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Top 5 things I don't get about Active Rain

By Beth Forbes

Mortgage and Lending with The mortgage help you want when you need it.

December 11, 2008 10:37 AM

I'm not complaining. Really I'm not. I'm just lost or confused or both.

5) Why can I organize my associates but not the blogs I subscribe too? It makes no sense. My list of blog subscriptions is varied. I subscribe to some because I work with them (Bill), some because the author usually makes me laugh (JL), others because the author is very informative(Scott).It's very vexing that I can't put them into categories.

4) Speaking of associates and blog subscriptions, why can't we anonymously delete or unsubscribe? Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Someone added you as an associate and you don't want to be associated with them for whatever reason but feel no real animosity to them and don't want to hurt their feelings. Or after reading a particularly good post you subscribe, only to find out it was a one off. Most of what they post is drivel. How do you unsubscribe without saying "Hey you! You bore the heck outta me"! (Sardi)

3) The points. The freaking points! I'll bet there is a very good explanation for it but the blogging point system is over my head. Not hard to do since I'm only five feet tall but still... Here's an example: Total points 475. 68 comments of which 9 were from the author. Post was featured. Total points 517. 38 comments of which 12 were from the author. Post was not featured or reblogged. I just don't get it unless the AR gods are giving out consolation points??

2) Feature me???I know this has been blogged to death already but I still don't get it. Now the AR gods will probably take away my meager supply of pretty gold stars for questioning it but it still makes no sense. One person gets featured twice in one day, another never gets featured at all. Similar content but unequal gold stars. Again, systems been good to me so far but it seems like a game the AR gods play to drive the rest of us crazy.

1) Why are Loan Officers, Inspectors, VAs etc the red headed step children of AR? If you are not a Realtor you know what I'm talking about. We don't get any cool tools or toys. Maybe this is just a microcosm of the industry as a whole in which we non Realtor types are considered hangers on?? Why isn't there a place for loan referrals or leads? We Want TOYS!

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Jennifer Monroe

Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC

Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

LMFAO @ Sardi!!

(see? he can be interesting once in a blue moon)

Dec 11, 2008 11:58 AM

Jason Sardi

Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC

Your Agent for Life

I'm reminded of a song.

Okay, I'm seriously getting away from this thing.

Dec 11, 2008 12:06 PM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Hey now... I go out for the night and I come to see that I am being talked about? lol Hey, for you Flyers fans out there, I saw the best Flyers game in person... down 5 to 1 going into the 3rd period... tied the game at 5-5 with 1 minute and 44 seconds left in the game.... went into overtime... tied still... and won it in a shootout 2 goals to none...

In any case Beth, I love the little rants.... in regards to the associates, you once were able to move them around. Not sure why you can't now... and yes, I agree.. even though this is a real estate site, I feel like loan officers are just peas in a pod at times, on here. And the features.. kind of funny. I was told several times that they like to give people a chance, especially new people... but then you see some that get featured twice in 48 hours.... and this has happened more than 4 times just this week... okay, nite nite...

jeff belonger

Dec 11, 2008 03:41 PM

Sandra Cummings

William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT

Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut

What no star?

lol @My Jen

Dec 11, 2008 10:28 PM

Beth Forbes

The mortgage help you want when you need it. - Center Valley, PA

Your 24/7 loan officer

Julie- I quite agree. Obviously the business I have generated is the important thing. Participation on this site has gotten me a number of leads either directly or indirectly, I just needed to vent...

Ann- It's a big mystery to me! I guess I don't care, I'm just a curious person...

Sardi- I was just funnin'...

Burris and Sardi- Belonger IS pretty high maintenance...

Jenn- Scott likes toys too...

Jeff- You are now dubbed the king of OT comments...

A Sandra Sighting A Sandra Sighting!!!

Dec 12, 2008 12:54 AM

Tim Bradley

Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY

Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

hey...commercial real estate agents are stepchildren here too...it's all about the houses...

Dec 12, 2008 12:58 AM

Dean Akey

Saint Charles, IL

I have not figured out the points myself. I don't even know what a star is or how you get one. Toys? Bring em on but honestly I probably wouldn't be able to figure out how to use them anyway.

Dec 12, 2008 03:59 AM

Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA

Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Beth...

These are valid points, but don't try to understand the points for comments ... there are both computer and human awards that just depend on a lot of variables. My highest pointed post was not featured, and that's fine with me.

Some of these sound like good questions for "Dear Richard!"

Dec 12, 2008 04:07 AM

Beth Forbes

The mortgage help you want when you need it. - Center Valley, PA

Your 24/7 loan officer

Tim- Good point! Hadn't even thought about the commercial guys...

Dean- You get a gold star on your post if it gets featured. The rest of it I can't help ya with :-)

Dec 12, 2008 04:11 AM

JL Boney, III

Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC Real Estate

5- Thanks for mentioning me. While I shutter at the thought of being categorized, I can understand where this would help people.

4- I too have been trying to find a PC way to ditch Sardi, if you come up with something before me, let me know and I'll do the same.

3- Points are a way of insuring commpetitioin amongst us. As for how they score things, that's a whole other drunken story.

2- I only have a few Gold Stars, and how any post becomes featured is beyond me. Some are really great, some fit the theme of the day, some are just because there was nothing better going on.

1-Alright, all I can say about this is that I have Red hair and a step father. So yes, I am a real life red headed step child and believe it or not, I have always been treated well despite popular belief.

Dec 12, 2008 08:22 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

OT comments? Overtime comments? Me confused and I haven't had a martini yet.. lol

jeff belonger

Dec 12, 2008 11:06 AM

Sandra Cummings

William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT

Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut

What is all this nonsense regarding a "Sandra Sighting"? I would be around more if I could freakin log in!

Dec 13, 2008 12:45 AM

Lanette Branch

Taylor Properties - Bel Air, MD

Bel Air, MD Real Estate Agent

Hi Beth,

I don't get why we can't get the comments numbered. I think they'd be so much easier to wade through. JMHO.

Dec 15, 2008 03:47 PM

April Hayden-Munson

Brookfield, WI

Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Good points Beth. I think you should have referral toys too! Put in a suggestion on the bottom - Contact ActiveRain, the whole point of this community is to get business!

Dec 16, 2008 05:19 AM

Jason Ellis

Coastal REO Solutions - Myrtle Beach Short Sales & REO's - Myrtle Beach, SC

Beth -- very clever post -- "redheaded step children" pretty funny -- best of luck in the New Year! JE

Dec 21, 2008 04:15 AM

Eric McGowan

Moody, AL

Beth, Merry Christmas and here is my spin for you.

Associates--well I ran into this issue already. One would think we could just move them around but it takes a ticket to "help" and then you may accidentally block someone while trying to move them around.

Unsubscribing--this seems like a great idea if one falls out of the rain. (I admit to not producing daily nor am I trying lately)

Points---Perhaps "Dear Richard" can help you.

Feature--"What is that?" (blogging is an artform that takes one time to perfect)

Toys/tools---It has always been my experience that is so very hard to get a realtors attention and oh so easy to lose it, especially if we provide bad service. As loan officers we don't need all the bells and whistles really--do we?

Dec 24, 2008 11:39 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

Hey, Beth.

I have some help for you. For an explanation about points, go here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/669649/How-the-system-works

For some other explanatory posts, see these:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/776291/Active-Rain-tags-are-very-powerful-Heres-how-to-use-them-effectively

http://activerain.com/blogsview/752229/10-ways-to-get-a-featured-post-at-Active-Rain

http://activerain.com/blogsview/759142/How-to-keep-people-from-reading-your-Active-Rain-blog

For others that might interest you, see my "Marketing & Business Consulting" personna at:

http://activerain.com/russelray

Scroll down to the bottom of any blog of the blog posts and click on the various links for help in understanding the ActiveRain system and working that system for all it's worth.

Merry Christmas!

Dec 24, 2008 07:47 PM

Roy A. Peterson

Domicile Analysis of Texas - El Paso, TX

P.R.E.I.

Bravo Russel, You beat me to the punch. I was just fixing to look up some of those links for Beth also. Beth, it doesn't get easier than is.

~ Life is Good

Dec 26, 2008 01:40 AM

Jim Frimmer

HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA

Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I see Russel was here on December 25, so you have all your answers. Russel's posts help you understand how ActiveRain works and then work it for all it's worth. It's quite fun, and I was a naysayer when I first got started.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- make it a good start.

Jan 05, 2009 10:53 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Beth, you listed absolutely five very great valid points about this crazy place. It is not perfect, nothing ever is. Sometimes I think things are improving, other times I think they are going backward. You are not a red headed step child with me in the loan field as I have subscribed to you and you are an Associate of mine. You get the respect you deserve from some of us ; )

Feb 05, 2009 11:25 AM