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Getting back into ActiveRain..... I am.... ARE YOU??.

By Alexander Harb

Services for Real Estate Pros with Knights Investing

August 31, 2009 11:22 AM

How long has it been since you were a regular contributor
to ActiveRain?

Posting local listings
Making regular Market reports
Letting people see the "other side of you" besides
the business side all the time
Commenting on featured posts
Commenting on posts from people you have subscribed to
Commenting on posts in the groups you are a member of

There is so much to do in ActiveRain and I felt I was starting to miss
it all.

There are the regular updates to ARs user interface by
Jeremy Blanton and ActiveBrad
There are NEW web SEO things they have implemented.
ActiveRain is CONTINUING to grow, albite at a slower pace
than before, but it keeps growing in numbers never the less!
And there is so much MORE than the little list I have put up here!

Apparently there are a LOT of people that just do not come around as
much anymore. I have no idea why, but I know why I did not stay regular.

I have begun to see ActiveRain as more of a Real Estate Marketing Company
Platform, than a social network. SURE, I posted market reports, listings
and other real estate specific things, BUT my heart was with the "Christianity
and Real Estate" Group.

I poured a LOT into it and it grew into the largest Christian group of real
estate professionals in the network.

NOW...I am seeing the need to pour more of my regular effort into Boy was I suprized at the changes in ActiveRain !!
marketing central Florida local real estate through ActiveRain. SURE,
my Facebook profile is getting me leads and I am glad about that BUT it is because of the posts I make on ActiveRain and tell everyone about (AND LINK TO) on Facebook that are getting me those leads!!

NOW, I see ActiveRain as a COMPANY, and NOT just a place to talk
to others of like-minded beliefs. I KNOW the growing pains have been
difficult, but there you are: ActiveRain has MADE IT !!

I hope more of the older members start to see ActiveRain as it is.....A
COMPANY dedicated to helping us MARKET OUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE AND OUR SERVICES.

And I hope a LOT of former older members COME BACK regularly!!

BTW... if YOU think this would be a nice kick in the pants (Or ENCOURAGMENT) to those wayward, older, not-coming-around
-as-much members, Flag this post to be featured!!

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

Just click on any of these links
to find the type of help you need.

Buying, selling or just searching,
The Knights Team has what
you are looking for!

Thanks to: Supernova Village 2009 and www.flickr.com for
the cute picture of suprize!!

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FN LN

Toronto, ON

I have been active with ActiveRain ever since I joined earlier this year.

Aug 31, 2009 11:26 AM

Jason Crouch

Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX

Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Alex - I slowed down for awhile myself although I never really left, but I have been in full gear again lately. I do miss a lot of my old friends from AR.

Aug 31, 2009 11:30 AM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Ever since the network was fully monitized things have changed, Jason...BUT this is what AR is supposed to be all about...right?

Local real estate information to potential clients.

Marc..... I am GLAD you never left...some us almost did... ;-)

Aug 31, 2009 11:34 AM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

I'm still here. But I've never been inclined to go out of my way to read the featured posts. I'm happy when I write something that gets featured. And I'm happy for others who get featured. But I don't go out of my way for them. I just stick with my subscriptions and groups, and grab a couple of incoming posts when I log in, and that's about it =)

Aug 31, 2009 12:15 PM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Lisa... I included featured posts just because that is something I do...I was not suggesting everyone should do it, sis...... it is just a habit of mine....and everytime I log in that is what I do.....

Yer so cute!!

Aug 31, 2009 12:29 PM

Stephen Kappre

KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ

Helping You Home

ahh ... balance - always so much easier talked about than executed on. :)

Aug 31, 2009 01:57 PM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Steve...to have both types of blogs (economically real estate related) and personal (so that others might get to know you) is a balancing act......

I was heavy on one and light on the other...now I am going to try to balance BOTH.....

=-)

Aug 31, 2009 02:47 PM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Alex,

This is quite a shift. You will still continue your Christian group? And yes, I notice people are disappearing after a good start.

I am not sure that this is a sustainable model. We will see.

Good luck to you

Aug 31, 2009 05:25 PM

Lee & Pamela St. Peter

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC

Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Alex, as you say AR is here to help us business wise - I have a Google search on ACTIVE RAIN and today yours surfaced. See how that works! In any event welcome back and I look forward to reading more...

Sep 01, 2009 02:20 AM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Jon...... blogging half and half between personal and business is a good model to emulate. Christianity and Real Estate will continue...that is a fact.... thanks for coming by!! =-)

Lee and Pamela....... the whole complexion of the network has changed, guys...that is what had me so upset these past several months. What used to be mostly a social network with business crammed into it, now has reversed itself and the business side has become predominant and the social part is not as visible.

Where the business part of the network used to get fueled form the social part, now it is reversed.

It takes getting used to....

=-)

Sep 01, 2009 04:50 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Glad to see you back getting wet in the rain! :-)))

Sep 01, 2009 09:03 AM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Brad......... after all the encouraging things you have done and said in phone conversations and in the network at large, I could NOT help mentioning your name in my post!!

Thanks for the welcome back message!!

=-)

Sep 03, 2009 05:46 PM

Renée Donohue~Home Photography

Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI

Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

Welcome Back Alexander! It has been awesome to watch active rain transform (for nearly three years, for me!)

Sep 05, 2009 05:07 AM

1~Judi Barrett

Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK

BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Took a break, am back. Good

post.

Sep 05, 2009 05:21 AM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Renee......... I am stil adjusting to the change in the network.... thanks for the virtual hug....

Judi..... I am glad you are back too, sister... may the Lord our Creator keep blessing you!!

Sep 05, 2009 06:08 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Alex! It's good to see you back! How refreshing to see you on my blog today and I thought I'd pop over to see what you've been up to. Glad to see that you feel strongly about this being a good business model--yes, it does take time and devotion but, when your clients find you here, they're going to be a good fit because they've gotten to know you without ever meeting you. If they like you here, they're going to love you in person! I've had great success with AR, more than any other social media as a matter of fact, and will continue to use it routinely. Sometimes when I'm busy, I don't have the time to write like I like to but, I post my listings to keep that Google juice flowing!!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend...