I am constantly amazed at how many people take swipes at ActiveRain, especially by those who either have never actually participated on this network, or by those who haven't actively engaged in the community for several years.
Just as a matter of background, I joined ActiveRain shortly after it launched in the Summer of 2006. It was a wonderfully small and intimate group of early adopters. Since then, many veteran members have moved on to their own WordPress blogs, but their contributions and impact here will always be felt and appreciated.
So it's rather disappointing when someone like Jonathan Dalton, a highly respected real estate professional and accomplished blogger publishes an article on his blog that equates the discount brokerage Redfin to ActiveRain.
Apparently, Jonathan interviewed with Redfin about the possibility of helping field some of their leads generated in the Phoenix AZ market. During the interview process, the folks from Redfin asked him if he blogged on ActiveRain.
Jonathan then segues from there into a critical tongue lashing about ActiveRain's current practice of showcasing member's successes from their involvement on ActiveRain (he calls it 'smarmy'). He states that "ActiveRain is to real estate blogging what America Online was to the Internet back in the day - simply a safe haven for those unwilling to leave a secure environment and see what the real world's like."
One of the early veterans of ActiveRain, Mr. Dalton moved on to author his own blog, and very successfully, I might add. He currently runs somewhere in the area of six separate websites, not including the single-property WordPress blogs he builds for his listings. Obviously, he doesn't need ActiveRain, and that's fine.
For the record, I have the utmost admiration for Jonathan. I have always enjoyed his honest candor and quick wit. And he is certainly entitled to his opinions, ones that I genuinely respect. But it saddens me that people like Jonathan so quickly criticize a network that has benefited so many and continues to do so.
ActiveRain isn't the same as it was back when we first joined. Nothing could ever recapture or repeat that incredibly special time and the unique experiences we shared.
But just because ActiveRain isn't the same as it once was doesn't discount the value it continues to offer its members today. There are still hundreds and thousands of real estate professionals out there who have never blogged, and can greatly benefit from the encouraging environment it provides to get their blogging feet wet. ActiveRain is still a great place to network with other like-minded professionals and pass referrals back and forth. The steady stream of excellent, timely, relevant information being shared is like a non-stop continuing ed class on steroids. And the deep, meaningful relationships (just like the ones we developed in those early days) continues to occur each and every day.
ActiveRain played an important role in the lives of so many of us who joined early on, both personally and professionally. I, for one, will forever be indebted to ActiveRain for the significant positive impact it has had in my own life, for the way it revolutionized my business, and the wonderfully rich and intimate friendships it has made possible.
ActiveRain will never be the same for those of us who helped begin its journey, but to those who now actively participate, it is 'their' valuable community. And it's probably to them now what it was for us back then.
And again, let me reiterate, I have nothing but the greatest love and respect for Jonathan. We usually agree on most things, but allow one another the right to share our thoughts and feelings openly. I think our friendship can handle it!
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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Windermere Real Estate, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SoundBiteBLog, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com
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