I've been wandering around the social media universe and have made my way back to ActiveRain. Phil wrote a post on AR this morning so I thought I would, too. Like a lot of folks I admire (Jay, Slaybaugh, Lenza, TLW, Lisa, Inna, Phil) I migrated away from AR in search of more control over my blogging world. I found myself too distracted by the endless arguments on AR over Zillow, NAR, open houses, door knocking, stagergate and how stupid all the other agents really are.
But the song remains the same. Real estate folk talk about real estate stuff. I've found myself on Facebook in the exact same debates we used to have here, with many of the same people, and yes, much of the old animosity. The irony isn't lost on me because there was a time I was pretty adamant that I would have nothing to do with Facebook.
So why back to ActiveRain? First, the climate here seems more collaborative and less confrontational than a year or two ago. I'm hoping that I can help to make AR a place where we can communicate somewhat more thoughtfully and respectfully. I dearly love the rapid fire pace of FB, but it's hard to do longform in a FB comment. I'd like to find a way to create more robust conversations here on AR. I think the AR guys are working on some functions that will help that, so thanks in advance to Bob and his team.
My last few posts on AR have been about issues I'm thinking about and I am so pleased that we've been able to get some good conversation going. Coral Gundlach and I had a particularly good conversation on my Redfin post, which was helped along by Glenn Kelman and Mark Reitman showing up. Folks, that's what I'm looking for, everyone learned something new and no one flounced away in disgust.
So here we are on Thanksgiving. As I work on my business plan (thank you to the 100+ of you who shared Your Sentence), I am also weaving the tapestry of my online presence. It's made up of many types of interaction on all sorts of platforms and groups. Now I can more thoughtfully pick and choose my social media activities. I am grateful for my online friends and family, I'm grateful that AR was here for me to come back to. Yep, I'm thankful.
Featured- Topic: ActiveRain Community
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Rainmaker
760,442
760,442
RE/MAX Professionals - Gainesville, FL
The Bohn Team, Gainesville FL
Leslie - I feel the same way you do too. Some of us old AR fossils faded away for our own blog control....but the friendships truly endure over all the years. I tire of the rapid fire on some of the FB Groups too. So many of our online friendships all started on ActiveRain.
Ambassador
1,896,162
1,896,162
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Leslie the big difference in blogging over Facebook or Twitter is IT IS MORE. More in depth thinking, not shallow thoughts and commenting and likes and please retweet this 140 character blurb. Glad you are dipping your toe in the waters again and HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Rainmaker
490,843
490,843
Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions. - San Marcos, CA
Certified Negotiation Consultants
Too many agents think that the magic bullet for success in real estate is in the social media approach. When in truth its a combination of skills, effort and commitment. I would say the magic bullet in real estate is discipline, work, and doing the things that other agents do not want to do. Happy Thanksgiving.
Ambassador
1,092,175
1,092,175
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
It's even more laid back than in early 2007. Yes, we had fun, able to communicate with all (it was so small) but now it takes much to navigate around. The one thing I really like better is that there are fewer glitches than before. FOr that..I am very thankful. I think wherever we go...online or in real life...there will always be negative and positive people. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Rainmaker
768,936
768,936
Van Blake-Coleman Realty, St. Thomas/www.talk-to-Tanya.com - St Thomas, VI
Improving the Quality of Your Life
Hi Leslie,
I am glad you found your way back to AR. I just don't jump into the confrontational exchanges. I don't have the time!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ambassador
1,705,610
1,705,610
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale
Leslie, I find AR is different than it was a year or two ago. I guess, that's because people will come and go but much of the conversation stays the same. Interesting how that works. You have a great deal to offer this community and I am happy to see you back. Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one.
Ambassador
4,524,765
4,524,765
Room Service Home Staging - Delray Beach, FL
Home Stager - Palm Beach County,FL -561-914-6224
Leslie- glad to see you here. I do love the dialog here and find that I spend most of my time here but I'm trying to allocate more time to Google+ and LinkedIn. There are so many bloggers here that through their posts help to educate us about Real Estate.
Rainmaker
310,850
310,850
All Real Estate Options - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, Clay & St Johns Counties
I have to say I don't get involved with the dramas here, or on facebook. It will suck your time away and make you feel like crap. Glad you migrated back and hope you continue to find the conversations to be constructive here.
Rainmaker
427,439
427,439
Swanepoel T3 Group - Saint Charles, IL
I help brokers build businesses they love.
Pam: well, there are things to consider about the "drama" issue. (There are 3 sides to the drama triangle, I have a post about that somewhere). In any case, it's good for people to feel passionate about things. Otherwise the world would be generic and boring. My real call here is for longer, more thoughtful conversations.
So I'm going to get on my soapbox for a minute, and I welcome anyone's comments to what I'm about to say.
Too many people in this business just let life happen around them, but I've never been one of them.
I'm fortunate to be in an office that takes license law extremely seriously, so the debate is always lively and informed when someone says "what about this?".
But in a lot of ways, we're a desert around using new technology and thinking about marketing in new ways. That's why I spend time online, to learn from so many fabulous people about how to use tech to make processes more efficient, to build better relationships with the right clients, to be of greater service to our clients.
License law, building our businesses...these topics should engender debate. I hope it continues, in civil and productive ways.
Rainmaker
1,675,986
1,675,986
RE/MAX Suburban - Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Real Estate
I think that you have to look elsewhere as I don't 'find' any of the things that you mentioned above. Might be who I follow or what I'm interested in or want to read spending my time.
I myself spend time bashing NAR & their politics because most agents really don't understand their own association & what they are doing in the name of the membership. You can't effectively complain if you don't get involved.
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