Testing the comments from the outside world.  Just making sure visitors can comment on this post.

Bill - you should be able to use your name now.  There is a space for you to enter the domain name and a link to the nameserver instructions now.  It should be working ok.  Let me know...   :-)

Bruce - great point and observation my friend. 

Fran - not all wisdom, but hopefully enough to keep you coming back, check out Jon's most recent post.

Jo - we're looking forward to seeing the results of our outside group blog.  SEO is the clainm to fame, we'll see how we do.  :-)

Kris - the ActiveRainGuide is something I have wanted to do for a long time now and just didn't have the means or resources to pull it off.  Now we do.  I'm really excited about it.

June, I totally agree, thanks for the thought transference.  lol~

Christopher and Stephanie - that's was a fine compliment, thank you.  We're not worthy...ok, maybe...  :-)

Debbie - each of us will still have our own AR Blogs, but we'll post the proper content in the proper locations.  If I do a post showing how to get wine out of the carpet, it probably won't end up on our group Blog or on my individual outside blog, most likely just my AR Blog.  If I post a tutorial, it will most likely go on the ActiveRainGuide Blog and not the others etc. etc. 

We may put a link to it at some point on the main page, that's not a bad idea.  Thanks.  :-)

Diane - when we launch the ActiveRainGuide next week, I will be moving some posts over that were already created, but since many things on AR have changed lately, many will have to be rewritten.  Outside Blogs now being ActiveBlogs is a perfect example.  I will be contacting a few of our other tutorial writing members to see if they'll be contributing as guest authors on the ActiveRainGuide Blog as well.  Keep your eyes out.  :-)

Anne Marie - we are all blessed in many but different ways by this network, I too am very proud to be a part of this community and family.  I have a passion for this place and for many of these people here, I can honestly say that AR has completely changed my life and the proof is right here in my Blog.  :-))

Russ - that will be one good benefit, I see a few others as well.

Jason - thanks for doing that, I'm glad you confirmed it works.  We should talk later, couple things I can let you know about that are coming up and you might be interested.

Vickie - don't forget to check our individual blogs too, not EVERYTHING from each of us will be posted to the group, that's the beauty of ActiveBlogs, AR Blogs, and Localism, you can post what you want and place it where it needs to be. 

My RE Tech Stuff will post to my RENetBlog, my AR Tutorials and how to posts will go to ActiveRainGuide.com and my AR news, updates, musings, gossip etc can go to ActiveRainTeam.com.  Localism is the next big project for our group so I am preparing to start writing Local and Community event info.  One blog platform with the ability to post just like normal, but have every option and placement possible available, I think we may be a bit ahead of our time, but I love it.

Shawn - we're happy you are here, I think you'll be even happier here in the very near future.  :-)

Matt - I was going to add c) How to do this yourself, but A & B seemed like enough.  C is on the way.  lol~

Matt - since the outside Blogs are syndicated from posts within ActiveRain, you can just subscribe with the AR Subscribe feature.  With a group Blog, on your own domain name, the only way would be an RSS feed or an email subscribe like feedburner or feedblitz.  The ability to add such widgets is coming next....   :-)

Audrey - you can always contact me if you need help with any of the things you are signed up with here on AR.  I have always had tutorials and how to's on my profile here on AR, and thought now would be a good time to take advantage of the ActiveBlogs to not only share my posts and how to's but share other contributors as well.  Watch for the ActiveRainGuide.com launch next week. 

The AR Team Blog will be great to have as one place for all our posts that are relevent to the network and what's going on with each of us and as a group.  This is all new and exciting, I can't wait to see where it takes us next.  BTW - I really enjoyed meeting you in NYC, hope we can do it again sometime soon. :-)

Finally my blog-fearing co-workers will group together and do THIS! I'm trying to get it all figured out...How can we get out logo up if it's not one of the selections?

Mara - I am putting together a tutorial now.  You can select a non branded theme from the library when you set these up. There are 2 that aren't branded, and you can always replace the header and photos to whatever you want.  I should have the post up showing how to do this by the end of the weekend. :-)

Brad..I'm coming around to the idea, but I'm very independent and I'm not likely to purchase a new model till the kinks are all worked out. Be patient with us and we will follow when a winning thought is in deed proved a winner. Only comment on the line up..Claire needs to be in the middle of you guys not at the end, she will keep the ball rolling you might as well admit it from the start.

Steve - there are only a couple kinks left and they should be worked out by this weekend.  Regarding the comment about Claire, she needs to be at the top, and she will be when she writes and adds a post to the new Blog.  The contributors sidebar always moves the most recent contributor to the top.  Most group Blogs who are multi-authored work that way. 

You can click on anyone of the links next to the photo of that contributor to just read that contributors posts.  I'll plant a bug in her ear to add some office gossip when she gets a chance!  lol~  :-)

Karen - I just tried both links in this post and her photo and link both took me right to her Outside Blog page.  You can also click on her link at the AR Team blog and it will take you to her about me page.

Localism is the next big project endeavor for our entire staff.  It's coming, we are doing our best here, and with the limited resources we have, I think the team is doing a great job!!  (gloat gloat)  :-)

Jeff - you mean to tell me you never leave the AR site?  Funny thing, I actually believe that!!  lol~

Margaret - no calling in sick!  haha  I wanted to thank you for sending me your new book!  One was sent to my office in WA. and is being forwarded to me by Claire.  The other you sent to my home arrived just before I headed out to NYC.  I'm really enjoying it and wanted to say thanks for the autographed copy.  I can say I knew Margaret when.....     :-)

Dona - it will be fun indeed!  Thanks.

You guys have made so many changes lately that I'm giving up on trying to figure out anything else.

Lisa - it's true, we are the only network on the planet that offers all the features to our members that we do.  There is NO other platform that includes all these tools ie: Listing router, referral exchange, SEO, Free Blogs, Outside Blogs, Localism, etc. etc.  The only one's we charge for now are Outside Blogs.  All the other paid items and services are optional.  If you sold one house or converted just one lead thanks to your efforts and ours here, having this FREE platform available has most certainly paid off for you.  I know it has for me and for many others.

I've never paid for a blog, and never will so that's not an option.

Aren't you glad that buyers and sellers don't think like this when it comes to working with a REALTOR®???
No one says you have to pay for anything, that's the beauty of AR and the ability to make choices. 

The choice is always yours.

Roland - you can probably see how this would work for a Broker, an office, a Real Estate Team, Property Specialists etc.  We are setting the trend here, it's where the future is headed.  Group and Team blogs will become very competitive because we all know that multiple voices combined together carries great power. 

Almost every one here has commented how nice it will be to have all our stuff in one location, one stop shop etc.  Now think how the consumer would feel if they saw your group blog in the same light. 

I think the point has been driven home based on the consensus and comments here. There's Value!!

People like to have information and access to it ALL in one spot, or one stop shop.  The group Blogs are really the way to go in my opinion.  Look what agentgenius, zillow, bloodhound, raincityguide, mytechopinion and many others have done, now the Brokers, REALTORS, and other members have a chance to do the same thing right here.

Why learn something new, a new platform, build from scratch, no support, no SEO, no CSS or HTML knowledge, spend hours recreating the wheel, when we got it all covered for our members. There is no other Real Estate network that can provide the value, tools, products and services that we do for our members.  I have yet to find one that compares and I am on many.  :-)

Dale - thanks for sharing that my friend.  SEO will only get better for everyone.  Even comments are now getting picked up and my google alerts have gone off the hook.  The links at the top of your toolbar on AR work on the main AR page, but not on your individual Blog site. 

Internet Explorer has an issue with them and the guys know about it and will have it fixed shortly. 

FYI - the topbar links work fine in Firefox.  I think they might have that fixed this weekend, at least I'm hoping so.  The one's that don't work are Search, Groups, Blogs, and My Home.  The channels and states pulldowns should be fine.  I'll stay on it and make sure we get that fixed.  :-)

Amber - if you need any help with it, call me.  I am working on a step-by-step tutorial right now and hope to have it up after I get finished commenting around the network today.  It should make setting up an individual or group Blog very simple.  You know where to reach me if you need anything at all.  :-))

Deb, Suzanne, & Virginia - I know you just want the gossip!  lol~  I'm sure we'll be getting to that soon...  In fact Jon has posted some pretty good gossip there already, go check it out.  ActiveRainTeam.com.  :-)

Dorie - This would be perfect for brokers.

Mike - I couldn't agree more!  lol~

Barb - If you love one stop shop, just think what your clients will feel when they see yours.  :-)

Rebecca - we should be contributing regularly to our new blog, thanks for checkin in every once in a while.

Teri - I should have a tutorial out in the next day or so, been away on personal stuff this weekend.  This IS serious stuff and I think you'll be seeing some great success stories here in the very near future from both individual and group/team blogs.  :-)

Kris - the puzzle pieces are coming together nicely now, always takes a couple days to work out the kinks.

Maggie - it is long overdue and is still part of ActiveRain, but what better way to test out the new ActiveBlogs than to have our own.  We can test and measure the results regarding SEO, traffic, content, plus benefit members and us by having it all in one place. 

Laura - thanks, and adding it to your browser toolbar is a great idea, I bet many people don't know how to do that.  Maybe you could write a post and we could have you add it to our ActiveRainGuide.com Blog when we launch it next week.  Also, thanks for the great flyer you did for my trip to Omaha, you're are one Rockin Virtual Assistant and will get my referrals and endorsement every time!  (Mwa!)

Barbara - the trip was great, and the people there in Omaha were awesome.  Thanks.

John - I hope we get a lot of hits, not just for the SEO and tracking, but to also help keep our members and community informed. 

Jeff - we love your visits always and anytime.  I'll be calling you next week to discuss a couple things ideas, hope you're having a great weekend and not working too hard.  The weather up north has been beautiful.  :-)

Active Rain I truly think is the best resource for an agent right now out there, its like an encyclopedia of information that is cutting edge and relevant.

Morgan - What a great testimonial comment, I couldn't have said it any better myself!  :-)

Teresa - he looks great in that suit, much better than the Santa Hat photo, but of course I liked that one too.  I'm still a rebel and anti-suit fanatic since I had to wear one for 22 years at First American.  Yet another great reason I love my job at ActiveRain. lol~

David - great talking to you today, my guess is that it has something to do with your Safari Browser since it worked ok using Firefox.  :-)