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Active Rain New Members - Getting Started

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

Have you invited others to the Active Rain Network?  Did you show them the manual?  Why not?  Because there isn't one..... yet.  Are you giving them instructions on what to do next or where to go for help?  I have spent quite a few hours this past week helping those I've invited, get setup in Active Rain.  I found myself wishing there was a manual or instructional page to help my invitees.

This is for all the New Member Professionals (I don't like the term "newbie", being one myself) to help you get up and running on the Active Rain Network. This is not an official manual, just what I have put together to help you.

GETTING STARTED:
So you have joined the network, now what?

"STEP 1"
What should I do before I start?

  1. Bookmark Active Rain or your Profile page as a favorite 
  2. Write down or remember your login name and password
  3. Always login first to leave comments, posts, and edit profile etc.

"STEP 2"
Review The Guidelines Post.  This is at the very bottom of the page once you login. You can also click on it now.

"Step 3"
How do I setup my profile?

You should now be logged into Active Rain.  You need to setup your profile page.  It's simple, yet very important. 
Follow these simple instructions: 

  • Next to the word Profile, Click on (Edit)
  • Add (Upload) your photo, just click on upload picture
  • Add your Address, Phones, Email, Website Etc.
  • In the "Description Box", add your Value - Statement  (This is what people see under your photo)
  • Add "About Us" or "About Me" you can change by clicking on "Rename Selection" Type what it tells you
  • Do the Same with "Areas of Expertise" and "Testimonials" (Look at other members profiles to get ideas)
  • You can add photos, links, key bullet points, change fonts, spellcheck and more, just use this toolbar below. 
    (Hover your mouse over each graphic, and it will tell you what each icon does)

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***IMPORTANT NOTE***     DON'T FORGET TO SAVE PROFILE BEFORE EXITING!!   

"Step 4"
Now that my profile is setup, what next?
 

  • Learn to use the navigational tools in Active Rain: First is the "Power Bar"

At the top of your screen, you will see the options below, here's the breakdown of these:

  1. Q&A - Questions asked by others inside and outside the Active Rain Network
  2. Search - Allows you to search Profiles, Blogs, Comments and Groups
  3. Groups - There are over 100 groups you can join
  4. Blogs - This is the dashboard of all Blog Posts by members on Active Rain
  5. My Home - Takes you to your Home Page (Not your profile)
  6. Logout - This is where you logout or into Active Rain
  7. This Menu Bar also shows how many current members there are and how many are online

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"Step 5" JOIN SOME GROUPS!
What Groups Should I join?

This is a matter of preference.  Look or "Search" through the groups and decide which one's are of interest to you.  I recommend:

There are many other groups you may want to consider depending on your profession in the industry.
Once you find the groups you want to join, just click the box that says "JOIN GROUP" and you're done.

Once you have selected the groups you want to join, you can access them from the left side of your screen ( see Below )

 

"Step 6"
What other Navigation tools are there?

You will find the following navigation tools on the left side of your screen, these are for:


Your Name appears here (Only When You Are Logged In)



My Home
brings you to your home page in Active Rain

My Profile is your Active Rain Profile  (Use Edit to Change or Update)

My Blog is your Active Rain Blog - Only One Blog with many posts
Click on (Post) to create a new post

My Settings allows you to modify your Active Rain Account (email etc)

Groups -
These are the links to the different groups you have joined

My Comments - Your comments you have made on others posts

Points Summary - This is the Breakdown of "your" Points earned

Statistics - You'll have to click on this to see for yourself (you'll likeit!)

Blog Bookmarks - There is a bookmark option under every post.
You can bookmark the ones you really like, and access them from here later
(You can also rate posts 1 - 5, and it is recommended that you do so)

Invite Others - Allows you to email invite other collegues and members

Link To ActiveRain - Get points when you put links back to Active Rain on websites

Associations - These are the members who have chosen to make you an associate. 
You can add "Associates" too.  Just click on "Add Associate" above their photo on their profile page.

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Here are some other valuable blog posts I have found that should help you get started.  You can also do a
search to find ANY TOPIC you would like.  Need Help?  Do a search or create a post.  This is the place to be! 

Getting Started On Active Rain

2009 Getting Started On ActiveRain  (NEW - Added 7/4/09)

Best Blogging Resources  (NEW - Added 9/10/07)

Real Estate Blogging 101

Why Should I Blog as a Realtor

The Official Unofficial Guide

For Active Rain Newbies

Your Profile - Keeping It Fresh

Sure Fire Formula for a Successful Post

The Active Rain Community and Info

It will cover things like "creating posts", and where to post them.  SEO, RSS Feeds, Localism.com, Points Breakdown, Intermediate HTML code and using graphics, Using Tags, Creating Links, Adding Listings, Marketing and more!

I know this is a bit long, but hopefully this will help you and others to get started. 
Got Questions? Give me a click!  :-)

Comments (129)

Wendy Wallace
Keller Williams Realty - Bosque Farms, NM

Thanks Brad, I appreciate you taking the time to explain the start-up procedures to new Active Rain members like myself.  It was very helpful...I look forward to posting my first blog soon! 

Wendy Wallace

Oct 06, 2009 05:49 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Wendy - we're all excited and ready to see your first post. Welcome to ActiveRain, we're glad you're here.  :-)

Oct 06, 2009 05:08 PM
Wendy Wallace
Keller Williams Realty - Bosque Farms, NM

Thank you for the welcome!!!  Everyone has been so helpful, I'm glad to be a part of Active Rain!

Oct 09, 2009 02:20 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Wendy - welcome and we're glad to have you as part of the AR family.  :-)

Oct 09, 2009 02:31 AM
John Horton
Keller Williams - Capital Realty - Newburgh, IN
Horton Team - Real Estate Expert Advisors

I am finally back and plan to stay active!  tha

Oct 29, 2009 07:05 AM
Brenda Wooldridge
RE/MAX ACR ELITE GROUP - Belleair Bluffs, FL

Tampa Bay Rays are playing tonight. in Houston. I am a big fan and love to go to their games. The Rays play Boston Red Sox tomorrow evening at home, so will see that game.   Tonight is devoted to Real Estate. I have just signed up to ActiveRain and tonight I am making waves for my future so I can spend more time watching the Ballgames.  I want to work smarter not harder.  

I am really looking forward to a productive relationship with AR.  I would like to go "fast forward" and am very impatient, so any advice will be greatly appreciated.  I am going to complete my profile now and next enter my listings.

Good luck to everyone that is already takng advantage of AR and I hope my upcoming blog hits home to everyone. 

I have listings that are great buys.   Hope I can keep up with all thats happening. 

It's a great time to be in Real Estate,

Brenda Wooldridge, G.R.I

RE/MAX ACR ELITE GROUP

Largo, FL 33770

May 26, 2010 12:13 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Welcome Brenda - we're here to help if and when you need us.  Looking forward to witnessing your Blog and successes here on AR. :-)

May 27, 2010 06:10 AM
Debra Campbell
Weichert Realtors - Evesham Township, NJ

I had been on this site as a assisant for another broker and I know that it is a great site I am

so glad to be on this site as my own agent.

thanks

Debby Campbell

Jul 10, 2010 05:03 AM
Trustworthy Responsive-Personal-Banking
HOMEPATH, USDA, VHDA, FHA, VA, CONV & JUMBO MORTGAGES - McLean, VA
Younullre not just a client-your a FRIEND!

Hi Brad again,

I am running into a lot of your blogs and a guess that is a great sing for you. Since I am new it is very helpful because I am dedicated to learning blogging and AR to its fullest extent. Thank you again because I know this must have taking some serious time to do this blog. (or maybe not if you are that good) HA HA

Dec 15, 2010 04:15 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Steve - my Blog has taken me 3 years to grow here in the rain. Any crop worth harvesting takes time to hoe the fields, plant the seeds, weed and water, fertilize, and only then can you start to reap and enjoy the fruits and harvest of your labor.  Glad you are finding some of my crops here useful, that was the goal all along.  :-)

Dec 16, 2010 02:10 AM
Beverly Couch-Burnham, Realtor®,
The Burnham Realty Group - Tampa, FL
Your Tampa Bay Home Connection®

Brad,

Thanks for this post.  It is a God send to one of the NKOTB in AR ("NewKidOnThrBlock" my homage to your aversion to "newbie").  I am excited to become more comfortable with all the wonderful technology available to us to grow our businesses.  This clearly is the place to do that.

Mar 11, 2011 12:45 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Beverly - welcome.

Yes, you are in the right spot.  Activerain is a great place to learn, grow, then spread your wings and fly. :)

Mar 11, 2011 02:24 AM
Mary Kim
Cary NC Re/Max United - Cary, NC

I am a former accountant and I like steps. Thank you for publishing these guidelines.

May 10, 2011 08:35 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Mary - thank you, glad you found this to be useful. 

You can also check out TheRainBlog or ActiveRainManual for more tutorials and "how-to" blog posts.  My personal tutorial, training, and support site is at BradsDomain.com. and at ZillowAcademy.com.  Stop by and visit anytime, the door is always open to you. 

May 10, 2011 09:04 AM
Erik Pearson | Spring Hill TN Homes for Sale
Home and Country Realty - Spring Hill, TN

I've heard about ActiveRain before, but now I'm actually getting involved I'm impressed by the sense of community so far. Thanks for the instructions...My profile is coming along.

Jan 10, 2012 05:02 AM
Anita George
Keller Williams Realty - Hattiesburg, MS

Whew.....This is a lot to learn!

Apr 23, 2012 03:39 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Anita - yes it is, so take your time, have fun, it's not going anywhere and you'll be happy yo did. :)

Apr 23, 2012 04:10 AM
Julia Fordtner
Aspire Realty Group - Phoenix, AZ

I haven't had a chance to read the whole blog, but I can tell already that it's going to be a great resource.  I'm hoping someone can help me with my question.  When I'm finished with my creation, there's a choice of "Post to".  I never know what Active Rain channel and topic to choose.  Does it really matter when people are googling?

Aug 13, 2012 06:31 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Julia - you can post to any channel or group (Limit 5) and it should have no bearing on your Google search engine results. It will however effect where your post shows up on the ActiveRain network. Hope that helps, if not, feel free to give me a ring or a shout, be happy to help any way I can.

Aug 14, 2012 06:10 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

These sure were some fun blog posts way back when. I loved doing tutorials, mostly because I knew if I had questions, so would others and if I could find the answers, why not share them? That’s the ActiveRain way and culture we started and it still exists here today. 

It’s never too late to “get started” with anything in life! 

Mar 11, 2023 08:49 AM