Tracy Miller recently asked me to put a post together explaining what the benefits or advantages were of being a member of the Active Rain social network. In the spirit of what Active Rain is all about, here's your "long distance" response my friend...
The benefits and/or advantages of being a member of the Active Rain network are vast. In fact there has been so much written about this that I couldn't possibly name all of the reasons nor will I since an easy search under the "blogs" tab will help you identify most of those posts but I am going to give you a few reasons why blogging is so important to me and my business.
By this time we should all know what the book, "The Secret" is about. For those of you who don't, it's based on the fact that if you're thinking the right way, then good things will happen. Blogging works very much in that way. If you're writing posts about what you specialize in, then people will find you provided you wrote informative and intelligent content. The two keys here are:
- valuable information
- expression of intelligence
I could provide a few links showing someone writing the "right" way and the "wrong" way but that sort of goes against our support network here so let me just say if you will visualize who you want to work with and write towards that person or group of people, they will be attracted to wanting to do business with you. If you try to take the lazy way out and post a couple of odds and end facts and you write it in uninteresting or negative fashion the results will fail your expectation. I try to give the people in my "vision" interesting and timely information they may not be able to get their hands on easily anywhere else.
I don't think it's completely wise to depend on your blog as a sole information resource. Have you ever tried to read several posts on someone's blog? It's great if the blog is just on the subject matter you're interested in but if they bounce around as I do on mine, whatever captured the attention of your reader may diminish if you're not staying on the subject that brought them there to begin with so always have a place they can bounce to regarding the subject matter that got them interested in the first place. That's why if you review my posts about my market you'll see lots of links going to my Naples Florida real estate website that has even more information about particular locations throughout my market.
People are doing more research before they contact us. That's great news for most of us as car time has been drastically reduced. We all know the more time you spend showing properties the less of a chance for a sale right?! Let's think about this for a minute. If more people are spending more time doing their "own" research then who wins? The people providing the content!
I can't tell you how many times I've heard lately that people are "going back to basics" and they're beefing up what they "used to do" when they were so successful. Folks, the name of the game hasn't changed but how you get to the closing table has. That's why you'll see leading Realtors who have always had a lion share of business starting to lose footing to other agents who have caught on to the technology game of real estate. Happy were the days when top companies could hoard their best listings. More and more sellers are catching on and that's just one game that isn't tolerated as much as it was in the past.
How much fun is it to prospect:
- For sale by owners?
- Expired listings?
- Open house attendees?
- Neighbors
- People in social groups where you belong?
I'm not about to say that those ways of getting business are no longer effective but it can be a real negative experience especially when you consider the first two groups.
For sale by owners are not necessarily fans of Realtors and we all know sellers of expired listings are not necessarily super fans of Realtors...especially the last "not good for nothin" person they hired.
But...you contacted them and signed up for the negative barrage of stuff you're about to receive. Isn't that a fun way to spend a day?
Instead of those options, why don't you let the other 50 or so agents in your market do that and you go after the person who's ready to do something in your favorite neighborhood. First, you'll already have something in common...you both like the neighborhood.
Now let's think about all of the unsolicited offers we get right now. I don't know about you but I get anywhere from 5-10 calls a week and probably around 200 emails a week from people trying to sell me something. It DRIVES ME NUTS! Do you think your potential clients feel the same way?
That's why blogging is my FAVORITE form of marketing right now. I talk about only the stuff I'm interested in. Now, don't get me wrong, I'll get calls and emails asking for my assistance in areas I do not handle but blogging has given me the freedom of being able to say, "no thank you". Now, I don't do business in places where I am not the expert AND it gives me the opportunity to direct them to another professional who does specialize in that area. They still get the great help they need and deserve and I still have time to build my business in the direction I want it to go. So if you find yourself in a position where you're not really liking what you do for a living, maybe it's because you haven't told the universe what you want to be doing???!!! Maybe it's because you haven't taken control of what you want and haven't strategically gone after it??? Or, maybe you just haven't told the people you want to work with that you're the person they should hire.
The people I've worked with this year have been absolutely OUTSTANDING! There were no interviews. I think my interview with my customers took place on the Internet. In fact, I know it did on some occasions. Attitudes changed dramatically. There were cases in the past where customers would put really weird and disrespectful demands on me and my time. Today, people are so respectful and courteous. It's unbelievable! When people call me for the first time now, they don't bark orders like they may have in the past. They ask when I'll be available to assist them and in some cases make travel arrangements after we solidify an appointment date. I do everything I can to be accommodating but who knew that a blog would attract such great people.
More importantly, they're contacting me. They're HAPPY to be contacting me. They're excited about buying in the locations they're looking. They have already decided that I'm going to be their agent and I'm going to do a tremendous job for them. They're right.
So far I've only told you about the customer end of this magical tool. I haven't said a peep yet about the other people I've met on the Rain. Do you know that once you develop relationships here on Active Rain, those relationships can follow you almost everywhere you go? Have you ever been to a conference where you didn't know anyone? I have. One example was the Inman conference in San Francisco 2007. That's where I learned about Active Rain. A few short days after that conference I signed up and started blogging. I also went to the same conference August of this year. Do you want to guess how many Active Rain people I knew at that same conference this year....me too. It was a BUNCH. I had such a GREAT time! Active Rain people are EVERYWHERE on the Internet and they're everywhere across the country. Active Rain exposes you to so many people and so much great content it ultimately can change your life. Now that sounds like a tall order doesn't it?
Active Rain changed my life. I have friends in all corners of this beautiful little country and I owe it to Active Rain. It's probably the friendliest social network alive and it's certainly the best place to help you build your intelligence, your business and your real estate network.
Tracy, I hope this was what you were looking for and for the rest of you....you get out of it what you put into it so go get blogging! :)
Best Regards,
Your Naples Smart Girl
Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!
Best Regards!
Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com
“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”
Hello there, im a newbie here on active rain and i found that your info is very good and direct. It just shows me that getting involved more unto active rain is a positive action. Thank you for the info.
Shannon~ You are One Smart Naples Girl! I am with you all the way. ActiveRain is awesome. It is the best thing I have ever become involved in or ever joined! Who would have ever dreamed it would be this good?
JOHNNY: Happy to be of assistance! I think you will really like being involved! :)
VICKIE: I'm with ya! I don't know if anyone really knew how cool it could really be! :)
Helpful info! I am also a newbie and love to hear that people have great success with blogging!
Thanks!
Shannon, This is a great post. I am with you, who wants to call FSBOS and expireds, no thanks. I also agree with you that it is what you make of it. I think positive energy breeds positive energy. You are Naples Smart Girl for sure.
Shannon the magic words you mention are "it works"! Enough said:)
NEWBIE: Don't forget to sign in so people know how to follow you when you comment. :)
AUDREY: Your comment made me laugh. :) Thanks for the sweet words!
BILL: I could've just said that I suppose...that would've taken a lot less time to write. :)
Yes blogging can work very well when we have meaningful information to share with others.
Thanks
Hello Shannon,
I am doing a webinar later tonight on blogs - what to do and not to do - for my group. Your blog has given me a couple of more things to point out. Thank you so much for your evaluation of blogs and ActiveRain. Good job.
Sue White
Shannon, you're right, prospective clients are doing more research and we should consider our Active Rain profile our online bio and our blog our online resume. Good post!
MIKE: You said it! :)
SUE: That's great! Glad to be of assistance! :)
thank you for your posting....I am a believer in the postings also!
NORMA: No doubt about it even if we don't consider it...our customers do. :)
ROGER: Awesome! Looking forward to reading what you have to say. :)
Hi Shannon,
You made some very good points. This sentence of your blog really stood out for me:
"That's why you'll see leading Realtors who have always had a lion share of business starting to lose footing to other agents who have caught on to the technology game of real estate."
I believe that to be true. There are many experienced agents who have no idea what blogging is. They're missing out.
hey Bill G want's a picture of us cruising on a swamp buggy LOL - glad to see your smiling face on page 1!
Hi Shannon;
I agree with you and I do appreciate your Post, thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Shannon - I'm fairly new to Active Rain. There is so much information to read. I almost bypassed on your post then I decided I should read it and I'm glad I did. Reading your post has been very inspirational. I have been dreading the thought of pursuing FSBOs and expired.
Thanks again!
Ken
Hi Shannon, Another terrific post ! Now we just have to find our own unique voice and use it.
they're beefing up what they "used to do" when they were so successful. Folks, the name of the game hasn't changed but how you get to the closing table has. That's why you'll see leading Realtors who have always had a lion share of business starting to lose footing to other agents who have caught on to the technology game of real estate.
That says it all right there. Those who are willing to change, be nimble, and adapt to the business are doing fantastic in a down market. Those who aren't aren't. I'm seeing some really previously successful agents taking phone duty and doing Open Houses. They know better but can't see the forest for the trees.
Obviously, Shannon, you got the message.
Hello there my friend..
If I only relied on blogging then I would have been out of the business. After all....I only started this over tow years ago.
KRISTAL: It's been an interesting turn of events for sure. Thanks for checking out my post! :)
SHANNON G: Swamp buggy...hmmm doubt it. :D
ANTHONY: Fabulous! :)
KEN: So glad you got something out of it! :)
BILL: Unique....yes another important key word! Thanks for adding it!
TRACY: Isn't that SO weird??? Phone duty...OMG...I'd rather...well...lots of things.
NEAL: Hey sweet pea! How are ya stranger???
I agree with everything stated here. I have been blogging in my spare time. In the past I would make several posts at one time and then do nothing for months. Most of my posts weren't that great. They may only be slightly better now, but I am seeing increased traffic and search engine ranking after posting consistently for a few months.
Great post. I agree that we need to embrace what the public wants and being an Internet shopper I check out a ton of websites before I purchase anything from ink for my printer, to a new stove for my house. The current generation is very attached to the net and instant access. So for the agents who are afraid to blog or don't have good web sites then move on over.. Because you can tell from active rain that there are many of us who do and will continue to embrace the net.
Thanks for the post. You have hit the nail on the head regarding the need to adapt to this new medium. The bottom line is that people today find out about all services and products through the web. So this is a dual edged sword in that it provides many with a cheaper medium for realtors to connect with their customer, the bad part is that it requires time. Gaining organic search rank is not something you can buy unless you pay someone else to expend the energy for you. So it is great to hear people who "get it".. Ciao..
My associates: st paul windows | minneapolis japanese landscaping | DLP Lamps | MN Web Design
Shannon- thanks for reminding me of the "Secret." I love that book/movie and always seem so motivated after reading or watching. I still consider myself a newbie here- but I have enjoyed it immensely and know my time will come for the many phone calls and e-mails.
Fantastic post! I am a big follower of "the Secret" as well and have my vision boards up at home and at the office! Here's to the powerful laws of attraction!
Terrific post! I agree that we need to let our personality shine through with our blogs so that people CHOOSE us. For the past year, I've been contacting FSBOs and Expires and it is tough work -- and like you said, not really an enjoyable part of my job. Thanks so much for your uplifting message!
Shannon,
I too am a newbie on AR. I have sure appreciated the supportive network and have done a trial run blog for members only to see how the whole thing works.
I am most appreciative of your thoughts from the public point of view. I am trying to get up my courage to jump in and you have made up my mind that I need to do it. My biggest concern is that because I have only been in Real Estate a year, that I just don't know enough and don't know where to begin from a topic point of view. Thoughts?
Lori Cofer, Beasley Realty
Shannon,
I too am a newbie on AR. I have sure appreciated the supportive network and have done a trial run blog for members only to see how the whole thing works.
I am most appreciative of your thoughts from the public point of view. I am trying to get up my courage to jump in and you have made up my mind that I need to do it. My biggest concern is that because I have only been in Real Estate a year, that I just don't know enough and don't know where to begin from a topic point of view. Thoughts?
Lori Cofer, Beasley Realty
Shannon - your post was very powerful!!! I just got off the Bob Proctor Cruise - spent an entire week with likeminded people. Everywhere I turned I could talk to someone about the Secret, the Law of Attraction. Was blessed with 2 mornings in a row with a sermon from Michael Beckwith. I finally got it! I've been in the business since 1994 - the last few years have gotten really intimidated by the fact that the techies would be able to grab the prospects and all my skill would go unnoticed and I would fade to the background and get no more....blah blah blah!! sounds crazy but I want this thing, I love real estate, I love how the outcome feels when I get a job done for my clients. Anyway, now that I am embracing this I realize that I don't have to "make" people do anything. I just have to attract the good in my life! So answer me sista!! All I do is Blog on the Rain? (I love how you refer to it "The Rain" like in Detroit: the Mile! hee hee :-) ) anyway I can't even mange the template formed website that has been provided for me so I'm scared I won't be able to drive traffic to myself. Anyway any help will do
thanks
Deanna
I loved your post and your pink poka dots on your website.
Shannon... Blogging is great... Smart Blogging can go a long way ! Great Post
Shannon,
I'm a newbie to Rain. I posted my blog a few weeks ago.Its basically about the laws of attraction and how its influenced my life and business.
Funny thing , I was drawn to your blog and behold its all about positive energy , and The Secret. This blog thing is really new to me , so I really appreciate your views on why its so important .I just started my own staging company,and the real estate world is pretty new to me.I'm so thankful to be a part of Rain, and I look forward to learning more about the industry , its people and how they work.
Thank you for an informative blog,
Lisa Shipley Imagine Home Staging and Interior Finishes
Imagine Home Finishes and Home Staging
Shannon-- You really hit the nail on the head! This is why ActiveRain works. What a great post. Thanks so much!
Yes Blogging does work! We love active rain!
Awesome Network!
Thanks
Tom Davis
World Class Delaware Realtor
Me Too! Like they said...
You made very good points throughout your post, but one of the things that caught my attention was your reference to the law of attraction. And thank you for that reminder to visualize what we want! I've been so short sighted lately (door knocking!) that I haven't been looking past this moment and the results have been uninspiring.
I am really counting on magic from Active Rain - as you mention in your post, we reveal our knowledge and personalities through our posts and the people who want to work with us will find us.
As for those previously successful agents 'doing what they used to do' - just when I thought I knew what was working, the market shift made me go back to the drawing board! Blogging is just one of the several prospecting tools I'm using. Not unlike most realtors, any sort of socializing is my preferred mode!
No doubt about it...AR is what I have always said "The best thing we never paid for" and it just keeps getting better ~
Shannon,
You added a whole new layer of information in your post. Thanks for such a clear explanation.
HI SHANNON!
Glad to hear that blogging is working so well for you. I look forward to reaping the benefits of my labor one day!
All the best,
Shannon, great post. It's fun to see what others like about AR and how it has helped their business.
BRYAN: Hey I don't always create masterpieces either but the key is to be conscious of it and at least provide content. You've got that figured out. :)
MYSTERY COMMENTER: I'm with ya. Don't forget to log in so we know who you are when you comment brilliantly :)
TODD: Thanks...you said a mouthful! It's free...except for the time you spend doing it...I guess the good news is if you're time isn't worth anything...it's still free.
TINA: Happy to help. :)
EMILY: THAT'S AWESOME!! I don't have image boards but I have a few sticky notes on the inside of my bathroom cabinet I look at everyday. :)
KERRY: Hey I worked fsbos and expired a long time ago..I remember how grueling that could be. Met some great people along that line too but the competition in this town for those two prospect bases is mind numbing.
LORI: Go learn your favorite neighborhood and write about that. If you don't know how to do market reports, read the content here on the Rain. When you get an idea of the content you think you should provide then you're ready to go! Don't be scared, go back to my first posts...they were horrible. :)
DEANNA: I've been selling real estate since 1996 so I understand how you've seen the game change. You don't have to be a techie to be a good blogger (it doesn't hurt) all of what you need to know is right here on this website. CONGRATULATIONS for not allowing your industry to swallow you whole like some other people I've talked to. Go out and get what's yours.
DEBORAH: THANKS. :)
ROLAND: Thank you too. :)
LISA: You're welcome and good luck with your new endeavor! You're going to be great!
ILYCE: :)
TOM: :)
LYNN: Good for you for reinventing yourself! That's why you'll continue to do well! :)
SALLY & DAVID: That's pretty good but you're paying with your time...don't forget :)
DIANE: Cool! That's what I was hoping for. :) Thanks!
YVETTE: AWESOME...THEN YOU WILL :)
HEATHER: I think that's one of the neat aspects too. :)
Great insight. Use your blog to build content for other sites and your own. That should be your goal for AR other than networking.
Hello Shannon, I don't know if this is what Tracy was looking for but it sure was an easy to read and encouraging blog. I'm new to all this and I'm excited every day to click on new people and meet and learn and get motivated! Will you be in Orlando next week? I'll be there and looking for AR people. Thanks for a great blog.
Hello Shannon, I don't know if this is what Tracy was looking for but it sure was an easy to read and encouraging blog. I'm new to all this and I'm excited every day to click on new people and meet and learn and get motivated! Will you be in Orlando next week? I'll be there and looking for AR people. Thanks for a great blog.
I'm a big believer in the Secret and truly believe that my blogging efforts will be rewarded in ways I can't imagine! I love your website by the way!
Shannon, your blog is awesome, and Marian's right, this is definitely the sort of material I was looking for. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to respond to my request and to do it so fast. You provided a wealth of information and countless reasons why blogging and being a member of ActiveRain is important.
Also, it was so incredibly cool of you to provide a link to my profile so that I can hopefully meet other ActiveRain members like yourself. What a great way to help a newbie! I can see why you racked up over 100,000 points. You're such a class act.
MARIAN:Hi Marian, not sure if I'm going to make it to Orlando but if I do, I will be tweeting for sure. I'm @NaplesSmartGirl if you'd like to follow. Thanks for you comments. I'll be looking for you if not in Orlando, certainly in the Rain.
SONIA: You are exactly correct and thanks for the compliments! :)
TRACY: Oh we helped each other! You asked a question, I got new followers, a little gold star and a new friend. Isn't it cool how it all plays out. See you around my friend! :)
Shannon: Your comments sure make a lot of sence. Many of us have not witnessed a market anything close to what we are about to go through.
I too am a new member of Active Rain and I have never blogged. Where do you think would be a good place to start? Would you recommend any particular group?
You are right! Meet more people on AR in a shorter amount of time than in person sometimes. It's easy to keep in touch with these contacts and I meet people everywhere.
BOB: I can't express to you enough how important it is for you to read other people's posts. There's a trillion ways for you to get started but I think if you connect with people who are interesting to you and join the groups you are most interested in, then you will be well on your way. We're all different and that's what makes this place so interesting. Hope that helps! :)
BRYAN: Isn't that so cool! The first person I met was Neal Bloom. He is such a great guy! :)
I also think blogging is great. It's a good way to let our consumers interview us for the job.
Shannon ... thanks girl, you have made some excellent points here! pippa
Shannon, now there's a testimonial if I've ever seen one! Here's to more success!
I've noticed alot of Realtors that have had the lion's share have lost their footing because they didn't keep up with technology. One agent told me that his Homes.com website wasn't working and when I went to it - he hadn't even set it up! Imformative, upbeat, straightforward. Thank you!
I like your comment about "Getting back to the basics" I look at blogging and social media as taking the basics to a new level. I've always been about staying in front of my clients. The difference is I used to mail newsletters, mail letters and postcards on a regular basis. Now I email information to my sphere of influence and email my newsletter and post blogs.
Hi Shannon! What a clever post! Truly sums up what AR is all about. blogging is definitely what you make of it! KM
Shannon, thanks for the great blog, you are a smart girl.
Ann
WOW......
That is a great post! As a newbie, I am still acertaining the value of ActiveRain but you have really turned on the bright lights with that one! Thanks, I will re-read it a couple of times so it sinks in.
Ric
Awesome post - thanks for sharing your thoughts ! I know that blog so far has been a lot of fun and rewarding currently as we are starting to experience the benefits in leads and business.
I'm still trying to find my voice and find which thoughts I think will be interesting. Some days it's hard to pick the topic to write about from all the dozens running through my head, some days I couldn't think of something to write if my life depended on it. I have so much to learn about all this stuff and I wish I had more hours in the day to do so. Thanks for the primer on blogging, and for adding to my heap of stuff to think about :)
You are right. People make a choice about reading about your experience and who you are. No interview. They have already decided
I whole heartedly agree and this is a great summary of what make Active Rain such a fantastic resource and as always..it's free. I am always amazed when I see periodic complaints here because I have made so many friends and learned so much that is is just amazing! And I am still finding my voice here but I get a lot of help with that too! Thanks!
Blogging, and the consistent freshness of information, is a powerful tool in a package - you're wise to use it as a piece to the larger puzzle.
Shannon - I couldn't agree more with your parallel of blogging to The Secret. I was always a believer that with a positive attitude and a focus of sending out that energy that good things will come to you. It wasn't until I saw the movie The Secret and read the book that it really came all together for me.
The key is not allowing those limited beliefs we all feel sometimes to get in the way of what we can truly achieve. Blogging is a win-win in not just having the creativity to provide information and write to s specific audience but in the wealth of the friendships and relationships within this community that I hold dearly.
You are so right, "Active Rain exposes you to so many people and so much great content. It's probably the friendliest social network alive and it's certainly the best place to help you build your intelligence, your business and your real estate network."
That's it in a nutshell, friendly, educational, networking. Well said!
Shannon,
Excellent post. Very Helpful. Thank you.
there is no question, that of all the other forms of prospecting, blogging and commenting is a lot less intrusive, time efficient and fun
Great post, I couldn't agree more. Thanks so much for your insights!
Lisa VonBargen GRI, CRS, e-pro, NAPP
Owner/Broker The Yellow Mailbox Real Estate Services