"Singing in the Rain!"

In my last article, I shared about 'Interruption' marketing, and how it's annoying today's net-savvy consumers.

In my recent posts, I've encouraged our members to Balance Your Blog, Bring Back the Love, and posting Quality Content.

This time, I simply want to share a few of my own personal observations as it relates to the hundreds of articles that are published here everyday on ActiveRain.....

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Ever have one of those listings where your Sellers do just about everything within their power to 'sabotage' the sale?

I had one a couple years ago. It was a great family. Mom (with twins on the way), Dad, two very active young boys, Mother-in-law, and a junkyard bowser. The house was only about 1000 square feet, hence, the need to move!

Dad loved his sports teams, and the family room could easily rival Cooperstown for souvenirs. Add to this his wall-to-wall collection of VHS tapes and DVDs, his computer, BIG screen TV, and Lazy-Boy, and things were just a tad bit cramped!

The wife was oriental and loved to display all of her family heirlooms. Every chair and sofa in the house was draped with a sheet. Not custom, store-bought slipcovers, mind you, but sheets, as in bedsheets!

So, between the sports memorabilia, the Asian knick-knacks, and Casper the friendly Slipcover, the place was EXTREMELY cluttered!

I tried all the usual 'declutter' counseling techniques: I lent them a copy of David Knox's "Prepare Your Home to Sell." I bought them some moving boxes to pack items and store in the garage. I even offered to pay for a Stager to come in!

But they weren't buying it! They thought their house looked great just the way it was, thank you very much! They had lived in their environment for so long, and had become so accustomed to the clutter. They were comfortable.

Well, that's the way it is with us professionals sometimes. We're used to doing things a certain way for so long, we're just plain 'comfortable.' Many of us quite simply play 'Follow-the-Leader'and mimic what somebody else is doing. That is especially true here on ActiveRain. You see someone doing something and you just assume that it must be okay, or that it works effectively in attracting potential readers. But that's like teaching yourself how to play guitar or golf. You develop bad habits that are tough to unlearn down the road.

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The first thing you need to do is to honestly evaluate exactly what it is that you're publishing to your blog.

Go back through your blog archives.

What do you find there? Is it truly information that is relevant and helpful to your readers? Does it evoke their interests and stimulate their thought processes? Does it create curiosity and a desire to know more? Does your writing convey a sense of your unique perspective and personality?

Unfortunately, for many, our message falls flat. Today's discerning consumers turn a deaf ear. Why? Because it's old school 'Interruption' marketing. It's annoying. It's 'clutter.'

Is your blog a broken record billboard of 'Pick Me!' or 'Look How Great I am!' self-promotion? Consumers see enough of that stuff already! It's on their grocery carts and those little dividers that separate their groceries from others. It's on the banner in center-field at Johnny's little league game. It's on the park bench or on the side of the transit bus. It's even above the urinal at your favorite restaurant!

How much of your blog article is self-promotion? Do you realize that you have a profile here on ActiveRain? You created it when you first joined. It shows up on the sidebar to the right of every article that you publish. If consumers want to know more about you, they simply click on your image, or they can click just below where it says "More about Me." 

Amazing, isn't it?

And if that's not enough, down at the bottom of each of your articles is your name, with an embedded hyper-link that also takes them to your profile.

Why 'Interrupt' your readers with unnecessary redundant 'self-promotion?' It's not about YOU. It's about THEM!

Create Interest : : Engage : : Provoke : : Stimulate : : Converse

Many of us have a story of how our involvement here on ActiveRain has positively impacted and changed our lives - both professionally and personally.

Are you passionate about ActiveRain? Has it influenced your life and business for the better?

Well then, here is the chance to raise up your voice, and to let others know how much you enjoy the Rain!

"For me, ActiveRain has literally revolutionized the way I approach business. It has effectively encouraged, equipped, and propelled me into the wave of conversational blogging and helped me gain a better understanding of the impact Web 2.0 on our industry. It has served to foster some deep and meaningful relationships to last a lifetime. And, it has put money in my bank account, and food on my table. All of this at NO COST to me!"

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Okay, so here's the deal:

We want to know YOUR story. Create a post that tells us what you've experienced, what you've learned; how you've benefited from your participation here; the friendships you've made; the ways you've grown personally.

Be creative. Put together a video, a podcast, a slideshow. The more creative the medium, the better. Enusre that the medium directly relates to your story - a video of you talking about ActiveRain; a slideshow that shows why you value and appreciate our community, etc.

Everyone who submits a link to their story here in the 'comments section' of this post will automatically receive 200 points. Make a 'Slide Show' and receive an additional 300 points, a podcast gets 500 more, and a video earns a whopping 800 additional points.

Several of the more creative and engaging stories may get featured, earning even more extra points. We mignt even decide to use some of these stories to highlight on our ActiveRain HomePage at a later date.

So get BUSY! What's YOUR Story?

Okay, so yesterday was one of several scheduled 'openings' by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for Razor Clamming along the Washington State coast. It afforded a perfect opportunity for some heartfelt 'Male Bonding' among some of the staff of ActiveRain.

Present was Yours Truly, Bob Stewart, Jonathan Washburn, my youngest son, Luke, and Sadie, the Wonder Dog.

We were 'Men-on-a-Mission' as we embarked from the warm confines of my trusty Expedition, heading out to brave the elements, in search of the ever-illusive Razor Clam.

It was quickly evident who the 'newbie' uninitiated were. Jon kept roaming around the beach, like a kid on his first Easter egg hunt. I suppose it would've helped for the more seasoned and experienced of us to actually 'show' him what to do, but we were much to busy digging clams!

While somewhat a slow starter, Bob came to life in the final quarter. His childhood memories of digging clams kicked in, and the evasive bounty was no match for the 'Stewart-Washburn' Clam Tag Team!

I think it's important to note the condition of each hunters clam bag as dusk quickly approached.

The ride back home was equally enjoyable. Luke started up several 'sports-related games, like starting with the number 1, and naming a player who has a jersey with that number. Jon and I were quickly eliminated, so we engaged in some great conversation. Later, Jon suggested a game where someone names a company, and then someone else has to name the CEO. The rest of us agreed that was a really boring idea.

As I think back on our day, there was a point when we were all standing there on the beach, the RAIN pouring down around us, and I thought "How appropriate!"

Ah, male bonding at its best!

(For Your listeing pleasure while you read)

Okay, so in one of my recent posts, I gave everyone a homework assignment (and you thought you'd seen the last of homework!).

Well, today, I thought it would be fun to challenge everyone once again to "Bring Back the Love," and to "Reach Out in the Rain!"

What I'm asking you to do is to call two ActiveRain members by this Friday.

I want you to call one NEW member, maybe someone in your market area, city, county, or State, that has just recently joined, and welcome them personally to the Network.

Then call one of the OLDER veteran members, perhaps someone who has been silent or Missing-In-Action of late. Tell them their presence/voice has been missed, and kindly invite them to 'step' back into the Rain.

One of the true hallmarks of this community's amazing success has been our collective ability to develop and nuture meaningful relationships in the Rain.

So go ahead, make your calls. Leave a comment here about 'who' you talked to and how the converstions went. It will be fun to read the results....

.....and feel "The Power of Love!"....

I think one of the best ways to measure if your blog writing is effective, are the nature of the comments that result. When it gets to the point that the conversations within the comments becomes more thought-provoking, engaging, and stimulating than your original article, you know you've struck a chord!

I help maintain an outside blog, SOUNDBITEBLOG, that I co-author with fellow-Rainer, Mark Flanders. I recently posted an article that has attracted some healthy interaction, including a visit by a fairly well-known 'Bubble' blogger here in the Seattle area. I thought I would share an excerpt of our dialogue:

Official SBB Devil's Advocate wrote @ January 13th, 2008 at 2:36 am

Watch the banks.

People overpaid for homes for several years, and the banks enabled this. The securitization of mortgages is going to end up as a stick-figure of it's former 600# self, because the banking industry will experience the consequences for not doing its due dilligence and promoting wholesale fraud.

Homes are worth what people can pay and thier expectations of financial return. When banks have an endless supply of money to throw at housing, and people have a high expectation of tremendous financial return, home prices go up dramatically.

If the banks can no longer securitize, and they demand 20-30% cash down payments, while people reasonably expect home prices to continue to fall 10-20%/year, home prices will fall dramatically.

No place is special or immune from these phenomena. Kitsap is a middle-class community, and home prices need to reflect that. Pretending that we are immune from economic reality will only make those who participate in that fantasy unexpectedly poor and destitute.

Countrywide was "saved" to prevent the actual market value of securitized mortgages from having price discovery. Had that occurred, securitization would have ended immediately, and the chain-reaction of cross-current financial defaults in the US banking system would have reached critical mass.

Yes, that is how depressions start. This is, by no means, over.

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Sparky wrote @ January 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am

Devil's Advocate: We've missed you! I agree with several of your points. But I'm curious...is your whole purpose of existence to simply sit back and tell everyone "I told you so" when the financial world eventually implodes? What exactly do you expect the common home consumer to do? Live in their cars and pray for a quick end? My whole point to this article was to provide some measure of balance to what the media naysayers are promoting. Kitsap County is NOT immune, but it's NOT Florida, Stockton or Detroit.

I would imagine that you probably own a bomb shelter and regularly require your family to conduct ‘duck & cover' drills?

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Official SBB Devil's Advocate wrote @ January 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

Sparky,

It is nice to be missed. My point is not to come over here and shake the cage for my personal amusement, but to help provide some balance to people that have never considered that real estate might be a financial millstone in their lives.

No, I am not interested in any "I told you so" vindications. If we get what I think we will get, people will not be interested in anyone doing a victory lap. The hardest part of going against the crowd is learning to bite your tongue more than letting it fly.

My goals are to provide for my family while avoiding unnecessary risks and trendy hazards.

What do I expect the common home consumer to do?

The time for prudence is starting to pass. I live in Kitsap with a family and I seem to get by just fine without owning a home. We don't live in our van. I've got 2 acres on the beach and it costs me about 1/3 of what it would cost me if I rented by using the intermediary of a mortgage. Why the living options seem to fall into the binary possibility of "owning" or being homeless is something that I just don't have the sophistication to understand. I seriously question the wisdom of Kitsap homeowners who are pressing their bets on a turnaround in residential real estate. My guess is they will be ruined if they can't continue to meet the payment structure of their mortgage. Those that can will be taking paper-profit losses in the neighborhood of 60-80%. Yes, you read that correctly.

Also, there is absolutely nothing the government can do to amelioriate the situation. Economic reality is just that - reality.

Yes, the informal financial caste system we have established puts me on the verge of being an "untouchable," but I seem to be just fine. That extra $3500/mo that I save, along with sidestepping the capital depreciation of "my largest investment" makes me sleep very well. Not having a 7% transaction cost is also a plus. By the way, that $3500/mo is tax-free.

While we are not Florida, Stockton, or Detroit, we could still lose a huge amount on the homes we all own. Incomes in this area are low. Even Bainbridge incomes don't justify homes at half the price they are currently selling. One thing we all need to keep in mind is that Florida, Stockton, and Detroit all use the same banking system we do to finance our homes. Be careful before you look down your nose at other parts of the nation. Stockton has many foreclosures because it is severely overpriced...just like us. Don't confuse timing with immunity.

Regarding the "measure of balance," to what the national media is saying about our housing market and finance system...

I can assure you that the national media is being extremely dovish and is not reporting 90% of what is really happening. There are many reasons for this. The most obvious is that most Americans are preoccupied with their personal amusements and don't have time to follow dry subjects like finance. Also, those that write the news don't want to confront the realities of their own endangerment, and finally we like to always believe in a better tomorrow. After all, who likes for people to think of them as digging bomb shelters?

I do enjoy the avuncular nature of your blog, and the fact you have given me an informal "official" status here.

All the best,
OSBBDA

The following comment recently appeared on a post written by one of our members. The commenter was obviously upset over the nature of the article, feeling it was inappropriate for our network.  

"The bigger question is... WHO CARES?  Why are you posting #$%^&&% recipes on a real estate blogging platform?  Are you THAT bored?  Are you THAT unprofessional?  Is that what you want your clients to see?  Are you just blogging for points? It's THIS type of garbage that is diluting the effectiveness and quality of Active Rain!"

I'm not going to take the time to debate the merits of whether 'recipes' or 'jokes' or whatever else is posted by our members constitutes acceptable content.

Here at ActiveRain, we encourage healthy debate. We welcome opposing views. It's good to regularly question the things that we hold onto so dearly, in light of dissenting opinion. Our convictions are either further cemented in our minds, or they're changed and influenced for the better.

If you are going to present an opposing viewpoint in the Rain, and hope to have any shred of credibility, then don't hide behind a shroud of virtual anonymity.

"If you're gonna dish it out, you best be prepared to take it!"

I thought it would be fun for us to dig into the ActiveRain Archives, and pull out some cherished jewels from the early days.

Actually, it can pretty hilarious going back and reading some of the veteran members first attempts at blogging.

YIKES! We've all come such a long way since then!

Several of these 'budding' authors have moved over to our sister platfrom, "In-ActiveRain" and are in dire need of some gentle prodding (a swift kick in the butt) to grace us with their presense here once again!

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"Three Cheers for the Active Rain!"  - even in her earliest posts, she was helping to teach us the "How-To's."

"SEO, Copyright, and ActiveRain"  - right from the beginning, she led the charge against plagiarism (Cut & Paste).

"Personal Marketing: Making a Name for Yourself"  - this guy took personal branding to a whole new level!

"Is Refinancing Worth the Hassle?"  - his early stuff was hilarious (boring), but he became one of our most prolific writers.

"Hmmm...I Guess It's All Good!"  - The Condo King was one of our valued early voices and taught us the ropes of consumer posting.

"Pie Anyone?"  - its been an amazing learning curve for these two, although many of us question whether 'He' really exists!

"What Should a Realtor really know about Real Estate Staging?"  - is there any doubt that this person has united an entire industry through the Rain?

Do you have any 'archived' Fave-Raves that you want to share? Post a link in the comments....

First, I want to thank Jennifer Fivelsdal for asking me to participate in this 2007 collective review effort. The ActiveRain Network holds a very special place in my heart & mind, and I am the first one to applaud its tremendous merits and positive impact on our industry!

Secondly, many of you may not be all that familiar with me. With so many new members and growing daily, it's hard to put your arms around everyone, or readily recognize profile faces as they pop-up briefly on the Blog Dashboard. At one point, I was fortunate to serve as one of the volunteer Moderators.

As with many of our veteran members, I've been spending more and more of my time and energy over on my 'outside' blog, SOUNDBITEBLOG. But I've continued my involvement here on ActiveRain because of the cherished relationships I have developed over the past 17 months.

Perhaps one of the best compliments I've ever been paid while playing in the Rain was from our beloved Jason Sardi (who I still owe some smoked salmon!). In a post last June, Jason provided us with his nominees for a premature ActiveRain Hall of Fame. In his list, he referred to Sarah Cooper as the heart of ActiveRain, Brian Brady as the Brains, and Yours Truly as the Soul.

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It's been quite an amazing roller coaster ride since the launch of this community that we've all come to know and love. It's very different from what it was in the early days. At first, everything was new, exciting, and had an cool edge to it. Matt Heaton and Caleb Mardini were both highly visible, and engaged us regularly/personally through their blogs and commenting. Recently, Bob Stewart has done a very admirable job as point man, but with over 60K members, it's nearly impossible for one guy to cover all the bases. Over time, it has become increasingly challenging to keep things small and intimate. But such is the nature of popular social networks. We've lost some of those early members, but many new ones have carried on the torch, and ably followed in their footsteps.

As always, ActiveRain continues to offer many significant benefits to its membership:

• Knowledge - Many times, I've referred to this platform as "trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant!" The wealth of experienced, relevant, and practical information being shared here daily is overwhelming.
• Referrals - For those of us not aligned with a national company, this network provides a great environment for developing valued referral partnerships.
• Increased Business- Through the powerful Google juices generated by this site, and posting to the flip side of the AR coin, Localism, potential clients have been finding us, and added business has been generated.
• Friendship & Fun - As with other social networks, lasting friendships have been forged, and members find a fun and relaxing place of escape from the stress of daily life.

Our industry was ripe for something like ActiveRain to come along. It's fast rise in popularity is a testament to the very pronounced needs it fulfills:

The Blog has become to our industry what websites were 10 years ago. Proponents of Web 2.0 informed us that consumers were no longer satisfied with cold, lifeless, static content. They wanted to be 'engaged'  and informed through a meaningful exchange of conversation. Through the genius of ActiveRain, those of us who had little or no experience with blogging could learn the ropes in an encouraging, non-threatening environment.

Although every real estate agent is a dues-paying member of NAR, as well as their respective State & local associations, most of us rarely participate in those organizations to any great extent. The growing shift to remote, home-based workspaces has virtually eliminated the traditional camaraderie and personal interaction associated with being part of a local office. ActiveRain has made our world smaller, enabling us to make meaningful connections. For many of us, we've become like family. 

And sadly, many brokerages have done a less than admirable job in providing the necessary training, especially with regards to the application of emerging technologies, to adequately equip newer agents for the challenges of today's market. ActiveRain has become our trusted instructor, mentor, and adviser.

The visionaries and creators of the ActiveRain Network have filled a HUGE void in our business, and have facilitated/encouraged/fostered more cooperative efforts from among our ranks than has ever been experienced in the history of the real estate industy. This platform has just begun to gain momemtum, and I have no doubt that its powerful and positive impact will continue in the years ahead!

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< < < <  A BRIEF ENCOURAGEMENT TO MY FELLOW RAINDRIPS  > > > >

Okay, we know the market sucks. We hear the media doom-sayers relentlessly bombarding us from all sides every day! And regardless of what our overly optimistic NAR compatriots are predicting, we know things probably won't improve anytime soon. So what are we to do? Well, what we've always done in such market downturns - work harder and smarter. Do what we do best - adapt to change. Embrace new technology. Contact your sphere in more meaningful ways and more often. The fact that you're a member of ActiveRain clearly demonstrates that you're already way ahead of the curve compared to many other agents. So go out and create opportunities. Network, network, network! Blog Often, Blog Well. Alone, we're simply solitary drops, but banded together, we have great power and influence! And don't forget, in the midst of it all, Have Fun!

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And now, without any further adieu or gilding of the lily (and in no particular order), it is my extreme pleasure to highlight my own personal TOP 12 articles/blogs for 2007!

The infamous Bolen Brothers: "We tried, but couldn't sell Crest for $35 a Tube!"

Trying to select my favorite from among their vast collection of 'keepers' was almost as difficult as picking my Top 12. If you haven't subscribed to these guys yet, do it now! They also have an outside blog, Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.

Ed Rybczynski: "The Dirty Little Secret in the Title Industry" 

Ed is a well-known consultant and nationally acclaimed speaker in the area of Mortgage Fraud. Trust me when I say that he knows about fraud 'personally.' He also maintains an outside blog, Title-opoly.

 Chris Elizabeth Griffith: "Something on ActiveRain smells - Maybe it's Dirty Diapers?"

You can always count on Chris to 'Stir the Pot' and tell us exactly what's on her mind. She has an extremely quick wit and unique sense of humor. Her articles are wonderfully balanced, and reflect her personality and passion for Bonita Springs. She has a killer outside blog, Real Life & Real Estate in Bonita Springs, and a really fun blog, Mobile Life in Bonita Springs.

Linda Davis: "2007 ActiveRain Predictions from Carnac from Connecticut"  

No Top 12 List would be complete without the all-seeing Carnac of ActiveRain. Linda's monthly installments remind us about the importance of laughing at ourselves, regardless of how painful the truth may be! Linda can also be found on her outside blog, The Eastern Connecticut Real Estate Blog.

 Jonathan Mitchell: "Good Looking People Succeed More Often"

Oh, to be young again, full of piss and vinegar! When he's not cutting off his finger or burning out his eyes, Jonathan offers us a very colorful insight into the world of property management.

Joe Zekas: "Ten things you should stop doing immediately on your blog"

Joe's stint on ActiveRain only lasted less than a month, but the impact of his words still remain. I didn't always appreciate his approach, or agree with what he had to say, but he definitely challenged our thinking. Joe runs the popular Chicago blog, Yo' Chicago.

 Sarah Cooper: "Do Not Fear!"

One of our network's more prolific writers, the Fireball from Hurricane WV has taken to blogging like a coon dog to its quarry. While most of us blog for business or some other career-oriented rationale, Sarah has an inner muse that requires no particular reason, other than the need to create and express. She also maintains a really cool local blog, The Putnam Scoop.

Jason Sardi: "Because of ActiveRain, I Fell in Love All Over Again!" 

Either this guy is incredibly deep and profound, or he's been eating too many wild mushrooms! Regardless, ya gotta love his somewhat 'eclectic' writing style. It's hard to pick just one article that reflects all that is 'Sardiman.' It's best to digest a wide range of his posts, preferably late at night, with a stiff drink, and listening to some Coltrane in the background....

 Kristal Kraft: "The Official Unofficial Guide to Getting Involved on ActiveRain"

Before we had all the great resources and tutorials on the ActiveRain Home Page, there was Kristal Kraft. She unselfishly imparted her vast knowledge to us, and only asked for 'shoes' in return. She was the forerunner to the likes of Jeff Turner and Brad Andersohn. The success of this network owes her a tremendous debt. Kristal can be found at Denver Dwellings, and as a contributing writer to Denver IQ

Rick Garcia (Rico Suave) & Ines Hegedus-Garcia: "Toilet for Sale - House comes with it" 

I remember 'featuring' this post back when I was a Moderator for ActiveRain. It was a Saturday, as I recall, and the blog dashboard was moving rather slow. Who would've thought that an article about toilets would become one of the most heavily commented posts in AR history! But please, don't stop at just this article! Take time to read some of their other stuff. Ines has a number of really gifted observations regarding architecture. And you definitely don't want to miss out on their outside blog, Miamism.

 Justin Smith: "How I Sold My ActiveRain Profile for $6,750!"

When I first started reading this post, I admit to getting a tad bit 'hot' under the collar. In our eBay/craigslist society, everything is up for sale. Knowing Justin, I was disappointed that he would stoop to such a level. I hate it when people have a good laugh at my expense! Justin has been a valued contributor to our community, both as President of CREN (Christian Real Estate Network) and now as a Blogging Coach with the Tomato Team. You can also find Justin at his primary outside blog, HERE.

And last, but certainly NOT least, Blog Boy himself, Bryant Tutas:

"Twin Peaks" - starring 'Blogging Bertha'  What can one possibly say about a real estate professional who dresses in drag? Either he really did have that accident out on the farm back when he was a kid, where the tractor ran over his head, or, he's just a truly funny guy who is adored by every member of ActiveRain!

Well, there you have it. Thanks for taking the time to 'review' my 'review.' I think this is probably the longest article I've ever written. The AR gods should award everyone double comment points just for reading it!

~ Have a wonderfully satisfying and successful 2008! ~