I've been here just a little over a month. When I first was introduced to Active Rain, I really had no idea of what a powerful tool it is or what I might learn as a member here. I had no idea of what blogging was or how to do it effectively. In this short period of time, I have learned so very much.
Here are just some of the things I have learned here on Active Rain.....
1. How to effectively blog. When I first started blogging, I was not very good at it. No graphics, no links, and not much content. Other members jumped right in and made suggestions that have helped my writing and my blogs to be much more visible. Karen Hurst has a group called Active Rain Newbies that offers some great information.
2. How to bring graphics to my blogs. One of the suggestions I first received was to add some graphics. I felt like a child going to first grade. This was a new world for me. Thanks to Kristal Kraft's post, I was able to learn a lot about how to do this. Kristal has many other articles posted here that helped me to figure out what I was doing.
3. How to link to other information. I had tried following different member instructions on how to do this but just couldn't get it to work. I emailed Betsy Talbot who was instrumental in describing the step by step process. I am so thankful to her as this really took my writing to a whole new level. I immediately noticed more readership and comments as well as a new skill to improve my website.
4. How to use animated graphics . Thanks to this post by Mike Mueller, I now know how to put an animated graphic in either my post or comments. Sooooo Cool. Thank you Mike !
5. SEO and content. Prior to signing up here on Active Rain, I knew very little about SEO, keywords and page ranking or how to change any of it. Again, a huge thanks to Laurie Manny who posted Do you SEO, which really gave me a kick start to working on my own website and my Active Rain home page. I haven't mastered it yet, but am on my way to getting my website on page 1.
6. Localism. com. I knew absolutely nothing about Localism when I joined. By reading member blogs and postings about Bend, Oregon, I became familiar with this very powerful consumer forum. I began posting articles, listings and photos of my area. Check out the localism content of Ann Cummings or Laurie Manny if you want to really "see how it is done", as they are both exceptional.
7. Resource. Did you know you have one of the most powerful real estate resources right at your fingertips? The Active Rain Network has up to date information on every conceivable real estate topic out there. All you need to do is search and you can find just about anything having to do with the business of real estate. Awesome!
8. Referral Business. I have been fortunate to learn so much about other agents and real estate professionals through this network. Consequently, I now have a huge database of agents and other professionals that I am comfortable referring business to. Extremely valuable information for clients moving to another area, this database might have taken several years to develop traditionally.
9. Connections. I'm not talking about professional connections, though those are very important as well. I'm talking about the personal connections, friendships if you will, that are formed here on Active Rain. I have met some of the most amazing people because of this place.
10. Voice. Now 21,650 strong. In a place where Appraisers, Inspectors, Agents, Mortgage Brokers, Title Reps, Photographers, Home Stagers, Investors, VA's, Real Estate Auctioneers and Other Professionals are brought together, our VOICE gets more powerful each day. Our common thread is our vested interest in Real Estate, it is the heartbeat of Active Rain.
I am very proud to be a member here. I have found that I am learning something each day from the posts and the members here. It is somewhat like a huge office meeting with many years of experiences to draw from.
All of this in just over a month, this network has undoubtedly exceeded my expectations. I had no idea of how much this would change my business, my outlook, my marketing and my life. It is surely much more than I could have ever predicted.
THANK YOU MEMBERS, FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE ! ! !
What have you learned from the Active Rain Network ?
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Bend, Oregon Realtor working with new construction, residential sales, land, recreational, commercial and investment property. Your #1 real estate information source in Bend, Oregon.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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I learned that San Antonio is not a very active rain society.. Which is good on me...
Thanks for the mention and congratulations on your very good progress!
kk
Hi Kelli - Like you, I've learned so much here on AR!! Kristal and Laurie are tops on my list for learning from. There are so many here so willing to share their own knowledge - you just can't help but learn. ;-)
I've used this network for outgoing referrals, and I've gotten some as well, and talk about a resource - WOW!!
Many thanks for the mention - I really appreciate that!
Kelli - I learned that not everything goes as planned. Thank you for giving me a place to make a comment that gets me to 49,999 so the blog I have been working on all day can really be my 50,000 point. Why can't today be Thursday? I hope all is well. Keep stirring that pot.
R
Thank you Kelly. Very helpful for this Newbie!
Best,
Sean Alvarez
Eric- Sorry to hear that but as you said, good for you! Thanks for your comment : )
KK- You are very welcome : )
Ann- I so cannot wait for tomorrow. I think we'll all be learning a little something : ) Thanks for stopping by : )
Rich- Glad I can help. Have you registered for my contest yet? If not, click here. It will be fun and it just wouldn't be the same without you : )
Sean- Welcome to Active Rain. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you around : )
Kelli
Aziz-
So true. I wonder if we can get AR recognized as an accredited course or maybe continuing education. Thanks for stopping by and please sign up for my contest here : )
Kelli, I remember your first posts. You've come a long way baby!
And in a very short time.
I've learned to model (not copy!) the things that appear to be working for those whose opinions you respect. I've also looked at the early blogs of some of the people that now are my AR "Idols". I was AMAZED to see that once upon a time some of them were beginners too. Who knew?
I just re-read this. You make some great points. This is a great place to learn, teach, make friends, learn and did I mention learn? Call me when you have time so we can talk more.
R
Kelli in such a short time you certainly learned a lot. I too certainly benefited from my association here. Everyday there is a new nugget to glean.
Kelli, it's amazing that you've only been here a month. You sure did start with a bang, though! This post has some great links in it. Thanks!
Kelli,
How have you been able to network professionally thur this site? What are the best ways?
I learned there is a nice girl from Oregon who left some awesome comments on 3 of my entries...
Thank you Kelli! :-)
Very thought provoking. I still need to learn a few of the things you have learned (like animation in my posts) Great job!
Yep. A year on Active Rain is worth a "Masters" in real estate.
Hi Kelli,
Hmmmm....I know that what we've learned is not measured so much in the technical stuff - albeit, it's a super wonderful thing but we've learned that the relationships are the cherry on the top of the sundae in the Rain! Congrats on another Star for you.
What a pleasure to read, Kelli. And a great reflection of many of the things I am thankful for having learned here in the last few months. I'm not sure I could be as cogent as you, if I were to sit down and try to outline all that I have learned and why I enjoy AR so much. Bravo.
Nice mention of some of the great people here who share this wisdom so graciously.
Jeff
Kelli: Thank you for an awesome post! I hve been on AR about a week and what I have learned is people like you allow people like me to get up to speed because of your generosity. Your post answered so many questions I was tyring to search out answers for. I hope I can begin to make positive contributions as well. Diana
Hi Kelli,
You learned a lot more in one month than most of us. Thanks for sharing.
Kelli, I'm new to AR, and have also learned a lot in just a short time. There is so much information here! If I read just one or two blogs per day I'm learning something. Now I just need to learn how to contribute more of my own!
Wow, I have to stop and think what did I NOT learn. And the many things I am still trying to get the hang of! And support from people who take the time to post, comment, blog. That's an amazing thing all by itself.
Laurie- Thanks for the star and all the help along the way! You da bomb : )
Kelly- Nothing wrong with trying what has worked for others. Thanks for your comment : )
Rich- Learn, learn, learn. When I get a few minutes, I will give you a call : )
Jennifer- There are sure getting to be a lot of "nuggets". Thanks for stopping by : )
Maggie- You are such a sweetheart.
Ethan- Start posting and commenting, ALOT. The networking will come as a result of your efforts. Trust me : )
Luke- So good to have you back. We missed you. Did you sign up for the contest yet?
Allison- Thank you. Follow that link to Mike's post, he absolutely made it sooooo easy to understand : )
Lenn- It sure is. Thanks for stopping in : )
Lisa & Robert- Definitely a bonus and thank you!
Jeff-Thank you. I could only squeeze in a few of the very talented people who have helped me along the way. Otherwise, the list would go on for days and days. Thanks for stopping in and leaving such a nice comment : )
Diana- Feel free to contact me directly if you need anything else. There are many many people here who are very willing to help : ) Thanks for stopping : )
Hi Keli,
Thanks for the great info. I missed a few of the things you mentioned, so I've learned from you this a.m. Did you say you've been on AR for a month? If so you've come a long way!
Keep up the great work!
Hi Kelli! Great job and you've learned so much in such a short period of time. That shows you gots some good brains! Well, I can tell you what I would like to know... I have tried uploading animated .gifs /graphics (such as your clapping people) and when I do, they become frozen. In other words, once I put 'em on my blog, they lose their animated quality.
Any insight for me?
*** Ugh. I am so embarassed. I just noticed the link to Mike Mueller's post. Sorry. I read too fast and I got caught. ***
Kelli, only a month? You learn fast. I've been here a little longer, took a little vacation from it, and suffered from the withdrawl. There are so many contributing members on AR that are willing to share their knowledge.
I loved your post...it was very helpful to me as I am brand new to Active Rain.
Active Rain is interesting and helpful. i'm very glad I was invited to this amazing place.
Patricia Aulson/REALTOR/SEACOAST NH & ME
Being new to AR I can say I am starting learn alot from it. Many great blogs full of info and can see that it may make a big difference for my website exposure.
thanks for your post
I think I learned the most importnant lesson anyone can. "I sure have a lot more to learn!" Thankfully AR is a great place to learn it.
Kelli.... this was very good. Glad to have you around the 'Rain'. ANd yes, I have learned so much.... not what I do, but just how to handle certain people. Thanks for sharing...
Great post! I've learned quite a bit from this forum once I joined. I wish I would have joined sooner (as soon as I was invited), but it came a bit later after I attended a wonderful seminar that spoke on the topic of blogging. Congratulations on your first month!!!
I have learned that I have soooo much to learn. I feel like I need a remedial class in technology and how to use it. . . I just read Jeff Turner's post about Jott and I think my head might just explode!
I've learned there is a wealth of knowledge here! I've been motivated to focus on creating a niche and working the heck out of it! And finally, I will have been re-invigorated to market myself again
Thanks,
Rick Turner
Tracy S.- Thank you, I appreciate that.
Anthony- You'll do fine. Read, read, read. You'll find your voice here : )
Carole- I agree. It is an AMAZING place.
Lynda- Only a month. Glad my post helped you and thanks for the coment : )
Karen G.- No apologies needed. Thanks for stopping by.
Keith- So true. Can't wait to see where AR will be in another year : )
Brian- Can be a bit of information overload at times. I have to moderate myself.
Tracy M.- Weclome to the wonderful world of Active Rain!
Elena- Thanks and welcome to AR. Don't ever hesitate to ask for some help.
Patricia- Me too, just wish I would have joined sooner : )
Craig- There really are. Use this "tool" for what it is and you will be AMAZED : )
Terry- Me too. ALOT more to learn. Thanks for your comment : )
Jeff- Thank you. I appreciate that. Glad I'm here as well : )
Chris T.- Thank you, thank you, thank you : )
Lori- You are not alone. More often than not, I have no idea of what they are even talking about. But I'm learning...LOL
Rick- This is a great place to pick up some speed. Good luck in your endeavors : )
For 5 years I had websites that developed a few leads a year that turned into anything. In 3 months of Active Rain and my other blog I have created more leads than all those years combined. SEO and social networking have helped me beyond belief. Thank you all!
I am amazed at how many comments you're getting! People really check everything out on this site, I had been afraid it wouldn't be a very "active" site, no pun intended. I'm glad I was wrong!
Thanks for the info. I need all the help I can get....... Now how do I bookmark this post? :)
Excellent Post with all of the right stuff to be successful on AR. Good Night all.
You are way ahead of me. I have no idea what graphics to put in, let alone find them...lol.
Elena- You can subscribe to my blog if you like : )
Chris- Wow, that's pretty impressive. It is a powerful tool : )
Elena- It's growing at a rate of about 200 per day. How's that for active?
Wayne- You seem to be doing just fine, but if you never do need help, ask away : )
Mitchell- Thank you : )
Christy- You can check out some on Mike's post (just click on the link) and there are also several available online like the free ones here . Thanks for stopping by : )
great information, thanks
Kelli...I can't believe that amount of education and inspiration that I have received from Active Rain. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Kelli, I've learned that you can learn from someone's blog on What They've Learned. And that I have so much more to learn.
Great Post! I would like to share that I actually joined in October of last year but I did not really dedicated myself to learn or to find out more about the site. I actually forgot all about it until a couple of weeks ago when I got 2 leads who found me through the site. After that I have found out that this is really a great way to get exposure if you take full advantage of it. I think your post is going to help me do that, thanks.
So much great information that I don't know if I can remember it all. Thank everyone for the wealth of information you have given. I hope one day I will be able to contribute to a good blog. Still a little scary for me.
The names of a lot of fruits, and that a lot of fruits start with "P." I've also learned that there are more honest, decent people in this business than we are given credit for in the public eye.
I discovered this site by accident, and I'm very glad I did. I'm already passing the word and inviting colleagues to join.
Axel & Bea- You are welcome !
Valerie- Me either. What a wonderful place for all of "us" : )
Sue-I won't argue with that. Thanks for stopping by : )
Carmen- You are welcome and Good luck ! !
Dianne- I cannot wait to hear your " voice". Thanks for your comment.
Terry- Agreed. I too am now very familiar with a lot of fruits and a lot of great people, not to confuse one with the other ; )
Leon- Welcome and thanks for stopping by my post. Hope to see you around the rain : )
Wow! I've learned sooo much. Too much to go into details. Thanks for the post! I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
P.S. You never stop learning. I've learned something new everyday through AR! Love AR!!!!
Luisa-
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad that I'm not the only one learning so much here. Truly an awesome network : )
One of the things I learned is that activerain has to be one of the best kept secrets out there. It has a lot of potential. It won't be long before more and more people discover what a great resource this is.
Thanks for the post.
Leon-
I know. Kinda like being the first on ebay or something. Thanks for your comment : )
This is great help. I am still trying to figure it all out but still having fun with commenting and blogging... With time I hope to have better looking blogs...just takes time and practice.
Kelli--I alway enjoy reading your posts. Hope that I am included in that group of contacts and connections. I know that you have good ideas. Keep them coming.
Kelli,
You should write a manual for AR to share with everyone! Your list is so helpful and presents me with some "homework" that I'll take care of this week. I can't believe you've only been on AR for a month -- Thanks so much for sharing this excellent info with all of us!
Nicolette- Thanks for your comment: ) I'm sure you're going to do fine here : )
Thanks Teri ! You are in my group : ) Thanks for coming by.
Maureen- Hi there ! Thank you. Please join Everything Oregon if you haven't already : )
61 Comments later....Wow. I love AR ! !