The Official ActiveRain Guide

Social Networks have been around for many years.  Online social networks are making a big splash now that they come out of the middle school population and into the mainstream. The Active Rain Network is an amalgamation of blogging, social networking and viral marketing.  The combination of all empowers users on so many levels.  Addiction to the rain has become common place; many of us have been to the Betty Ford Center and will probably go back.  I don't know what it is about Active Rain, but one day my family will have to pry my cold, dead hands off the keyboard...

Until then folks you are going to have to put up with me.  My campaign of the day is to encourage the folks in the deep dark shadows of Lurkdom to come out.  Lurkdom is a crummy place to live.  It's a one-way street, dark and dingy.  Nobody knows you are there.  Hanging out in Lurkdom, you grow up lopsided.  Your body gets nourished from all the good information on Active Rain, but your mind doesn't grow, it atrophies into neutral, never going forth again.

If you are worried about coming out of Lurkdom, don’t despair.  There are plenty of resources here on Active Rain that will help you find your way.  In addition, you will find many people who are here, ready willing and anxious to help you.  So what are you waiting for?  Here’s how to get started:

• Pick a topic ~ choose something you are familiar with
• Write a blog ~ it doesn't have to be long
• Read it out loud ~ spell check it
•  If you are unsure about how to publish it on Active Rain read some tutorials
• Getting started on the Active Rain Community
• So you want to be a blogger?
• Who is your audience?
• The Official Unofficial Guide to Getting Involved on Active Rain
• Blogging for fun or profit? How about both?

Don't worry if your first blog isn't a master piece.  It is more important that you get started.  Once you have gone through the process a few times, it will become like second nature to you.

Next thing you know you will be making a journal with all the topics you would like to blog about, just so you can remember them all!  Trust me, it WILL happen!

You will also find times when you can't string a bunch of words together to make a sentence, much less one coherent thought.  We all hit that wall, so don't worry about it.  Right now, it's time for you to start.

HOW TO GET NOTICED 

After you have published a few blogs, hopefully you will get comments on them.  If you don't, keep trying.  We all didn't start with a million comments coming out of the shoot.  In fact my first blogs went unnoticed for a long time.  Of course back then we had a couple hundred people not the thousands we have now!

Here are a few hints on how to get noticed:

• Leave comments on other blogs.  Follow up on how they respond to you.  Making friends is the best way to get noticed.
• Join a group or two or ten.  The Newbie Group is a perfect place to start.  Getting in on the same level as others is instant affiliation.
• Show up regularly
• Build your profile, be sure it is clear who you are, what you do and where you do it.
• Use a photo we can identify as you.

Once you get in the swing of writing a blog, you will progress to a higher level. Start adding links, photos and items of interest.  Be sure not to copy other's work, unless of course you like being ridiculed and ostracized in public.

Here are a few blogs to assist you in sprucing up your blog:

• How to Add Pictures in Your Blog
  
• Unofficial Tech Support ~ Adding side by side photos
• Unofficial Tech Support ~ Adding photos and wrapping the text
  

 Most members of Active Rain agree, there is an abundance of information published here to help you get started.

We all have "Our First Time" jitters so don't feel alone when you do.  Just come on in, enjoy, make a new friend and tell us what's on your mind.  We would like to know!

kk

P.S. If you are part of the Real Estate Industry and are NOT a member of Active Rain, you can SIGN UP HERE! 

P.P.S.  I really am NOT tech support.  I am a Realtor in the Denver Metro Area, who loves your referrals and will treat them with the care and respect they deserve.  Please remember me... 

Colorado Licensed Broker ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist CRS - Certified Residential Specialist The Berkshire Group Realtors 3801 E. Florida Ave. Suite 400 Denver, Colorado, 80210 USA	Mobile: 303-589-2022 Fax: 303-953-5362 kristal@tbgdenver.com Denver Real Estate and Relocation Denver Home Search
Selling Denver and the 'burbs

Here is a basic primer for Newcomers to Active Rain (with special recognition to the members of the Mile High Chapter of WCR!)

 As you participate in the network, you receive points for your contributions.  The various ways you get points are:

1. Filling out your bio
   • Add a detailed description about your business and what you do.
     (You will see later this description shows up under your Name on your Active Rain Blog.)
   • Add more information about whatever you wish in two more sections (be sure to modify the title to fit your needs)
   • If you have nice testimonials from customers, be sure  to add them also
   • Uploading your photo to Active Rain

   Once you are done filling out the site, Hit "SAVE".  (In fact, every time you fill something out hit the "save" button.) Don't worry about being perfect the first time, or even filling everything out at once.  The beauty of the system is that you can come back whenever you wish and change or add more material. It's not permanent!

2. Recruiting other members
3. Writing blogs
4. Commenting on blogs
5. Bonus points for getting your blogs noticed outside the community
6. Bonus points for writing a really good blog (like this one J )

What are points used for?

If you visit your Primary Market , you will note the members are ranked according to their points.  Since the Network is relatively new, it is fairly easy to achieve good ranking on the system.  All you  need to do is participate on a consistent basis and invite all your industry friends.

What's the point?

The point for many is not about points, but about promoting yourself online:

1. your profile is indexed on Google  (fill your service area into the "keywords" box)
2. when you blog about topics near and dear to you, they too will be indexed by Google
3. You will meet many new friends in the industry to learn from, share with and network

How and where do I blog?

1. From "My Home" you will see a "My Blog" link in the left column, click on it. 
2. In the box "New Blog Entry", click on that.  A new window will pop up, this is where you prepare your blog.
3. Start with a title, then enter your main thoughts in the "entry" box. Finish using "Tags"
4. Be sure to properly identify the content of your blog
   • For real estate professionals only?
   • For consumers
   • Regional
   • Advertising
   • Other advertising

It is important to list your blog in the proper category.  Mislabeling a blog means it might not get noticed, or worse yet flamed! Another hint that could save you time and heartache, since it is very easy to lose your hard written work before it is published online, try writing your blog in MS Word, notepad or the fabulous new online wordprocessor called Writely.  Thinking online is best when you can save your work as you go.  IF the system burbs,  you lose your work, so take my advice and write elsewhere, then "cut and paste" your blog content onto the Active Rain Blog.

Publishing Your Blog to the World

Once your writing is complete (after you spell check it of course!) you just click on the "Post Blog Entry" button...off it goes!  In a few seconds you will see the results (as will everyone else) online.  Now there are a couple of things to remember;

• If after you publish it, you need to correct it, don't worry, just click on "edit" and fix it, remembering to "Post Blog Entry" again.
• Realize this blog is on your personal blog space at Active Rain, BUT IT IS ALSO on the main collection of blogs too .
• Relax

What about Comments?

After your blog is online for awhile, you may notice on your "My Home" page some links indicating others have made a comment.  Follow the link to see what the comments are.  If you have something to add, you too can make a comment.  This is how good discussions begin and keep going.  Getting lots of comments is a good thing!

 As you hang out here on Active Rain, you will find the benefits are enormous, the more you give, the more you will get.  Hope you find this outline helpful...and by the way (BTW)

Welcome to Active Rain! 

Want to join?  Sign up here...

Colorado Licensed Broker ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist CRS - Certified Residential Specialist The Berkshire Group Realtors 3801 E. Florida Ave. Suite 400 Denver, Colorado, 80210 USA	Mobile: 303-589-2022 Fax: 303-953-5362 kristal@tbgdenver.com Denver Real Estate and Relocation Denver Home Search
Selling Denver and the 'burbs