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Hold the Tunes! Your Post Doesn't Need a Soundtrack

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA

blocking ears It doesn't happen all that often - so probably most people know this instinctively - but for those who don't

It's NOT a good idea to have music accompanying your Active Rain post.

It always takes me by surprise - I hit the Next button and - aaaagh!! - music begins blaring out of my speakers.  It's one thing when I'm at home - it just scares the cat and irritates me - but at work it is not a good thing.  And I'm sure there are plenty of ActiveRainers reading posts at their desk in the office.

A blaring tune in a blog post also affects those whose posts are close to yours in the blog roll.  In order to identify the offending post you've got to individually open each post on the page to determine the culprit.  The easiest thing to do is just to scroll as fast as you can to the bottom of the page and hit the Next button - missing out on all the other posts on the page.

But of course if you happen to stop and read a post on the next page there's a good chance the blog roll will catch up and the tune will begin blaring again when you hit the back button, pissing off your office mates once again. 

Keep in mind - I'm not talking about a video soundtrack.  I expect sound when I play the video on your post so I'm prepared.  If I'm my desk at work I can always bookmark the post to watch the video later. Music with no warning is something else entirely.

Really - it's your words and your pictures that I look forward to - not your unannounced music. 

Andrew Haslett
Van Warren Home Inspections, NAHI CRI - Fort Knox, KY
Heartland of Kentuckynulls, Best Home Inspector

Elizabeth, I haven't experienced this with Active Rain posts. When do you get it?

When you are on the "Recent Posts" pages?

May 26, 2009 03:50 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Andrew ~ It only happens every so often. There's one blogger that I can think of who has tunes all the time but perhaps isn't posting much lately. I did figure out which post it was today - I think I got back to around noontime when reading posts so it's somewhere in the posts between now and then -  and it's a video that starts up by itself when you get to the page in the blogroll where the post is.  The song starts to blare - without you opening the post - or starting the video for that matter. 

Liz

May 26, 2009 03:54 PM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Hmm, Liz I haven't had that trouble on AR either. There are times when I google a site and go there without knowing I need to adjust the volume and am bamblasted with loud music that might not be my first choice.

May 26, 2009 04:02 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Maria ~ Yes - it's never seemed to me like the way to attract readers - and I love loud music!

Liz

May 26, 2009 04:06 PM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

I don't have any volume on my pute at work, so it doesn't bother me there.... but I totally agree.  I did a video slide show once, and put a sound track with it - then went back and deleted it once I realized how irritating it is.

Video is different.  You expect the sound then.

May 26, 2009 04:36 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Elizabeth, I have blogged about this in the past.  I find music on posts to be very annoying.

May 26, 2009 04:48 PM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

I've seen this run its course a few months ago but it tailed off lately. It is distracting in an office environment.

May 26, 2009 04:53 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Elizabeth:  I know there aren't many Active Rainers who use music in their posts... but I do NOT like to have music blare out at me when I click on someone's post.  It isn't cute, it isn't novel... it is very distracting.  So, I agree with you.

May 26, 2009 05:09 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Hi Liz, boy do I get startled when music comes on! Most of the time I have the speakers turned down, but sometimes....

May 26, 2009 06:28 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Elizabeth, I do the same thing, I usually am in an office when I am on Active Rain, either that or like now, late at night, and I don't like the music either.  I don't think that I have read a blog with music on it to date.

May 26, 2009 06:29 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

I'm so with you on that one!  The unexpected sound can be annoying - its uninvited........although I understand that people are trying to perhaps personalize their message..........nevertheless...........

May 26, 2009 06:30 PM
Norma Brandsberg
Marks Realty Co. Inc., Lynchburg, VA, 540-586-9496 - Forest, VA

Elizabeth, I agree with the post, not a fan. By the way I was born in Cambridge along with my twin sister, Nancy!

May 26, 2009 07:11 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Elizabeth, I totally hate background music on blog posts.  And I think the same thing applies to virtual tours.  Some of it is just spooky!

May 27, 2009 03:04 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Finally got a hold of Firefox so I can comment again. Yippee!

Hi Sally ~ I didn't have speakers at work or at home for the longest time. New day dawning when I finally got them. 

Hi Shirley ~ Glad to know somebody else shares this particular peeve!

Hi Michael - You're right - I hadn't heard any music in quite some time - it did seem to happen with more frequency a while ago.

Hi Karen - And it's so weird to try to figure out where it's coming from since it could be any post on the page. Nuts!

Hi Andrea ~ If the speakers are up you almost jump off your chair!

 

May 27, 2009 01:25 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Tony and Darcy ~ It's definitely not cool when reading at work which is why I'm always amazed that somebody would do it on a real estate site - so many people are cruising the web for real estate while at work.

Hi Liz ~ I can see adding one of those jukebox things to your site if you wanted some pizazz or a musical signature - but that at least gives somebody the choice to play the song.

Hi Norma ~ And now you're down south - better weather I bet!  My mother is Nancy and her mother is Norma - I have a head like a sieve for names (and it seems for most everything else these days) but with that kind of coincidence I'd remember yours!

Hi Pat ~ And let's add "listen to this music while you're waiting on hold" to the list - I was "treated" to some horrendous music this afternoon by some cellphone voicemail system. I had dialed the wrong number and was sorely tempted to leave a message about the horrid music but refrained.

May 27, 2009 01:33 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

This is so true, and I was just on a blog with music and you're right - it takes you by surprise!  At least it was a good soundtrack and not too annoying.

May 28, 2009 12:44 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Georgina ~ Doesn't it?! I guess if I was at home and I liked the tune it might be a different story. So far I haven't across any of my music on posts though.

Liz

May 28, 2009 02:36 PM