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Using the Active Rain "Groups" Feature

By
Real Estate Agent with New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Every once in awhile I will read a post that I really enjoy, and then immediately go to the "profile" page to read about my newly-discovered Active Rainer.  Then, I usually go to their "blog" and look at their other posts... read some of them, and probably... if I like what I see... I will "subscribe" to their blog.

There have been times when I have been very surprised when I have found that some of these very-well-written posts... have gotten almost NO comments.

The reason... much more often than not... is that the writers of the posts... have NOT submitted their posts to any of the various Active Rain "Groups."

It's not only Newbies, but sometimes Oldbies, too, who I see writing great posts, and then just simply "submit" them... and NOT use the "groups" feature... which allows posts to be seen by more Active Rain readers.

So... if you are not getting many comments... here is how the Active Rain "Groups" feature works:

Whenever you write a post... you have the ability to select up to five groups from your own list of previously-selected "favorites" groups.  Depending on the subject you have written about, you select groups you guess are going to be interested in what you have written.

If you write a post about something political, there are both some general groups, and some political groups you can choose to submit to,  If you are in a silly mood, and write a fun post, there are humorous groups you can submit your post to.

There are groups for most real estate franchises... like ReMax, KW, Century 21, Prudential, and some others.  There is a By Referral Only group, and a Brian Buffini group.  Even though I am a "Certified Mentor" in the Buffini System... I actually much prefer what By Referral Only and Joe Stumpf has to offer.

There are Apple/Mac groups, there is a Late Night at Active Rain group... there is a Mom's group, various cat and dog groups... lots of variety.

You could go and click on the "Groups" link at the top of every Active Rain page, and see all of the groups available.  But, there are hundreds of them... and it takes time to wade through them.

Or, you could go to any post you see, and click on the link for any of the groups they have used.  Then, look it over, and if it seems useful, click on "join group"... and you are in.

Then, the next time you write a post... you can choose from any of the groups you have already selected.   Just click in the little box for that group... click up to five groups... and then... down at the bottom of the post you just wrote... click on "submit post."   Your newly written post is then displayed both on the general blog roll that you see when you click on the "blogs" link at the top of the page, and you are also listed on each of the "blog rolls" of each of the up-to-five groups you have selected.

Notice right below the end of this post.  There is a list of five groups... it says... "post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies ."  This is one of the five groups I have selected from my long list of all the groups I belong to.  I have chosen groups I think this post might be of interest to.

I hope this helps someone.  Please use the comments below to ask any questions about this... so you can feel more at home with using Active Rain.  Take care...

Ooops... one more thing.  Just below the edge of this post are some tags.  One of them is "tutorials."  I have written many, many tutorials to help Newbies, and Oldbies as well make the most of Active Rain.  If you click on the word "tutorials"... it will take you to perhaps fifty different blog post tutorials I have written.  I hope you find them helpful.

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Posted by

Marzena Melby
Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty - Richfield, MN
Realtor, Twin Cities Minnesota Real Estate

Karen,

Great suggestion. I try to utilize the groups and as many features as possible.  Very helpful information.

Apr 28, 2010 05:00 PM
Billi Evans
Murney Associates - Springfield, MO

Great suggestions and look how many comments you got. Wow!

May 21, 2010 03:53 AM
Jan Mullins
First Credit Union - Chandler, AZ

Karen,

Thanks for posting this link in your comment on my first blog.  This is VERY helpful information.  Bye now, I'm going group shopping.

 

Jan

Jul 13, 2010 01:01 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTORĀ®

Karen, 

I cannot begin to thank you enough for taking the time to read my little attempt at a blog and then commenting with this link as well as other words of wisdom for the newbie me. This is a wonderful post and I appreciate you very much!

Joni :O)

Jul 25, 2010 03:58 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Joni:  You are very welcome.  When I see Newbie posts like yours... asking for help... and then see folks trying to help, and throwing all those super-complicated links at folks like you... I just had to remember how I felt... when I asked just one little question, and had a mountain of stuff thrown at me.

It all seems so complicated, and it doesn't have to be.  But... being a former teacher... I wanted to try and make it a liitle more Newbie-friendly, so I wrote these Newbie tutorials.

I am so glad you found it helpful.  By the way, I have about twenty more of them... all on different subjects... if you have any more questions.  Take care... and I am so glad you found my help to your liking.

July 25, 2010

Jul 25, 2010 04:33 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Hi Karen.  I just came here via Ilona's blog (from your comment).  Thanks for this info.  I was familiar w/ this feature and have been starting to use it more and you're right, it gets you more traction.  Now, sometimes, when there is a post or blogger I like, I look to see what groups they posted in - that is another way to find out about groups.

Aug 30, 2010 01:10 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Debbie:  I am glad you found this post helpful.  I think I need to slightly modify it, and post it again.  There are so many Newbies who join who simply feel "thrown out there" to swim or sink, and I've found that THIS post has been really helpful to many folks.  Thanks so much for your positive feedback.  I like it !

By the way... ANY other off the wall-or-not questions you might have about AR stuff... I very well may already have written a tutorial post about it.

Aug 30, 2010 01:37 PM
Laura Higginbotham
Arizona Real Estate Options - Mesa, AZ
Broker/Real Estate Consultant, Mesa, Arizona Home

Thanks for the info....I will check out the Apple and Mom groups I didn't know existed.

Apr 22, 2011 03:10 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Laura:  I am glad you found this post, and found some helpful things from it.  There are an awful lot of "secrets" that seem to be hidden around Active Rain.  But... the "former teacher" in me enjoys writing about them, and then sharing the information.

By the way... I am going to subscribe to your blog, and if you have not already subscribed to mine... I invite you to subscribe.  Take care.                            April 22, 2011

Apr 22, 2011 04:43 PM
Jeremy Joslin
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - South Windsor, CT
Professional Real Estate Marketing and Sales

Thanks Karen,

 

I will definitely go and join some groups.  I didn't realize that it would give me added exposure.

Sep 19, 2011 05:27 AM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

Wow, this was so helpful, thank you Karen! I just spent a few hours happily joining most of the groups on your list! There are some really fun groups! Thanks so much! I do have a question, if a group says they'll delete your post if you don't post per the criteria, is that out of the group, or out of AR? Thank you for your support and willingness to share expertise! I am grateful for you!

Jan 01, 2012 06:06 AM
Fred Hookham
Keller Williams - Milton, WI

Karen,

I came by way of your comment on my post. Appreciate your sage advice - this is one of the items I really didn't understand, so I neglected it. Will pass your advice on....Thanks!

Jan 21, 2012 02:18 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Fred:  I am so glad you found this post helpful.  It's the former teacher in me at work, here... if there IS such a thing as a "former teacher."

Jan 21, 2012 03:33 PM
Cynthia Streza
Deer Creek Village Realty, LLC - Cedaredge, CO
Real Estate Professional

Thanks Karen for letting me know about this post... it was very helpful.  During my "Rainmaker Orientation" webinar, the presenter touched on getting involved in "Groups" but I was somewhat reluctant for some reason.  Thanks again, I will start checking out groups immediately.  Have a great week!

Jan 30, 2012 07:39 AM
Cynthia Streza
Deer Creek Village Realty, LLC - Cedaredge, CO
Real Estate Professional

Karen, I just went to the Groups tab and was overwhelmed with how many groups are out there.  I spent quite a bit of time going through the many and did end up joining a few.  My thinking that I could set up my Groups in one day was little ambitious....huh?

Jan 30, 2012 11:25 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Cynthia... I will be more than happy to look at your profile, and some of your posts, and then perhaps recommend ten or so Groups for you to start out with.  That way, you can play with them at your leisure.

Remember... do NOT over-do this idea.  Even though many people don't use the Groups feature because they don't know about it, or don't value it... I have seen some others who go WAYYYY over the edge, get all technical, worry about "rules" (which really there are either none, or almost none).

If you try and be perfect at first... you can freeze and end up with scaring yourself out of it.  I will help, if you like.  I'd be glad to.         

                                            January 30, 2012

Jan 30, 2012 03:28 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Karen:

I al;ways post my blog on 5 groups.  I keep looking for more groups to join.  I check out other bloggers for the groups they post to and if I have not joined a good group I go to the group to check it out.

Aug 17, 2012 12:45 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Evelyn:  That is always the best thing to do.  The more sets of eyeballs you can put your post in front of, the more folks who can learn to appreciate what a wonderful Realtor you are. 

Nice to see you on this "oldie but goodie" post of mine.         August 17, 2012

Aug 17, 2012 01:43 PM
Christine Adler
FindAHomeWithMe.com - Fort Lauderdale, FL
SE Palm Beach, Broward & NE Miami-Dade Counties FL

Thanks, Karen, for the tips - have to admit that even though I've been on and off Active Rain, I didn't understand groups well.  Can I go back and edit and repost to other groups?  Thanks for your comments!

Dec 31, 2012 12:40 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Christine:  Yes... you can go back and edit any in or out any groups you have chosen, or if you had none, you can join some groups... and then they will appear in a column below your post as you have written it, before you submit it.

Just click on the ones you want to include your post to, then click at the bottom to submit the post, and they will then appear in a short list below the lower edge of your post... just before the comments start.

Notice that every single post I write... I also submit to the maximum of the Five Active Rain Groups I have chosen for that particular post.  That is one of the reasons why I get so many comments.

Any questions, please ask.  I am a former teacher, and very patient, so not to worry.  Also, if we need to go over this step by step on the phone as you are doing it... that is totally fine with me.

Have a great New Years Eve!                    December 31, 2012

And, you are very welcome.

Dec 31, 2012 06:51 AM