Home > Blogs > Tammy Lankford, > Lake Sinclair: we love it, we know it, & we sell it
bookmark_borderbookmark

Ask an Ambassador: I have my blogging feet now, do I still need AR?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

So you've heard ActiveRain is the "for newbies" blogging platform eh?  I've read over and over n Facebook groups that "ActiveRain is a good place to start, get your feet wet, learn" with the advice to move on after you learn.

questionsWell my opinion is different.  First, let me state, it IS a great place to start and learn.  BUT there is so much to keep you coming back to your blog on ActiveRain even after you have started a site with a blog somewhere else (like wordpress) on your own. My personal top ten reasons listed here:

  1. The relationships with other people that can ultimately lead to referral sources
  2. I learn something new here every time I read a few blogs, people here share information daily
  3. Boot-camp and webinars (more free learning folks)
  4. The SEO of ActiveRain pushing your blog to higher rankings
  5. The legitimate link-backs to your primary site
  6. The professional relationships that turn into friendships
  7. Learning from some of the best and brightest in the business who blog here
  8. The product reviews (the best place in the word to research the best camera for real estate, the best place to figure out which video maker to use for real estate) These things were very instrumental to my purchases and software choices from reading reviews on them
  9. Contests (may seem silly, but this month one of the requirements was calling other members on the phone and that's been some of my best learning experiences in the past 21 days)
  10. Topics to blog about inspiration.  It's so nice to find a post that inspires me about a subject to write about for my own area.  This week it was Liz and Bill Spear's post about doors and entry ways written pointed at sellers.  I've been working toward building an arsenal of posts pointed at sellers and "first impressions" mean a lot when buyers get out of the car and walk into your home.  Great topic and you can look my post on the subject next week. I find inspiration here almost daily.

 So for those folks who brag about outgrowing ActiveRain... good for you.  I appreciate the opportunity to continue to learn I have here daily and I love the people I've met here.  Many of which I now feel I can turn to on a professional level for advice and many of which I enjoy my friendship with very much.  I'll continue on here with a my blog.  All my eggs aren't in this basket and that's not what I'm saying, so don't think it is.  But why in the world would abandon a place that continues to offer SO MUCH?

Comments (76)
Subscribe to CommentsComment

Submit
Show All Comments
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Tammy...

I guess I need more than a place to blog. I need a community for support and information. It is amazing how many REAL relationships evolve from participation in this platform. It is an amazing place!

Mar 22, 2014 07:47 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Tammy - I've branched out, but I haven't forgotten my roots.

Mar 22, 2014 08:37 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Anne- another great reason

Carolyn- yes, those blogs do live on

Richie- some folks

Lyn- I've had growing pains on my other site too.  Sometimes on the server end, sometimes on me updating a theme end, glitches happen.

Marte- I'm really surprised more people don't try to reach agents through blogs on this site

Elizabeth- I know you're right, took me a while to get the amount of local people that actually are "following" my posts

Sharon- my favorite reason

Gary- yes it does

Barbara- it is a great place for answers

Hella- I found it interesting too, it's why I decided to address it

Jerry- you would reach more people here if you had a rainmaker account.  Wither a rainer account, you only reach membership

Jared- AR was actually not my "first" blog, but first isn't always right or best.

Dana- thank you

Georgie- no they sure don't.

Maria- for sure

Endre- absolutely

Thank you Roy

Susan- not in my opinion you can't have enough of them.

Karen- it is easy

Jeff- wish I had found it sooner myself, but I won't be leaving

Travis- you'd have to ask them to explain it.

Richard- me too and I'm so glad to call you a friend and to have actually gotten to spend time with you on several occassions now

Norma- me too.

Mar 22, 2014 09:30 AM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Tammy,

Outgrow it? No, I have not even grown into it yet. You would need to have 6 or 8 hours a day to even start to outgrow it. (IMHO)  DanaB

Mar 22, 2014 09:51 AM
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

I have not been on here long, but you really can't beat the learning aspect of it, and everything we learn just makes us better at our jobs.

Mar 22, 2014 10:10 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I don't think anyone can outgrow the relationships and the sense of community.  There is so much valuable information that one cannot find anywhere else.

Mar 22, 2014 12:16 PM
Anna Hatridge
R Gilliam Real Estate LLC - Farmington, MO
Missouri Realtor with R Gilliam Real Estate LLC

Excellent post! I feel same way.

Mar 22, 2014 12:21 PM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

I took a hiatus for a good chunk of time last year. Not intentionally, just a hot crazy market that had be jumping. I'm so glad to be back!

Mar 22, 2014 02:00 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Dana- I don't think it's hours per day, but learning enough to blog without thinking they have anything left to learn.

Stefan- I'd suggest public blogging here by becoming a rainmaker to step up your experience.

Joan- exactly

Anna- thanks

Karen- I take one from time to time, things happen.

Mar 22, 2014 02:03 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Tammy,

Good point, but everyone has to decide their own course of destiny in the end.

Mar 22, 2014 02:04 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Dörte- and sometimes you can learn from others experience and not have a dead end when you don't have to.

Mar 22, 2014 02:14 PM
Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

Tammy-Not much of a blogger myself, but I do know that the AR well is good to drink from!

Outstanding education!

Mar 22, 2014 04:32 PM
Bobbie Smith
Stroudsburg, PA
570-242-1891

Tammy, Why indeed! When you are getting "all that" as you list, why would you leave? The learning, etc. all continue whether you are a newbie or not, just like you say. Great post.

Mar 22, 2014 10:07 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I am not a very active Active Rainer. I hang on the fringe and contribute from time to time. The information that I gain just from reading the posts on AR is what keeps me around. There is value to hanging with the “popular kids”. You get to see what is “hot”. You get to learn from what they do and say and share.

AR also continues to evolve. AR continues to have relevance.

Mar 23, 2014 12:48 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

I couldn't agree with you more Tammy.

I started here 7 years ago, haven't left although at times I get to busy too blog.

I learned so much here I was able to grow my business at an exponential rate.

To this day I get phone calls from TV shows from blog posts that I wrote over 2 years ago.

Also able to connect up with other stagers and agents around North America and Canada when we travel to conferences.

Most importantly of all, I do business with fellow active rainers.

Now that is what I call results.

Love AR

Mar 23, 2014 01:56 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Pete- you should be sharing too

Thank you Bobbie- I think it's a great place to learn

John- I learn from newbies sometimes too, not just popular kids have good ideas

Michelle- I love getting to meet other rainers at conferences too.

Mar 23, 2014 06:00 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

All very good points, and so true. There is so much to take advantage of here if you have the time to do it!

Mar 23, 2014 08:45 AM
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

I love reading your posts Tammy.  The logic behind this one is solid and, it's really up to me to take more advantage of the opportunities that AR provides. Yup, it's on my 'to-do' list for 2014.

Mar 23, 2014 11:43 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Active Rain is a base of operation to expand into other avenues with Social Media.  But I would never abandon AR. 

Mar 24, 2014 02:49 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

I tend to agree with you. It's taught me so much and so far, I haven't felt the need to venture on my own.

Mar 25, 2014 12:57 AM
Back to Top

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?