09/2007 01:39 AM by Kaushik Sirkar (Call Realty, Inc.)

That was pretty good Jeff, again, thanks for another new cool tool we can use. I'll check it out to see if it will work with wordpress.

04/09/2007 05:27 AM by Jay McGillicuddy~Real Estate Broker (Prudential Verani Realty)

Less time than you do my friend.  You need a 15 min. a day option on your poll.

04/09/2007 05:44 AM by Teresa Boardman (Keller Williams)

Laurie, put me down for one.

Jeff, so cool!!  Looks like the vote is pretty evenly distributed right now. 

You know I'll be sitting around thinking of what I can poll people about today ... OH!  Never mind.  That didn't take long ... :o)  Thanks!

04/09/2007 06:13 AM by Sarah Cooper (Real Estate Shows)

Kaushik is right on the money.  I've been building a lot of local content and spend more time than usual the last few weeks.

04/09/2007 06:50 AM by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Keller Williams Elite Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)

Jeff-That's awesome!  According to my family I spend too much time there!  Honestly I spend a good 10 hours a week.  For me it is an information source that enhances my training.  Yes I have swiped a few ideas of yours.  I do give credit where credit is due.  So Thanks Jeff Turner!

04/09/2007 07:59 AM by Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Trainer (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty)

Bob... I'm a multi-tasker myself, so I'm almost always doing two or three things at a time clamoring for my attention. Unless I'm in full conceptual mode, I flutter around from one thing to another. 

Laurie... don't book me a room yet. First, I'd have to admit I have a problem. That's the key to any 12-step program. :)

Bruce... I hope we get enough responses to make it worth writing about. Write now, 24 responses. Which really deserves a post all on it own. What is the true number of ActiveRain participant. We know how many members there are, but how many get past setting up their profile?

John... whatever you come up with as a nickname, please just be kind. :)

Kaushik... I'll spend more time today, than I would other days, since I've written a bunch of posts recently. I spend way more time replying to comments than actually writing the posts. But, this is where the meat is.

Jay... please let us know. I have blogs set up on Blogger, Typepad, and Wordpress (both hosted and self hosted), but often don't test each gadget in all places. Thanks!

Teresa... 15 minutes is less than 30 minutes. And I think you spend more than 15 minutes per day writing comments on my posts alone. :)

Sarah.... that was fast!  Sarah's poll on Dog limit laws is here. 

Chris... I think we all go in spurts. Personally, I spend the bulk of my time writing for four different blogs: here, on our RES Blog, my poetry site, and StopChildSlavery.com. Some days I spend more time than I probably should on any one of them! I'm also posting many times a day nw to this new site I just created based on Tumblr: JustDugUp.com.  That one is fun to do because it's so simple and allows me to "talk" about things I run into as I'm cruising around the web. Of course, there's The JottBlog Experiment and the four test sites outside of the real estate industry and working with my Project Blogger. Now, if only there weren't a company to run as well... boy that's a scary thought.

I get to submit with Passion.. seems appropriate right now! 

 

04/09/2007 08:07 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Midori, thank you!

04/09/2007 08:08 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Hi Jeff, Thanks for the idea. I will go to polldaddy and see about a poll to put in this weeks email newsletter I send to all my clients. Maybe that way i can see how many people actually read all of it or want more of certain features. This will be fun!

04/09/2007 08:19 AM by Lizette Fitzpatrick, Lexington KY Real Estate (Central Kentucky - Prudential Don Foster - Richmond KY)

Another Cool Widget from a Cool Guy. Although I have not had time to implement the last several cool ideas you have given. I do have them all bookmarked though. Thanks Jeff I hope you had a great Easter.c

04/09/2007 08:22 AM by Downtown Portland Real Estate Broker~Herb Hamilton (RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)

OK.....so you are computer gadget dude......everything else doesn't matter.....is that what your saying? 

04/09/2007 08:30 AM by Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate (Majestic Properties)

great poll... I likey!

  1. I think your poll could have been
  2. Not enough time to make an impact
  3. I love to play around during my breaks
  4. I can find myself on Google - on page 91! up from 101!
  5. Wow... this stuff works
  6. Zzzz... wha!? cool, 100 more comments!

 

04/09/2007 09:44 AM by Boca Raton & Lake Worth Florida Real Estate Broker

Lizette.. you go girl!

Herb... thank you. We had a wonderful Easter here. Lots of friends and neighbors over!

Ines... yes, that is correct. Eventually it will all just be one big computer anyway. :)

David... nice. 

04/09/2007 11:38 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

I got it to work on wordpress. It works just like you were to put it in a you tube video. Pretty slick.

04/09/2007 11:48 AM by Jay McGillicuddy~Real Estate Broker (Prudential Verani Realty)

Jeff

Thanks for the interesting info.

04/09/2007 02:22 PM by Gary J Rocks (Sussex County Real Estate)

LOL! I've wondered this myself. For me....its tooo much time. I'll check back to see the results. Wow fun!

Have a great day! 

 

04/09/2007 02:47 PM by Luisa Orellana, Escrow Officer, Camden Escrow (Camden Escrow)

Great stuff, Jeff. I did notice that some people voted but didn't comment. whassupwithat?

04/09/2007 03:19 PM by John Evarts (Classic Property Management of Santa Clarita)

You always have the coolest gadgets and gizmo's posts! Thanks!

04/09/2007 04:16 PM by Coeur d'Alene Real Estate - Come Live the Life Style - Christina Ethridge (David Swarat's North Idaho Dream Team (GMAC))

Great tool.My time spent on AR depends. Could be over an hour and a half a day to 10 mn. 

04/09/2007 07:49 PM by LLoyd Nichols~SW Florida Homes (Right Choice Realty LLC)

Part of my time on AR is time spent on my business, the other part is time spent on my butt.  I need both on a regular basis.

04/09/2007 10:14 PM by Art Blanchet - Wisconsin Lender & Radio Guy (YourHome-YourMoney.com - sponsored by Robbins & Lloyd)

Jeff, cool tool!  I seem to be in the 37% bracket.  :-)

04/09/2007 10:36 PM by Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty)

Jay... thanks. I commented on your other blog, but wanted to say thanks for testing it!

Gary, thank you.

Luisa... yeah, too much time would be the popular choice if it were available. I guarantee that!

John... well it shows up on every blog post, so that's bound to happen. :)

Christina, Lloyd, Art and Irina... thanks. It's a cool little tool.  

04/09/2007 11:09 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Jeff - good question. I do this in spurts. I may not give AR a look for 10 days. Then I spent 4 hours on a sleepless night. Like tonight.

04/10/2007 04:09 AM by Gerhard Ade (Coldwell Banker Bain)

Thanks Jeff for such an awesome tool.  I simply love AR. The time spent here has been great free fun and informative information. I am new, so you know I spend too much time here.

04/10/2007 05:35 AM by Michelle Maddox - Fayetteville Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives)

Gerhard, I find many are like you in that regard... the time is spent in spurts.

Michelle, this too shall pass. :) 

04/10/2007 08:37 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

I'm one of the people who uses Active Rain sporadically. Some days, I don't go on at all, other days, I'm on for a while. Once I get on AR, it is difficult to log off because I keep reading or writing blogs.

04/11/2007 12:59 PM by Rich Quigley CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES (Baird & Warner)

Thanks for the poll. Interesting to know that I am not the only AR addict...

 

04/11/2007 02:50 PM by Michelle Minch Home Staging Pasadena & Los Angeles, CA (Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA)

Rich... many times I've found myself saying, "I'll just read this post and then go to bed." Then something in the post requires that I go somewhere else to understand the context of their words and the next thing you know, another hour is gone. Dangerous.

Michelle... you're definitely not alone. 

04/11/2007 10:58 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Rich... many times I've found myself saying, "I'll just read this post and then go to bed." Then something in the post requires that I go somewhere else to understand the context of their words and the next thing you know, another hour is gone. Dangerous.

Michelle... you're definitely not alone. 

04/11/2007 10:58 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Interesting, instant polling results. I'll have to start using this tool!

04/12/2007 06:18 PM by Gary Smith, Realtor® (RE/MAX Platinum)

Interesting---I'm sure we all don't spend the same amount of time every day.  For me, it kind of comes down to how busy I am with other activities (like Real Estate.)

04/12/2007 08:44 PM by Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton (Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC)

thanks for sharing this tool. I had not seen this before.

05/02/2007 02:56 PM by A Crye-Leike Blogger, Angie Vandenbergh (Crye-Leike, Realtors)

I always wondered... thank you for the info!

05/03/2007 12:37 AM by Leigh Bates, DFW Real Estate (Keller Williams)

Gary... it's a very simple to use service as well. Very intuitive.

Diane... you are like most here, I think. We make the most of the opportunities that present themselves. There are days that researching here on AR can take me some amazing places. If I have the time, I let it.

Angie... as I said to Gary, it's also very simple.

Leigh... my pleasure! 

05/03/2007 09:43 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

Just voted. Hope this helps.

05/06/2007 03:32 PM by Frank Rubi -Louisiana Real Estate- (7824 Real Estate of Louisiana, llc.)

I have taken this poll down from my sidebar. Here is the link.
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=27460

05/07/2007 11:47 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)

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Real Estate Media: Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)
Jeff Turner
Santa Clarita, CA
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Office Phone: (661) 244-5812
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Helping real estate agents grow their relationships, their network and their businesses by effectively using evocative Internet-based services. I am the President and Founder of RealEstateShows.com.

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