"Singing in the Rain!"

 

Up until just a year ago, the market here in Kitsap County WA was still fairly brisk. Most agents could afford to inflate the sales prices slightly, input the listing into the MLS, upload a few pictures, and wait for the offers to come in. It wasn't rocket science, and even the most inexperienced agents could attract Buyers.

But not so today. Things have changed. Dramatically. Those same inexperienced and lazy agents have gone back to their day jobs, and the committed seasoned agents remain. We're the ones who have always learned to adapt, in both good times and bad. Upturns, downturns, we've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt!

So in a slowing market where there are more homes competing for a smaller pool of Buyers, we are hard-pressed to find more creative means/methods of gaining credible exposure for our listings. For most of us, that translates into leveraging the Internet, and identifying viable domains to upload our Seller's properties. Print advertising has long become a dying dinosaur, and the astronomical costs associated with monthly magazines are difficult to justify for most listings. More Buyers are turning to the Internet for their home searches. And our Sellers want results!

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When publishing my listings to the Internet, I utilize a digital flyer that I've created on my vFlyer.com account. For a very reasonable annual fee, I can create a variety of high-end customized flyers. vFlyer automatically uploads them to many of the more popular listing aggregation sites:

In addition, I also place my listings on ActiveRain's Localism and Craigslist.

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Just recently, I noticed that a fellow member on ActiveRain was promoting a specific listing using their ActiveRain Advertising account. It was one of those rare epiphanies, the consummate 'Aha!' moment.

I quickly checked our recent stats....

Did you know that ActiveRain attracts over 60,000 unique visits each day? That translates into over 1.5 million unique visits each month! And our traffic only continues to grow!

With that in mind, it doesn't take a 'Stephen Hawking' to ponder the valued exposure a listing would receive if placed on strategic pages within our platform. By using an ActiveRain Ad Campaign, you can target specific geographic location pages, the same pages that consumers and potential clients will access. You can place your ad on pages relevant to real estate professionals in your particular market area, a virtual revolving 'Hot Sheet,' where cooperating agents will be constantly reminded of your listing.

When you consider the comparative costs of printing up colored flyers, feeding agents at a Broker's Open, or holding an Open House, the relatively low cost of running an ActiveRain Ad Campaign makes total sense!

I just recently created an ad campaign for one of my listings on Miss Ellis Loop over in quaint Little Norway, Poulsbo Washington. The set-up process was quick and painless. You learn to appreciate seamless and easy with technology applications these days.

To create an ad campaign for your listings, simply go to your ActiveRain 'My Home' page. On the left hand sidebar, you'll see the link "My Ads." Click on the link, and you'll be re-directed to your ActiveRain Ads Account Page. The first step is to 'fund' your campaign. There is a minimum $10 charge to establish your Ad Bank Account, and you can use any major credit card. Once you have funding, you can then create individual ad campaigns.

(For further information, go to the ActiveRain Advertising Info Page)

Yet another cost-effective and viable venue to promote your Seller's properties, and gain MAXIMUM Internet exposure!

 

OK, folks.  Pay attention and see how being connected helps and, thanks to Active Rain, helps a lot.....

Diane Olsen, a good Realtoy buddy of mine and a somewhat dormant Active Rainer, referred me to a great client who wanted to sell his house in MD and move into a condo in DC. Normally, this would have been a double fantastic referral but I'm not licensed in DC (which I will expand upon in another post).

Since I've been reading Active Rain posts, I knew that Pat Kennedy was a DC Realtor Extraordinarie.  So I get Pat on the phone and make the arrangements for my client to get wonderful Buyer representation in DC.

My client is highly motivated to do what it takes and he had already done some huge renovations to his home and it looked like something Martha Stewart should have on her show. He agrees to price it competitively and pretty soon we get an offer.  The Buyer's Agent is none other than Joyce Dawkins, another Active Rainer (although not as Active in the Rain as she could be) who was a pleasure to work with through the inspection issues and the appraisal issues all the way to settlement.  I found out during the pre-settlement walk through that Joyce was (and maybe still is) a protege of the Active Rain goddess herself, Lenn Harley.

Meanwhile, Pat is busy showing our mutual client condos, finds him one and then does her negotiating thing so well that William Shatner would be in awe (you have to know the Priceline commercials to get this one).

Settlement on the listing is in the morning and settlement on the condo is in the afternoon.  Money needs to flow from one to the other.  Of course, the checks from Title Company A weren't exactly ready at settlement so when they were ready I raced out to Bowie to pick up the checks and then into downtown DC (more on this adventure later) to deliver them to Title Company B where the afternoon settlement was about to wrap up except that it needed money.

Pat does a nice post about this on her Blog

So, it pays to pay attention to the Rain. It works.  It just does.

If you don't care to read about all the technical details below, just set up your Outside Blog on a custom domain (ie, jonwashburn.com), not just a sub-domain (jon.activerain.com) and trust us that it's going to kick SEO butt. For those of you who like first hand info, here you go.

In case you haven't heard, we launched outside blogs yesterday, June 25th, 2008. We are really excited to have a platform that our members can utilize to seamlessly syndicate their content across multiple domains, allows for individual branding and at the same time exposes their content to high volumes of traffic. A common question surrounding the release of Outside Blogs centers on the issue of duplicate content, how the search engines handle duplicate content (specifically Google), and how we will structure both your ActiveRain blogs and your outside blogs to provide you the most exposure.

First, let's clear up a little bit of terminology. There are four seperate places that your blog post can show up.

1. Your ActiveRain blog (activerain.com/blogs/arbob)
   
2. Localism
   
3. Sub-domain blog (activebob.activerain.com)
   
4. Outside Blog (jonwashburn.com)

This part is VERY IMPORTANT and will take care of duplicate content for one of the four. We will be adding no-index tags to all sub-domain blogs. Considering the SEO power of ActiveRain.com, sub-domains will not perform as well as your primary domain for the purposes of search engine placement. With that in mind, it makes little sense to have the content showing up on a sub-domain (i.e., activebob.activerain.com) and have the sub-domain indexed, rather than the content be indexed on the primary domain (activerain.com/arbob). Therefore, the primary purpose of a sub-domain will be strictly for offline branding. But in all cases, a custom, member-owned domain will serve that purpose even better. As such, we really encourage our members to invest the $8 to get your own custom domain set up.

Now we are left with three places that your blog post will show up. There is lots of information about how google handles duplicate content and what it will look at to determine what will show up in the search results. As it relates to what will be happening on ActiveRain/Localism/Outside Blogs we want to look at what Google identifies as the originating source. Here is an excerpt from the Google Webmaster Blog from June 9th of 2008:

In cases when you are syndicating your content but also want to make sure your site is identified as the original source,it's useful to ask your syndication partners to include a link back to your original content.

(There is also a great article written by Vanessa Fox, formerly of Google, about ranking as the original source for content you syndicate.)

We can tell Google what the originating source is. What do you want to be the originating source and what do you want Google to index? It will be up to you. Here is how it will work:

Originating Source is:

ActiveRain: If you don't syndicate your post to your outside blog, and you don't geo-target it so that it shows up on Localism, ActiveRain will get credit as the originating source, because the post won't show up anywhere else.

Outside Blog: If you syndicate your post to your outside blog and you do not geo-target it, your outside blog will show up as the originating source. (since the post is not geo-targeted, it will not appear on Localism). Your syndication partner (your ActiveRain blog) will have a link back to your original content (outside blog)

Localism: If you Geo-tag your post, Localism will be credited as the original source; your ActiveRain blog and your outside blog will link back to the post on Localism, indicating to Google that Localism is the original source. (If you've made it this far, you're probably wondering why the heck you would want the current version of Localism as your original source. If you can keep a secret...the new Localism might be coming out the second week in July...but I'll deny it if you tell anyone)

You control it!

 

On June 14th 2008, at a stunning waterfront home on Liberty Bay, my oldest son, Ben, and his beautiful bride, Alex, were married in a very intimate ceremony, surrounded by family & friends.

And I was the Best Man.

Yes, that's right. The Father of the Groom was Best Man. How cool is that? I mean, typically, such positions are normaly reserved for close friends their own age. Ben has any number of guys he could've tapped for the role. But he chose me. And it was a sweet time!

We wore these really nice brown tuxs, with silk shirts, cuff links, vests, pin stripe pants. Not super formal, but certainly sharp. And Ben insisted on wearing old school chocolate brown Converse tennis shoes. Just like I used to wear when I was a kid. I got the high tops. It was awesome!

The day was a blur. I cried most of the time. I am such a sap for all things romantic.

Later, during the reception, I gave a toast. Allow me to paraphrase it somewhat:

"You need to know something about our son, Ben. He is like his Father, the consumate diehard romantic. Unfortunately though, throughout his teen years, he had the misfortune of dating girls who never seemed to appreciate such over-the-top displays. None of the girls he dated ever returned, in equal measure, the amount or degree of devotion and spoiling lavished upon them by our son. What thrills us today is that Alex loves Ben so completely, so passionately, and with such deep commitment. What more could his parents want?"

It was a perfect day. The weather, which is typically quite unpredictable here in June, cooperated nicely. You couldn't have asked for a better setting. Thanks to Dr. Mike & Kelie Jungkeit for affording us such amazingly generous hospitality in opening there home and impressive grounds for our special day. We are truly indebted!

It didn't quite sink in until we stood there on the pier, watching the Newlyweds motor off across the bay (courtesy of Captain Mike and his new 26ft. Glacier Bay), that I fully realized the change that had just taken place. Even though Ben had moved out of the house nearly a year before, but now he was married, embarking on the greatest adventure of his life. No longer just my son, but a man. A husband.

(To see more pictures of the Wedding, GO HERE)

Becoming a vested member of this community requires a very extensive learning curve. There are so many varying features and benefits to take advantage of in the Rain, newcomers find the task of getting their blog feet wet rather daunting. Even those of us who have been participating for some length many times overlook/neglect some of the more obvious nuances.

Allow me to share one such nuance....

You craft your latest blog post creation. You carefully finish formatting, inserting relevant graphics, using spell check (if it's working!), and you're ready to publish.

But on the way down to the "Post Blog Entry" button, you encounter the following check box:

	This is not my content but I have permission to repost it Disable commenting on this post

Have you ever just breezed past this check box, without ever stopping to question its relevance to your particular article? Of course you have. Many of us have. Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone!

Have you ever posted a joke? How about that great cornbread recipe from Aunt Velma? Or a treasured Scripture verse for the day?

If what you're publishing IS NOT your own original content, but you have permission to repost it, this box should be checked.

Checking this box will disable points from being issued for your post and shows the 'No Points' flag on your post.

Why?  Because ActiveRain points are awarded for original content. This helps to ensure that people are making genuine efforts to 'earn' their coveted points by contributing valuable, quality 'original' content, and not simply using content copied from another sources.

So, if you're posting jokes, recipes, Bible verses, newsletters, MLS/IDX feeds, or any other content that is not Your own original content, and you have permission to repost, please check this box.

There is a pretty wicked game of blog post meme resonating from the halls of RE.net. Rich Jacobson, Barry Cunningham and Ian Anderson all threw the gauntlett in my direction. I'm really not that exciting so I'm glad this game has rules so that I don't have to just come up with 5 'things' about me off the cuff (like the last time I was meme'd). So without further ado, and because you could probably care less about my ramblings than about what you are about to learn, here goes......

1. Who is your favorite musical artist?

This one isn't easy. The first concert I ever attended was Paula Abdul. Way before she was passing out onstage at American Idol she was fresh off being a Laker Dancer and really put on a show (especially for a fifth grade pubescent boy). I had a country phase, George Straight and Garth Brooks got me to buy a pair of cowboy boots. Being from the Seattle area Pearl Jam and Nirvana were in the rotation quite frequently in the early 90's as I listened on with teen angst. I had a long love affair with Rap music as well. Tupac, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem. I just love the way they crafted their words. To me, it was art. If I could only listen to one song the rest of my life, it would be Dylan's Hurricane.

Of course, My all time favorite would be Rich Jacobson. Man, have you ever heard that guy wail? He's like the next John Mayer!

2. Who is your favorite artist?

Say what? I failed an art history class in college. It was the only class I ever failed in my life. It probably has more to do with the fact that it started at 7am, but art is one area where I need some serious cultural enhancement. However, living in the Pacific Northwest I have had multiple occassions to come across the work of Dale Chihuly. What this man can do with glass is nothing short of amazing.

Of course, I saw some pretty good macaroni art hanging on the fridge at Rich Jacobson's house, I'm pretty sure he did it since his kids are all out of elementary school by now, it was really good.

3. Who is your favorite blogger?

I have a lot of people that I subscribe to from all different walks of life. I get even more fed to me reading Jon's favorite posts. I am going to go with Marc Davison. I love the passion that he has for making real estate better for the consumer. The stories he tells of growing up in NY always make me feel like I'm there. The way he relates those stories back to the consumer's experience in real estate always makes me want to do something re-marc-able.

But then, of course, there's Rich Jacobson. The guy is just an amazing writer, and shares such incredible insights concerning real estate and wisdom about life in general.

4. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?

I have never met either of my biological grandfathers. I was raised by my grandpa's but they weren't my biological ones. I'm sure I would learn a lot about myself if I got the chance to meet my biological grandfathers. Before I tried to answer this question, I'd never ONCE in my life thought I wanted to meet them. But now, right as I sit here writing this, I have this really overpowering desire to meet them.........ok, this is weird, I need to move on..........

Of course, had I not met Rich Jacobson already I would have surely answered this question in four words.......Rich Jacobson, nuff said!

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a great father and husband. I still want to be a great father and husband. My parents were divorced when I was 8. My mom will be the first one to tell you that my Dad was a really good dad but a horrible husband. I didn't get to have my Dad around for most of my formative years. I want to make sure that I am there for my son. I don't want him to have to learn how to shave on his own. I don't want him to have to learn about girls on his own. I don't want him to ever feel like I am not in the next room so that he can come to me with whatever he needs to talk about. I am lucky, I'm going to get to be what I wanted to be when I grow up (whenever that is).

Of course, if I have to grow up someday, I want to be just like my hero, Rich Jacobson.

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

Of course, Hoyle, the popular playing card maker has introduced a new line of cards where all the Kings are modeled after Rich Jacobson.....I have a whole case.

7. If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why?

I could see myself living in the time of Western expansion across the US. What is that, early to mid 1800's. The idea of packing up everything you own in a wagon and heading west to make a new life for your family seems strangely alluring to me. I'm sure after a few days I would be longing for my comfy bed, but then again, I wouldn't know what my comfy bed felt like.......

Of course, the leader of our fearless wagon train would have to be Rich Jacobson or we would surely get swept away by the Missouri or high centered on the Rockies.

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held?

Community builder for ActiveRain. Never a dull day here, that's for sure!! Also, it's kind of surreal to think that my job is watching over an online social network. When I was little if you had given me a million guesses as to what I would be doing at age 30, I guarantee this wouldn't be on the list.

Of course, working along side Rich Jacobson is the best job I've ever had........even though no one asked.

I pick: Jon and Matt and Glin and Claire (yep, she's new) and Nicole and Jerry and Rich and Brad. You know who you are so I won't link. (how many was I suppose to pick?)

It's time once again for another installment of "Guess That Guideline!" and I'm your host, Community Builder and Moving Target, Rich Jacobson.

We've been re-hashing the ActiveRain Community Guidelines, and dissecting them at length. So many times, when we join social networks or online forums, we're required to review the Terms of Service (TOS) or Guidelines. But seriously, how many people take the time to actually READ them? Not many, I'm sure. That's why we're doing this review - so we're all on the same page and know exactly what's expected of us as members of the ActiveRain Community.

As you familiarize yourself with the Community Guidelines, remember, these aren't just a bunch of rules to restrict your involvement here, but to protect you, and to ensure you the best possible experience in the Rain.

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This week's guideline is extremely important, and will help to keep your hard-earmed money where it belongs and your butt out of court. It reads as follows:

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.

It's a well known fact that a blog post with pictures/images attracts more readers. Let's face it, people like pictures. So perhaps in our initial newbie haste, we take certain liberties with the images that we use. We 'assume' that if a particular image is already on the Internet, that it's 'public domain,' and thus, fair game. We just 'clip & paste' and we're happy as clams, right?

WRONG!

Trust me, when I say that this is an issue that is only going to gain greater scrutiny and enforcement in the days ahead. Owners of copyrighted images, and their legal staff, are becoming increasingly more agressive in their pursuit of copyright infringements. They're literally lying in wait, hoping for the next unsuspecting 'deep pocket' to steal/lift one of their images. That's not to say that they don't have every right to enforce their copyrights. They absolutely do. But don't look for them to allow any infringements to go by with simply a friendly warning.

As in my previous installment, I sought out the input of one who is perhaps one of the foremost authorities on copyright issues, our own Lenn Harley. When asked her thoughts regarding this particular guideline, she responded:

"The statement "what you have paid for or own" is a problem because there are many web sites that sell images for personal use but not for commercial use.  There are also many that give or sell permission to print but not to use commercially.  What I've noticed is that ActiveRain members often read the main page of a web site that says "FREE" and assume that means that they can use them as they wish.  They do not read the web site's copyright policies which usually typically clearly deny use to republish.   Then, worse, they write a post recommending the web site and "free" stuff, and their readers then proceed to use the same web site and the beat goes on."

(For further, more in-depth information from Lenn on image copyrights, GO HERE.)

As you travel across the greater blogosphere, you will note that many of the more proficient and successful bloggers utilize their own images. The concerns of violating copyright laws are virtually non-existent when using images you yourself have shot/developed. Unless, of course, someone happens to swipe one of YOUR images!

And, whatever you do, don't EVER copy one of Lenn's maps. Talk about a death wish!

P.S.  If any of you know a good source for 'free' commercial-use images, or an inexpensive 'paid subscription' provider of images, feel free to provide a link within the 'Comments' section.