Changes to Localism Approved Content

Thanks for posting! This was a very informative post!

Have a great week!

Question -- how does this change how the topneighbors are decided?  I have seen a few things that I found, well, wrong.  Can you please clarify?

Rich,

It's great that AR listens to the membership and then makes adjustments as is needed. That makes a team. To keep some sort of editorial control might still be better than total freedom to post.

Rich, we should police ourselves and it would be great if you had a spam alert button on the bottom of each localism post like the flag feature on the AR posts. That way we can snitch on those buggers that like to spam and game the system. As you open this up to consumers it would be naive to believe that spammers are not lurking there to jump on.

The comments here prove once again that you can't please all the people all the time!  That being said, I am so grateful that you (ActiveRain) are responsive to members input and willing to tweak the plan based on thoughtful input of respected members.  Even if someone disagrees, now, we know it was an informed choice rather than just a theoretical one.  I know my son's business would not be nearly as successful if he and his partners had not modified their business plan a few times along the way.

My question:  Market Studies, Listings...   will they appear in separate sections, as they did in the original Localism, or just go into the one big section at the time they're posted?

Oh, heavens... I'm so behind in all of this.  What's the saying... under the bus?  Yep, that feels about right.  I'll have to wait to comment on the review process until I can delve into it more. 

Thanks for lettings us know about the changes.

Here's another question......

How do we get the MAPS working and or corrected on our Localism?- Is there any way we can correct them?   Our  STATE, County, City, Neighborhood, Community maps are wrong or don't located at all.    I.e., The State of Idaho is wrong, Kootenai County is wrong, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and a bunch of others.

Rich:

What happened to Localism.com and our purchase of geo areas? I several weeks ago logged on, purchased and paid for area, Irvine, CA.  When I tried to log back in yesterday, it said I don't own any areas?  What?

It also would not allow me to post photos?  Your thoughts?

If you want to respond off line, my email is HKLong@cox.net. Thanks.

Harrison

Rich, Wow no pre-emptive moderation?

I agree with Dave Thomas who says:

"No Editorial Review or Approval Process ?

I think this is a mistake.  I have already seen cartoon characters, agents personal photos, and Realtor logos uploaded to the pictures section.

Also, do contributors "authors" know they are posting to what is intended to be a public site?  I am seeing business advertisements and comments directed to other real estate professionals such as "Who is your buyer?"  I don't think they know when they check the box where their post is headed.

08/20/2008 06:42 PM by Dave Thomas (William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty)

And a big Amen to my friend John's concerns:

"If I've understood this post correctly, I'm really surprised and disappointed that the AR Team is taking a hands-off approach to Localism content. Holding bloggers somewhat accountable for writing quality content was one thing that raised the bar for Localism. Without some kind of proactive central focus, there will never be a clear vision of what the site can be."

Steve Shasky makes some very valid points:

My 2 cents:

 Please reconsider!  Its a lot smarter to keep the car off the train tracks than clean up the carnage after!

Ginger

Hi Rich:  It's a nice sidestep from the 'It's all about Real Estate' blogs.  I've been reading lots of Localism posts lately and must say that the content is great!

Rich,

Way to take a diplomatic approach to this. Opinions will always vary, It's not easy walking the line.

This looks to me to be a good move on the part of Active Rain.  A subjective editorial process is both labor intensive and doomed to be criticized. 

Rich, are there bugs again with Localism?

A nice neighborhood post was originally on Localism for my sponsored area (Chesterfield Township MI) and now it is not.  (This happened after the approved content change).  I've double checked the post, it is marked correctly for that area.

Edit:  Sorry Rich, I should have included the url to the specific post.  Here it is: http://activerain.com/blogsview/629360/Harbor-Drive-Chesterfield-Township

What is localism?

Rich, this is just such a different "mind set" than we've all had for so long it's difficult to adjust to for most. Now, I have never been a Hard Core writer such as Lenn so it's easier for me I think. I can write RE but it's so much more fun not too! I love to read about it but when my fingers begin to peck the keyboard I end up wanting to write something fun.

Fun is good for the Localism posts. Fun makes the business owners feel good and the locals love it too. Fun is a powerful word. So, let's have fun.

Thank you for all you put up with!

Later in the rain~Deb

Rich - well I am late to the party on this one. Must have missesd this on one of the many recent late nights. I have mixed feelings, as do others. I applaud the fact that AR is listening to its members, and the push to have a broader range of posts submitted to Localism. Without the review process, I suspect we will see much more of the sort of stuff that potentially detracts from the credibility of the site...I hope not, but the past is a good indicator of the possibility, now without any sort of moderation.

While AR hopes that after they get good traction members will refocus their efforts on more real-estate focused writing, what is the incentive for doing so? If folks can post what they want, without any review, is there any reason to think that members will all take a more focused approach and provide a greater proportion of RE articles? Maybe I am just pessimistic but I am doubtful. The ones who now focus on this will continue, those who do not will not, especiall since their articles get posted no matter what. And perhaps, in the long run, it doesn't matter. What will be will be. For this writer, well, I will continue as I have.

That being said, I am pleased to see the continued progress and change, and we all benefit from the willingness of AR to take member input into consideration. Time will tell how the new Localism will work.

Jeff

This is a tough one. Let me explain.

1. If content is not policed, much more junk will filter through which as many have stated will bring the credibility of localism down a notch.

2. Not having to moderate,  gives, what i'm guessing is taking up all their time right now, the Active Rain staff the ability to spend more time on higher prioritized items such as developing Localism as to allow it to go public.

3. Having neutral moderators (*picked at will, joe blow, volunteers) take over this job will lead (ultimately) to favoritism.  I have personally been involved with such a process for the past 5 years and it never pans out differently.  Moreover, no moderator EVER sticks 100% to the rules because they will eventually get to know each one of you, and, this is just part of human nature, bias will occur.(see **) Therefore this is a nice idea but won't work in my opinion. UNLESS: see conclusion paragraph. (#3, is based solely on the opposite situation as ** ).  * - this constitutes why in my opinion it won't work.

4. Localism is not about YOU, it's about the community. Therefore in the end, any irrelevant posts will probably end up being ignored anyways.  But therein lies the danger.  We would need some kind of policy in place to be able to delete these things, or flag them for possible obscene or irrelevant material. but then once again, it would, under that scenario, be up to the active rain staff to moderate it which they have said they wouldn't do (don't have the time to do). 

5. Knowing localism will eventually be open to the public, these things WILL happen anyways, especially and since, if taking an educated guess, members will be allowed to post without being a member (as now). 

So in conclusion, here's our take:

Let these things work themselves out in what seems to be a democratic process, meaning, active rain is willing to listen to your thoughts and comments on this on a regular basis and IS doing what they think is best based on majority vote.  I'm sure these guys have a similar background and dealing either with forums, other blogs or some kind of bulletin board, probably how they got the idea of Active Rain in the first place, meaning, they know what is going to work and what isn't and are trying at their best to make as many of you happy as possible. But as many stated above, you can't please everyone all the time.  Therefore some of you will see your grand plans diminish and others will see doors open with this move.  All in all, the best blogs, forums, and community sites all have some kind of neutral moderatorship which, at best, directs the staff how to proceed.  In other words, ** when the Active Rain staff is finished working out the kinks with Localism (probably not for another year), then they'll have a better handle on things and will be able to recruit neutral moderators (seasoned veterans on active rain) who have had a history of being unbiased, liked by all, and have proven they are capable of the job.  

there's our 5 cents.

My $.02 on "traction" is that I have gotten tons of "hits" on Pottery Barn Paints.  It is by far the most searched keyword of any post I've written and brings me the most eyes on my blog..  The post was real estate oriented, but I thought mentioning this may help some understand the reason for material that provides better traction.

Large brand names worked into a real estate post, that belong there of course, can be an answer to better tractions combined with real estate posts.  Kohler Faucets, your trip to Lowe's to get something to help get a listing ready for market or to make a repair from the inspection.  There are many ways to blend traction into a meaninful ral estate post.

I just sent you a question about this via the "contact activerain" button. No need to answer no that I have found the post