Jon was kind enough to make this available for a re-blog. As I read this I thought about Club Chaos and our team writing projects, the launch of Little Minion TV on Active Rain and the direction we want to take with The Outside Blog Minion Report and our developing Team Blog.
There are so many opportunities waiting to be explored here at Active Rain. Those numbers are phenomenal and are a direct resut of the collective efforts of over 128,890 professional members working with the Active Rain Real Estate Network. There is something to be said for playing nice in the electronic sand box. The search engines wouldn't drive that much traffic here if it wasn't for the content of our blog posts. I got an e-mail from Autralia the same day I posted my kid's little video on Shea Stadium and Citi Field. I'm very happy to report that it's going viral on the Internet. I can't wait to see what happens when I post Stephen the Minion Blur at the Uni-sphere. :-)
My advice: create more original content and be very careful how you decide to brand your name and develop your (a) blogs, (b) trade marks and (c) service marks. You and your creations are very valuable to the community and this wonderful network. Market reports are not the only reason a person will decide to pick up the phone and call you.
Do not squander your social media opportunities. Blogging is a significant part of my business plan and if you just made a profile but don't spend any time here, you need to think again. The next time someone tells you (a) I don't have time for that or (b) you are wasting your time creating blog posts, send them over to read what Jon has to say on the subject. Show them the latest analytics and statistics. Tell them your friend Carolyn was out of the office yesterday and had 19 messages come in about making potential business arrangements, inclusive of four referrals from Active Rainers. How did the other 15 find me? My blog.
Because of the Active Rain Real Estate Network I now need a Minion sitter (LOL). Yo - I'm just sayin'... ;-)
I just stumbled upon the comment above that was a part of a post where people were debating the returns on various online real estate websites. I have heard the sentiments of the comment above numerous times since founding ActiveRain. Because of the rich professional-to-professional networking that happens everyday on ActiveRain some people dismiss the great consumer reach of the site. This is likely our fault as we tend not to toot our own horn regarding our accomplishments. As a result we have done a poor job educating the industry as to the power inherent in ActiveRain to connect real estate professionals with consumers.
I track our traffic numbers on a daily basis. It's a borderline obsession for me. When you've built websites your whole adult life, this tends to happen. For example, I know that yesterday was our second highest number of visitors ever to the site. 88% of our visitors on a monthly basis come from search engines or referral from other sites. These are potential clients doing search queries that are leading them to your posts.
But the stat that jumps out at me that lets me know ActiveRain is MUCH MORE than 'primarily a peer-to-peer platform' is this: the number of members on our site is quite a bit less than 10% of our unique visitors per month. That means there are over 9 consumers hitting the site for every one member.........and when you factor in how many of our members are actually contributing content, that number gets even higher.
As I was getting ready to write this post, I did some additional research and found the graph below that compares ActiveRain's traffic with other "big boys" of our industry: ColdwellBanker.com, REMAX.com, Century21.com, and KW.com. It is exciting for me to note that we started off one year ago in 5th place (out of 5) in this group and now we are ranking in 2nd place with almost a 200% yearly growth rate.
You missed a good highjacking last night. I kept expecting you to turn up!
Seriously? Awww man! I was out filming and running the streets with clients. Monika, ya gotta e-mail me if you're having a cool high-jacking so I know I have a virtual party to attend and will get my bloggers butt back to the computer (LOL).
Hey - how come one e-mailed me. Seriously? Seriously! What a bummer... I missed it. Oh well... BTW, for future ref: I check my e-mail by cell phone so e-mail me next time! ;-)
I will remember that! Check you're e-mail in a few minutes.
Very cool. Will do. Thank you, Monika. :-)
Carolyn, How in the world will you handle all that incoming business?
Barb, I am trying to figure that out now. I have an 11 with another brokerage firm plus recruited help from an associate broker in my office. 2009 certainly is starting off on an interesting note. One of the ladies I have to schedule an appointment for is an investor representing a company that wants to buy a home all cash (thank you God). I will be missing for most of the day but will be popping in and out. Poor Mikey has the kids and will be on his own (oh horror - LOL). Stephen's therapy starts at 12 and he gets out of school 11. Daddy is going to have his hands full. The Blur Minion was in rare form this morning (LMAO). I hope hubby doesn't cancel the rest of his vacation behind this one. I think he did less work supervising the inmates. ;-)
Lots of good posts and advice on AR for the most part. I have not gotten any business from AR in two years that I've been on AR
Portsmouth NH Real Estate
Hi C,
I am closing on a rental this week through AR and the renter has already told me she will be buying next year. This does work and I plan to get back to work on it after my break for the holidays and starting the new year. Have a great day and I will be in touch soon
This is a great chart. I didn't realize AR was ranked that high in comparison to the big 4.
C - Your business is going VIRAL!!! What an awesome return on all your hard work. You are an inspiration, so glad I found you here!
C - great post! I have included serious blogging in my marketing plan this year.
Very true, I have so much more to do to get my outside blog going and do more features on my town and what is in it!!! Thanks for all of the kicks in the butt you provide!
I am going to suggest that THIS post be Featured....I appreciate the time and energy that went into it...and the information you provide!
Patricia, all I can say is that it usually comes when you least expect it. Hang in there, sweetie. You may find yourself very pleasantly surprised. :-)
Looking forward to coming up to your neck of the woods, Paddy-Paddy. ;-)
John, this place is amazing. :-)
Amy, I have been on the phone like a crazy person today. I am soooo looking forward to late night and hanging out with my social media buddies. I'm pooped (LOL).
Thank you, Tanya. I am on a mission for 2009.
janeAnne, you are very kind. Thank you. :-)
Active Rain gets a ton of consumers that cruise through. Even if they don't realize it's AR they clicked on from Google or other search engines, they still come right in.
Carolyn - I got a referral today from and agent and I haven't the faintest idea who she is but I knew right off it had to be AR - It was! The buyer caled me diectly and said, "Deb said I have to call you personally!"
Pretty cool.
JL, I'm banking on that, which is why I try to write so many different categories of posts. I stick with what interest me. From serious to silly I'm there because I love blogging! :-)
Jim, I know exactly what you mean. It's a very cool feeling. :-)
AR is a very good professional forum and I have searched on many topics looking for input. My goal is additional business and referrals and believe a key in that is increasing our ranking. So, being an active and regular participant with blog posts that get noticed will matter. It's very organic.
Julie, I love the way you think. Very organic, indeed. :-)
I think everyone needs to remember to track their business (something the average agent is not great at) to see what is working and what is not.
AR may not be directly giving you business, but it certainly is web presence you cant buy, and I know that clients looking for me have found me because of AR.
AR enjoys great SEO on Google, and most consumers enter keywords to find more information. Even if a customer finds you elsewhere, most of them will then enter your name into Gogole and AR ranks high, so they find AR, even though they don't know where they are. :)
Robert, it's a great place to be. It has brought me fabulous friends who have also opened a lot of very interesting doors for me. I love blogging here. :-)
I've only been blogging on Active Rain about 6 weeks, so I still need more time to see how it helps my business.
Marcy
I've only been blogging on Active Rain about 6 weeks, so I still need more time to see how it helps my business.
Marcy
I hope you hang in there, Marcy. It may surprise you. :-)
Carolyn, I like the extra you added to Jonathan's post. It is about getting eyeballs to notice you for sure.
Thank you, Gary. :-)
Sweet! I was moving around AR yesterday and found Bill Gassett's blog. That guy is a wealth of information on how to get yourself connected and in front of the internet consumer. One of the things he touch on yesterday is the same point that you make. Content is king!
For me, I need to up my content, and avoid squandering my "social media opportunity."
I love it too, I am jealous that Susan is going to cook for you! I guess I dont rate???
Robert R, you can cook for me the the wee ones anytime. ;-)
Marianne, up your game and have lots of fun, bay-bay. :-)
C - You certain get in and is making the best use of social media. Your participation here in the Rain and willingness to reach out to others is greatly appreciated.
Most people arent' believers. I had a post, not a website, that I did over $2M in business this year. I netted over $3M from my blog and AR this year.
Credibility, experience, and results are all critical but AR has been a big catalist for my biz.
Thank you, Jennifer. :-)
Tracey, this place is fabulous! I adore my bay-bays and absolutely love the way we pass referrals back and forth. Very cool. I'm working with people I know as opposed to randomly selecting strangers. :-)