We learned some valuable lessons today about ActiveRain and Blogging.
1) We learned that you never know what topic is going to grab people's attention. Last Friday, we got an email from a friend of ours with a link to the Pumpkin Simulator. We thought it was cute and Patty suggested that we do a blog about it. I was against the idea, believing that it would be frivolous, off-topic and not add value to the AR community. She said that it would be timely, fun and allow people a welcome distraction. Clearly, we did blog about the Pumpkin Simulator and Patty was right. In the first 4 days (including a weekend), we have had more than 400 views and 20 comments. Granted, it's not a blockbuster, but there are definitely people that found some kind of value in the post.
2) We learned that you never know who is going to read your blog. In our case, the Pumpkin Simulator caught the attention of the Managing Editor of RE/MAX Times for RE/MAX International. He sent us a personal email to tell us how much he enjoyed reading our blog and commented, specifically, on the Pumpkin Simulator blog, the Porch Painting blog and our Fluorescent Light blog.
3) We learned that you never know what path your blog post is going to take. Today, our Fluorescent Light blog has been re-blogged once, our Porch Painting blog has been reblogged 5 times, and our Pumpkin Simulator blog was sent out to all RE/MAX agents as part of today's MainStreet Link email, with select headlines from RE/MAX Times Online. Will this get us more business? Will be put any money in our pockets as a result of this? We have no idea! But we are pretty sure that positive exposure to thousands of our colleagues can't hurt us!
4) Perhaps the most important message we take from all is that blogs come in all shapes, sizes and colors ... and they all have a place at AR. Much like our lives, AR needs to have balance. The community benefits from diversity. Diversity of talents, diversity of viewpoints, diversity of content, diversity of all kinds. If you feel motivated to blog about something, DO IT! Someone will see it. Someone will like it. Someone will know just a little more about you, and you never know where that someone will lead you.
Patty & Scott Carroll - RE/MAX Equity Group, Vancouver WA
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HI PATTY!
That is so true. I did a post on the grand opening of a new best buy in my area and received an email from the general manager thanking me. I also did another post and received a call from a corporate office in CA about a teaching program. So, you really never know who you're going to reach! Blogging & blogging on AR, the possibilites are endless!
All the best,