Home > Blogs > Eric Kodner > Wayzata Lakes Realty Blog - Minneapolis Saint Paul & Lake Minnetonka Real Estate

Inviting People to Join Active Rain - How Many Are Accepting Your Invitation to Join?

By Eric Kodner

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes

September 21, 2007 04:17 AM

When you invite a friend or colleague in the industry to join Active Rain, do they discuss the invitation with you? Or do they give any reasons why they choose NOT to join?

What percentage of those you invite actually join Active Rain?
Where does your list of invitees come from? Are they mostly new agents? People in your office?
How do you explain the advantages of becoming a member?
Do you have suggestions about the invitation process that could help improve your success?
Are there other creative ideas out there for increasing membership and bringing talented people to Active Rain?

I've found that about 15-20% of the people I've contacted actually follow through and join. Another handful say they "plan to join", but something else is occupying their attention right now. What kind of responses are you getting from invitees?

One agent whom I invited said she didn't have enough extra time in her life to devote to blogging or participating in a community of professionals. She seemed to fear the idea that participating would consume time and effort needed elsewhere.

There are a lot of extremely successful and talented people out there in our industry who do not yet belong to Active Rain. Let's put our heads together and discuss what we could do to increase the numbers and "improve the herd" at the same time!

Comments(20)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

OH I do not even want to go there. I cannot even get them to sign in let alone if they sign in they will not even put their picture out there. What is up with that. FREE exposure. I do not get it.

Sep 21, 2007 04:23 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

A very small percentage of people accept my invitation - I don't even bother inviting any more. Those who have accepted my invitation have not participated after they've joined, maybe about 10 or 12 people. I figure it's their loss... if they want to deed over to me exclusive rights to control the blogosphere in my area... Fine, I accept.

I'd love to see this posted to the Realtors Group for greater exposure to the ActiveRain community (It's the most active group of all).

Sep 21, 2007 04:26 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Susan, why do you think some people are resisting the idea of joining?

Sep 21, 2007 04:27 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Margaret -- Sorry to hear you feel like giving up on invites. I'm hoping a discussion here will uncover some ways that we can improve our results when we invite new members.

Sep 21, 2007 04:30 AM

Andrew Trevino

ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA

Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale

Eric,

My biggest objection I get from people is that they are afraid that their voice isn't worth listening to. It's a shame to hear some great agents and mortgage professionals tell me that they are afraid their opinion isn't good enough. What are they doing in this business then? The rest tell me they just don't have the time or the inclination to deal with anything on the computer.

Sep 21, 2007 04:35 AM

South Austin Real Estate Blog

Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX

Im a newb to Active Rain, I think this is one of the most wonderful FREE sites I've ever been to, or involved in. All this professional help, ideas and conversation about what my interest is, Selling Real Estate, and its FREE, did I mention it was FREE?? in my limited experience of being a Realtor (just under 2 full years) I have never been more impressed with the talent I see here. I am inviting many folks, oldies and newbies but the reception is poor... I think in time that will change when "they" realize the value of this site.

Sep 21, 2007 04:36 AM

Jeanean Gendron

The Address Realty - Redding, CA

Specializing in Selling Unique Properties

I also have had little response to invitees. I have the intention to make some phone calls and educate or introduce the Active Rain forum.....I guess I have to respect someone's hesitancy on how much time it may take...I am questioning whether I should be spending as much time as I am on this forum.

Jeanean Gendron

Sep 21, 2007 04:37 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Andrew -- I've heard the response about spending additional time on the computer. Sometimes I wonder if there's just a "technology gap" that separates people who are comfortable with communicating this way and others who aren't.

What would you do to improve the result?

Sep 21, 2007 04:38 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Gail, I agree there's tremendous value to this site, if we can just get the message out there!

Sep 21, 2007 04:39 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Jeanean, I hope you don't give up! I'm just trying to open a discussion on constructive ways to improve our numbers when we invite.

Sep 21, 2007 04:41 AM

Charlottesville Solutions

Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Eric, Excellent subject. I get these comments.

"I just do not have the time" or "it sounds like a great idea" or "I hear about blogging what is it?"

I am now frustrated with asking and have stopped. I feel like I am selling "home cleaning products"!

I am going to watch your blog, thanks partner!

Charles

Sep 21, 2007 05:35 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Charles, thanks for stopping by!

I think we can all help each other (and the good people who created this site) by coming up with suggestions or ideas to improve the invitation process and somehow make more people in the industry aware of the benefits of being here.

There is plenty of value to being a member and we are all aware of it. The trick is getting that message out to prospective members.

I've read several comments by people who have "stopped" or have "given up" inviting new members. That is unfortunate! The talented and creative minds here need to put their heads together and see if the situation can be improved.

It's always great to read your comments..thanks again, Charles!

Sep 21, 2007 07:30 AM

Charlottesville Solutions

Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Eric, I am going to see if I can figure out the common-demoninator (so to speak) why people do not got for it. My hunch is that they are a little less tech savy and do not want to be enbarassed...

as you know we are out there and can be a punching bag at times :-)

Sep 21, 2007 11:43 PM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Charles, I wonder how members use the contact form provided by AR when they send an invitation. Do they just say "Please join" or do they insert an explanation of the benefits? Would the AR leadership put together a blurb that we could insert into an invitation that tells the story in the best possible way?

I don't know if everyone would "sell" AR in the same manner, or for the same reasons, to a prospective member. If the pitch is, "you can earn points and improve your Google rank" and leaves out any mention of the benefits of networking (such as referrals) or forgets to mention that AR offers us access to great advice on technology and industry news, then a prospect might just say "forget it". And some of the folks I've invited think that they have to blog as a requirement for being here. They seem to think they're accepting an obligation to participate that will create a lot of additional time demands.

Sep 22, 2007 12:02 AM

Jolynne Photography, Creative Wedding Photography, Family Portraits, Bar Mitzvahs

Jolynne Photography - Hemet, CA

Bat Mitzvahs, Senior Pictures, Event Photography

I've sent out some good invitations and they've been accepted...but folks don't always take action. They set up the profile and jet.

Honestly, I'm not sure most people in our industry are ready to spend this much time developing a web presence. Me, I love the networking and the google juice. It DOES take up an awful lot of time.

Sep 23, 2007 01:33 PM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

I haven't tried to invite anyone - yet. I'm still to involved trying to figure Active Rain out for myself. I have to really understand something before I can, in all good conscience, invite someone else to participate. Karen

Sep 23, 2007 10:57 PM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Joey -- I agree there are too many here who put up a profile (some without a photo) and then lose interest. One thing that might be scaring them away is seeing the point totals of those who have been here for awhile. One comment I've heard from newbies is "I'll never catch up to any of these AR veterans, so why bother?" and that's a pretty negative viewpoint.

You're right..keeping up with all this consumes a ton of time, if you allow it to.

Sep 24, 2007 01:22 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Karen, I understand the desire to be completely familiar with the site before inviting others. But I think friends and colleagues will thank you for inviting them to join AR once you're ready to do so!

Sep 24, 2007 01:24 AM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

I think a lot of people are just afraid to express their opinions online for everyone to see. I don't get it. It seems like a great way to promote yourself and your business.

Sep 28, 2007 09:41 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Rob, it may be that new members are a bit intimidated by the tone of what they read in others' blogs. The way some members attack others in their comments might be a factor. It's something to think about.

Sep 28, 2007 05:07 PM