The Official ActiveRain Guide

I was responding to some frustrating formatting issues being experienced by community member, Mark Hendry of C21 Pro Realty Group in Blue Ridge GA.

He was trying to import a blog article he had drafted on a desktop application, Dreamweaver, and was having problems getting it to upload onto his ActiveRain blog publisher.

During the course of our phone conversation, I asked why he was crafting his articles on Dreamweaver, rather than using the ActiveRain publisher?

He responded that whenever his blog muse would inspire him, he iiked to just go into Dreamweaver, knock out a few sentences, then save it for a later time when he could finish it up.

I asked him, "Why don't you just us the ActiveRain blog publisher and save your articles to 'Draft' mode?"

There was a short pause on the phone.

"The 'Draft' mode? What's that?

I explained that he could easily accomplish the same thing using his ActiveRain blog publisher, and simply scroll down to the 'Draft' mode in the 'Visibility' box before saving.

This 'Draft' mode is a feature that I personally use all the time. Like Mark, my blogging muse strikes at the most inopportune moments, so many times I only have a few minutes to throw something up, and hit the 'Draft' button, saving it until I have more time to complete my post.

There was a line from the Tim Allen movie "Galaxy Quest"....

"It's the simple things in life you treasure!"

Old school TV.

Growing up, I used to love coming home after school, grab a PBJ and milk, and watch all my favorite afternoon shows on our black & white RCA. One such show was 'Password.' One member of each team was given a word, and they had to try to give clues, using other words, to get the other member to correctly guess the word within a specified time frame.

Here on ActiveRain, the learning curve can seem incredibly HUGE and intimidating at times. People join our community with such a diverse level of knowledge and skill levels. We've tried to leave as many helpful 'clues' as possible to make your experience here less daunting, and more enjoyable.

Earlier this morning, I received the following e-mail:

You've received a contact message from your Contact Form on the ActiveRain network.

Message details:
From: Joan Wickman
Email: jwickman@gmail.com
Subject: Changing Password and E-mail Address (Sent via Activerain)

Writing in frustration... trying to change and
it is difficult finding the subject in the q&a.

Many of us are the 'Early Adaptors' and have readily embraced/immersed ourselves in social media and emerging technologies. But there is an overwhelming majority of potential members out there who aren't as brave or bold (at least when it comes to things related to technology). What seems easy and trivial to us can appear insurmountable and frustrating to others. As such, we need to leave more clues, and make the learning process easier, especially for new members.

Joan, in answer to your question, I offer the following easy steps:

When you log onto ActiveRain, using your user name and password, the system automatically takes you to your 'My Home' page. Over on the left hand side of the page, just below your name, there is a column of links. Go down to the one entitled 'My Profile (Edit).' Take your mouse cursor, and click on the word (Edit). This takes you to the page where you can edit your Profile information.

You will notice just above the first yellow field for your First Name, is the link for 'Change Password.' If you click on this, you can change your password. Make sure to click on the button 'Change Password' when you are done.

The Profile Editing Page allows you to input and update all your business/contact information, identify your primary markets, and create custom sections to showcase you and your business.

Make sure that you click on the 'Save Profile' button before closing out.

One of the primary goals of ActiveRain is to create a community that fully engages the talents and knowledge of our members for the benefit of our industry as a whole. The Staff at ActiveRain is committed to providing an environment that encourages personal/professional growth, and tools that offer significant benefit to your business.

If you're a new member of our community, make sure you spend some time going through our official ActiveRain Starter Kit skillfully put together by our cherished Community Builder, Brad Andersohn.

In addition, we've assembled a great collection of helpful tutorials on a wide range of topics that you can access by simply going to the bottom of any page, and click on the link, 'Help/FAQ'

For more 'Blog Tips for Rain Drips,' go HERE, or join the Blog Tips for Rain Drips GROUP

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

The following archived articles are from a series I began a while back entitled "Blog Tips for Rain Drips" and were designed to provide needed instruction in the finer points of blogging/social media, and to help our members derive the most benefits/value from their involvement here on ActiveRain.

"Social Media Sushi - Developing a Social Media Strategy, Part IV"

"Taking AIM - Developing a Social Media Strategy Part III"

"The 'Why' of Social Media - Developing a Social Media Strategy Part II"

"New Series: Developing a Social Media Strategy"

"Hello? McFly! It's called 'Social' Media for a Reason!"

"Learning the Balancing Act of Social Media"

"Perception vs. Reality"

"Don't Waste Your Time on ActiveRain!"

"Attracting Great Clients thru Blogging"

"Overwhelmed by the Technology Learning Curve?"

"Your Blog Stimulus Package"

"Taking the Hype out of Hyper-Local Blogging"

"And the Password is!".....

"When I Search My Name, Nothing Comes Up!"

"Don't Turn Your Blog into a Refrigerator Magnet!"

"Would You like a Side of SPAM with those Comments?"

"How to Balance Your Blog"

"When in Doubt, Read the Instructions!"

"Rain-Vitations: Your Ticket to a Higher Score"

"Bring Back that Loving Feeling: Building Community"

"How to Kreate Kwality Kontent"

"How to Engage Your Blog Readers"

"Forgive me, Father, it's been 3 weeks since my last blog post!"

"Is Your Blog a Brick Wall?"

"When is Your Blog like a Toxic Waste Dump?"

"The 3 Powerful 'P's' of Posting"

"What is Comment Junk Mail SPAM?"

"How to Sabotage Your Own Blog"

"But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express"

"Roxanne, Glamor Shots, and Casper the Ghost"

"Is it possible to be TOO Transparent?"

"Monsters in the Blogosphere"

"What is a Straffing Run Blogger?"

"Playing Fair in the Blogging SandBox"

"Are You Feeling a 'Draft' in Here?"

"How to Write Good Hyper Local Content"

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

(Note: The following editorial criteria is only being implemented temporarily until Localism is made open to public membership. At that time, a new revised criteria will be provided)

Since the newly revamped Localism was released, and is becoming fully functional, our editorial staff has been busy reviewing and approving articles that our members have written and categorized "For Consumers" and further geo-targeted for specific State, County, City, and Community locations.

One of the main complaints that we've fielded from our members since the early beginnings of Localism has been a concern over the amount of sub-standard or poor quality content that has been published to Localism. This content not only bears a poor reflection on our Network as a whole, but doesn't aide in attracting consumer readership or encourage their involvement in the conversations. Reviewing and approving content is a response to a majority opinion of our members, and will help to ensure better quality of content on Localism.

Initially, when the new Localism was launched, we were reviewing your articles first, and then, if they were approved, they would show up on the relevant community, City, County, or State pages. If the post wasn't approved, it would become part of your archive that shows up on your Localism blog profile.

As of just recently, your posts will now be automatically and immediately published to Localism. They will remain on the relevant geo-target page until such a time as the editors can review and approve it. If it is not approved, it will continue to show up on your Localism blog profile.

So this now begs the question, what constitutes 'approved' content for Localism? What specifically are the editors looking for to help form their decisions?

ActiveRain Co-Founder & CEO, Jonathan Washburn, shared some initial insights in the official Localism Q&A post:

"We are still establishing a written set of guidelines.  Right now I am instructing the editors to accept posts that they would find interesting and valuable if they were looking for information on that particular area.  It is important to note that the more granular the post is tagged the less picky the editors are.  For example, a marginal quality post will likely be accepted on a Community blog, but a very good post may not make the cut for the state blog page.  To have a state level post accepted, it needs to be exceptional."

Jonathan also shared some helpful tips in "10 Steps to Localism Success."

Initially, we're asking our members to focus their writing on content that isn't specifically 'real estate related.' Our goal in the first phase is to attract consumer readership/participation (neighbors & residents of our communities). In order to achieve this goal, we need to have a wider variety of topics. There will be a separate link/tab on each Community Page to direct people to real estate specific posts, such as Listings, Market Reports, etc..

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With those things in mind, allow me to expand things further. Let's take care of some of the technical aspects first:

1) Spell Korecklee:  Use the Spell Check function. It's working now, thanks to our resident stud, Jorgen. If we claim to be professionals, we need to convey ourselves as such.

2) A Blog is NOT a BILLBOARD:  A blog post is not an ad. While some aspects of your post will naturally be self-promotional in nature, that doesn't mean that your entire article should read like one massive billboard touting how awesome you are, and plastered with every conceivable means of contacting you, along with a link to every website and web-page you own. Less is more.

3) People Like Pictures:  It's a proven fact - good relevant graphics/pictures improve/enhance blog readership. Take your digital camera with you wherever you go. Take your own good local photos and you'll never have to be concerned about copyright infringement.

4) Aim for the Bullseye:  Be as specific or niche-oriented with your geo-targeting as possible. By that, I mean, post your article to the most narrow and specific location, as applicable. It will be much easier to have an article approved for Poinciana, than it will be for the whole State of Florida.

5) Use Your Own Voice:  Don't 'Copy & Paste.' There are no 'quick' & 'easy' shortcuts to effective blogging.

Now for the more 'creative' aspects (think 'DO-BEE's of Effective Local Content Blogging):

1) BE YOURSELF:  It's not rocket science. Sometimes we have a tendency to over-think these things. Most importantly, be yourself. That is one of the foundational aspects of conversational blogging - to convey your own unique personality, perspective, and passions. Your readers want to know who and what you are; what makes you tick; how you conduct your business. Allow 'YOU' to always come through in your writing.

2) BE 'CONSUMER-CENTRIC:'  Don't talk all about yourself. Share information/resources that consumers will find helpful, interesting, and valuable. Put yourself in the consumer's shoes. What would attract them to your post? What would they find most engaging?

3) BE 'LOCAL MINDED:'  Remember to stay focused on relevant local information, news, events, points/places of interest, etc. Think Little League, church happenings, interview local leaders, fund raising events, profiles of everyday people, neighborhood merchants & business owners, garage sales, local politics, school activities/sports, local neighborhood flavor & ambiance.

4) BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR:  Find meaningful ways of giving back to the community, i.e. volunteer work, charity functions, fund-raising, etc., and then blog about it

In a nutshell, our editors are going to be reviewing your articles through the eyes of the consumer. They'll be looking for articles that:

• capture the consumer's interests
• are aesthetic (well constructed & formatted)
  
• read well (convey thoughts intelligently)
  
• reveal the writer's personality
  
• provide value to the reader (relevant local information)

By incorporating these aspects into your hyper-local blogging efforts, you'll generate good local content, attract greater readership to your blog, and improve your chances of having your posts approved.

Well, it's time once again for this weeks edition of "ActiveRain Community Guidelines Re-Visited" where we're going through each of the guidelines, one by one, and expanding on their meaning.

This weeks guideline is perhaps one of the most important, and often, the one most violated:

• Respect copyrights. Only upload content/images that you have the right to use (what you have paid for or own), and whose copyright rules allow for commercial use.
  

And another one that is similar:

• Do not plagiarize (copy and paste) content from another source, and publish it as your own. You must obtain expressed permission from the original source to republish, and give reference to such within the body of your post. Permission to re-print is NOT the same as permission to re-publish.

Let me start off by confessing that I was guilty of violating this guideline very early on in my initial few weeks on ActiveRain. I was a newb. The only blogging I had done was on MySpace, and I don't think that really qualifies. I was totally ignorant about the whole 'copyright' 'plagiarism' thing.

Well, ignorance is bliss, but it doesn't keep you out of jail, or court, for that matter.

Let's start off first by defining what exactly constitutes copyright infringement:

"The original author of a particular article or blog post is the only person who has the right to derive any benefits from the publication and subsequent distribution of that article/post. You must purchase/pay for the right to publish or distribute someone else's intellectual property, otherwise you do not have permission to publish that material as content on your own blog."

I think a lot of well-intentioned, and seemingly innocent people are guilty, at one point or another, or copyright infringement or plagiarism. Many of us enter the ActiveRain blogging fray with little or no prior experience. We simply lurk and learn. We watch other members, and mimic what they appear to be doing. We assume that certain practices are accepted. But many times, they aren't.

It's usually not until someone makes a comment in your post, or sends you an e-mail, that you realize you've messed up. Or worse, one of the AR gods robs a few of your points, and you cry 'Foul!' Fortunately for me, I had some very kind mentors who helped point out the errors of my ways.

Just so we're all on the same page here, points are awarded for your own original content. Points are not bestowed when you simply reprint other people's intellectual property, whether you have permission to republish their content or not. But we'll deal with that issue at another time.

Perhaps one of the resident authorities on this subject is our own, Lenn Harley. If you peruse her blog archives, you'll find a wealth of very helpful and practical advice as it relates to copyright infringement. Lenn herself has pocketed a nice chunk of change from those who were foolish enough to mess with her content/images.

In one of her articles, "You cannot 're-print' on ActiveRain," Lenn states: 

"IF YOU DIDN'T WRITE THE ARTICLE, you do not own the content and cannot publish it - EVEN WITH ATTRIBUTION."

Hold the Bus, Gus! You mean, even if we give credit to the original author within the body of our article, we can't publish it?

Lenn goes on to say: 

"If you ask an author for permission to "REPRINT" and receive that permission, you may PRINT the article and distribute, perhaps in mailings or hand-outs in a relocation package.  The author's name will be on the article.  You are merely distributing the article and will benefit only by the limited number of copies distributed. The author still benefits by having their writing distributed."

So what you're saying is that obtaining the original writer's permission to re-print doesn't mean you have the right to re-publish their content to your own blog?

As Lenn affirms: 

"PERMISSION TO REPRINT IS NOT PERMISSION TO PUBLISH"

(Now might be a good time to go back through your archive of past blog posts, and delete/amend any suspect content, whether text or images)

So what if you only want to use a small portion of someone's content, perhaps a sentence or two, as quotes within your blog post?

Well, according to Lenn: 

"USE SNIPPETS AND LINK - THAT'S "FAIR USE"

"The proper or legal way to get the information to the reader would be to publish an "introduction" or "snippet" (three or four lines of the original material) and then LINK to the article on the author's web site. The "Fair Use" exclusion under copyright law was intended for reviewers of original material, critics of books, movies, etc. to use "SNIPPETS"or short excerpts of original material and then publish the review of the original, not the original.  When one publishes an entire article, they have violated the copyright of the author, even if you give attribution and include the author's name in the article."

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So there ya go! A crash course on copyright infringement and plagiarism. I don't think we've quite covered all there is to say on this topic, so next week, I want to discuss further the issue of copyright infringement as it relates to the copying of images/pictures.

Until then, have a fun (and legal) rest of the week in the Rain! 

(Note:  All quoted source material is the intellectual property of Lenn Harley of Homefinders.com, and is used by both expressed permission and 'Fair Use' exclusion)

For further reading enjoyment:  How to Kreate Kwality Kontent   Is There Really Copyright Confusion? 

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UPDATE:  A suggestion was made to make this post available to our members when they encounter a blog post on our Network that clearly constitutes 'plariarized' (copied & pasted) content from another source, and to simply insert a link to this article into the comments section of that post. Others may feel more comfortable sending an e-mail to the fellow member, with the link embedded there. Either way, please feel free to use this post in whatever ways are most appropriate in assisting other members to better understand the importance of this issue. And always remember to demonstrate grace to those who are in error. Thanks!

The ActiveRain Community Guidelines are as follows:

The following are the ActiveRain Community Guidelines. For an expanded explanation/definition of each point, simply click on the highlighted links.

Respect the Real Estate Industry 

ActiveRain is a place where real estate professionals can network with their peers and discuss industry insider topics. It is also a public forum where consumers can pull back the curtain and see what the real estate industry is really about. 

Because of this level of transparency and openness, ActiveRain members must remain zealous in their quest to represent our industry in as true and professional of a light as possible.

Respect the ActiveRain Community

Being a part of any community requires a certain level of trust. Don't abuse the site or your fellow members. By joining the ActiveRain community you are given a platform to present your ideas and opinions to a large number of people. We trust you to be responsible with that platform; thousands of other ActiveRain members are also counting on your trustworthiness.

• Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another members blog post.
• Do not personally attack another person.
• Do not slander another person. 
• Do not send unsolicited emails, or faxes, or make unsolicited phone calls to another member.
• Respect the public that this community serves and derives its living from.
• Do not violate any laws of your local jurisdiction. This includes all Fair Housing related laws.
• Do not republish any content initially revealed in a Member's Only post.
  
• Respect copyright. Only upload content that you have the right to use.
  
• The point system is intended to recognize the top professionals in our industry. Do not try to game the system.
• We encourage free speech and defend everyone's right to express unpopular points of view. But we don't permit hate speech which contains slurs or the malicious use of stereotypes intended to attack or demean a particular gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or nationality.
• There is zero tolerance for predatory behavior, stalking, threats, harassment, invading privacy, or the revealing of other members' personal information. Anyone caught doing these things may be permanently banned from ActiveRain.

Please take these rules seriously. Don't try to look for loopholes or ways around them; please take them to heart and try to respect the spirit in which they were created. We administrate this community using logic and common sense, and we will give greatest regard to the intention of the rule. If we decide to terminate your account as a result of a violation of these Community Guidelines, you will be prohibited from ever signing up for another account!

We Review Content Flagged As Inappropriate

We built ActiveRain as a place for real estate professional to network and create a sense of community/belonging. This is your community! It is our members that ActiveRain a special place.

• Have fun with the site. Don't be afraid to dig in! There's a lot to do and learn here.
• Let ActiveRain staff and other members know what you are thinking. Member feedback is essential to our continued growth and development
• Get connected. At first ActiveRain may seem, both at the same time; so big that you could never be heard, and so small and cliquish that you will never be a part of it. Everyone experiences this phenomenon. Our suggestion is to start off slow; read blogs, then start commenting on posts that interest you, and once you feel ready, blog away!

—The ActiveRain Team

It's no secret.... The genius of this platform? ....It's in the points!

Seriously,... forget about all the great information, the social networking, and all the potential business it generates. We Want Points! 

Just put a bunch of "Type A" personalities in the same virtual room, tell them they're competing for status & position by earning points, and watch the 'FRENZY' begin!

Now, granted, there are some who take this point thing just a little TOO seriously! But for the majority of us, it simply adds to the fun and enjoyment of participating in the Rain.

(Who are we kidding? We'd sell our own Mothers if it would help us achieve top spot in our State, right? Well, okay, maybe not 'Mom,' but maybe that annoying little brother or sister, eh!)

For some of you newer members, you may be asking yourself, "What hope is there for me? How can I ever hope to catch up to some of the veteran players who've racked up a gazillion points already?"

Well, don't despair, Buckwheat! You too can become the Big Cheese in your respective town, city, county, or even State, by following one simple, seemingly overlooked strategy.....

                     ......by 'Inviting Others' to the Rain!

Down at the bottom left-hand side of your "My Home" page, you'll find the link that says, Invite Others

Click on that link, and it will take you to the 'Invitation Page,' where you can enter your colleague's name, e-mail address, write a short personalized note encouraging them to join our beloved community, and hit 'Send Invitation!'

It's that simple!

For every person you get to join the Network, you receive 50 points! Then, after that, you receive 10% of ALL the points that person earns from there on out!

We have a member here in Washington State who has nearly 70,000 points! He's only posted 3 articles, made 9 comments, so almost ALL of his points are from inviting others to the Network! Imagine how much more he could do if he were actively participating?

If you look at some of our Top Scoring members, almost all of them have 10's of Thousands of points as a result of 'Inviting Others.' Granted, they've all worked hard to achieve their ranking. Effective blogging takes time, hard work, and commitment. But 'Inviting Others' to benefit and contribute to this platform is a major part of their success. And it can be a part of Your success too!

So start Inviting a couple of people a week, and watch your numbers climb!

Your Mother will most definitely appreciate it!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com