bloggers: Anyone Notice The New "Referral Exchange" Button? - 07/24/07 12:17 AM
I noticed it right away on the home page of ActiveRain this morning when I signed on.
What I also found interesting once clicking on it, was to read the "fine print" sort-to-speak.  "The referral exchange is provided to ActiveRain members as a free service at this time.  At a later date the service will include a flat monthly subscription fee."  So this must be the first of the "paying type" of services ActiveRain will be offering.  People wanted to know how they were making money, looks like this is the first step.
I am curious what are everyones thoughts on this?  Will you … (18 comments)

bloggers: What Kind Of Camcorder Is The Best For Creating Video Tours? - 07/20/07 11:24 PM
I've been hearing more and more mention that Video Tours are better than Virtual Tours.  What do you think?  Do you agree or not?  With Video Tours, you don't have to spend the time stitching the photos together and they can also be uploaded to more places, like YouTube.
We are considering switching from Virtual Tours to Video Tours, but also don't own a Camcorder and the digital camera we have doesn't really take great video recordings.
So what kind of Camcorder are you using?  How good is the quality of videos it creates?  How much did it cost?
I know there are places that you can … (8 comments)

bloggers: How To Be "Invisible" on MyBlogLog - 07/20/07 10:53 PM
If you signed up for MyBlogLog, then you also know that anytime you visit someones blog that is also signed up on MyBlogLog, your picture will show up under the recent readers every single time you visit their blog.
Now, I didn't really care for this option.  Sometimes, I just wanted to pop in and see what new post someone wrote or maybe check back to see what other comments were made on a post that I commented on, and I don't want my face to show up every time I go to that blog!!
So I was getting irritated at this, because it … (11 comments)

bloggers: Welcome To ActiveRain All You Newbies!!! - 07/20/07 09:21 AM
Just wanted to post a quick welcome post to all of the newbies that have joined ActiveRain.  If you haven't started blogging and commenting yet, because you haven't felt like getting your feet wet....now is a good time to start!
Start by posting your very first post to your blog and introduce yourself to everyone.  It's not hard, just a quick Hi this is me, and I am new here" is all it takes to get people to welcome you here.  We don't bite!  Start posting and commenting, we want to hear from you!  Really, we do!
Also if you're new around here, … (3 comments)

bloggers: Facebook - 07/19/07 07:13 AM
Ok, so I joined Facebook and have no idea what to do with it.  I figured out how to create my profile, add some photos and some other applications.
I also figured out how to search my address book to find people that belong to Facebook and send them a friend request.  However, I can't seem to find any easy way to search for people in general.  Am I missing something along the way that allows you to search new profiles, or people in certain career categories?
I found how to add groups....but there are thousands of them, and a lot of them … (9 comments)

bloggers: FREE STUFF * FREE STUFF * FREE STUFF - 07/14/07 10:47 AM
Here's a list of 10 free things I've come across you might find helpful.  I'm sure there are a lot more, but these were the one's that came to mind right away.
Primo PDF lets you convert to PDF from any application by simply 'printing' to the PrimoPDF® printer - it couldn't be easier! Within minutes, you can create high-quality PDFs by converting from Word, Excel, and virtually any other printable file type. Wufoo is an easy and fast way to build custom forms for your website or blog. With One True Media, effortlessly combine photos and video clips with words and music to personalize … (32 comments)

bloggers: Do you Wufoo? - 07/13/07 07:08 AM
Do you have a website, but no way to create customizable forms to capture your buyers and sellers information?  If so, then you might want to try giving wufoo a whirl!
You can create all kinds of different types of forms to use on your website or blog for that matter.  Listing notifier forms, Customer Satisfaction Survey, Contact forms, Registration forms, CMA request forms, information request forms and just about anything else you could imagine to gather their contact information.
Wufoo allows you to create and customize your forms, so you can create the questions and answers that will show on your forms.
Once … (5 comments)

bloggers: Ziki? What the heck is a Ziki? - 07/11/07 12:46 AM
Ever hear of Ziki?  I certainly hadn't.  With so many websites out there, it's hard to keep track of what's new and which one's I should be joining. 
So what exactly is a Ziki and why should you have one?  "Ziki enables users to create an official webpage (a ziki) which is guaranteed to appear as a top search result on Google, Yahoo! and MSN. This allows our members to create, manage and optimize their online presence & identity."  Click here for a better explanation.  There's even a Ziki Blog.
This was pretty easy to set up.  You basically set up a profile … (11 comments)

bloggers: 2 New Groups Have Been Added To ActiveRain - 07/01/07 09:37 AM
Anyone in Manatee or Hillsborough County in Florida, feel free to join these 2 new groups.  I created one for each County. 
Manatee County and Hillsborough County.
Feel free to post anything having to do with either of the counties.  Listings, market stats, market conditions, neighborhood info, mortgage news & trends, area info, area trends, events, things to do or anything else that has to do with that particular county.
Even if you don't live in the area, but you would like to read information on the area, feel free to join!  Everyone is welcome here!!
  
(3 comments)

bloggers: Happy One Year Anniversary To Me!!! - 06/29/07 11:24 PM
                          One year ago today, I joined ActiveRain.  I remember hearing something about a new real estate networking website called ActiveRain.  I thought, well let me go check this out and see what it's all about.  So I did and decided to sign up.
There weren't very many people signed up at the time.  It was around 700 members at the time (I didn't remember it being that many), but it was definetly growing by the day.  There were 20 of us that signed up on June 30, 2006 to join AR.  I remember Paul Sullins, Bryant Tutas, Jason Ungos, Kristal … (15 comments)

bloggers: The fern and the bamboo - 06/27/07 01:33 AM
Someone just forwarded this to me in an email.  And I thought it was pretty cool!!
One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality..... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
'God', I said. 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?' His answer surprised me...'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes', I replied.'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern … (2 comments)

bloggers: It's So Easy, Even A Caveman Can Do It!! - 06/26/07 12:06 AM
Ok, so have you ever noticed in some of your blog posts, the double spacing sometimes of things that shouldn't be double spaced?  You have no clue on how to fix it, because every time you hit enter, it just automatically double spaces it?  It's annoying and it makes the post look kinda weird sometimes, because there are extra spaces in between things that shouldn't have extra spaces!
Well I have the solution for you!!
After then end of the word that you want to have a single space after it, instead of hitting the enter key, hit the "Shift" key and the … (14 comments)

bloggers: Just wanted to give everyone some inspiration - 06/21/07 09:16 AM
I hope you enjoy this video! May it inspire you to become an even better person than you already are! Remember to be kind to others, be thankful for what you have and to thank others for things they do for you! Live every day like it's your last, and tell the people in your life you love them and are grateful they are in your life! And when the going gets tough, don't ever give up. You can make it. You can do it!
(1 comments)

bloggers: Here's My Blogroll - 06/17/07 12:34 AM
Ok, I thought I would share my blogroll, since a couple of you have shared yours, like Cheryl Johnson & Sarah Cooper.  It's a never ending, growing list of people. 
I try to read a lot of people's blogs that are in Florida, so I can see what else is going on around the state.
I've been getting better about leaving comments on the posts I read.  So I promise, I'll try to start leaving comments on your blogs!!  LOL...
There are a lot of great people here in AR that share a ton of invaluable information, and I am grateful to all of you!  … (17 comments)

bloggers: Are you really that busy? Or are you just plain lazy? - 06/08/07 02:31 AM
Are you really that busy that it took you 3 days to respond to my email about a referral and it's another 3 days later and I still have yet to receive the signed referral form back from you?  Do the math, it's been almost a week!  Or are you just lazy?
Are you really that busy that you can't return my phone call about some questions my buyer has about one of your listings until the next day or two?  Or are you just lazy?
Are you really that busy that I have to look for the Condo Doc's on the Clerk of Courts … (9 comments)

bloggers: Here's yet another brand new real estate network to join - 05/30/07 12:25 AM
Someone emailed me an invite to this real estate network, so I went to check it out.  Seems like it's along the lines of ActiveRain with instant chat added to it.  Also looks like it's brand new too.
This was part of the email sent to me explaining what it is: 
RealEstateRiches is the #1 Social Network for real estate investors! Signup for your FREE Profile and start networking with thousands of real estate professionals Today! RealEstateRiches enables you to: *Network with professionals in REAL TIME via instant messenger! *Post all your listings FREE or browse them for opportunities! *Build strategic networks in the real estate ecosystem! *Meet … (0 comments)

bloggers: How do you guys keep up with everything here on ActiveRain? - 05/29/07 04:14 AM
I have been a member of ActiveRain for almost a year now, but wandered away for quite sometime before I came back here to start blogging again earlier this month.  I have to admit, when I came back....I was SHOCKED!  LOL...Shocked at how many members are here now compared to a year ago!  WOW!!!
My question is, how do you guys keep up with all the posts on here?  It's hard to read through them and keep up with the newer posts, as there are so many people blogging here now that the newer posts seem to fall quickly down the pages as … (5 comments)

 
Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.)

Becky Troutt

Bradenton, FL

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No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.



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