Caring about points and spots on the Leaderboard range from 0 to 10,000 on a 100 point scale (translation, some care not even a little, and IMO some care WAY, WAY too much).
Some will have the epiphany that it's not the points, but the results of gaining those points that matter. Blog posts making laps out in the WWW just waiting to be found by the right person who needs that agent's help. It's a matchmaker business, I'll tell you about the type of home I want to sell and the type of buyer I'm trying to work with (no, those aren't the exact words used, instead, it's local market reports, subdivision posts and the like to narrow down the public's interest to my target market.
Each time I write one of those posts I get 225 points (maxing out at 10 posts a week). That's "only" 2250 points a week, plus the 7 logins at 100 each, so at 3000 points a week, I'm no threat to catch the person above me on the Leaderboard unless they do way less than me! But the trade, every one of those blog posts has the chance to turn into a client (maybe even multiple clients).
On the other hand, if I'm REALLY concerned about climbing the Leaderboard, I should be maxing out my daily comments. 25 points per comment, max 20 per day for points. 500 points daily for 3500 points a week.
Do the math, 3500 commenting points a week gives you more points than the 2250 blogging points a week by more than 50%. The tradeoff? Commenting CAN be indexed, but the odds of a consumer finding your comments are slim. Not zero, but slim. The positive? Commenting points give you the chance to develop relationships, learn from each other, maybe pick up a referral at some point. CAVEAT: if your comments make it apparent you're a drive by specialist, no relationships, no referrals, no learning, just take your "empty" 25 points and continue your pursuit of the next higher spot on the Leaderboard.
The reality is nothing says you can't do both (blogging and commenting). Especially if you're working toward your first 500,000 point milestone and want the free Rainmaker account.
There are other point collection opportunities, but blogging and commenting are the big hitters. The one "secret" way up the Leaderboard. Invite other people to join ActiveRain and encourage them to participate. You get a bonus when they join, then 10% of their points earned each month as long as you're both active in the Rain. Again, the math: there's a Rainer who has 330,000+ points in her total SOLELY from me joining from her link years and years ago. She's had to do nothing more, and still gets points.
You want to pass people and climb the Leaderboard ladder? Put in the work. Do the things. And gain all the other perks of participation.
Or don't.
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,
Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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