About two and a half years ago I wrote a post Stewardship: The Way to a PLEASANT Blogging Experience. I got the idea to write the post from a comment thread in which our own Bob Stewart - ActiveRain talked about holding ourselves to a higher standard.
He said, ""If you have a following on ActiveRain, you need to HOLD YOURSELF TO A HIGHER STANDARD. Having a big following (and there are a ton of you commenting on this that do) means that you take stewardship over the community as a whole. ..........Your actions reflect positively and negatively on ALL OF US."
Hang around the barber shop long enough and you end up getting a haircut. In other words, if we read a lot of negative posts about the community we won't move there, right? We on ActiveRain ARE a community and it is the people behind all the words that make this a great community. Once in awhile there will be disparaging posts or comments and we can choose to ignore, jump in and fight or look on the positive side of the story.
There are always two sides to everything.
In my own mind and stepping into another's shoes.
Your success in business is not dependent on others giving it to you. YOU MAKE IT. Same goes for blogging. We have to work hard at creating a good post full of information that shows some transparency to who is writing it as well as making it interesting so the consumer and our peers that will read it.
We engage the reader with:
- Quality Content: Yeah, you can cram a load full of creative content t into one post or very little with thought provoking tidbits to make you think further. That's the beauty of blogging....you MAKE your own blogging experience turn into business and connecting with your peers by putting interesting information into your writing.
- Transparency in Content: When you are talking to someone about real estate (or staging, loans etc.) are you just reciting and talking AT them instead of WITH them? Same goes for your writing.... FEEL the reader walking beside you and write as if you're talking with them. Reciting does not go a long way...being real does.
- Variety in Content: Whoever said local area, food joints, the best pedicurist in town, history and points of interest in your neighborhood has nothing to do with real estate is OUT OF THEIR MINDS! Everything around us is Real Estate Related. If a client asks where a great dining place is you have answers. If they ask about the neighborhood history or entertainment you have answers. This could make the difference in their believing YOU ARE THE AREA EXPERT......or NOT.
ActiveRain is my best source for getting myself and my information out to the public. It is my best source for referrals and without a doubt the only place that I have truly bonded with my peers and turned many a connection into long lasting friendships.
You CAN and WILL create your own blogging experience on ActiveRain with dedication, consistency and a whole lot of effort. Just like any other marketing tool....it takes time for it to implement into your business ....as long as you are creating content worth reading. It take a heck of a lot of focus....on your own self instead of worrying about everyone else. It is when you understand all this...is when you ARE ....Creating Your OWN Blogging Experience on ActiveRain.
It takes a positive attitude to work smoothly alongside your peers in any community.
Are you holding yourself to a higher standard within our ActiveRain community?
I am glad to be a part of the community. I hope that I can contribute quality content. I know it will take time to develop some of the skills of the more prolific members of this community, but I do strive to contribute something of value every time.
Hi Sally,
Featured in the newbie group. A great reminder for those that blame "things" for their own lack of results. Even a small effort will bring "something". But, yes, it is an effort. You can't just post "I am a Realtor and you should use me". You need to give your potential clients a reason to want to use you
Woo Hoo, You are up and running in the Rain again. Great post and a very timely message to boot. I also keep trying and God knows I sure do take lots of photos to entertain the troops here ( and hopefully a few Buyers and Sellers too! ). Actually a labor of love and gives me lots of opportunities to show off America's Finest City.
Sally we can either be a positive influence in the Rain or write blogs that do not provide any value. Those that bring value have a following, those that don't might as well talk to themselves, and it is reflected in the number of comments that they get. Those that bring value get business from this site, those that don't bring value are probably costing themselves business.
Great post Sally! Very informative for a "newbie" like me.
Thanks!
Harry
Sally ... you are so right about YOU MAKING THE BUSINESS! You bring value to AR!!! pippa
Sally ... you are so right about YOU MAKING THE BUSINESS! You bring value to AR!!! pippa
Sally
An outstanding post and great advice.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Sally, thats a good post and I am learning so much on AR I only joined in February and am enjoying my blogging experience!
Marilyn: Good for you! Jump on the train..it WILL come.
Lou: Kind sir.
Pippa: And so do you!
Harry: Let's see what you can do!
George: Ever the level headed comments.....but oh so true!
William: I love your Localism posts....you are surely the local area expert and very well could be their tour guide as well!
Karen..you said....You need to give your potential clients a reason to want to use you and THAT is a fact. You don't get something...for nothing :)
Troy...and that understanding is the reason you'll go very far...
Sally ..Great post...When I think of Hawaii i always think of you
HelpfulHannah
Sally,
"You CAN and WILL create your own blogging experience on ActiveRain" I've always believed we find what we seek! If you seek a great experience in the Rain you'll find it!
What we get out of AR will depend on what we're looking for and how much we're willing to share! I for one am very grateful fo a referral from our young East cost friend.
Bill
Thanks Hannah!
Bill: Yup...the rewards of AR are tenfold...on more ways than one :)
Hi Sally - This is great advice, and you clearly know what you're talking about. Your blog is a great example of what we all aspire to do. And I'm proud to be in this community with you.
I really think those that have a following have one because of the reputation they build, presumably a positive one. Great advice on how to may your blogging experience count.
Hey Susan: Oh, goodness...I am proud to be in this community with you as well!
Jane: I agree...and for as long as I can remember.....I chose to go the positive route....I keep my first post live on AR just for the reminder of where I was and where I am now. It's amazing!
Sally, thanks for the postive post. I think it takes time to develop a good blog. I like your points and will keep them in mind.
Sally,
Yours was one of the first blogs I subscribed to when I joined ActiveRain for exactly the reasons that you list here. I found a wide variety of well-written content and an engaging personality that shines through in everything you post.
I agree whole heartedly. I think that mixing it up is helpful. While this is a real estate site, I kinda get tired of reading about real estate...
Thanks so much Sally for reminding us why we're in Active Rain in the first place. Sometimes it's easy to get entrenced in the business side...but it's the PEOPLE side that really matters.
Sally, Congratulations on the featured post. I hope your post is read by all AR members. Good reminder.
I do my best in putting my best foot forward everyday, in my blog, then follow through in person. The last thing I want to be is an hypocrite - to sound one way and be another.
People like to associate with positive people no matter how hard/ tough the economy may be.
Sally...
I don't when I recognized the fact that I had a higher responsibility to the community at large, because it became more apparent over time. But it is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I consider my success and the success of ActiveRain to be intertwined.
Sally thanks for the reminder of the value of Active Rain. Variety is the spice of life when it comes to blogging. We have to remember who are audience is and think about what they are looking for in the way of local information instead of what we want to just throw at them.
Sally:
Just as it is in life, in reading blogs people will be attracted to writing that is interesting, probing, conversational and informative. Negativity is not going to build much of a following. At least not a beneficial following.
Sally - the success of Active Rain is is a direct result of people who share or have views similar to your views here ..... our success is truly intertwined with the success of Active Rain it is not a place to come and post a profile then disappear or a place to be negative.
positive attitude + positive actions = positive results
Nice post, especially the part about local content.
I agree with mixing the content. My posts are about different subjects also. I don't have a big AR following, but I'm writing for the consumer.
Sally,
"...dedication, consistency and a whole lot of effort. Just like any other marketing tool....it takes time..." Amen t0 that!
Mike in Tucson
I love the variety of content offered by most. I would get bored if they all were listings - especially in areas I am not moving!
Sally, great advice. I have always tried to take the high road and to avoid all water cooler conversations........I feel the same about any nay-saying blog posts see. I avoid them completely. I did not join AR to lament about the market, the finance industry or proxy errors. I joined AR because I was impressed with the collaborative, giving nature of most of the members and their posts. And, I am very pleased to be actively pursuing and sharing the positive goals and attittudes of so many in the Rain!
Sally-- I love the point you make about speaking TO readers instead of AT them. I had not thought of my writing from that aspect, but I definitely will now.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sally, congratulations on the well deserved gold star! My blog is full of me, couldn't be more transparent. Sometimes I wonder....
Seriously though, we do need to engage our readers, or at least I think so.
Am I holding myself to a higher standard? I would like to think so, even though I acknowledge that there is room for improvement...more transparency, more helpful posts...I am working on it...
Great post...I am working on a variety of topics and trying to engage others on AR...Thanks for this information Jen
Sally Excellent thoughts some times my posts are not as good as I can make them and i need to set a higher standard.
Sally: Great points... I too hold myself as a writer and member of this community to a high standard. Of course there's plenty of room for improvements and I work on that all the time. I think before we can be transparent to others within a community, we need to confront ourselves and be honest, be transparent to ourselves. If you're double thinking every time you set out to do something, then you're probably not there yet.
I am a great believer in 'variety in content', even though in my own case I sometimes struggle with it. I figure if I'm bored, then the reader is sure to be also. Great read, thanks...
A blog a day keeps the bills paid (ouch).
A blog a day keeps the collector away .
Sally,
I feel pretty strongly about this topic and appreciate this piece very much! And I agree that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard regardless of how large or small our following maybe. We are professionals...and I believe we must act as such!
We should all hold ourselves to a higher standard. After all, we are exceptional. Only 185K activerain accounts out of 1.3million Realtors. Not to mention Mortgage Brokers, Homestagers, etc. This is our community and we need to be good citizens. Thanks for your post Sally!
Sally, Thank You for sharing! Totally spot on when it comes to negative comments. Here in the Rain I think most do a good job of higher standards....Out in the profession is where we have to keep after it even more diligently! Have a Great Week, and a wonderful Independence Day!
Sally, Thank You for sharing! Totally spot on when it comes to negative comments. Here in the Rain I think most do a good job of higher standards....Out in the profession is where we have to keep after it even more diligently! Have a Great Week, and a wonderful Independence Day!
Sally - a wonderful read. I think many here do not realize the power we have to influence, to create impressions, to convey valuable perspectives. We have a responsibility to do this in an honest, ethical and professional manner. Sadly not all do so, but that number is small.
We have so many wonderful members who contribute in so many ways, and I'm proud to be part of the community.
Jeff
very informative, thank you
I just read this on a Monday morning! What a great thing to read to start my week!
Sally, Great information. I am not NEW to AR but I am not a blogger. My wife is a lender and she blogs so often. I know that I should but I agree, you have to have content. I don't feel the comfort yet but the best way is to write it out, read it out, and wait it out for me. Karen hit it on the head "You can't just post "I am a Realtor and you should use me". You need to give your potential clients a reason to want to use you .
We'll said Sally.
wow, Lots of great info. Thank you for sharing. I just started with AR and I need to improve my skills. This helps Thank you for sharing
Great post...glad it was featured. It's a good reminder to stay out of the mud. It's hard when you find issues you feel strongly about, but I think it's necessary to stay away :/ I'll try and remember that!
Pamela: Great tips all over the RAIN!
Kate: Thanks much Kate....I like when I hear that...it reminds me that I'm on track!
Michael: They say variety keeps it interesting...it also shows that we're human and connect to the rest of the world :)
Curt: It's all sides that matter....we are not only professionl in real estate...but our neighborhoods and local areas...we are the PEOPLE and the REAL in Real Estate :)
Gita: Thanks Gita...The ones that read and take to heart may just get something out of this...if not, put it on the back burner for later...maybe.
Loreena: And that's what I believe too....and you know what? I weathered the storm and continue to strive to be the best human being I can be.
Richard: I love the way you write! You say so much in a few words... I say it all in detail ...I've been trying to do your style but it never turns out that way LOL
Cindy: The value lies in whatever effort I put in...not because of how many or the amount of points etc. No throwing stuff here...
Claudette: It may attract many people.....for that post...but not a following. :)
Michael: At 200k points you didn't start yet?
Kathy: It sure is and I like your equation!
Christa: Thanks...local content is a part of real estate.
Val: And that's what matters!
Sally ~ Thanks for the words of encouragement ~ write quality, have a variety and don't be transparent to help engage our readers. So true and helpful.
Hi Sally,
What a great read.....People are looking for information an people they can relate to and feel comfortable around. You do a great job of relating those experiences
Hi Sally, great post. Your encouragement made a difference to me--thanks for your positive thoughts. I think this is an excellent way to reach people and help them, and an excellent way to be a local expert for them. Enjoyed the post, thanks again!
Sally - as always, you have written another great post! ActiveRain is a great resource for US, as agents AND for our clients!
Sally- from time to time I need to read a post like this because I can "get off the path" that I want to be on. I'm VERY opinionated and sometimes I need a reminder to keep a positive spin on it.
Hello Celeste ~
Great post as usual! Very informative and encouraging blog!
Thank you very much for sharing,
Adam
Great post. I'll make sure to do what I can to keep high standards.
Sally, it does take a little while to learn about blogging, at least to me. Reading other's blogs and comments is the best way to learn how to get around on AR. It has been a great experience for me!
You have a good combination of uniqueness and common professionalism. Interesting thoughts... thank you for sharing this post.
Sally, I so agree with you about what you write about to keep it on a positive note. We don't need more downers in our day...
OH, awesome post, my dear, simply AWESOME! You know that I share your stewardship beliefs and have really nothing BUT positive to say--okay, 99% of the time! LOL
This community is so much better with you in it, Sally--you truly have been a welcoming force for many of the 180K+ members here.
Congrats on that little gold star too!
I like the idea of stewardship. I have learned much here and am too busy learning and writing posts to consider much negativity.
Love this post! We all gain so much from the incredible number of instructive and positive posts on ActiveRain.
I have never heard the turn of phrase about the barbershop and the haircut. Clever analogy. Everyone needs a trim now and again.
This is a good post and should also consider the Branding that goes along with the message itself.
Check out our post http://activerain.com/blogsview/1718362/how-to-capitalize-maximize-your-active-rain-profile.
Thanks for sharing!
I needed that! Details are not important, but this is a lesson you can apply to transactions, blogging, open houses, you name it! Thanks, great stuff!
I really need to work on the variety of content on my blog.
Damon: We all do...it's not a done deal ...ever :)
Brent: NOT important? I would love to see your details
James: Links in comments are against our guidelines....
Melissa: Believe me...it's used in the context that if you hang around a certain type of people that it will rub off on you....i.e. negativity breeds negativity, positivitity....and so on.
Tammy: There's opinionated...and opinionated with out an open mind. Agreeing to disagree comes to mind :)
Love the post, Sally. Since variety is the spice of life, you should post a variety of things to your blog. You never know which "spice" will catch someone's tastebuds. Also, I think there are actually 3 sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth. Your perception of the story and my perception of the story may be totally different. That doesn't make both sides wrong. It's just a matter of perception. Great job on the post!
Sally, i guess this is the topic of the day. i try to provide a variety of blog post from food, sports and of course ..real estate, but like everything it is a work in progress. great post!
Heather: And what is truth? My truth may not be the same as...and so on :) :)
Akil: I guess I should check out your blog then :)
I seem to spend most of my time reading blogs and not blogging. I must get back to doing some localism.
Sally - You've been such a positive influence on AR while remaining real and letting your personality come through. Lot's of people can be "fake cheery," but you don't just stay on the surface. Sometimes your posts dive really deep, but you maintain that sense of stewardship with the community and you always choose the high road. I admire and respect you greatly for that.
Sally - Great post. I get so much valuable information from AR. I have a personal motto "just use the search and learn" and I use it often. My next step is to become more local with my posting. Thanks again. ~ Doug
Great reminder for everyone! The quality information, and effort that individuals put into ActiveRain really shines through when you starting reading through everything. If that weren't the case, it wouldn't be as popular as it is with agents/brokers/stagers/loan officers/inspectors/etc. So easy for open forums to be dominated by some negative personalities, as you can see on other sites or most of the reality TV that's on the air nowadays! This space and the experiences here are quite refreshing.