Real Estate 2.0 Technology

When I returned home from Inman's Real Estate Connect in San Francisco last week, I searched through my notes, videos, photos and handouts looking for something to post about that might be unique. There were so many things that I learned this year, some really great topics and technologies, wonderful panels with experienced speakers, it was fantastic. I was a bit challenged on what to post and share today.

Looking back, the one thing I came away with more than anything else this year, was the impact of the people and all the friendships I have made. Socializing, Networking and Connecting with People.

There are so many reasons why people in the Real Estate Industry join and stay on ActiveRain. You'll find many here that have written about their personal rewards, benefits, and successes on their Blogs. There is a common thread and purpose behind each and every reason people love ActiveRain. As I walked the halls and meeting rooms in San Francisco, I had one question for other ActiveRain members...

To see the full length 5 min video on youtube, CLICK HERE.

"What is the Biggest Benefit or Value you get out of the ActiveRain Community?" I was very fortunate to catch these members friends comments on video. They shared their voices, and their experiences publically and I am so grateful to be able to share that. It's an honor and privilege to be a part of this video, the three day event, and most of all, a part of their lives.

Thank you to: Rich, Desiree, Cindy, Kristal, Richard, Jeff, Missy, Gena, Kim, Tracy, Ginger, AJ, Brian, Jeff, Mara, Tom, Nick, Tisza, Mary, Teresa and Mike, each one of you for sharing your thoughts and for helping make this idea and video possible. Your voices will be heard and I hope viewers will come away with a greater understanding and idea of what Social Networking and ActiveRain is really all about.

In your "Starter Kit" is everything you'll need to get started here on ActiveRain. 

"Here's an Updated (7/4/09) Shorter Version for those
with MINIMUM TIME who need to get up and running"

Take your time and read through each post in the order they are listed below, this will save you hours
of frustration, anxiety, and that feeling of being overwhelmed when you first join our community.

Welcome aboard!

Before You Begin:
It's Important to understand what ActiveRain is, how it works, and what's expected. 

• ActiveRain Community Guidelines

The Terms of Service may be a little dry, but this is a "must read" for every member.

• Terms Of Service

The 10 Guiding principles and philosophy of our network and community.

• ActiveRain’s Weltanschauung

How do you become a RainMaker on ActiveRain?

The "RainMaker" Membership

This details of RainMaker Memberships are detailed here.

• The New Membership Plan - 2/16/09
  

 

Now Take the Video Tour of ActiveRain. 
Learn To Navigate ALL the areas available in our community.

• ActiveRain Navigation for New Members
  

Understanding The Point System and How to Become the Featured Member in your area.

• Understanding The ActiveRain Point System
  

Getting Started in 3 Easy Steps
Now you're ready to get started.  Follow these next steps to get setup on ActiveRain.

Creating a personal profile is the very first step and the most important.  This is where members and visitors will go to see and find out all about you.  Make sure you take the time to setup your profile correctly, it's important and it's easy.

• How To Setup Your ActiveRain Profile

Your profile has three areas that will allow you to maximize it's potential.  It's better than a website.

• How To Complete Your Profile - Part II
  

Now you are ready to go into your settings and customize ActiveRain how you want it.

• How To Use Your "My Settings" Page

 

Setting Up Your ActiveRain Blog
Before you create your first Post on your Blog, here's a few tips to help you do it right.

• 5 Principles to Creating an Effective Blog Post

Now you're ready to write your first entry, get the most out of your first post.
(Don't be afraid and stop now, this is why you're here!)

• Using The ActiveRain Channels and Topics
  

What are ActiveRain Channels and how you should use them.

• How To Create Your First Blog Post

Making your Blog personalized and unique is what differentiates you from other members.
Change background, headers, colors and more.

• How To Customize Your Blog

ActiveRain offers FREE Outside Blogs in addition to the one you've just created.

• How To Setup Your Outside Blog

Individual / Group Outside Blogs and Domains are also now available.

• Creating an Outside Blog in 10 Easy Steps

Use the ActiveRain Listing Router to direct Visitors and Traffic to your IDX site

• How To Setup Listing Router and Save Your Own Traffic

• How To Setup Your Own Click Campaigns

 

Setting Up Your Outside ActiveBlogs
This will help you understand the value, the benefits and how to setup Outside AR Blogs.

Many members have created their own outside AR Blogs.

• What are ActiveBlogs

Creating your own individual or outside Blog on ActiveRain is easy.

• How Do I setup My own Individual/Team Outside Blog

Customizing your outside Blog and adding widgets you need.

• New Widgets for Outside Blogs

Some key points and facts to know about your Outside Blog.

• 5 Important Tips about Outside ActiveBlogs
  

Additional Tips, Tools, and Things You Should or Might Want to Know
You are now ready to advance to some of the more powerful tools available here for you.

• The Ultimate Guide to Ideas for your Blog
  
  
• Creating and Joining Groups on ActiveRain

• 7 Mistakes To Avoid On ActiveRain
  
  
• 5 Ways To Subscribe To Blogs
  

• 3 Ways To Use ActiveRain Referral Links

• 20 Google Tools for your Blog and Business

• What's a Widget? How to add them

• Top 200 FREE Sites

Some Advanced SEO Tools and Information
What is SEO and How to maximize it on ActiveRain

• SEO Tools - You should know about SEO

• ActiveRain settings and SEO Benefits

There will be more posts added here as they become available.  If you need any assistance or have any issues at all, please contact your ActiveRain support Team at support@activerain.com or just click on this link to "Contact ActiveRain."  You should also visit the Weekly Top FAQ series.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

Other Related Sites, Groups, and Articles:

New Members - Start Here  
Bloggers Startup Kit
ActiveBrad's eBook Manual   
Help/FAQ Group
The ActiveRainGuide
The Help/FAQ Series

 

What is a Wiki?  Many of you have probably heard of WikiPedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Currently there are 2,457,781 articles in English on their site.  Many Bloggers link to Wikipedia for explanations and definitions of odd and peculiar terms, words or phrases.  What's it for?

You'll find numerous links to overviews, editing, questions, help, contents, searchable categories, featured content, browse their A–Z index and more.  Now, how would you like your own?  Trust me, You'll love it!!

I think everyone should have "their own" Wiki-Custom Pedia, let me show you how to get yours for FREE, it'll be a quicky!  But first, before I do, you are probably asking yourself this, "Self?  What is it, and why would I want my own Wiki?"  Glad you asked. :-) It's not a WikiPedia, it's a Wiki!


"The PBwiki is the world's largest provider of hosted business and educational wikis. They host over 400,000 wikis, serve millions of users per month, and 96% of their business users would recommend PBwiki to a friend or associate. Leading companies from AT&T to Wal-Mart, including 1/3 of the Fortune 500 companies, choose PBwiki to help them with knowledge management, collaboration, project management, and a host of other business processes and workflows." Quoted by PBwiki

        

Collaboration for over 30,000 businesses now including ActiveRain

Now use your imagination.  If you're a Broker, a REALTOR® in a community, A National Lender, it doesn't matter, I guarantee you will find a way to put a Wiki to good use in your business.  Today I created the ActiveRain Wiki, a sample to share with you that will allow you to see some of the endless possibilities.  Jon asked me to push the today with these types of technology tools, so I am! 
To start your own, you know what to do next! (Hint...it's RED)  lol~

                                                            

Create totally secured wiki's, they do have plans available, but I chose the ones that come for FREE!

                   

Important:  You might want to put some time, thought, and effort into how you want to use a wiki for your business.  If you're like me, you're going to get very excited when you see all the cool stuff you can do with this, but my suggestion is to take your time, evaluate it, do some research, and then make this a powerful tool in your business. This one goes on my top 10 list, IT'S A REALLY HOT TOOL! 

Now that's a quicky wiki!  :-)                                                         My Outside Blog: REnetBlog.com

SEO?  There are Groups, Blogs, Website Graders, those who claim they know it all, and those who confess they know nothing whatsoever about it.  Both in and out of the community, many have benefited greatly from the SEO that comes from Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.

What about those who haven't a clue about SEO, what it is, how it works, why they need it, and who the heck cares?  This site, SEOBook has some fantastic information and tools for any beginning Blogger new to SEO.  All of you experienced Bloggers may already know this stuff, but for some, SEO is still difficult to get their arms site around.

I hope this will help those who want to know more about SEO, how it works, the technical nuances, and how to benefit from just learning more about it.  Check out these links, video tutorials, Blogs, FAQ's, and tools. SEO is not the most important thing in your on-line business, or is it?  That's for you to decide.
It's time you know, about SEO.

• The Bloggers Guide to SEO

• FREE Search Engine Optimization Tools

• Search Analytics Tools

• Competitive Research Tools

• Link Analysis Tools

• Search Engine Rainking Tools

• FREE Video Tutorials - Tracking the Competition

• FREE SEO Tutorials  &  Videos
  

 

Once you've checked these out, I'm sure you'll have a much better grasp and understanding of SEO, and be able to maximize the potential of your sites by using the FREE tools and information that's available online.  You should come away with some good ideas on how to better YOUR SEO either on your Blogs or websites. 

Don't let acronyms like SEO scare you away, embrace them, understand them, use them and you'll love them.  Why leave it to the imagination? Learn all you can about Search Engine Optimization.  :-)

More SEO Resources:  GoogleBlog,   Google Webmaster Central,  Google Help Center,  SEO Noobs